Being that I'm a non resident I am hesitant to open my mouth on this issue, but I will say that I wonder that if everyone resident, and non-resident, paid say a twenty dollar fee to hunt WIHAs and got a special permit to do so, AND the funds so raised be ABSOLUTELY designated towards the farmers who commit their ground to the program...with there being some fairly minimal requirements from the farmers to provide some minimal cover belts and food plots on said property. I'd have no problem paying something like that as part of licensing.
I can certainly understand farmers not wanting to be bothered with being prepared to go to the door everytime somebody comes to ask permission, and I also understand their attraction to knowing WHO is going to be on their property and WHO was the one WHO either broke the fence or left the gate open.
It is a shame that some hunters do not respect the property and the blessing they have of having been granted access to someone's private property. Those who act shamefully in this regard need to be horsewhipped or branded maybe. The system cannot be perfect because there will always be crooked folks trying to beat the system somehow and either get the pay without the honest effort to comply or get the hunting the same way. It works both ways. Even with the imperfections I would think it was way better than not! As with anything I guess the "policing of it" burns most of the money raised though. Another shame!
Can you even imagine the revenue that would come to your state or any state that could get a system worked out, that provided the habitat and therefore the game, to attract the groups of one or two hunters that would rent the motels, eat in the resturants, buy the gas, shop for needed groceries and last minute items at the stores, etc.,etc., etc. While we all look to economize it is still true that if we want to dance...the fiddler must be paid.
I know that driving as far as I did last year and finding not so many birds, I was discouraged about a return trip. I did not ask anyone for permission and hunted either state Parks or WIHA lands. It was my fault that I was intimidated and did not ask any one, although I did stop at one attractive farm to ask and found no one at home. I met one local guy by accident, and I deeply regret, that I did not join his group when he invited me! That was just plain stupid of me, and if I were to have a "do-over" I certainly would. I was trying to follow the map on the south side of Cedar Bluff S.P. and though I made the turns according to my map I ended up on private land by accident. I had just shot down a bird in some wheat stubble, when my wife, who was in my truck, called me on a two way radio, and said I needed to come to the truck because the owner was there, and said I was tresspassing! I unloaded my gun and came directly to meet him at my truck. When I showed him my map and the turns I had made he politely told me that I had turned too quickly and that there would have been a sign. He was right, as I discovered later, but I have to say that he was very, VERY nice about it and told me to go ahead and find my bird. I tried, but did not find it, though I had marked it well, too much time had elapsed, and the dog could not find it. I found my hull and picked it up by backtracking. The man, and I wish I could remember his name, had also graciously invited me to walk his ground with his group , but I was to embarrassed and declined. If he were to read this I'd like to thank him publically. I felt like he was just being nice, and thatI would have just been "horning in" or intruding further on their fun!
I'm sorry to make such a long post, but You guys there have a hunting paradise compared to GA. We have a good bit of public land, but it is managed for timber and much of our license money is siphoned off to other projects instead of game management! All the private land is leased or posted! Thank you for reading thus far and for your kind indulgence, and most especially those farmers willing to let strangers hunt their farms and those who cooperate with the WIHA program. I think "y'all" have a friendly, neighborly state, could use some more "grits" but still friendly! I like hash browns too though! LOL
Bknight
I can certainly understand farmers not wanting to be bothered with being prepared to go to the door everytime somebody comes to ask permission, and I also understand their attraction to knowing WHO is going to be on their property and WHO was the one WHO either broke the fence or left the gate open.
It is a shame that some hunters do not respect the property and the blessing they have of having been granted access to someone's private property. Those who act shamefully in this regard need to be horsewhipped or branded maybe. The system cannot be perfect because there will always be crooked folks trying to beat the system somehow and either get the pay without the honest effort to comply or get the hunting the same way. It works both ways. Even with the imperfections I would think it was way better than not! As with anything I guess the "policing of it" burns most of the money raised though. Another shame!
Can you even imagine the revenue that would come to your state or any state that could get a system worked out, that provided the habitat and therefore the game, to attract the groups of one or two hunters that would rent the motels, eat in the resturants, buy the gas, shop for needed groceries and last minute items at the stores, etc.,etc., etc. While we all look to economize it is still true that if we want to dance...the fiddler must be paid.
I know that driving as far as I did last year and finding not so many birds, I was discouraged about a return trip. I did not ask anyone for permission and hunted either state Parks or WIHA lands. It was my fault that I was intimidated and did not ask any one, although I did stop at one attractive farm to ask and found no one at home. I met one local guy by accident, and I deeply regret, that I did not join his group when he invited me! That was just plain stupid of me, and if I were to have a "do-over" I certainly would. I was trying to follow the map on the south side of Cedar Bluff S.P. and though I made the turns according to my map I ended up on private land by accident. I had just shot down a bird in some wheat stubble, when my wife, who was in my truck, called me on a two way radio, and said I needed to come to the truck because the owner was there, and said I was tresspassing! I unloaded my gun and came directly to meet him at my truck. When I showed him my map and the turns I had made he politely told me that I had turned too quickly and that there would have been a sign. He was right, as I discovered later, but I have to say that he was very, VERY nice about it and told me to go ahead and find my bird. I tried, but did not find it, though I had marked it well, too much time had elapsed, and the dog could not find it. I found my hull and picked it up by backtracking. The man, and I wish I could remember his name, had also graciously invited me to walk his ground with his group , but I was to embarrassed and declined. If he were to read this I'd like to thank him publically. I felt like he was just being nice, and thatI would have just been "horning in" or intruding further on their fun!
I'm sorry to make such a long post, but You guys there have a hunting paradise compared to GA. We have a good bit of public land, but it is managed for timber and much of our license money is siphoned off to other projects instead of game management! All the private land is leased or posted! Thank you for reading thus far and for your kind indulgence, and most especially those farmers willing to let strangers hunt their farms and those who cooperate with the WIHA program. I think "y'all" have a friendly, neighborly state, could use some more "grits" but still friendly! I like hash browns too though! LOL
Bknight
