VTbowman Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 For years the property I own now was owned by my father-in-law and he does not hunt. He never posted the land and everyone for miles around knew and abused it. For the last 5 years now I have been posting it and keeping the abuse to bare minimum and only letting responsible hunters out there. The 1st few years I allowed the few respectable hunters that asked permission from my F-I-L to still be able to hunt there olds stand sites. Eventually they moved on to other places, greener pastures, or whatever leaving it solely to me and a few friends. However every year my neighbors would ask if they could go youth hunting out there with about 4 or 5 kids from there family and friends. Basically the local game wardens family and friends. I of coarse said yes wanting to support our youths programs and gain points with the game warden as being a fair and generous property owner and neighbor. Now I have had a few issues with his (the game wardens) family since I bought the land from my F-I-L since it was alway their intentions to buy the ajoining property (mine now) to make theirs larger. I basically "foiled there plans of an empire" as it has been joked about. However they still has full use of it thoughout the year for riding horses, and hunting, etc. Another thing is the VT youth season is the weekend between the closing of our Oct bow season and our Nov rifle season opener. Bucks are not plentiful up in my area either which our rifle season is 1 buck only. Youths can shoot either sex with a rifle. Personally, I always felt that the kids kinda screw up the property a week beofre the opening day for rifle by running around the woods and shooting at everything in site. LOL Seriously though, the element of surprize is gone due to the youth weekend. The deer are already skiddish from being hunted and shot at. I never like VT's plan for the timing of youth weekend. JMO Nevertheless, I asked only two things of them, which the adults fully and whole heartedly agreed with me, knowing our deer heard ratio balance being out of wack at 13:1. Only does and no gut piles on the property. We have a very bad coyote problem here too and I just am trying to keep them off as much as possible. To give the deer a little bit of a break from them... Well for 4 years in a row, 2 of the 4 kids, never the same 2, who are all around 12 ro 13 yeras old now, will shoot bucks and leave the gut piles out there. Last season I had gut piles less then 50 yards from 2 of my box stands. I was very upset, but remained calm, and kinda just let it slide but did mention it to my neighbors, like I do every year, to "try not to do these things again". I always get that laughing sorry apology and assurances, but each year its the same thing. Well this year I told them the property is not open for youth hunting this year due to these "yearly mistakes" , stating the gut piles being the ut most issue. But deep down I am mad that they are taking bucks out of an area that has very little and drastically lowering the chance of the hunters for rifle season I let hunt there too. To include me... LOL Now before eveyone jumps on me, these folks have property of there own and of almost the same size, that borders mine!!! Mine just has all the green fields... Would you of made the same call or just let it go? I mean its the local game warden and his family so they should know better and respect the wishes of the land owner. I feel they did not and just did what they wanted. They did not break any laws but did not follow the property rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest LDB Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I think you did the right thing. If the landlord imposes rules for land usage, you have to obey them whether or not you agree with them (by the way, I think your rules were entirely reasonable). If you don't agree with the landowner's rules, hunt somewhere else. Kids have to learn that actions have consequences. So do adults sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskMan Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I'd say that you did the right thing too, in fact you were likely nicer about it than I would have been. They DID NOT respect your wished, a game warden of all people should know the importance of that, I'd likely have reported him to a supervisor, but then again I'm kind of stubborn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest grunt0331 Posted October 24, 2004 Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I would have done the same thing, only far sooner. I think you were more than patient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTbowman Posted October 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 24, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I felt I went beyond what I should of but I was also concerned about neighbor relations. We have a few guys up here that are real a-holes aboiut there land and hunting and post everything up tight. They won't even give you the time a day if they know you hunt too. I remember how it was when I did not own land and could not find a place to hunt so I try my best to accommodate as much as possible. But then I also spend a lot of time and a LOT of money to get things ready for myself and a few friends and brother, who also put time and money into the property. I hate to get out there and have it all screwed up for them too... Kinda between a rock and a hard place on that. With us over weighing them... LOL I really dont want to take it out on the kids since they are being quided by there elders. I certainly don't need a game warden with a grudge either. Not that I do anything illegal, I just dont need him checking my licence every evening I walk out my front gate. Ya know... I just have to wait and see. His brother-in-law was very understanding and said he is thiankfull for what I do allow, but then again hes also the one who taps all my maples ofr sugaring and makes a mint of it I am sure. I do get a ton (3 gallons) of free syrup and some cash every year so it works out.. But the game warden is another story. Hes a jerk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? Too bad for them the way I see it. You tried to be a nice guy and they took advantage of you. I would not let them back on if they did not follow my rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c_lou Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? You did the right thing. If they don't respect your wishes they don't deserve your generousity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I believe you did the right thing also! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefighter Posted October 25, 2004 Report Share Posted October 25, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? Rules are rules , your land , there are rules . If the GAME WARDEN'S FAMILY , cant respect your rules, then they shouldnt be allowed to hunt your land. We have a game warden that hunts on land that the club i belong to lease's , no we dont charge him, and yes he asked about our rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
axman Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? Rules are rules they didnt follow but if they ask next year mybe they will learn a lesson. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 26, 2004 Report Share Posted October 26, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? The way I look at it you were doing them a favor and they should have respected your wishes. Like others have said, I would have done the same thing only sooner. I sort of have the fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me attitude. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maddhunter Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? I think you were more than patient with them. Game warden or not I wouldn't have let them on the place after the first time. I have heard of a few game wardens that use thier possitoins to get access to prime hunting land that the owners wouldn't normally let anyone hunt there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest gt2003 Posted October 28, 2004 Report Share Posted October 28, 2004 Re: Did I do the right thing...??? Ditto. Some people never learn. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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