I'm Scoot and I'm from Fargo...

[Scoot]

I have a bit of a confession to make... I'm from Fargo.

Was bowhunting out in Western ND earlier this year and was reminded of how much many in the state stereotype those of us from Fargo. It got to the point where I started saying I was from the same place as my buddy (a small town in central ND) because all of the locals simply assumed I was a jerk because I was from Fargo. I hunt (and fish) legally, don't litter or leave a mess, and always leave things as good or better than when I got there. However, because of where I'm from people assume I won't do any of these things.

The flip side is that I know some people from Fargo who trespass, take more than their limit, hunt after hours, etc. However, I know people from small town ND who do the same things. Basically, some people are shmucks, regardless of where their from.

So my question is this- other than continuing to be legal and ethical, what can be done to help get rid of, or at least reduce, the "those from Fargo suck" stereotype? (BTW, I'd move if I could, but Fargo is about the only place in the state that I'm employable. I'm 100% small-town-kid, but I happen to live in one of the only decent sized towns in the state, bummer. )

So, I'm from Fargo, but I'm not so bad! Honest!!!

Just curious to hear others thoughts on the matter...

[BigTen]

Move to Hickson, I did! then you wouldn't have to lie about where your from. Ha ha.

[huntnfish]

I have run into the same thing, Scoot. I have bent the truth a little when asked where I was from. I have talked to others who have had doors slammed in their faces after they told the land owner where they were from. I agree with you that it really doesn't matter where you live, people that want to be slob hunters and fishers will be that way no matter where they were from. I do like the fact that I can run to the grocery store and be back in 10 minutes, but it would be nice to have some more peace and quiet.

[nluchau]

I'm from Fargo and have no problem stating to people where I'm from and people don't say nasty things. Maybe it's the way I look. I'm 6ft 2in and 295, sideburns and a goatee.

Scoot - I got it. Grow side burns and you won't have this problem.

Anyway. I have not had the problem you are having. I'm proud to be a Fargoan.

[iffwalleyes]

That seems to be the first question often asked where are you from?

[nluchau]

This is the first question people ask and they basically answer it themselves. "You from Fargo?" I say yup and then they don't say a word after unless you initiate talk with them. This is what I've noticed while fishing Ashtabula this past fall.

[yankz9]

I had the same problem fishing Sakawea this past summer. A local at Parshall Bay asked where I was from (We were having a nice conversation). I told him Fargo. He laughed and said "Any town east of Bismarck doesn't matter much" and then he walked off.

Oh well, some people have insecurities they have to deal with themselves.

[harvey lee]

I must be different because when I have had hunters in ND ask me to hunt I could care less where they are from.I do agree it happens but why I dont know.

A good and safe hunter can come from any part of the state and location has nothing to do with it.We hunt only 45 minutes from Fargo and I would guess that the majority of hunters are from there.

I also believe that some might think that if you are from the big city,then you just wont understand how to care for gates and such.A pig is a pig and they dont all come from the bigger towns.

Maybe some resent the city folk as they dont understand the farm life or values.Only my guess.

We use to go to Iowa every year pheasant hunting in a motor home.When we pulled into the yard and they saw the motorhome it was like a automatic no.We soon figured out that if we stopped at thier farm wearing seed corn hats and pickups and didnt say we were from a bigger town that we could get on alot more land.Maybe you have to be more like them and your luck will change.It worked for us.

As we talked about Scoot,I can take care of your archery needs next year.

[Scoot]

All,

As for moving to Hickson (or any other small community away from Fargo)- I'm screwed. We built a house last summer and I've got a wife who loves the house and where we live. I wouldn't mind driving half an hour to work from outside Fargo, but I'm not excited about my wife having to make that drive in the winter time. I worry enough as it is and don't need another thing to lose sleep over...

I was curious to hear how many of you experienced the same thing. Sounds like I'm not alone. IFF and marine man, you two are from relatively small ND communities- how pervasive is the attitude I was describing? Any brilliant ideas as to what a guy can do about it? I honestly have no bright ideas other than to continue to try to be contientous, legal, and ethical when I'm out hunting and fishing.

[marine_man]

Scoot,

I havn't noticed or heard that attitude as much down here (lisbon) about people from Fargo. I think a big reason for that is because we are so close to Fargo. I do know that when I used to live in Fargo, or moved from Fargo to Lisbon a couple of years ago I got a somewhat similar response... not quite as perverse as what you heard, but kind of more a long, quiet oh... and then that was it.

As far as what to do... I don't think you have many options... continue to be the good guy that you are and push through I guess...

marine_man

[fishlakeman]

Scoot,

I experience a lot of the same problems you do as well. Me, being orginally from MN and having MN plates really gets some scowels from the locals. I was hunting ducks the week of the ND opener this year on a WMA and had a "local" drive up, get out of his truck and walk up to us while hunting to tell us to (putting this politely) "get out", thinking that we were MN residents hunting too early. Not only did he do that, but also told us that he told a farmer who owned the field to the west that we left behind a big mess in his field (which we didn't even hunt) and that the farmer replied "well, I guess I'll have to post it up this year." This was the worst case I've had, other than that, it's just been harsh looks, and simple "no's". I would say I'm lucky, to tell them that I'm a college student at NDSU, in which landowners are usually pretty big bison fans and will grant permission.

As for ideas, A case of beer, pocket knife, or a few well cleaned pheasants works well for a token of appreciation and is releately inexpensive for what your getting. Focus on the landowners that will grant permission and make sure you do more than just talk to them and ask for permission. Go to his favorite bar, start up a conversation, buy him a drink, and by the end of the night you might meet 5 other landowners that you now have permission from them to hunt. If your out there 3 times a year, each time,stop by, ask how the harvest went/is going, try to find what really interests them. Really try to build a connection. Maybe then a year down the road ask if he knows "farmer Jones" saying you noticed you were seeing lots of birds on his land. A call from your friend "farmer Fred" to "farmer Jones" is almost a guarantee'd success. I think the best tacic is to focus on a few farmers, and really build that connection, instead of spreading out over a broad area. Sure, you'll be driving almost everytime and see that there's a ton of birds in someone else's field, but it's almost guaranteed that theres something similar in the 1000's of acres that farmer fred and farmer jones owns.

Hope this helps ya out!

Also, my friend Joe and I would definately like to do another outing like we did last year on the Jamestown with you, iff, marine man, and the rest of the crew. We could do the Jamestown, or maybe head down to Otter Tail where I have some experience. Just a thought. Have a good one.

-Nick

[iffwalleyes]

Scoot when I am rich and wealthy and own section of land you would be more than welcome to hunt. But since we will both probably be dead before that ever happends. I have gotten some pretty good connections for hunting in ND because I people I work with and know. So I am luck for that. But we all know that Harvey Lee's ranch is on some of the best white tail country in ND lucky bugger .

Hey fishlakeman

Got to iceleaders.com the ND Slam is schedule for Jamestown for the 20th of Jan. Hopefully the fish are more forgiving this year than they were last year. It seems to run is streaks for every bad year there are two good some we will see. Hopefully I can be out there in a few weeks. As the time gets closer I will post up to date info.

[Scoot]

Thanks for the replies, fellas. IFF, looks like you and me are on the same pace for becoming rich! At the rate I'm going, in 2097 I should have enough saved up for about 11 acres.

Regarding Harvey Lee's land- yep, he sure says good things about it. He's very graciously offered to help me out next year, which I'm extremely appreciative of.

Nick, I agree with all of your suggestions. I'm generally pretty good about doing nearly all of what you suggested. I'm not too shy, so bsing in small town bars usually goes pretty well. In fact, I'll take a small town bar over the bigger city night life anytime!

As for the Jamestown outing- I'll be there if I can swing it. Regarding going to Ottertail, I'm in if we can get a group of guys together. I've got some good connections out there, so we can get very up to date info for when we're going. I've fished Ottertail a lot in the summer, but still haven't ventured out there on ice-it'd be fun.

[Blaze]

I have a confession to make, too: I actually live in MN, and worse yet, the Mpls suburbs! When I head out to my in-laws in the western part of ND and people ask where I'm from, I tell them the small town in northern MN where I grew up - I typically don't offer my current residence unless asked directly. In fact, when I'm hunting out there, I take my father-in-law's truck with ND plates and it's MUCH easier to get access.

Scoot - I think Harvey Lee is dead on with many city folk not understanding farm life, and vice versa - most farm folk don't understand city life. It's a sad reality, but a real one nonetheless. I've seen the ignorance from both sides firsthand. Why can't we all just get along?!?!?!

[icehole10]

Scoot I feel your pain. I moved to fargo from mn about six years ago, and for the first couple of years I was doing all of my hunting and fishing in mn. That was getting a little on the expensive side. So I've been on the look out for anywhere hunt. This was actually the first year that I have bow hunted since moving here, and I forgot just how much fun that was. I do some hunting with a coworker who lives in hickson and usually if we are asking for permission we always say we are from there or kindred. I never realized there was such a stigma about being from the big city until I moved to one. I do enjoy the hunting and fishing in ND alot more than I thought I would.

[CAJ]

Scoot. I think you will find the same thinking nomatter where your from, if you are a nonresident. I have seen it here in NE Montana to. Most of the land owners are realy good, but there are a few old sore heads here to. I like to fish in Minnesota and have heard a few coments about out of staters taking all there fish. I have gotten a little thicker skinned after fishing Canada a lot. They don't care to much for foreiners up there in places either. I just tell them up their that we protect them, so we should be able to do a little fishing to. HA HA CAJ

[huntingislife]

I understand what you are saying. I am going to school in Minneapolis but am still keeping my ND residency. I sure get some dirty looks here when I pull up to the ramp with my truck and boat with ND stickers on them. Oh well, its not gonna stop me from fishing.

[Anylakeanytime]

Hey Scoot,

I too have run into the "Hate Fargoans" attitude. I started saying I'll stay out of your countryside if you stay out of my stores? They shut up pretty quick.

[SalmonGuy]

Hey Scoot, I think it happens a little bit everywhere. I live near the St.Cloud MN area, but when "up north" or attempting to ask for bow hunting permission I use my local town of Clear Lake. I never really run into problems on lakes though - even had one guy last weekend that was neighborly enough to setup 6-7 ft (seriously) away from my tipup on an Alex area lake. Just had to laugh about it.

[Paul]

According to people I have run into during my state wide traves for work is people who live west of 281 hate people who live east of 281. I started telling people I was form bismark just so I got lest resitance from the locals when I was working there.

[wood_dog]

I do believe there is truth to the "hate Fargoans" theory. I live in MN, but grew up in a small town "out west." Many of my farmer friends have had bad experiences with hunters from Fargo being rude, etc. In fact, one told my farmer friend he couldn't post his land because the guy had been hunting it for years. HE was the reason it was posted (unsafe shooting) and was mad about the posting. One (Contact Us Please) like that can ruin it for all of you. I know for a fact that farmer won't give permission to anybody from Fargo anymore.

Work with the farmers, treat them well (beer usually works), and you'll get some access.

[hanson]

I wonder how well...

"I'm Hanson and I'm from the Twin Cities..."

would work out there.

[iffwalleyes]

Heck Hanson with your last name you could claim relatives in everytown here in ND . Just say my grandpa is from Carrington or something like that.