We need to drink a beer and bitch together.
We own a bit of land, been in my family since 1957.
I grew up hunting with my step dad, and except for 3 pricks that
didn't allow hunting, we ran all over a 7 mile long ridge.
Ask to hunt deer, small game we mostly just hunted.
Run into a farmer/landowner, standing around for an hour catching up.
They usually seemed slightly annoyed when they ask, "Why don't you ever
come hunt deer with us?" After the first day, many drove and the more the merrier.
We didn't do big party drive hunting, so just went our way.
Point is, I only know a few of those landowners now.
Most farms are chopped. Very few would allow me to hunt.
So now, we have been hunting the aforementioned land, for about 20 years.
Until then, it had never been posted. (Yep, we're pricks now)
And too many hunts are ruined for me because of trespassers.
After I get them moving, I'm done hunting. The funds over.
Another PGC gripe is that issue.
Until recently, the did not support landowners. At all.
Lip service. Reminding you to ask permission.
But they would do nothing about trespassing hunters.
I had a guy tell me, "Those $300 fines on your sign, it's a joke. People
almost never call the cops. If you do, often I can beat it in court.
If I lose, the fine for simple trespass is $50. $300 only applies if I damage
or steal property. Commit another crime.
So, if I got a $50 fine every other
year, that's $25/year. And I can hunt the whole dam state. Beats any lease
or paying taxes!"
And he was right.
