Does anybody know if it's legal to hunt on a private land out of season? There are some outfitters and hunting preserves that offer pheasant hunting till March-31 - a way beyond pheasant hunting season. So I was wondering, since it's legal, then maybe taking other species, such as rabbits and squirrels, is legal too as long it's on somebody's property and not on a public land
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Hunting on a private land out of season
- Thread starter eugrin
- Start date
yanici
NES Member
I might be wrong but I always thought that farms and those kind of businesses were only allowed to kill animals out of season, if they were being destructive. Even then, only the land owner, direct family, and farm employees would be alllowed to do this.
Tweed
NES Member
Those places have a Preserve License from the state. The license allows them to bird hunt outside the normal public dates. you can not hunt on private property if it is not encompassed via a preserve license. you can not hunt mammals outside the season dates. There are special exceptions for coyotes, but that is it.
J
Jose
eugrin, pay attention to this. And I strongly suggest that you read your state's hunting regulations and interpret them verbatim. Adding your own interpretation to them will almost always yield a less than satisfactory result when the authorities find out.
yanici
NES Member
I believe you are incorrect.
J
Jose
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I am 99% sure that the stipulation in the law only applies to land that is primarily used for agriculture.
J
Jose
IDK about Mass, but in Kansas (the last place I paid attention to hunting regs) you still need a depredation permit from Kansas Dept. of Wildlife and Parks to kill game that is wrecking your crops.
J
Jose
The only animals that can be killed legally year round are those that have a year round season or those that are considered non-game and are not otherwise protected by state or federal law.
Is some states coyotes are year round game.
In many states feral pigs and wild boars are neither game nor protected non-game so you can kill as many as you want, however you want, and whenever and wherever you want so long as you observe firearm discharge laws and regs.
Is some states coyotes are year round game.
In many states feral pigs and wild boars are neither game nor protected non-game so you can kill as many as you want, however you want, and whenever and wherever you want so long as you observe firearm discharge laws and regs.
From the research I have done (which is not for every state) the preserve is allowed to set its season because it buys/raises the game you shoot there. So it is like you raising your own chickens, you raise and kill them when you want eat.
One does not generally shoot wild animals on these private preserves, i.e. Wild Hill in Vermont, just domestically raised ones, there are exceptions where some suppossedly import wild animals and release them on private property.
I have also found that land owners who have over certain amounts of agricultural acreage are allowed to shoot certain critters if they are interfering with the cultivation of crops.
Dave
One does not generally shoot wild animals on these private preserves, i.e. Wild Hill in Vermont, just domestically raised ones, there are exceptions where some suppossedly import wild animals and release them on private property.
I have also found that land owners who have over certain amounts of agricultural acreage are allowed to shoot certain critters if they are interfering with the cultivation of crops.
Dave
J
Jose
Why? Just follow your state's game regs. It's not that hard and millions do it successfully every year.
As stated correctly by tackdriver, bird shooting preserves raise and release their own game. It may be released immediately before your arrival or they may do periodic stockings throught their season to make the bird a little better sport.
In any case, shooting birds paid for by you in those preserves is 100% legal and can be a lot of fun.
In mass, you will contact the Mass Environmental Police 800 632 8075 to record the problem. You will be referred to contact the Mass Wildlife HQ @ 508 389 6300 for a degradation permit. Mass wildlife will check with MEP to see if a history exists of intrusion. If a permit is issued, you must make a log of all animals taken under the permit. To qualify for the permit the crops being threatned must be a major income source. Over 51% of your annual income. This is not a permit for some private garden or decorative flowers. The only persons authorized to take animals under the permit are: 1. Landowner, 2. Immediate family of the landowner, 3. Full time regular employee of the buisness. Not a contractor or someone hired to kill the animals and then be fired. The animals destroyed must be in the act of destroying the crops that are being protected by the permit. Just because the animal is seen on the property does not meet the requirement.
Also all animals taken must be turned over to the EPO's
IANAL so here is the MGL link
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/131-37.htm
or for more info of problem critters
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/regulations_damage.htm
Also all animals taken must be turned over to the EPO's
IANAL so here is the MGL link
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/131-37.htm
or for more info of problem critters
http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/regulations/regulations_damage.htm
Freedomhunter, I've had unsuccessful experience at Hockomock. Can be done. Lot of places where they can hide. Very big area and wide water in some places that stop you. But also the western side has more contiguous drier land.
Dana
Dana
namedpipes
NES Member
http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1235220#post1235220
http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1239293#post1239293
http://northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=1242781#post1242781
In only 12 posts as of now, you have started or posted into at least three topics that could be considered questionable. You go ahead and do what you want - you are responsible for your own actions, but perhaps you should spend some time quietly observing before you say the wrong thing in the wrong place or to the wrong agency.
J
Jose
Stupid people doing stupid things win stupid prizes
A game warden once told me:
"No matter who owns the property, the state owns the animals." (Normal farm animals excluded)
So, unless it's a registered "game farm", the answer is NO. You can't hunt on private land out of season.
The only other exception to this rule that I know of is in the event that you have "nuisance animals", you can get a special permit from the game warden to deal with them.
Example: You own a fruit tree farm, and the deer move in to devastate the newly planted trees. You can get a permit to shoot as many of the pests as you wish. You still have to let the warden know every time you pop one.
"No matter who owns the property, the state owns the animals." (Normal farm animals excluded)
So, unless it's a registered "game farm", the answer is NO. You can't hunt on private land out of season.
The only other exception to this rule that I know of is in the event that you have "nuisance animals", you can get a special permit from the game warden to deal with them.
Example: You own a fruit tree farm, and the deer move in to devastate the newly planted trees. You can get a permit to shoot as many of the pests as you wish. You still have to let the warden know every time you pop one.
