Article

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Deer gun season started this week and likely will bring many hunters to the woods as they try to fill their freezers. If you’re a hunter, you’ve probably been looking forward to this week, but if you’re a landowner you may be dreading it.

I frequently hear complaints during hunting season about trespassing and unauthorized access to property. A few tips for hunters and landowners are below that may make hunting season less frustrating.

• Hunters, always ask for permission and have it in writing. Ohio law requires written permission for hunting on private property that the hunter does not own or reside on. There are several exemptions to this requirement for family members and tenants but in short, if you don’t own the property, get permission first. You can find a sample permission slip on the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) website. Remember, just because YOU have permission doesn’t mean that you can bring a hunting buddy or three. Each hunter should have a written permission slip.
• Be honest with the landowner about your hunting intentions. Deer can be a real nuisance for farmers as they cause severe damage to soybean fields, orchards and other crops. Farmers may be more interested in reducing the overall number of deer, rather than selectively harvesting bucks. The opposite may be true, but the point is to always communicate your intentions.
• Respect the land, and treat it better than your own. Don’t cause damage to trees, cut paths, erect buildings, rut fields with ATVs, cut fences, etc. Second only to trespassing, this is the most frequent issue brought up during calls to our office. If you plan to use a blind or tree stand, talk with the landowner about any trees or locations that are off limits. Also, ask for routes to use if you will be using an ATV that will avoid any hazards or areas that may be easily damaged. Tile outlets, ditches, and swamps may not be easily seen until it’s too late. After hunting season, it should look like you were never there. Remove all your hunting gear unless you have permission to leave it for multiple seasons. It should go without saying, but also pack up your garbage.
• Landowners, it is also important for you to clearly communicate your expectations to the hunters on your property. When completing the permission slip, you can include additional conditions for the hunter. If you have frequent hunters, it may be beneficial to have a lawyer draft a permission slip specific to your farm. These conditions can include specific locations to hunt, days and times for hunting and more.
• Knowing the correct property boundaries is also very important. Many apps are available that will find approximate property lines, but they may not have the precision needed to avoid conflict. Landowners should clearly mark the property boundary and if possible, physically show the hunter the property lines.
• If you would prefer to keep hunters off your property entirely, make sure the perimeter is clearly marked with “No Trespassing” or similar signs. The signs should be easy to read, and at regular intervals so they cannot be missed in the woods.

OSU Extension has some great resources on the best way to mark property boundaries, send me an email for more information. If you do encounter trespassing on your property you can report the incident using ODNR’s Turn in a Poacher hotline at 1-800-POACHER (762-2437).

Stay safe out there and happy hunting!

Submitted by Lee Beers, agriculture and natural resources educator for OSU Extension – Trumbull County.  He can be reached by email or by calling 330-638-6738.

OFBF Mission: Working together for Ohio farmers to advance agriculture and strengthen our communities.