Explain smething to me??

[MNpurple]

I hunt in area 346, third season. One of the farms is my grandparents and the other 2 farms just people I know. This past weekend, my grandparents had 8 different hunters stop and ask permission to hunt during the 3rd or 4th seasons because they did not have any land. This just baffles me, sure I can see someone losing their spot right before season for whatever reason, but 8 different people?? I only apply for a tag and an area if I know I will have a spot. And then to be asking permission less than a week before season? I just dont get it.

Is this more common than I think. People just apply for an area and worry about securing permission later?

[monstermoose78]

Well i had to do that because the turkeys were not where they have been in the past so had to change in the middle of the season which made it hard to find land. I know i should have scouted more but with gas prices and shortage of vacation time i figured they would be on my dads land like always but they were not there due to coyotes that moved in. Could be worse atleast they asked.

[muzzy]

I didn't get to hunt the land I usually do in the same area (346) this year. I hunted the first season and did not bag anything. I would only think it would be proper to ask a landowner well in advance. I rarely do that anyways but if I were a landowner I would appreciate that a little more.

I left a day early frustrated. Hunted just East of Rushford on State Forest Land (Not much of it without being landlocked in that area) and saw a few hens. I was hunting on a property fenceline and a jake appeared on the other side of course. Every morning for two consecutive mornings an older fella would drive his ATV in the field that I was hunting on to check gopher traps! Why??? is there something in it for him to catch gophers on State property? He owned the farm next to the property. Wasn't the friendliest of creatures either when I talked to him. I don't complain too often but the heat, lack of gobbles, and the rude people from Rushford sent me home early. I will be hunting up North from now on I guess.

Muzzy

[MNpurple]

I should retread a little bit, I know circumstances happen that we cant control and I wasnt trying to cut on anyone whatsoever, but these guys seemed to just show up a week before season, had their tags and expected to just walk right in, kinda crazy. Some were even suprised to hear that people had claimed seasons months ago.

Sorry to hear about your hunt muzzy. Last year I hunted a farm and the adjacent landowner knew I was hunting there and made a point to patrol his fencelines and logging roads throughout the day on a four wheeler just to mess me up. Dont judge the whole area as rude, but like anywhere there are bad apples.

[Borch]

Some guys just don't realize that people are out securing spots long in advance. I for instance, usually start calling as soon as the info comes out. Even so, I missed out on one of my usually spots as the owner had a freind who secured the same season as I had and talked to him even before the notifications. I still have one owner to check with where I saw turkeys just this week. It's late but it never hurts to ask.

There's always public land to fall back on. It's not as bad as people often think it is. I've shot several birds off of a couple small public hunting areas and haven't been bothered by other hunters.

[Hotspotter]

MNPurple:

Yah, it's pretty common I think.

People get out of it what they put into it (or unfortunately, what other people put into it sometimes). If they're only willing to put a little bit of time into it, no scouting, no prep, and no securing of land.....they could be holding onto a $25 tag that's worthless.

I try not to let it bother me too much. Most often, they get the experience they bargained for, and they don't even know it.

It strikes a nerve however, as I tend to go out with alot of people that don't have quite the passion for it that I do. It's hard to see them pull out whatever shotgun they can find with an old box of ammo they've never patterned.....roll into the farmers yard expecting to have permission from 5 years ago. It's hard to take them out, call a bird into their lap and get the "awww shucks, this turkey huntin' ain't nothin." I love helping people and teaching people new to the sport, but they have to at least be enthusiastic enough, prepared, and disciplined-enough to pull their own weight.

It used to be such that having an opportunity to hunt in MN was somewhat of a rarer thing. Nowadays, opportunities abound, and I'm done with the spoon-feeding. They're not bad people, or even lazy, they just don't want to put in the time, or don't feel like they have the time to give it.

Their results, fun, and ultimate success should reflect that in my opinion.

Joel