Always carry while hunting.

buck460XVR said:

While I carry most of the time......if hunting, I consider my primary weapon enough. As I have said multiple times, there's a reason they call it public land. It's not just your's or mine, it belongs to everybody. As long as they are not a realistic threat or breaking the law, their activities should not be a concern of yours. I personally have sympathy for those who are so unfortunate they do not have a place to live. While robbing from campers is out of line, I doubt very much, the Warden would have let it go.

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Well he did let it go. I knew the state park ranger very well from fishing there 2-3 times per week and even he was pissed the warden let it go. The ranger called me asking where I saw the guy and his pile of trash and I said I will come show you. I arrived and there was the park ranger and warden sitting on a John Deere gator and said they rode around the property and didn't see anyone. I said on the west side of the land there is a large path cut through the fence line and woods that leads to beer cans, water bottles, chip bags, clothes, etc. Warden said its a game trail I found and trash is from deer gun hunters. Come gun season the guy will just move on. Park ranger said he had been trying to get the guy for months but cant find him. I saw him wearing old forest camo pants from the army and carrying a black shirt. He knows how to hide so no one ever caught him. Our county warden is lazy. Pheasant releases he rides around in his truck and literally drives through the fields stopping everyone for a license. So yeah, he did let it go.

entropy said:

You do know you can just edit your first post instead of adding three more, right?

Dang, your'e not in New York. Here it's common, talk about the weather, any game seen, etc. Just be sure you're armed and prepared for that one that might flip out and shoot up your hunting crew. That happened here in WI when a MN hunter trespassed on a family's land and they rode out in ATV's, unarmed, to shoo him off. He shot six people with an SKS, 5 of them died. He is serving 6 life sentences with no chance of parole.I knew one of the men killed. Vang said he deserved to die because he flipped him off.

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That is another reason I carry. I have not found anyone in my stand but friends have and said the person tried justifying why they are allowed to use someone else's stand. That just screams altercation. I would just say hey, bud your in my stand and ask them to get down. One guy told me he was busted by another guy and couldn't believe the guy asked him to get down. I was thinking um, why would he let you sit in his tree stand without saying anything and your upset he asked you to get down? I don't seek people out when I see them I just wave and move elsewhere. I have had guys see me from a distance and come walking over to me. I don't mind talking at parking areas, trails, etc but don't make it a point to come hundreds of yards to talk to me while I am deer hunting. I hunted state land a lot for many years and met a lot of nice people but some also freaked me out. I always think worst case scenario. What if the guy yesterday was cooking meth or 2yrs ago they OD a young teen girl and dumped her in the woods and corn field down the road from my house. Never know now days. If I wave, wave back.

Speedo66 said:

From what I've read, OH requires a signed permission slip if you are on someone else's land. Even with someone's verbal OK, you're still required to have a signed paper.

From the regs:
The Penalty for Hunting Without Written Permission

The maximum penalty for hunting without written permission of the landowner for a first offense is 60 days in jail and a $500 fine. The maximum penalty for a second offense is 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.

A person must carry written permission at all times while engaging in hunting or trapping on private land and exhibit it upon request to a state wildlife officer, sheriff, deputy sheriff, police officer, other law enforcement officer, owner of the land, or the landowner’s authorized agent.

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You are 100% correct and I asked my county warden this exact question when he came to my hunt club meeting last year. I have a farm that will not sign a slip on this road. He said is it Mr. N. He said yeah, he wont do it because he's old and set in his ways. He says a lot of farmers wont do it because they feel if they do they are open to being sued. He said unless Mr. N calls him with a complaint he will not come out. I said well I don't want to be coming out of the woods or heading in and have you stop me and I get a ticket. He responded that he doesn't stop people on private land unless there is a complaint. He said he will also go speak with the landowner if he is questionable of my permission. He even gave me advice to hunt a farm about 10-12yrs ago. I was about 19yo and he checked me on state land. I asked if he knew any landowners who give permission and he sent me to a farm and said tell him I sent you. I arrived and the older gentleman said he wont sign a slip because guys from years ago he threw out kept coming back and changing the year on the slip. He said the warden knew about it and that I must call him each night before coming out to hunt. I called the warden and asked about the situation and he said yes, he is aware the man wont sign a slip and so long as I call the landowner like he asks there will be no issues. I talked to another hunter that hunted there and he said the farmer couldn't get the guys to leave so he quit signing a slip. If we call and tell him when we are hunting he will know its us and not call the law. I carry two copies of slips. Ones in my truck I place in the window when I leave it and one with me. I had both farm copies with me last night. From the way the map looked 200yards in we would have hit the slice of land that's not Mr. N.

I also inquired with the warden about a local hunt club that knocks on some farm doors asking to be part of a co op and he said members of that club still need to get permission slips signed because its not leased just granted permission. I told him I noticed a lot of guys hunting these farms saying as long as they are hunt club members they are allowed to be there without permission. I found this out when I was told I was the only one deer hunting and my stuff was being messed with. I asked the farmer and he said me, father and son are only people with permission. I found out several club members were hunting too without permission. The warden asked what road and I told him and he says oh, that's Mr. Br. Yeah, the club has always done that and Mr. Br wants the deer killed so he wont call. He says unless they call me I will not come out.

Let me clear a couple things up with this last post and then I have asked for this to be locked seeing how we have a couple "game wardens" in here.

I recently attended the Police academy. I am very well versed in the law. I have lot's of friends and family who are police officer. I do not break the law "other than speed" for any reason. I generally try and get permission for neighboring property just for this instance. We were hunting Mr. M property who connects to Mr. N property. Mr. M property has a bridge that crosses a 15ft wide creek and connects to Mr. N property. We weren't aware that the property sliced like it does and more crossed the bridge to find the dog who treed a squirrel. I crossed the bridge and stood there while my buddy got the dog. We have never hunted that part of the woods before and did not wish to. He then waves at someone twice who did not wave back and proceeded to somewhat hide. He then said we should be going. I have written permission slips for both farms that stay in my truck and on me when I am there. My buddy has had permission yearly at both farms for over 20yrs and me 5yrs. The intent of my OP was to shine light on you never know who is lurking in the woods. If I was a landowner, hunter, etc. and not up to no good I would have at minimum waved back at someone waving hi to me. When he saw the large pile of trash he thought it was a squatter and we needed to leave for our safety. No one was hiding because we were supposedly trespassing, no one was scared because of anything other than some weirdo in the woods. Its hot out and middle of hunting season and your out for a stroll wearing a coat and jeans says red flag.

I have been busted on private land when I got turned around on public land and was busted my the landowner. I explained that It was my first time in the area and the map showed me it was public. He explained that the state had sold the land to him and I wasn't allowed to hunt. I said well I am pretty deep and have no idea how to get back to the trail. He said follow me and walked me to another trail on public and said have a nice day.

It's funny how everyone makes accusations and gets all up in arms. We didn't shoot the squirrel the dog treed, we didn't wander but 30yards past that bridge and made sure it was Mr. N before entering. We just didn't know 3/4 of the property was sliced like a pie.

Fine Figure of a Man said:

My carry gun stays in a holster on my belt, never left in my vehicle.

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I had it behind the seat of my truck and debating wearing it. My pants I was wearing has funky belt loops and makes it hard to get a strong side carry. It either has to sit slightly over my butt cheeks or almost appendix carry so I said nah, I don't need it. I made it 10 steps and said yeah, I better take it. Coyotes are thick and never know who's lurking. Especially over the guy screaming at us for squirrel hunting while he was deer hunting. I thought man, your making more noise than the dog by screaming F bombs at us.

Now before the internet lawyers fire up again. Ohio allows us to keep a loaded firearm stored in a vehicle so long as the person has a ccw permit. I had left my girlfriends house and taken the gun off before bed and stored it in the nightstand. When I left I grabbed some clothes and the gun and put them behind the seat. 100% legal. I don't leave it in the truck unless in a store who doesn't allow it, but those pants suck!