Poaching or land exercising my land owner rights?

Question

Does anyone else agree with me that I should have the right to take what ever game - fish, upland, or large - during any time of the year while on MY property. By no means am I saying I currently do so, but it irritates me that the government dictates what I can do on MY PRIVATE PROPERTY. I am not referring to others on my land, but the land owner taking nutrition from his/her own land. Under current intrepretation of current laws - I'm entitled to the growth on the land - fruit, vegetables, lumber, etc - why not the game/fish? Don't get me wrong - I am in favor of, and DO support my local GC and DNR. I purchase hunting and fishing license every year- even in years when they go unused. I purchase the appropriate tags/stamps each year for all the types of fishing and hunting I enjoy, regardless of when/if used that year. This not about money. Only my rights as a land owner. Please let me know why you agree/disagree with my thinking. Thanks

Hey AP - "....belong to the STATE" Are you kidding me.!? That's a nice socialist attitude, but last time I checked this is still america. The only way anything can belong to the STATE is if we, the constituants, allow it. I do not ever recall the persons of my state giving this "right" to the state. Nor do I remember seeing a receipt form the state where they purchased the wildlife found within that particular state's borders. And in regards to the game/fish traveling across the property lines - so? My neighbors also have the right to take them if they so chose while on their property. If more sportsmen would self govern, we would not need any intervention from DNR's or GC's. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'm guessing you've never attempted to deal with an overpopulation issue. I mean doing it legally - it's a pain in the ****. That's why many persons turn to dealing with it on their own terms. I am responsible and do not need supervision/guidance from DNR/GC.

Answer 1

I do agree with you on what you do on your land is your buisness and that you should be able to hunt and fish on it but you should think about the big picture as far as game management the wildlife around your area could depend on what happens on your land if you overfish in a stream or river the spawning could have a impact same with game that buck or doe that you harvest will not have the opportunity to breed.to me if your freezer is getting empty it is time to do what you gotta do to survive just dont over do it and dont advertise what you are doing.

Answer 2

I can understand your sentiments, you have a nice piece of land that you manage to provide for you and the animals that roam it. Why can't you just take what you need from the abundance YOU have managed this land for? Sometime, there are provisions for this in the law. However; the game - wild animals, that roam your property, belong to the STATE. Those deer don't just say on your land. Squirrels and rabbits don't recognize property lines. Turkeys and ducks and pheasants fly all over the place. That deer may wander on to your property form a neighbors property, then latter in the week they may have moved on to some public land. You didn't buy these animals. They don't belong to you. The state reserves the right to manage the populations fo these animals.

If your neighbor had a herd of tame deer, bought and paid for, state permits for them, and cared for by him. The fences broke and now they are in your backyard. They still belong to your neighbor. You can't shoot them. He would have to pay you for any damages they cause

Most states have provisions for land owners to get reduced price or even extra permits. Check into that.

Answer 3

Of course you shouldn't be able to do whatever you want just because it is your land. By your logic you should be able to murder someone on your land and just because it is your land nothing should happen to you!
If you are talking about migratory fish then they only spend a very short period of time passing through your land anyway. Why shouldn't the person who owns the first stretch of the river kill all the fish that swim through, its his land after all? Everybody who owns a stretch of river has a certain duty of care to that river to ensure healthy stocks are maintained. A resource such as fish need proper management.

If, however, you are talking about a lake that you pay to stock yourself then you should be able to do pretty much whatever you like. Although you shouldnt fish during the spawning season regardless!

Answer 4

man o man tax dollars a wasting on a couple of fish but we are free