Quote:
Originally Posted by Pineedles
Ok, I'll bite. What is this exclusive group of people of which you speak? I notice in the law, that one must have the landowner's permission to hunt, but that's the same everywhere.  |
Actually in the state of NH you do not need landowner's written or verbal permission to hunt his or her land. If the land is not posted it is fair game. I will tell you that nothing closes good hunting land faster than poor hunter/landowner relationships, you should always at the very least stop in and say, "Hi, I am so and so and I would like to hunt in this area of your property, I am just giving you a heads up in case you run into me."
That only qualifies you to "stalk hunt" (ground hunt) on that property, you can by no means hang a tree stand (unless you do not hurt the trees, i.e. climbing stands), create a blind (unless it is one of the portable ones), cut down trees or take your atv to retrieve an animal on someone elses property without landowner permission.
The Q and A below is from NH Fish and Game's site:
"Can I hunt on private land that's not posted?
Yes. But it's always good to ask the landowner first.
Common law in New Hampshire gives the public the right of access to land that's not posted. You won't find that in state law books, because it is common law, going back to the philosophy of New England's early colonists and supported over the centuries by case law. Our forefathers knew the importance of balancing the need for landowners' rights with that of the public good. On one hand, the landowner can make decisions about his or her land. On the other hand, the public should have limited rights to use and enjoy that land. The colonists held similar democratic notions about rivers, lakes, fish and wildlife.
Today, it's easy to take this notion for granted. In New Hampshire and elsewhere in New England, we enjoy a long, proud tradition of public use of private land.
This tradition also comes with a risk. A landowner who finds trash, disrespect or other problems can easily decide to post his or her land.
Residents of some Western states find this notion of private land/public use very strange. Hunters in some states pay hundreds of dollars in annual fees to landowners to hunt their lands. It's just another cost of hunting.
Other states have what's called reverse posting. Access is limited to land that's specifically posted for that use. If it's not posted, you can't go on it.
And some states require written landowner permission for hunting."