Ask now to hunt on private land this fall

Indicators that Idaho's great fall hunting seasons are just around the corner are all around us. Days are getting shorter and nights cooler. County fairs are in full swing. Pickups are full of firewood, and roadsides are turning brown.

In the last couple of weeks I have seen archery targets set up for archers to get in some pre-season practice. The number of hunters coming to the Farragut Shooting Range to sight in rifles is increasing each weekend.

There is one other important item hunters cannot overlook, and that is making contact with private landowners on whose property they wish to hunt.

According to a survey of rural Idaho landowners, 88 percent will allow hunting on their property if hunters ask permission first. In addition, the vast majority of those landowners are more likely to grant access to their land to people who ask well in advance.

Hunters have the best results if they contact landowners at least two weeks before they plan to hunt. Hunters should ask even earlier on prime properties because some landowners set a "quota" for the number of hunters they allow on their property.

The limit they place on the number of hunters makes for a higher quality hunting experience and helps the landowner keep track of who will be on their land and when they will be there.

Sportsmen may pick up free hunter courtesy cards at Idaho Department of Fish and Game offices. These contain spaces for the hunter's (or angler's) name, address and other information to be given to landowners who grant access to their land.

Landowners in turn sign a card the hunter keeps which verifies permission to access the property. The cards do not increase the landowner's liability in the case of an injury. These simply provide proof that the landowner has been personally contacted prior to entering private land.

Sportsmen can improve landowner-sportsman relations considerably by looking at things from the perspective of a landowner. In addition to always asking permission in advance, there are other principles that apply to hunting activities for both safety and courtesy.

One illegal practice that causes great irritation to landowners and creates safety hazards is "road hunting."

Hunters who shoot from roads or rights of way onto private property near buildings, livestock and people cause endless frustration for landowners.

In addition, shooting from or across a public road or from a vehicle is illegal and dangerous. Multiple people moving in and out of vehicles with loaded firearms can easily lead to a tragic firearms accident.

While Idaho law does not prohibit possession of a fully loaded gun in a vehicle, common sense and accident statistics indicate this is an unsafe practice and one which can only hurt the image of hunting.

If you have any questions about the upcoming seasons or if you have general wildlife questions, look for us this week at the North Idaho Fair. Fish and Game employees will be staffing the North Idaho Wildlife Education Center near the main entrance to the fairgrounds.

Even if you don't have questions, stop by and take a look at the hundreds of mounted specimens on display.

It is a great opportunity to see species of wildlife up close that you may not have the opportunity to see very often in the wild.

And...we look forward every year to talking with you!

Phil Cooper is a wildlife conservation educator in Coeur d'Alene for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.