Post by cambygsp on Sept 25, 2005 8:15:53 GMT -5
www.indianastatesman.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/08/31/43152756ca8dd
Landowners’ ignorance irks outdoorsman
Private property owners should allow hunting, fishing
By Chris Jennings
August 31, 2005
Owning private property is a great way to make sure that you can preserve an area to hunt or fish, but for many of us, it is just a lottery ticket and a dream away.
I have no qualm with private property owners, but there are times that I just don't understand what people are thinking.
Where I dove hunt, there is a house on the other side of a gravel road. These people have fields and woods as far as I can see behind their house, and lots of doves to go around. So I went and asked for permission to hunt their property. I'm an upstanding member of society, a huge supporter of all conservation efforts, and an extremely respectful individual, but this is what I am told.
"No way, we have horses back there and we don't want them to get shot!"
After the door abruptly closed in my face, I almost started to laugh. The horses were nearly a mile away from the area I was talking about hunting, and I can tell the difference between a robin and a dove in the air from 500 yards. I'm almost positive that I could differentiate between a horse and dove, and not swing through on the thoroughbred.
Most people that play Ebeneezer Scrooge with their real estate have never spoken to a hunter about what the hunter plans to do, what the hunter will do if given the opportunity to hunt, and why they would like to hunt their property.
If given the time, a well-informed conservation-minded hunter or fishermen could teach the landowner more about their property than they could ever learn by playing the isolationist card.
"No, I don't want any deer hunting because I like to watch them in the fields."
This is another response I've heard before. What do these people think I'm hunting with, a howitzer that is going to explode every deer? "Look, there's some deer in the field. Range...400 meters...fire in the hole...thunk."
No hunter wants to kill all your deer. Most hunters like myself, never get one anyway. We just like to hunt them. See if we can get close enough without them seeing, smelling, hearing us. It's about the adrenaline rush of when one walks right next to you, almost trips over your boots, and never knows you're there. It's about the chase.
Fishing is the worst of all. People who live on lakes are the stingiest people I've ever met. Knowing good and well this 80-year-old couple hasn't fished this pond in 20 years, I'll go knock on the door, introduce myself, and politely ask for permission to fish their lake.
Their own politeness turns into almost outrage as they tell me no, and slam the door. I pause, to make sure I didn't say something bad about their daughter, because I got that kind of a response.
Most land owners use this line.
"Well, I would but I don't want to be legally responsible, so, no."
Landowner's own ignorance of a law that was made for them surprises me constantly. Indiana passed a law that makes private landowners not responsible for any injuries that take place on their property while hunting, fishing or trapping (Indiana Code 14-22-10-2.5.). This protects the landowner from being sued, so the responsibility excuse is pretty lame these days.
The saddest part about it is that usually it's me and my wife asking for permission, and people still look at us as if we are just going to sneak out there, call our buddies in pickup trucks, throw a big party and leave trash all over the place. Why does everyone assume that's what an outdoorsman does when they get permission on someone else's property? Maybe there were truck loads of drunken people in camouflage, who drove around and pestered landowners before I was born, and now people are just conditioned to think hunters and fishermen will trash their lakes and fields.
I'm not saying to open your lakes to the public, but a little more access will probably improve the environmental stability of most farm ponds and gravel pits in the area. There are outdoorsmen out there that can be trusted to take care of your property as if it were their own. And most will go out of their way to protect the land from anyone doing it harm. It's like having a security guard for free.
I know as well as every outdoorsman does, that there are bad apples in every batch. There are people who will disrespect you and your property if given the chance. But to find the honest, respectful people, landowners have to give a few a chance.
You never know, you just might find someone who is willing to help around the land, maintenance, upkeep, etc., just for permission to hunt or fish.
Landowners’ ignorance irks outdoorsman
Private property owners should allow hunting, fishing
By Chris Jennings
August 31, 2005
Owning private property is a great way to make sure that you can preserve an area to hunt or fish, but for many of us, it is just a lottery ticket and a dream away.
I have no qualm with private property owners, but there are times that I just don't understand what people are thinking.
Where I dove hunt, there is a house on the other side of a gravel road. These people have fields and woods as far as I can see behind their house, and lots of doves to go around. So I went and asked for permission to hunt their property. I'm an upstanding member of society, a huge supporter of all conservation efforts, and an extremely respectful individual, but this is what I am told.
"No way, we have horses back there and we don't want them to get shot!"
After the door abruptly closed in my face, I almost started to laugh. The horses were nearly a mile away from the area I was talking about hunting, and I can tell the difference between a robin and a dove in the air from 500 yards. I'm almost positive that I could differentiate between a horse and dove, and not swing through on the thoroughbred.
Most people that play Ebeneezer Scrooge with their real estate have never spoken to a hunter about what the hunter plans to do, what the hunter will do if given the opportunity to hunt, and why they would like to hunt their property.
If given the time, a well-informed conservation-minded hunter or fishermen could teach the landowner more about their property than they could ever learn by playing the isolationist card.
"No, I don't want any deer hunting because I like to watch them in the fields."
This is another response I've heard before. What do these people think I'm hunting with, a howitzer that is going to explode every deer? "Look, there's some deer in the field. Range...400 meters...fire in the hole...thunk."
No hunter wants to kill all your deer. Most hunters like myself, never get one anyway. We just like to hunt them. See if we can get close enough without them seeing, smelling, hearing us. It's about the adrenaline rush of when one walks right next to you, almost trips over your boots, and never knows you're there. It's about the chase.
Fishing is the worst of all. People who live on lakes are the stingiest people I've ever met. Knowing good and well this 80-year-old couple hasn't fished this pond in 20 years, I'll go knock on the door, introduce myself, and politely ask for permission to fish their lake.
Their own politeness turns into almost outrage as they tell me no, and slam the door. I pause, to make sure I didn't say something bad about their daughter, because I got that kind of a response.
Most land owners use this line.
"Well, I would but I don't want to be legally responsible, so, no."
Landowner's own ignorance of a law that was made for them surprises me constantly. Indiana passed a law that makes private landowners not responsible for any injuries that take place on their property while hunting, fishing or trapping (Indiana Code 14-22-10-2.5.). This protects the landowner from being sued, so the responsibility excuse is pretty lame these days.
The saddest part about it is that usually it's me and my wife asking for permission, and people still look at us as if we are just going to sneak out there, call our buddies in pickup trucks, throw a big party and leave trash all over the place. Why does everyone assume that's what an outdoorsman does when they get permission on someone else's property? Maybe there were truck loads of drunken people in camouflage, who drove around and pestered landowners before I was born, and now people are just conditioned to think hunters and fishermen will trash their lakes and fields.
I'm not saying to open your lakes to the public, but a little more access will probably improve the environmental stability of most farm ponds and gravel pits in the area. There are outdoorsmen out there that can be trusted to take care of your property as if it were their own. And most will go out of their way to protect the land from anyone doing it harm. It's like having a security guard for free.
I know as well as every outdoorsman does, that there are bad apples in every batch. There are people who will disrespect you and your property if given the chance. But to find the honest, respectful people, landowners have to give a few a chance.
You never know, you just might find someone who is willing to help around the land, maintenance, upkeep, etc., just for permission to hunt or fish.
