Don't Even Ask to Hunt

gain for thousands of Montanans, fall, just before the opening of Big Game Hunting Season. With that said I’d like to urge all of the hunters out in the field to use some common courtesies this year, and every year. What courtesies am I referring to? The biggest one to tackle, which in my opinion is the age-old battle between Hunter and Landowner. As hunters, we need to be diligent in some simple tasks to ease this battle, because we are losing it. This is not blaming landowners, as their issues with hunters are well deserved, so it is our responsibility to try to change their opinions of us.

First and foremost, ASK PERMISSION to hunt on private property. Just because it isn’t posted doesn’t make it fair game to hunt. With that said, hunters are “telemarketers” to most landowners, nonstop calling, calls early in the morning till way into the night.

I personally have already secured my access for the year in several areas. My second point is, don’t wait till opening morning and call or stop in to their house at 4 a.m. because you want to hunt. I can’t blame a response of NO! Do a little pre-season permission hunting, and you will be more welcome to most ranchers, but not a guarantee. It is their land after all.

Another courtesy, getting to know them for more than that one phone call helps a lot. Offer to help out in the “off-season”. They have lots of chores around the place, i.e. brandings, fencing, if your handy with equipment, haying season offers ample opportunity to help.

I am lucky enough to work with several area ranchers in my job, and hear the complaints they have of hunters. One of the biggest is when someone asks to take their kid hunting on their land. Most folks have a soft spot for young hunters, and will say yes, then said hunter ruins it for many others by showing up in a suburban loaded to max capacity with several friends and co-workers. If you asked to take your kid, take your kid. If you want to take six friends, ask for six friends, simple as that.

Next up is the matter of gates. If they are closed, close them. If they are open, leave them open. Again, a little effort goes miles. I ask before I go in if gates are open or closed to make sure. Letting the cows out is a sure way of losing access, and closing the wrong gate could be blocking those same cows from getting to water. That is equally bad, maybe worse.

Do not litter. The landowner wouldn’t empty last weeks McDonalds bag in YOUR yard, so don’t leave yours in his. As an extra thanks, if you are fortunate enough to be out there on someone’s ranch and see trash, pick it up!

Don’t, get out and walk to check over a ridge or hill. Don’t drive all over every blade of grass, get out and walk to check over a ridge or hill. Don’t play the game of “I think we can drive up there: If you do have a successful hunt, don’t just assume you can drive across a nice smooth field to retrieve your trophy. If you ask, they may let you, but it is owner’s choice, not ours. I have been hunting for nearly four decades and have seen thousands of huntable acres go from “yes, go right ahead” to “don’t even ask to hunt” signs. So every time a hunter messes up some road in the mud, (also a big complaint I hear), or leaves a mess, it closes another door to the hunting community. However, a little effort and courtesy can possibly re-open some closed doors, or at the very least, not close any more!

Good luck this year, and with some common courtesy, maybe the title of this rant can change to something better suited to us hunters.