Good Manners Often Open Gates To Private Land
Most Idaho landowners don’t frown on hunters.
According to a recent survey, 88 percent of Idaho’s farmers and ranchers will allow hunting on their property if hunters ask permission first.
“The vast majority of those landowners are more likely to grant access to their land to people who ask well in advance,” says Pat Cudmore, Idaho Fish and Game Department landowner-sportsman relations coordinator.
Cudmore recommends that hunters contact landowners at least two weeks before a hunting trip. In many cases, it’s better to ask even further in advance, since some landowners set their own quotas on their property.
Sportsmen can pick up free hunter courtesy cards at Fish and Game offices. These contain spaces for the hunter’s (or angler’s) name, address, etc., to be given to landowners who grant access to their land.
Landowners in turn sign a card the hunter keeps which verifies permission to access the property.
The cards do not increase the landowners liability in the case of an injury. They simply provide proof that the landowner has been personally contacted prior to entering private land.
Idaho law provides that it is a misdemeanor for a person to enter another person’s property without permission for the purpose of hunting, trapping or fishing if the land is cultivated or irrigated.
In these instances, permission must be obtained even when the land is not posted.
If the landowner wishes to restrict hunting, fishing or trapping access on land that is not irrigated or cultivated, the land must be posted every 660 feet.
But if a hunter is aware a piece of land is privately owned, even if it is not irrigated, cultivated or posted; it is most appropriate to ask permission as a courtesy.
In addition to always asking permission, there are other do’s and don’ts that apply to hunting activities.
Road hunting is one of the most irritating practices to landowners since this leads to shooting from roads onto private property near buildings, livestock and people.
Shooting from or across a public road or from a vehicle is illegal and dangerous.
While Idaho law does not prohibit possession of a fully loaded gun in a vehicle, common sense and accident statistics indicate this is a foolish practice and one which can only hurt the image of the fine sport of hunting.
xxxx TAKE THE TEST Prospective hunters born after Jan. 1, 1975, must pass a hunter education course before they are eligible to purchase an Idaho hunting license. Most most fall classes in North Idaho are full. Students are encouraged to sign up and be first on the list for winter classes, said Phil Cooper, Fish and Game Department spokesman. Info: (208)769-1414.