in Illinois you need permission from the landowner to retrieve a deer, and we always let people go that were not abusing our property. we would let them go after sunset so they wouldn't be doing a deer drive for their buddies. it would be great if they would give the landowner 24 hours to comply with the trespass request so we could make them wait till dark
deerhunter93
Well-Known Member
I think in a perfect world a notification to the property owner would be great. However, if anyone has tried to do some door knocking or find a phone number online to get ahold of property owners you know how difficult that normally is. LLCs, out of state land owners, ground in family trusts, ground owned by investors, landowners that live on the other side of the state. It can be extremely tough.
If onx/assessors page/ect put phone numbers associated with the landowner it would be convenient for this scenario but a nightmare to deal with as a landowner.
If onx/assessors page/ect put phone numbers associated with the landowner it would be convenient for this scenario but a nightmare to deal with as a landowner.
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
Half of ONX info is wrong anyways. They only update every couple of years. With a little effort most landowners can be found. If the owner can’t be found a neighbor usually knows them. At least in my neighborhood.
MisterTwoForty
New Member
I ran into this during the fall of 2024 hunting season. I had harvested my buck the day before but had an obvious "trespasser" looking for a downed animal. They had gone through one neighbor's property and into the property I hunt. It was obvious that the hunter was not on an active blood trail and was carrying a sidearm. Once he saw my cell cam, he turned around and went back the way he came. Neighbors confirmed he had been looking for an injured animal the previous day.
I called the local DNR CO and asked about the law regarding retrieving game. I was told that the hunter can follow the blood trail to an adjacent property but must be alone, and unarmed. Also, the landowner has the right to ask the hunter to leave, even if they are on an active blood trail. At that point, its up to the DNR to contact the land owner and see how they want to handle it.
That's what I was told.
I never did pursue it any further. No one could identify the hunter. I would have been happy to help if he could verify where the deer had actually gone and showed me an active blood trail. He knew he wasn't supposed to be in there, because he turned around as soon as he saw the cell cam.
I listened to a good podcast episode where Lee Lakosky talked about fence sitters. He mentioned a few ways that they set up their farms to limit it. He also said himself that he doesn't do it. Everyone seems to think that what's on the other side of the fence is better than what they have on theirs.
I called the local DNR CO and asked about the law regarding retrieving game. I was told that the hunter can follow the blood trail to an adjacent property but must be alone, and unarmed. Also, the landowner has the right to ask the hunter to leave, even if they are on an active blood trail. At that point, its up to the DNR to contact the land owner and see how they want to handle it.
That's what I was told.
I never did pursue it any further. No one could identify the hunter. I would have been happy to help if he could verify where the deer had actually gone and showed me an active blood trail. He knew he wasn't supposed to be in there, because he turned around as soon as he saw the cell cam.
I listened to a good podcast episode where Lee Lakosky talked about fence sitters. He mentioned a few ways that they set up their farms to limit it. He also said himself that he doesn't do it. Everyone seems to think that what's on the other side of the fence is better than what they have on theirs.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
I agree this sucks for the guy that owns the timber and this case is a bit extreme being as the tree is on the other side of the fence.
However 30yds off 50 yds off 100 yds off. That makes sense in timber. Are you suggesting this land owners not be able to hunt his field because the tress on his property are on the fence?
Id never go that far personally to tell an ajoing landowner not to hunt their field....
The retreaval side of should have a few more restrictions. I do not like the idea of someone coming onto my place with a sence of entitlement!
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
The fence sitting thing is a joke. What’s acceptable?? 20 yds , 50 yds etc off the line ? I personally will not limit my acreage to hunt like that. If you own the property you can hunt it, fence nearby or not. Just don’t shoot game on property you don’t own or don’t have permission to hunt. That simple. Does it suck sometimes, yep, but I’d never tell my neighbor he can’t hunt near my fence if he’s on his property.
You’re 100 percent right, but it should also be at your neighbors discretion if you’re allowed to enter their property. Fence sit all you want but the state should not be able to force you to allow someone to access your land for any reason, who’s responsible if someone gets hurt while tracking on your farm? Bet it’s not the state.
My opinion- which is
Would I love a heads up- sure. I also wish the people trespassing would ask too. (I’m not super friendly with the neighbor by the way)
I think the blood trail law should absolutely be looked at- like- 1 spot every 50 yards- shouldn’t necessarily be a “cross the fence” and go type thing. If it’s bleeding like a stuck hog and pry dead, go get it. But how do you write that out?
it’s such a slippery slope. I’d love if the neighbor didn’t hunt 40 yards from my kids swingset- but there he is… it’s where the deer funnel. If he hits one and it goes into my piece, we’re not home a lot- so I hope he would track it and get it out so I didn’t have a rotting deer go to waste. Then he would also be done hunting versus still hunting.
Would I love a heads up- sure. I also wish the people trespassing would ask too. (I’m not super friendly with the neighbor by the way)
I think the blood trail law should absolutely be looked at- like- 1 spot every 50 yards- shouldn’t necessarily be a “cross the fence” and go type thing. If it’s bleeding like a stuck hog and pry dead, go get it. But how do you write that out?
In Kansas you have to ask permission and landowner can refuse and you can't enter.My neighbors are good so not an issue here but if it was a bunch of fly by nighters that are asking every weekend it would stop. I know a guy that had an outfitter that set up a stand 10 yards of his line facing his place.He piled a brush pile up on his side and lit it opening morning.
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Same in MO. Thank goodness..
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Yes! We already have a perfect/legal/referee for this issue!! THE PROPERTY LINE!
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
We are lucky in Iowa that most neighbors are farmers or other deer hunting landowners. Gets way more complicated in other states when you might be dealing with a purple haired,nose pierced, tree hugging commie that would rather see an animal rot than give you the satisfaction of recovery. We have it good!! It gets worse!!!!
CurtisWalker
Well-Known Member
Technically the state protects you if someone gets hurt on your property. Until you start charging money then the responsibility is all on you.
Matthewfox_45
Well-Known Member
Completely respect private property, and I always try to contact landowners in this situation. But i don’t like the idea of being shit out of luck if it crosses property lines. IMO it’s a blatant waste of a resource to let it go to waste just because the local “herd manager” doesn’t want you to recover your deer.
Windlooker
Well-Known Member
Private property is private property. I don’t like the idea of a hunter trespassing because a deer maybe died on the wrong side of the fence.
Out of respect you make an effort and contact the landowner (herd manager), 99% of the time permission is granted to retrieve the animal. In my neighborhood, and most places, everyone knows everyone and the owner (herd manager) can be found.
Out of respect you make an effort and contact the landowner (herd manager), 99% of the time permission is granted to retrieve the animal. In my neighborhood, and most places, everyone knows everyone and the owner (herd manager) can be found.
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203ntyp
PMA Member
I got a couple trail cam pics this past archery season of two guys walking through my property with flashlights, one in camo the other not. I didn't recognize them and started asking close neighbors a couple days later. I went to one neighbor's house across the creek and showed him the pics and he said oh, that's me. He went on to explain that his brother-in-law hit one and were looking for it. I told him I have no problem if they are following up on a deer BUT, they need permission. That law passed in Pa last year and a hunter cannot enter private property without permission, or they could get fined and lose hunting privileges for a period of time.
He then told me about someone putting a stand up on his place. He took it down and laid it at the bottom of the tree. He called a game warden about it; the warden surveilled the area and caught the guy with his young son shoot a buck. As he watched the guy cut the bucks head off and left the rest lay. Scumbag, well he got find for poaching and lost his hunting privileges for 3 years!
He then told me about someone putting a stand up on his place. He took it down and laid it at the bottom of the tree. He called a game warden about it; the warden surveilled the area and caught the guy with his young son shoot a buck. As he watched the guy cut the bucks head off and left the rest lay. Scumbag, well he got find for poaching and lost his hunting privileges for 3 years!
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
I've only got 30 acres in which 90% is devoted as a " sanctuary ". Have spent years,blood,sweat n tears building it. Once summer hits, I do not go into it except to retrieve a deer I've shot.
I will let someone trail 50 yards and that ONLY if I'm with, it's a good bloodtrail and they were not sitting on the property line.
I realize that could also happen to me and have excepted it may happen.
If I were to happen to find a buck while she'd hunting, I would give it to the hunter but no, I'm not allowing anyone into the sanctuary past 50 yards.
Funny part is (not really), it's always a buck people will trespass to find.
I will let someone trail 50 yards and that ONLY if I'm with, it's a good bloodtrail and they were not sitting on the property line.
I realize that could also happen to me and have excepted it may happen.
If I were to happen to find a buck while she'd hunting, I would give it to the hunter but no, I'm not allowing anyone into the sanctuary past 50 yards.
Funny part is (not really), it's always a buck people will trespass to find.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
It’s all great until you got a purple haired triple pierced commie trans whatever screaming at you for recovering the deer you killed. We are blessed in Iowa to not have to worry about those types.
Slick
Well-Known Member
Like this Gem?
193K views · 4.7K reactions | The duck hunting Karen in Washington state might be the funniest unhinged liberal of all time. | Dan O'Donnell
The duck hunting Karen in Washington state might be the funniest unhinged liberal of all time.
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booneriverbucks
PMA Member
Will watch tomorrow!! Have been spending the majority of my time researching CONservation organizations lately!