Unhappy with my home state (MN) hunters.

B

BritLabRunner

Member
Returned from my 2nd trip this year to MT and will be back in December. Close to over 20 trips under my belt. Been able to forge lasting relationships with many of the landowners out there. This year was different with the landowners. Not towards me, but there attitude toward out of state hunters. Hunting pressure is increasing every year. Landowners are having an increase in trespassers. More than a couple stated that the biggest offenders are from MN. Texas was next. Being from MN this really pissed me off. So, you MN hunters don't screw up MT pheasant hunting like you screwed up ND waterfowl hunting. I'm hoping it's the the guys making a one time trip cuz it's on their bucket list or read a post where someone hotspots a location. By all means go out there, but don't screw it up for guys like me from MN or all other States. There is plenty of public land to hunt. Knock on doors. Do your research. Landowners stated that if they go through another season like this, they are going to push for non-resident 3 day licenses. That will most likely not happen. Access to their land will end though. You one and doners or guys who make multiple trips may not think trespassing is a big deal, but to guys like me it is. Play by the rules or stay home.
 
Very sorry to hear that, BLR. I'll be the first to tell you that there is a negative image of MN hunters in my home area. Which isn't fair, as the most are decent, hardworking folks that respect nature and wildlife like the rest of us. I sometimes wonder if those giving MN a bad name aren't folks who grew up in cities and get out into the wide open and fail to recognize that even though no one is around, someone still owns that land and cares what happens to it.
 
BritLabRunner said:
Returned from my 2nd trip this year to MT and will be back in December. Close to over 20 trips under my belt. Been able to forge lasting relationships with many of the landowners out there. This year was different with the landowners. Not towards me, but there attitude toward out of state hunters. Hunting pressure is increasing every year. Landowners are having an increase in trespassers. More than a couple stated that the biggest offenders are from MN. Texas was next. Being from MN this really pissed me off. So, you MN hunters don't screw up MT pheasant hunting like you screwed up ND waterfowl hunting. I'm hoping it's the the guys making a one time trip cuz it's on their bucket list or read a post where someone hotspots a location. By all means go out there, but don't screw it up for guys like me from MN or all other States. There is plenty of public land to hunt. Knock on doors. Do your research. Landowners stated that if they go through another season like this, they are going to push for non-resident 3 day licenses. That will most likely not happen. Access to their land will end though. You one and doners or guys who make multiple trips may not think trespassing is a big deal, but to guys like me it is. Play by the rules or stay home.
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Funny idea’s- ND waterfowl hunting by out of state hunters was hated in the 80s by some ND residents due to out of state hunters leasing up land. I was a member of a wildlife association near Fargo there number 1 complaint was out of state hunters.
I left that organization due to the agenda they were promoting, l understand they have a lobbyist at the capital.
Most residents think they own the wildlife in there state. I own a couple a 1000 acres in ND and have to pay non-resident fees to hunt my own land. i plan on moving back to ND in the future due to the hunting and fishing the state offers.
A lot of western ND folks are not fond of Fargo people, due to the money spent on that side of the state , most of the bs about non-residents will never stop.
 
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Thanks for sharing and I agree with your sentiment that all hunters should do their ultimate best to follow the laws and promote positive relationships with landowners. I think MN gets pointed out here because of its very large population versus other states in the core upland bird hunting range. It comes down to percentages that the more people from a given state that hunt, the better chance of a bad apple doing something dumb. There's also the fact that the more people that knock asking for permission, the more a landowner will say no or ask for payment. Unfortunately a big downside of the world today is technology spilling the beans on good public hunting. The same thing happens with a good fishing bite. I think all the regular members on this site are stand-up guys, but it never hurts to post a message urging others to not be "slob hunters" and rule breakers.
 
This is not a new issue I have been going to MT since the mid 90’s and for some of the block management areas where you had to talk to the landowners they would ask if you were from Mn. Mn hunters have had a bad rep for years out there. A second worst were Wisconsin hunters. Mostly when they see my plates they go Huhh?
 
The land I post in ND gets it's fair share of road hunters (ND and non-res alike). The single worst offender for trespassing is local deer hunters. Shoot fast, retrieve fast, hopefully don't get caught.

Interestingly enough, I've been checked by the warden four times this year, and not once have they asked if I have permission to be on the property.
 
A contributing factor to the negative attitude toward MN hunters is that states political preference. The overwhelming majority of eastern Montana landowners are politically conservative and firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment. Don't think for a minute those ranchers and farmers are not aware of the policies Ilhan Omar and Amy Klobuchar would like to impose on them.
 
BritLabRunner said:
Returned from my 2nd trip this year to MT and will be back in December. Close to over 20 trips under my belt. Been able to forge lasting relationships with many of the landowners out there. This year was different with the landowners. Not towards me, but there attitude toward out of state hunters. Hunting pressure is increasing every year. Landowners are having an increase in trespassers. More than a couple stated that the biggest offenders are from MN. Texas was next. Being from MN this really pissed me off. So, you MN hunters don't screw up MT pheasant hunting like you screwed up ND waterfowl hunting. I'm hoping it's the the guys making a one time trip cuz it's on their bucket list or read a post where someone hotspots a location. By all means go out there, but don't screw it up for guys like me from MN or all other States. There is plenty of public land to hunt. Knock on doors. Do your research. Landowners stated that if they go through another season like this, they are going to push for non-resident 3 day licenses. That will most likely not happen. Access to their land will end though. You one and doners or guys who make multiple trips may not think trespassing is a big deal, but to guys like me it is. Play by the rules or stay home.
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I've noticed more out of state hunters the last 3 years.I think they either pay hunt, or hunt public. I don't think they knock on doors much.
 
18 car said:
A contributing factor to the negative attitude toward MN hunters is that states political preference. The overwhelming majority of eastern Montana landowners are politically conservative and firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment. Don't think for a minute those ranchers and farmers are not aware of the policies Ilhan Omar and Amy Klobuchar would like to impose on them.
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Ah first thing leave politics out. second the fact is a sizable amount of rude hunting behavior noted by landowners over the years has come from Mn hunters. This was passed on to me from landowners even back 20 years ago. Rude behavior is rude behavior and anyone from anywhere should abhor it. Personally I never show up until the third week of season when pressure is down and all tempers have cooled. The op comment that he has heard negative comments about Mn hunters is just what I have heard so he has a valid comment.
 
Trespassing in Montana is the same as doing it in South Dakota, Iowa, or Minnesota. Its illegal.

There are private spots I've had permission to hunt for 20 years. I'm quite sure I could hunt them without seeking verbal permission every year, but I refuse to do that. You never know when a disgruntled landowner is gonna come out there and blow your head off.
 
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18 car said:
Not trying to politicize anything - simply stating the facts. As an eastern MT landowner, I share my neighbors sentiments of a socialist agenda. Enough said.
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You must be pro socialist agenda? Seeing how Montana has no problem with the federal redistribution of wealth? (Montana gets more from the feds than they put in. Minnesota gets way less then they put in.)
 
I don't see a lot of MN hunters on this side of the state but ones I did weren't careful as they shot at pheasants from a field across a busy highway...didn't appreciate that. I have had one of the worst years ever for trespassers.

Because deer numbers are lower than average they are taking the chance. No of course landowners don't own the wildlife that reside upon them but we suffer the liability if someone enters and gets hurt or hurt someone else even if they weren't invited. I don't care for the attitude of if it's there we should just be able to go get it.

We can't even do that on Federal property or wildlife refuges etc owned by the State(us). Maybe I like to hunt butterflies/squirrels/etc you name it and I see some in your yard so I should be able to walk right in and go to town if you feel that way about it.
Property owners are already angry the state has stripped them of their property rights by allowing others to come upon their land to retrieve a "wounded" animal without permission. This is the biggest loophole hunters use to access property " The Big Lie" if you will as the true wounded scenario happens but not even close to the amount claimed and we all know a lie when we hear it.
So this is how a landowner who tries to build habitat for wildlife so they can build up good numbers to disperse throughout the region where they can be legally hunted should be treated? Why bother then , turn it all under and go to wheat.
 
No liability for hunting on private property to landowners in ND , and SD ,hard to believe it’s still any other way in the Midwest?
maybe wrong with other states?
What hunter with a hound would shoot across a road?
I have seen more resident, locals , shoot and scoot than non-residents in my lifetime.
 
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Doesn't apply to those who charge fees to hunt. Also the law is grey on who is responsible for those who get hurt entering land without landowner permission to retrieve "wounded" animals. Since the landowner never gave permission to enter but the state took that right from the landowner they are no longer illegal "trespasser" in the eyes of the law it's a muddy subject and any sly lawyer could make the landowner pay.

The MN hunters I saw shooting at birds flying across a busy highway never had a dog with them that I could see. Also did have a MN couple last year hunting the section line between my place and the neighbors of which both are heavily posted . It's illegal in ND to hunt a section road when posted on both sides.
 
To the original point, here is what you need to know.
When visiting Montana or any other state for that matter, know the rules and regulations and do your best to act in a manner which puts yourself and other hunters in a good light. Your actions have consequences that can be lasting, don't ruin it for the other guy. ​
 
18 car said:
A contributing factor to the negative attitude toward MN hunters is that states political preference. The overwhelming majority of eastern Montana landowners are politically conservative and firmly believe in the 2nd Amendment. Don't think for a minute those ranchers and farmers are not aware of the policies Ilhan Omar and Amy Klobuchar would like to impose on them.
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That is nonsense.
 
I have been in the hunting business for about 20 years. Of all those hunters there was only one group that I asked to leave because of their whining and complete lack of hunting ability, and one individual that I don't want back. Other than that, the hunters have been very good, and many have become friends. I have had hunters from many states and two foreign countries. I have not noticed any difference.
 
Just a guess, but based on population of nearby states, chances are lots of MN hunters head to NE MT…myself included…know many others as well. Dakota hunters don’t need to go there as much based on what they have in their home states. Show me a group of people, regardless of where they live, and you’ll get bad apples. If farmers/ranchers want to generalize or stereotype based on license plate that’s their prerogative. They’ll be wrong much of the time…correct a bit of the time, but again, jerks everywhere.
 
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