abuse of privilege

[Paul C Weaver]

Well put MR. Kruse!!!   This is exactly what I do and the response is
almost always welcomed.
PAUL


On Wed, 27 Aug 1997, James J. Kruse wrote:

> On Wed, 27 Aug 1997, Ted Ryznar wrote:
> 
> > >Sorry, but as a private land owner I personally wouldnt  want Tom, Dick
> > and Harry on my land either. Land owners have been besieged with 4
> > wheelers, hunters, garbage dumpers etc for years. Not to mention several
> > land owners I know who were sued when someone was on their property without
> > permission and fell in a ground hog hole and got hurt. Deer hunters are
> > famous for putting large numbers of  nails in the largest and best trees
> > for their deer stand which they use for 5 hours the first day while they
> > sleep off the binge of the night before. After a while you just dont want
> 
> Okay, as a Lep-hunter and a deer hunter, and by choice someone who opts
> for private land more often than public land for outdoor activities, let
> me say that responsible persons requesting said permissions to hunt or
> just trapse about should:
> 
> (a) speak with the land owner, tell them who you are, what you are going
> to be up to, and tell them about what they want to know: will you be
> around the cowpens bothering the cattle or not, will you be hammering
> nails in trees or not, are you looking for endangered species (a
> legitimate concern for many landowners these days), etc.  Ask if there are
> areas of the property to be avoided. Speaking to landowners is a type of
> art and should be taken VERY seriously.  You should be very up-front
> and attentive to instructions. Talk down to them and you won't do well.
> First impression is all you have.
> 
> (b) Make the effort to go back to the house and show them what you found.
> Share a story. Bring over a couple venison steaks and thank them again.
> Be the person you would allow back on the land again someday, don't be a
> jerk!  If you really are one (a jerk) and are just pretending, most
> farmers are very good judges of character and will see right through you.
> A small time investment makes all the difference.  Like I said, its an art
> and should be taken seriously at all times. 
> 
> As a land owner, I would suggest you take a minute to listen and ask
> questions. Insist on what areas of the property are to be avoided,
> transportable deerstands, etc. If you don't trust the person, don't let
> them on (you should be able to tell after a minute of listening).
> 
> I can't speak for all lepidopterists, but I think it's safe to say that
> most are responsible enough to respect guidelines laid down by landowners,
> and there are also plenty of hunters that do not hunt drunk or hung over, 
> or construct permanent blinds in trees. Maybe it's my rural Wisconsin
> upbringing, but this is all common sense and common courtesy to me. 
> 
> Sorry to indulge this tangent and write such a long note, but I work hard
> on relations with private land owners.
> 
> Cheers!
> Jim Kruse
> 
>