What do you do if...?

[eltorro]

contact the landowner. If that is not possible, (the landowner is not there) or impractical, or the landowner refuses to grant you pass (it'a good idea to call them even if the landowner says yes, trust me.,,,) you should contanct OPP (or other forms of LE) AND the MNR.

The landowner IS NOT entitled to your (legally) shot game. That constitutes the base for you to recover your quarry in a legal dispute (conversation).

 

[canucklehead]

If the sign says no hunting then the owner of the property can not legally hunt the property either.

This seems like the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Does anyone have proof of this? If it's my property, and I hang a sign that says 'No camping', does that mean I can't camp? Gimme a break!

 

[the_big_mike]

This seems like the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Does anyone have proof of this? If it's my property, and I hang a sign that says 'No camping', does that mean I can't camp? Gimme a break!

Read some posts before you post!

Someone above already corrected him.

 

[riden]

Read some posts before you post!

Someone above already corrected him.

I am very curious where this is coming from?? Why has this come up again on this thread?? Do a lot of people believe this to be true??

How can a sign alter your property rights??

 

[CH_Tiger_14]

In NB, apparently the rules are a bit different than ON.

I hunt with several police officers and played rec hockey with a few CO officers. Jay can probably correct me if I'm wrong, but according to everyone I've spoken to, land that is marked with red circles or disks is land that cannot be hunted by anyone, including the owner.

If the landowner wants to hunt the land himself but keep everyone else out, there is a different color circle that needs to be posted.

 

[cosmic]

Up here in the "hunt camp" land near Algonquin Park (Ontario) people can get downright snarky if you cross the line, for whatever reason. I've seen generally responsible adults get very agitated because someone from an adjacent camp came across the line to chase a wounded animal - not a pleasant situation for all. The general attitude is that if an animal crosses the line, healthy or not, it is subject to harvest by the resident camp unless specific permission is given otherwise.
Additionally, many camp hunters will purposely hug the line, in anticipation of game being pushed by adjacent camps to them. Following game across the line can be outright dangerous. If we run into this situation, we radio the other camp to advise and request, if we dont hear gunshots and radio chatter first!
I realize this situation is not relevent to the original post. Around here, crown land is typically used by non camp, non local hunters. Often, this land is adjacent to private land - unposted but inhabited. Every year, there are reports of folks crossing the line, and in very close proximity to dwellings. Perhaps they are legitimately/legally chasing game, but there are heated confrontations with local families (hunting families included) - good way to get your forehead creased by some of the lads.

 

[senior]

Claybuster wrote
" But you can be assured that if someone did that to me I could say he was hunting on my property illegally. Possession is ill defined as well because if the only knowledge I have of the animal being there is the say so of a hunter then I'd take that charge to court."

You could say what you liked! but the fact some-one is following a clearly defined bloodtrail would simply point out to the CO or OPP that you are a scavenger attempting to horn in on some-one making a real attempt to do the right thing

QUOTE]

Hunt365 wrote
I think that you have the right to track a wounded animal Personally if you were on my land and you were tracking a wounded animal and could prove it. I would help you and I would expect you to gave your weapon ready in case you spot the animal and it needs to be finished off. Be polite but be ready to explain yourself and you had better be telling the truth or the s%$#t would start flying.

Finally some common sense

 

[hunt365]

Thank you Senior and for those of you in Ontario if the sign says no hunting then the land owner as well can not hunt thier property. Ask any official or CO they will tell you. That is why it is better to mark with red or a no tresspassing sign.

 

[Claybuster]

You could say what you liked! but the fact some-one is following a clearly defined bloodtrail would simply point out to the CO or OPP that you are a scavenger attempting to horn in on some-one making a real attempt to do the right thing.

Well that might fly if it weren't my land and weren't posted but it is and when you're asked to leave and don't that's criminal trespass. I WILL press that charge and will get my complaint in first.

If you bothered to read both of my posts you'd know that I would have no problem if someone asked permission. None at all. Nor would I raise a fuss if someone came on without my knowing it and I discovered it after the fact.

But if I discovered them and they started spouting about their "rights" or that they can legally come on my property in pursuit of wounded game then it's a different matter. As for carrying a firearm I have a very low tolerance for armed people who come on to my property unannounced regardless of how well meaning they claim to be. If you have to come on having that rifle unloaded and slung on your shoulder would be prudent.

 

[jmasson]

If I have to track wounded game onto private land I'd

1) call the landowner if he says yes no prob.
2) If I can't get ahold of him I'm going in anyway
3) If he says No I'm going in anyway. Sorry if this is talking obout illegal activities, but my answer doesn't change.

As for hunting on posted 'NO HUNTING' land it is my understandind that assuming I posted the sign I can do whatever I want on my land regardless of what I post.

 

[lildave]

This seems like the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

Does anyone have proof of this? If it's my property, and I hang a sign that says 'No camping', does that mean I can't camp? Gimme a break!

I corrected my own post above, however if you look at the more recent posts in this thread, you will see someone posted exactly what I originally posted the first time...

Dave

 

[bisonhd]

I'd try to contact the landowner, if I can figure out who it is. If there's no one around to ask, or a residence nearby, I'm going in. Feel free to call the cops on my "criminal trespassing", I'm sure they'll get right on that one.

 

[Gatehouse]

I'd try to contact the landowner, if I can figure out who it is. If there's no one around to ask, or a residence nearby, I'm going in. Feel free to call the cops on my "criminal trespassing", I'm sure they'll get right on that one.

I'd do the same.

It really depends on the situation, anbd th location- if you are in a area with lots of small farms and can see a house or if it's one of those huge ranches where there are no buildings for miles.

 

[Claybuster]

I'd try to contact the landowner, if I can figure out who it is. If there's no one around to ask, or a residence nearby, I'm going in. Feel free to call the cops on my "criminal trespassing", I'm sure they'll get right on that one.

On the two occasions I've had to do it (neither involving hunters or hunting) they did get right on it.

It might be a different situation in BC or in Northern Ontario but in Southern Ontario where population densities are high (I'm in a rural area less than an hour from two of Ontario's larger urban areas) hunter/landowner relations are sometimes tense and hunters rarely come out on the plus side of the equation.

I'd probably go on someone else's land too in pursuit of a wounded animal but if confronted by the owner and told to leave after explaining the situation I'd do so straight away. I might call the MNR to see if they could assist but if they couldn't I'd respect the landowner's request. Repeated private property violations and other bad behaviour by hunters quickly builds up intolerance toward visiting hunters in rural areas. When it happens often enough that's when pressure builds on township councils to restrict hunting.

I've worked politically with local councillors in my township to thwart attempts to have hunting and shooting restricted. The tough part isn't fighting the antis, it's having to face the reality that a small minority of slob hunters are hunting's worst enemies and doing us the most harm.

 

[senior]

It seems most of the disagrements should be clarified if there is a strong blood trail to follow! If there is, I'll make a quick attempt to contact landowner then I'm going in regardless, gun loaded, I'd much prefer a short chase if it jumps up again to a long one because an unloaded gun is a stick, & you can't put a wounded deer down with a stick!

If no blood trail then you obviously shouldn't be there!

 

[CH_Tiger_14]

Well that might fly if it weren't my land and weren't posted but it is and when you're asked to leave and don't that's criminal trespass. I WILL press that charge and will get my complaint in first.

If you bothered to read both of my posts you'd know that I would have no problem if someone asked permission. None at all. Nor would I raise a fuss if someone came on without my knowing it and I discovered it after the fact.

But if I discovered them and they started spouting about their "rights" or that they can legally come on my property in pursuit of wounded game then it's a different matter. As for carrying a firearm I have a very low tolerance for armed people who come on to my property unannounced regardless of how well meaning they claim to be. If you have to come on having that rifle unloaded and slung on your shoulder would be prudent.

I hear what you're saying -- after all it is your land. But IMO, for someone who probably does a lot of hunting and posts a great deal on this site, you seem to show a lot of animosity and very little tolerance for a fellow hunter who is trying to basically do the right thing by confirming a kill and harvesting an animal.

Just my opinion, mind you.

 

[CH_Tiger_14]

.......I'd probably go on someone else's land too in pursuit of a wounded animal but if confronted by the owner and told to leave after explaining the situation I'd do so straight away.....

Would that be with your rifle loaded or unloaded?? Just curious.

 

[Claybuster]

I hear what you're saying -- after all it is your land. But IMO, for someone who probably does a lot of hunting and posts a great deal on this site, you seem to show a lot of animosity and very little tolerance for a fellow hunter who is trying to basically do the right thing by confirming a kill and harvesting an animal.

Just my opinion, mind you.

Yes the hunter is trying to do the right thing and I respect that because I'd probably cross the line myself if I had a strong blood trail or could see the downed animal. And to answer your other question, if I had to do it I'd show the same respect to a landowner that I'd want. My gun would be unloaded and on my shoulder.

What I don't have much patience for is someone who, after being told they can't have access, goes in regardless. Personally I would let them but would understand why someone else might not. The problem for me arises if I stumble across someone with a gun in his hands on my property. Maybe there's a downed animal or maybe there isn't or maybe he's just decided to expand his hunting zone. All I see is someone holding a gun where he shouldn't be.

My comments are not borne out of animosity but frustration. Here's why:

The slug-only season starts here a week from Monday and typically we get an influx of hunters from the GTA and Hamilton. When the hunt ends the locals will again be sharing reports of torn down fences, hunters trespassing, gut piles left on the side of the concession roads, empty booze bottles and beer cans left in the fields and who knows what else. We've been lucky in this area because so far at least some idiot hasn't shot a horse or cow.

Even people who have no quarrel with hunting or are hunters themselves can't defend that. I sure as hell can't.

As more rural areas become home to transplanted urbanites it becomes a lot tougher to fight against hunting restrictions. All it takes is an encounter with a slob hunter or someone who doesn't respect people's property to make an instant anti even if they didn't come from the city with that mindset already.

The task we face to maintain hunting in our area is tough enough without having fellow hunters setting us back even further.

 

[poweredbybeer]

My 3 cents;

I'd hop the fence and go after that deer, but before doing so I'd empty my magazine and put the bolt in my pocket. If I were to encounter the landowner, I would first apologize for trespassing and then explain the situation (ie; I shot a nice buck X km's away, he ran onto your property, now I'm tryin' to find him, etc etc). Claybuster's suggestion to share some of the meat is a good one, I never would have thought of that, but it would definetely help grease the wheels so to speak If the landowner is grumpy and asks me to leave, I'll leave without a fuss. I won't be happy about it and I'll probably kick myself for losing the animal, but by crossing over onto private property I have made a reasonable effort to recover the animal, even if I wasn't successful.

If the situation degenerates further and the landowner calls the cops, then they can just go ahead and charge me with trespassing. I'll accept the consequences of my actions. Honestly, I'd rather be charged with trespassing than leave a wounded deer behind, because at least I was trespassing for the right reasons, trying to do the right thing. I'm not saying my morals supercede the law, but at least I can sleep at night knowing I did the right thing, even if it meant I had to break the law to do it (if that makes any sense).

 

[senior]

The problem for me arises if I stumble across someone with a gun in his hands on my property. Maybe there's a downed animal or maybe there isn't or maybe he's just decided to expand his hunting zone. All I see is someone holding a gun where he shouldn't be.

You keep coming back to this.
Virtually all wounded animals leave a blood trail. If you stumble on a hunter & question what he's doing it would be very simple to assertain what he's doing! No trail, very simply he's hunting & you have every right to be mad but the original question was to recover a wounded animal.

A very old timer once told me " I don't own this land! I'm only paying the taxes at this time! When I'm gone someone else will be paying them, were just temporary caretakers!"