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Tips for Turkey Hunters on Good
Landowner Relations
CONCORD, N.H. - Hunters getting out
for New Hampshire's spring turkey season (May 3-31) can do a lot to help
promote positive landowner relations, according to Charles Miner,
Landowner Relations Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department.
"Practicing good landowner relations is the key to
maintaining access for present and future generations of turkey hunters,"
Miner said. He noted that more than 70% of New Hampshire's land is under
private ownership. "To maintain the hunting tradition, we have to act on
the fact that access to private land is a privilege provided through the
generosity of the landowner. A few basic strategies can make a world of
difference."
Tips for turkey
hunters on fostering good working relations with landowners include:
 | Plan to obtain
landowner permission, whether the land that you would like to hunt is
posted or not, as landowners appreciate knowing who is on their
property. |
| Remember that you
are the guest of the landowner. Treat their property with the same care
and respect that you would if it were your own. |
| Never park your
vehicle on lawns or block driveways, roadways, trails, crossings or
gates; always leave gates or other barriers the way you found them. |
| Use of a truck,
car, or ATV on private property requires written landowner permission.
If granted permission, understand clearly where you can and cannot drive
or park your vehicle. |
| Do not walk through
crops, and always cross fences in a manner that will not break or loosen
wires or posts. |
| Become familiar
with boundaries of the land you have permission to hunt, surrounding
properties, recreation areas, farms and active logging operations.
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| Do not hunt near
buildings, livestock, active logging operations or hiking trails. |
| Always ask the
landowner for permission if you plan to construct a ground blind.
Written permission is required if your blind will damage a tree or
result in cutting of trees. |
| If you are bow
hunting and make a shot into a field, always retrieve your arrow. |
| Carry out all
trash, including that left by others. |
| Remember that
access to hunt is a privilege provided to you through the generosity of
the landowner. Make every effort to express your appreciation and offer
to assist with tasks that the landowner needs help with. |
| Follow up with a
personal note after the season thanking the landowner, and consider
providing the landowner a token of your appreciation such as a gift
certificate to a local restaurant. |
Turkey hunting has become a New Hampshire tradition,
one that will continue to flourish if we follow the basic principle of
landowner relations: Treat the landowner as you would like to be treated,
and treat their land as you would want yours to be treated.
For further information on the Landowner Relations
Program, or to get involved with the program, please contact the program
office at 603-271-3511 or e-mail
access@wildlife.nh.gov.
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