Road Hunting...

[Barbelboy]

Awww, Farley. We're we having a bad day yesterday?

I respect your opinion until you type something like this

"Are we supposed to feel sorry for you? Get over yourself buddy."

That is not an opinion on whether road hunting should be legal or not.

And if you read my post it is pretty obvious that I think it's legal.

So many times on this HSOforum I see fellow sportsmen bashing each other because tiny differences in how we "think" the outdoors should be enjoyed. I find it aggravating so I respond like I did in my first post.

But then you seemed bothered by my post.

So I'll put it to you.

Are we supposed to feel sorry for you? Get over yourself buddy.

[Farley]

http://www.hotspotoutdoors.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2015249/road_hunting

Another thread on road hunting I found while looking for the elusive regulations on road hunting. Dont seem to be any. From what I gather its legal just because its not illegal.

[bottomdweller]

I love bird hunting with my dog.

I am a disabled person, I have very weak legs from an spinal injury many years ago. I do hunt fields when I feel well but I cant hunt them long.

Praire dog holes and uneven ground really take a toll on me.

So I hunt section lines, gravel roads, where I can walk on even ground and it keeps me in the hunt longer. I admit I dont like to do it, but it allows me to do what I enjoy! hunting! watching my dog hunt!

It is legal and for you to bash people for it isnt very civil.

There are many things I dont like but they are legal, and as long as they are I keep my opinion to myself.

Just my dollars worth, it used to be two cents but inflation is making it more:)

[Farley]

Thats awesome. Glad you can still get out and get some birds and work your dog. But its not the hunters like you that I have an issue with.

Can someone pleas post the "rules" for road hunting? Specifically how much space do you have from the middle of the road?

[CaptainMusky]

If I didnt have a dog, or didnt have friends with dogs, I would give up pheasant hunting. I dont see the point.

Thats one of the most ignorant comments I have heard in a long time. I realize each person is entitled to their opinion, but to basically say that someone shouldnt enjoy the sport because they may not have some of the things that may make it more enjoyable is ridiculous.

Today's hunter is getting outnumbered every day. We have fewer and fewer young people getting into the sport and consequently fewer voices to be heard in regards to protection of these rights.

IMO its a tragedy to make any suggestion about what a person has or doesnt have in order to say whether or not something is "worth" doing.

I dont really agree with road hunting. Ive done it in the past, but I stopped short of trespassing and never once dropped off an unwanted appliance.

If one person enjoys riding down the road and chasing after a rooster in a ditch that he sees and its perfectly legal and he is SAFE about it (not shooting toward cars, etc) I have ZERO problem with that. And really, neither should you.

What makes your rights or opinions more valuable since you have a dog and are of able body?

Who knows, they guy that doesnt have a dog just may be a very vocal person working for habitat to help the birds you and your dogs enjoy to hunt. Take that away from him and what happens?

[fishuhalik]

Talk to locals and get their opinion. Growing up on the iron range, we road hunt all the time for grouse. We do it because grouse hunting to us really isn't hunting, it's gathering good tasting meat. When I take a trip to go pheasant hunting though, I would never jump out and kill a bird that I saw on the way to the spot we were going to hunt. It cheapens the experience. Alot of farmers that ive talked to that live in pheasant country feel the same. They'll blast a pheasant off the ground that's sitting behind the silo but they won't road hunt for grouse when they're in MN.

[James_R]

Yeah, I think this petty bickering about what is or isn't sportsman like in our minds, what other sportsmen should or shouldn't be doing and the large number of nuisance phonecalls to the TIP hotline from cowardly sportsmen too affraid to confront others and actually ask them what they are up to really divides us and plays into the hands of the anti-hunting/animal rights activists. Our numbers are dwindling and this childish behavior from certain people who are upset that you or I don't hunt in exactly the same manner as they do is not going to benefit any of us.

[fishuhalik]

Well spoken James!!

[CaptainMusky]

I agree james but in today's world I think its wise to be cautious about confronting someone else especially when weapons are involved. You never know what someone might do.

[nine-tiner]

Having read the arguments on where a person can and can't shoot from while "road/ditch" hunting I have come to this conclusion. Everyone knows you cannot discharge a firearm on or across a "road right-of-way" which in most cases includes the area to the centerline of the ditch, and in some cases even further. And in most cases that same centerline is where private property begins. So unless a person has permission to hunt the ditch they are trespassing. (remember AG land including CRP doesn't need to be posted)

from the handbook--

"Road right-of-way

Some road right-of-ways are not owned by a unit of government.

In these instances the landowner has granted an easement for vehicle

and foot travel. The landowner generally retains authority to restrict

access for hunting or trapping and may prohibit trespass by posting

the land or by verbally directing hunters and trappers to leave the

easement. It’s always best to ask permission if in doubt about the ownership of a road ditch area. County or township offices also may be

able to help determine the ownership status of a road ditch."

[fishnowworknever]

I'd have to disagree with you there nine-tiner. If the ditch is not privately owned and you know for a fact that it is not privately owned...you can hunt that ditch legally without permission and you would not be trespassing.

So you're saying that ALL roadside ditches are privately owned , even the ones that aren't.

Maybe I'm reading that wrong in your post.

[Farley]

CaptinMusky I was just saying that if I didnt have a dog I wouldnt pheasant hunt, never did I say that anyone without a dog shouldnt pheasant hunt.

So how do you know you are legally hunting a ditch? How do you know where that imaginary line is between being legal and tresspassing? This is what I'm getting at. You say you are legal, but no one seems to know any rules on the subject. So does everyone contact the county or township to verify that the ditch they just saw a rooster run into is huntable? No they dont, they just get out, load up and go after it not knowing who might be deer hunting close by, who's property it is, how far they can go onto that property legally, etc....

I really have no problem with someone walking a ditch. Its the whole driving around till you see a rooster I think is lazy IMO.

[nine-tiner]

It reads "most" ditches.

I assume that unless the ditch is adjacent to PUBLIC land it would be privately owned.

[CaptainMusky]

They would be legally hunting it if they are not within the road right of way, not on posted land (or nonposted ag land) or on public land. Seems pretty clear to me. Definition of right of way varies by type of road, so you have to do your research BEFORE you do it.

Like I said, I dont road hunt anymore and the only times I did it in the past was when I was going from spot to spot. I never just drove around looking for birds.

You can also legally walk county and judicial ditches in certain areas of the state, but you better look it up by county before hand to be sure because they can be considered "public" as well.

FYI - there are guys that strictly walk road ditches (ie road hunting) vs the driving around type looking for a bird and jumping out to shoot type you are referring to.

[Farley]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no grey area between the edge of the road right of way and private land. So if you cant shoot on the right of way, and cant shoot on private land that you dont have permission for, where exactly is it legal to shoot a bird?

[CaptainMusky]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there is no grey area between the edge of the road right of way and private land. So if you cant shoot on the right of way, and cant shoot on private land that you dont have permission for, where exactly is it legal to shoot a bird?

Public land, private land you have permission to hunt. Still seems pretty clear to me.

I think a lot of people make a ton of assumptions about people who are road hunting. How do you know if they have permission to be there or not? Many probably dont, but there are actually law following hunters out there however few that may be.

[Farley]

Only on public land and private land you have permission for. Thank you.

[CaptainMusky]

Only on public land and private land you have permission for. Thank you.

So by your logic should we stop hunting all together because of deer stand accidents or some hunters getting accidentally shot?

I mean, you are saying making road hunting illegal right? If you see someone breaking the rules, call TIP. I guess I dont see your point in all of this. My point is also that many people ASSume that they see someone driving down the road, see a pheasant jump out to shoot it that they do not have permission to hunt there. Many cases they may not, but its also possible they do.

If you have a problem with it call the DNR and have them vet it out.

Adding more rules, etc I dont think solves the problem. Those that break the law will still break the law.

Its illegal to hunt without a license. Some still dont buy one.

Its illegal to hunt upland birds without an article of blaze orange above their waist. Some still dont wear any.

You cant fix stupid no matter how many laws/rules you put out there.

[CodyDawg]

The vast majority of hunters do not take the time to go to the courthouse to see if a road ditch is privately owned or not. Until you have taken that step, you have absolutely no way of knowing the land ownership of the ditch. If you hunt that ditch without knowing the ownership, it is unethical in my opinion at the very least and may very well be illegal as well. To say nothing about damaging landowner relations. Why not just ask for permission? Many people still say yes believe it or not.

[countyline]

Ground and pound!

[CaptainMusky]

To say nothing about damaging landowner relations. Why not just ask for permission? Many people still say yes believe it or not.

I agree with you 100%.

[shooter72]

Just my two cents!! If its illegal to shot over or from the right of way and private land begins where the right of way ends. Unless you have permission from adjacent land owner and are standing out of right of way, road hunting is illegal. Correct me if I am wrong.

[fishuhalik]

Again guys, keep in mind these are probably locals you see road hunting. I knew every mile of my surrounding woods, who owned what, what was public and private, and the landowners wife's maiden name. same with pheasants. Those locals know all the people in the area. They're friends with most of em. And they know what land they can and can not hunt. I doubt many people pay all the $ it takes to hunt out of state or drive a couple hundred miles, stay at a hotel, etc. to ground pound birds out of their window. Sure there's a few bad eggs. Always has been, always will be. But unless you know FOR A FACT they're trespassing, leave us road hunters alone!!!

[westb]

Just my two cents!! If its illegal to shot over or from the right of way and private land begins where the right of way ends. Unless you have permission from adjacent land owner and are standing out of right of way, road hunting is illegal. Correct me if I am wrong.

I am pretty sure this law is for big game only. Not positive though.

[nine-tiner]

in regards to 'paved' roads

790.15 Discharging firearm in public.

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2) or subsection (3), any person who knowingly discharges a firearm in any public place or on the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or whosoever knowingly discharges any firearm over the right-of-way of any paved public road, highway, or street or over any occupied premises is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. This section does not apply to a person lawfully defending life or property or performing official duties requiring the discharge of a firearm or to a person discharging a firearm on public roads or properties expressly approved for hunting by the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or Division of Forestry.

(2) Any occupant of any vehicle who knowingly and willfully discharges any firearm from the vehicle within 1,000 feet of any person commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) Any driver or owner of any vehicle, whether or not the owner of the vehicle is occupying the vehicle, who knowingly directs any other person to discharge any firearm from the vehicle commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.