For many hunters, the arrival of rifle and shotgun season is the true go time. More hunters will hit the woods in November than in any other month of the year. The recent snow doesn’t hurt either — deer tracks are easier to spot in a crunchy carpet of white.
The different game management areas provide plenty of public acreage for hunters, but there’s another alternative for those pursuing deer — private land.
On the first day of hunting season, Nov. 13, deer registration stations were busy logging in the harvest. The deer have been big, too. Proctor’s Store in Enfield Center has already registered two deer that weighed more than 190 pounds.
Mike Covey, of Williamstown, Vt., was one of the lucky hunters. Covey took an eight-point buck that weighed in at 194.7 pounds. He plans to butcher the buck himself to put many meals of venison on the dinner table.
Though Covey lives in Vermont, he drove across the border to New Hampshire for opening day of rifle season. He hunted on private land that has been in his family since 1876. Unlike most hunters who use a blind or a tree stand, Covey was walking the family grounds when he encountered the eight-pointer.
Tom Hague, of White River Junction, also has had good luck on private land. He prefers to hunt in New Hampshire as well, particularly in the southern part of the state where he grew up. Most Upper Valley hunters don’t think of heading south in pursuit of game, but there are plenty of deer in the M1 management area.
Hague has hunted in Rockingham County since he was a kid and cites the need for deer management in the thickly populated area.
“A lot of people don’t care for hunting,” he said, “at least until deer get into their gardens or they hit one with a car.”
There are so many deer in southern New Hampshire that hunters may apply for a special permit to take an extra deer beyond the seasonal limit. This presents more opportunities for success. But hunters have to be careful where they go because they never know when they will walk uninvited onto someone else’s land.
Hague has a simple strategy for hunting on private property.
“I knock on the door and ask the landowner if I can hunt on his or her land,” he said. “If you’re polite, a lot of times they will be agreeable since deer can be a nuisance. But if they say no, I respect their decision.”
His respectful approach is often met with a smile, and after chatting with a landowner about the need to cull the deer herd, he is sometimes granted permission. But he never argues and points out that owners who catch someone hunting on their land without permission may not be as understanding.
Trespassing is a crime even if you claim that you weren’t aware that the land is private. Landowners may just send you packing, but they can also call the police and file a complaint. Breaking the law may result in arrest, a fine or even time behind bars.
How do you know the land is private?
The most visible indication is a “No Trespassing, No Hunting” sign posted on the property line. Unless you have permission, it is wise to take this warning seriously. Telling someone you didn’t see the sign is not going to fly if you get caught.
A fence should also be perceived as a warning. If someone takes the time to put up fencing, it’s probably a good assumption that the landowner wants to keep everyone out.
There are other ways to find out if land is private. Asking other hunters or personnel at game weigh stations may provide the information you need. You can also check at the town offices to ascertain boundaries that define ownership.
Once you find out who owns a parcel of land, seek out the landowner and ask him or her if it would be all right to venture onto the property.
Take it from Hague — don’t scoff or haggle if the landowner refuses. Arguing won’t do you any good. No means no, so find another place to hunt.
Even when hunting on private land, all the rules and regulations apply to that particular game management area.
Safety is always a concern.
Keep your gun on safety, muzzle pointed at the ground, until you are ready to shoot.
Wear hunter orange to prevent another hunter from mistaking you for a buck. Always be aware of homes and other structures in the area. And don’t shoot at anything that moves in the brush until you are sure it’s a deer.
Although surprisingly few hunters get shot accidentally, if one person gets hurt, it’s one too many.
Coleman Stokes can be reached at stokecoles@gmail.com.