Pheasants Forever Hunting Land

[Farley]

So my uncle just bought some land and next to it is some grassland posted with Pheasants Forever signs with "Hunting with Permission only" on them. Where would a guy get permission to hunt this? from the local chapter I'm guessing? If someone hunted this they would have to drive down his private driveway to get at it so wouldnt that be tresspassing? I've read every PF magazine from the last year, searched their HSOforum, searched the DNR HSOforum and cant find any info about PF hunting lands. What I really would like to find is a map of the lands they own. Thinking about becomming a member. My roomate has been a member for a couple years and I have always enjoyed the magazines.

[CodyDawg]

Great question. The answer is that it is almost certainly private land. PF does not own land, as soon as they acquire it, it is turned over to the DNR or USFW to become a WMA or WPA. PF will do habitat projects on private land and will oftentimes have the landowner put the sign up. So it is a private landowner you will have to ask.

PF is a great organization and I encourage you to get involved with your local chapter to help spend some of the money they raise. The money they raise all stays local!

[NoWiser]

We used to hunt Pheasants Forever land in South Dakota until they sold it this last year. They had the exact same signs around the property. The way you got "permission" was to go to one corner of the property where they had a mailbox. You filled out a paper that said where you were from, and what vehicle you were in, stuck it in the mail slot, and were good to go. It was great hunting land that most people didn't know they could hunt. Unfortunately they sold it all this last year to a private party for a very large amount of money, under agreement that they would not till it for a certain period of time. They did an awesome job restoring that land, and I'm sad to see it go, but its good knowing they will use that money elsewhere to restore habitat. I guess to make a long story short, maybe drive around the perimeter of the land and see if they have the same type of system in place there, it may just be a matter of filling out a piece of paper to hunt it.

[CaptainMusky]

We used to hunt Pheasants Forever land in South Dakota until they sold it this last year. They had the exact same signs around the property. The way you got "permission" was to go to one corner of the property where they had a mailbox. You filled out a paper that said where you were from, and what vehicle you were in, stuck it in the mail slot, and were good to go. It was great hunting land that most people didn't know they could hunt. Unfortunately they sold it all this last year to a private party for a very large amount of money, under agreement that they would not till it for a certain period of time. They did an awesome job restoring that land, and I'm sad to see it go, but its good knowing they will use that money elsewhere to restore habitat. I guess to make a long story short, maybe drive around the perimeter of the land and see if they have the same type of system in place there, it may just be a matter of filling out a piece of paper to hunt it.

That may hold true in South Dakota because they have what is called "Walk in Areas" but these do not exist in MN and would not apply in this circumstance. As CodyDawg said, this land is undoubtedly private and the only way to gain access to it would be to find the owner (PF does NOT own it) and get permission. Getting the Plat book for the county would be a good start.

Personally I think it is misleading when PF puts signs up like this because a lot of people (wrongfully of course) think it is public hunting grounds for one reason or another. I understand it is good advertising for habitat projects, etc, but some uninformed members of PF might think this would be a "membership Priviledge" to hunt this.

[NoWiser]

I didn't mean that they should hunt it without checking, just suggested investigating a little more to see if it was a similar situation to what I found in South Dakota. I know for a fact that the land in South Dakota was not "Walk-In". It was owned by Pheasants Forever, and recently sold by Pheasants Forever. It was right on their HSOforum. The reason it recieved so little pressure is because it was not on the maps that showed the walk-in areas. In this case it sounds like it must be owned by a private owner and you would need to ask them for permission. Good luck!

[CodyDawg]

Are you sure it was PF land and not some other Pheasant group? There are a few of those out there and because PF is the biggest, they sometimes get confused with the other groups. I am not aware that PF has ever done anything like that. Not saying that it isnt possible, but it would be an exceedingly rare situation. PF just doesnt hold onto land. I will try and remember to check with PF national next time I see them.

[lawdog]

If you look on the PF HSOforum you an buy those signs in their marketplace section to mark your private land. Check out their site and I'd bet you see the same signs you see out there, and if so its just the guy posting his own private land.

[NoWiser]

CodyDawg, you are absolutely correct. I must not have had enough coffee this morning. I was thinking about it at lunch and that was Ducks Unlimited land I hunted, NOT Pheasants Forever! They had signs that said that identical thing, though. Sorry for the confusion! Just goes to show you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet! Good hunting everyone!

[Farley]

but some uninformed members of PF might think this would be a "membership Priviledge" to hunt this.

Exactly what my roomate thought.

Thanks for the responses.

[JConrad]

What's with the 2012 question?

[CaptainMusky]

What's with the 2012 question?

I believe he is looking forward to the next Presidential election.

[2springers]

What's with the 2012 question?

Reading the Mayan calendar?

[Dilly]

You need permission to hunt just as the sign says, it's because it's private land and the land owner let PF put in some habitat for the birds.