Recent experience with landowner
#1 Guest_drewish_*
Posted 02 December 2006 - 12:46 PM
After an hour or so of collecting a guy in a Bobcat drove by staring us down. We figured we'd better pack up and leave so after a couple more passes we did just that. As we were taking off our gear and packing the car, the gentleman came back in his car. He told us that he owned the property on the other side of the stream and told us he didn't want to see us netting in this particular stream. But he also said he had no problem if we just wanted to fish. We tried to show him that we weren't after trout but instead non-game fish but had no interest.
He legally can't tell us what we can or can't do on this public stream and netting is legal as it isn't wasn't stocked trout waters or inside a national park. We probably won't go back just to avoid the hassle but I just wanted to share our experience.
#3 Guest_drewish_*
Posted 02 December 2006 - 03:50 PM
Did you try to tell him this, and if so, how did he respond?
He didn't really want to talk to us. We offered to show him what we got but wasn't interested. We know we won't be liked and we understood why he wouldn't want us to collect there. I don't know how I would feel if someone was collecting in waters that border my property. If we are in the area again, I'm going to give him a NANFA tri-fold brochure. I'm probably going to print a few of these out and take with us on our collection trips.
#4 Guest_Histrix_*
Posted 02 December 2006 - 06:21 PM
#5 Guest_hmt321_*
Posted 03 December 2006 - 04:31 PM
There are some frightening property owners out there, thats for sure. When I was collecting algae up in Northern Michigan, our group had to sample in one particular area of the lake that bordered a piece of land that looked like it was straight out of the movie "Deliverance". The house was really run down, there was the obligatory broken-down car on cinderblocks off to the side, a rusty swing set, and a half-dozen animal carcasses in various states of decay littering the back yard. Needless to say, we didn't get too close to shore on that particular data point. No whirlpack full of diatoms is worth being shot at over
was that you????
stay out of my yard!!!
no wait Northern Michigan,
never mind
#6 Guest_teleost_*
Posted 05 December 2006 - 05:04 PM
#7 Guest_choupique_*
Posted 06 December 2006 - 12:18 AM
Would have not been such an experience, but the guy was nearly ready to flip out and try to fight us I think. We acted in a civil manner, and stated we were just catching spotfin shiners [for bait #036; ]. I checked a platte book, and he did own the land from start to finish on this stream.
In most cases like this, I ask the land owner to give the game warden or ranger a call. After silences I usually have enough reduced tension time to pack up and leave, and never come back.
Here is something that has helped me keep on the good side of other landowners, bring a walmart bag. Pick up every last bit of trash you find while fishing! This is one of the number one things that ticks off landowners, and makes them suspect of anyone around.
One thing you cannot avoid, which I have heard. Landowners seeing people with nets, clear viewing containers, packets of paper for jotting down notes or maps etc get worried. They are under the assumption that people are searching for protected species on their land - which can equal them loosing full use of their property.
#8 Guest_teleost_*
Posted 06 December 2006 - 08:22 AM
One thing you cannot avoid, which I have heard. Landowners seeing people with nets, clear viewing containers, packets of paper for jotting down notes or maps etc get worried. They are under the assumption that people are searching for protected species on their land - which can equal them loosing full use of their property.
This is a very good point. Since I'm just a guy and not affiliated with the state in any way, I generally get a pass from landowners to sample the streams. I make sure however to conceal my photography equipment and never under any circumstance even mention threatened/endangered species. I can understand/respect the private landowners concerns and make every attempt to hide the nerdy nature of the sampling.
#10 Guest_sandtiger_*
Posted 06 December 2006 - 01:22 PM
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