speaking of "neighbors", what would you do?

[wtnhunt]

With hoosier's post in the bowhunting room, reminded me of a request from the new landowner behind us and thought I might ask about other's thoughts here.

The property behind us is accessed by a shared easement rd, but they have to cross a river to get to the part that borders us, which is where the best hunting typically is. New owner asked me if they could come through from our side, my answer was I just don't think I can do that. Reason being that to get to his property from ours he would have to walk right past where we most often hunt, which could and likely would blow the deer out. I did give him our number and I told him we would let him come after deer from our side and if he had any that he shot come across on us that I would let him take them out from our side so long as it did not hurt our hunting. Don't think he really grasped the idea that giving him permission he was asking for would likely effect our hunting. If he could come through without blowing deer off our property I would not mind, but given the lay of our property I just don't see that as a possibility.

So question to you is, what really is the "neighborly" thing to do in this type scenario, what would you do?

[Dawg]

I would have done the same. You never know about some folks......give em an inch, they'll take a mile.

[Rhino]

Actually we have the same type of agreement with the neighbor that owns the largest amount of land around us in MO. There's a large creek that winds down through our's and parts of his property so we both have property on either side of the creek depending up which way the creek bends and where. He doesn't want us going through his property during the season to access ours to hunt and vice versa. If either one of us needs to go into or through the other's to recover a deer, we each agreed to contact the other one 1st before entering to recover it. Outside the season he's allowed us to go through his property so we could post lines where a couple of other smaller pieces of property join ours & his. We've done the same thing for him outside the season so he could get his tractor to a 120 ac. piece he owns on our NW side. This neighbor owns ~750 ac. in several tracts around us and he's a good guy, a great neighbor, and he's become a friend.

It shouldn't be a problem if your neighbor understands you want the best opportunities to hunt your land with the least amount of disturbance as possible. He wants the same thing or he wouldn't have asked for access through you.

[Strut10]

You might go on to explain to the gentleman just WHY you arrived at the decision you made (if you haven't already). If he's a true hunter he will understand.

[Maine Hntr]

I would have done the same. You never know about some folks......give em an inch, they'll take a mile.

Have to agree with you and Dawg here, before you know it they'll have multiple stand sets along where you've put hard earned work and time into..

[hoosierhunter]

speaking of "neighbors", what would you do?

If the man doesn't understand why it would hurt you to do that then he isn't much of a hunter IMO. I'd also be aware of him ending up on you anyway without asking.

[wtnhunt]

You might go on to explain to the gentleman just WHY you arrived at the decision you made (if you haven't already). If he's a true hunter he will understand.

Yep Don, I tried explaining and even probably shared more than I should have about our food plots and what I hold out for. He asked numerous times over about a 15 or so minute conversation. Don't know if he did not understand or if he just thought I would eventually say ok if he kept on asking. At any rate, he knows where I stand. Still have hopes that this guy will work out better than what we had going on before.

[Ravin R10 man]

you say yes and your hunts are ruined...some people will drive right past your stand with you in it, but but woe is you if you even drive along your property line

[Ultradog]

You did what I would have done.

And I think any respectable sportsman would understand why.

[abrown]

Sounds like you did the right thing. I agree, theres way too many variables to factor in if you would have said yes. Not saying he's not trust worthy, but what's to say they wouldn't shoot a bruiser on your place going to theirs, them knowing no one was in there?