vzdude

First off, none of this happened in my Dodge! I got stuck in a landowners lane that I hunt twice in the last 4 years. The first time I was actually stuck in the field and he and his wife pulled my truck out while I had gone for help and we all laughed about it. Last year was the only time landowner was upset. I offered to help repair or roll the lane, and said not to worry about it. I WAS however advised NOT to drive on the lane anymore it was in too bad of shape. O.K.! Not a problem, I'll park on the road from now on. It is about a 1/4 mile back off the road, maybe 3/8 at the most. Farm field in between. One other person hunts this property as well and he was also told of the situation. HE parked in the lane yesterday ! Uh Oh! Granted he didn't go to where the bad area was, but still! I get a letter on my truck last night ofter hunting explaining the situation, and that this will be my last season to hunt this land. I have written permission to continue to hunt the rest of this deer season. The other hunter has until 12:00 tonight to get his stuff off the property! I feel somewhat responsible for this guy getting in trouble, because, to the best of my knowledge, he had never gotten stuck in the lane. He was told not to drive down it though, just as I was, and decided to do it anyway. Did I mention this property owner was the local county JUDGE? He has posted now that all vehicles will be towed, and violators will be prosecuted ( which I don't doubt! ) and he has called all the local LEO's to ticket any vehicle except mine, and arrest anyone without written permission. ( which I now have! ) SO..........here's my dilema.........

#1- Do I contact the property owner to discuss the situation in a week or two?
#2- Do I send him a letter apologizing for the previous troubles and simply thank him for the time he has allowed me to spend there?
# Cease hunting there now, and hope he will change his mind before next year?
#4 Continue to hunt the rest of this year and call him up again next year?

What would you do?

Shovelhead

I'll take door number 2.

I'd do it in person though.

Truckman0097

Agreed - do it in person - I would also continue to hunt there the rest of this year, but don't drive on his property or lane.

old dog

I Would Take Door #2 ,and Do It In Person, Possibly Taking Them A Gift, Fruit And Bottle Of Booz ,if You Know Them Well Enough To Do It With Out Offending Them, Show Them Your Sincere Appreciation For Letting You Hunt In The Past & Presant.
After All They Are Paying Some Pretty Good Taxes On The Property That You Hunt .
When I Had My Farm It Might Have Changed My Mind>
Claude

lastchance

Most definetly tell him how much you appreciate him letting you hunt and if there is ever anything you can do for him to let you know because a JUDGE is not one to **** off!

Big T

I would continue to hunt this year, then contact him thank him for the time he let you hunt it. Then during plowing, cutting or tilling show up with work clothes on and give him a hand working the land. I have showed up on land I was aloud to hunt and land I wasnt and know I can hunt almost all of them. This worked almost every time. A hand shake and a thank you only go so far, free labor and a helping hand go alot farther. Also a Judge would be a great friend to have.

vzdude

I do happen to know that his favorite beverage is cold and comes in silver cans! At the end of the year, or after I get a deer, I'll definately pay him a visit with a couple of cases and some sausage! I have always given him several packages of meat and sausage every year even if I didn't get a deer off of his land. As a matter of fact, he told me last year, he still had plenty left! I think I will continue to hunt this season and just make sure to watch my P's and Q's ! Thanks!

Spooler

Thank him in person. That is gratitude most people don't see these days.

vzdude

Yeah, I have done a lot of mechanical work for him and such and have always been ( in my opinion ) on his good side. He doesn't actually farm the ground, he just has cattle in the pasture. The farm ground is either rented or 50/50, whatever the case may be.

Iron Mike

As someone who owns some prime hunting property and allows a few people to hunt it, I would recommend this option. In addition at the end of season as you have done before take over a gift and Thank him in person. At that time I would not push him on next year. I would just continue to try and have a good relationship with him as you have had in the past. If you want to hunt the property again, I would give him some cool down time. Maybe a month or so before next season pay him a personal visit and once again thank him for the past privilage of hunting his ground, then tell him that if he would ever reconsider his decision that you would greatly appreciate the oppurtunity to hunt his property again someday. If he says no, then thank him for his time and keep a good attitude.

halfpint23

DEFINITELY tell this generous man that you appreciate his allowing you to hunt his land, take him a small (not big or expensive - smacks of currying favor) gift and hope he will think of you kindly in the future. It's his ground, and his offended feelings. Hopefully things will ease off in the off season, and he'll let you know next year that you can come back!

Oh, and unless he tells you to, finish the hunting - more chance of gifting him with some venison jerky!

grantx5

#2, along with gift certificate to a really nice restaurant where he and his wife and just relax and enjoy a meal.

Kindness goes a long ways.

Totallyrad

I wouldn't let this get cold, go talk to him. You don't want to get the other letter.

patdaly

I'm with the others, but if he goes through with it, I would bet no one will be allowed to hunt the property, not just you. I wouldn't feel too bad for the other guy either, had he not chosen to pull into the lane, more than likely non of this would have transpired.

Take option #2 in person, and no matter what happens, you have had the enjoyment of hunting that land, no one may take those memories away.

vzdude

Yeah, his letter said this would be the last season ANYONE hunted his property. I intend to talk to him, but I think I know him well enough to give it some time to settle down. I'll try to talk to him some day when I see him out. I don't want to make a special trip to see him for this sole purpose. Same thing with the gift part. If I took him a gift today, he would take offense, thinking that I was trying to buy him, guilt him or something. I hope it will all work out in the end, but if it doesn't I'll still respect him and his descision.