Landowner/hunter dispute... revisited

[Jstpssng]

This caused a lot of discussion when it happened last year... yet it only told one side of the story.
Here A shot in the woods: Starks clash ignites age-old tensions between hunters, landowners | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

are the results after the grand jury... There are two sides to every story... the truth usually stands someplace between the above. Yet considerring that the hunters were apparently standing on a public road when mr Hebert initially encountered them; further, that he alledgedly assaulted two members of the hunting party before he wras shot by an accidental discharge; plus a few other incidents which have raised a red flag to me...

 

[Midniteoyl]

Yep.. two sides.... But, this right here would have me at least pulling his (Ponds) hunting license and charging negligence:

Robert Pond has maintained that he did not shoot Hebert and that Hebert pulling on the barrel of his rifle is what caused it to go off.

IE: he had his finger inside the trigger guard of a loaded weapon...

 

[Boondox]

Yep.. two sides.... But, this right here would have me at least pulling his (Ponds) hunting license and charging negligence: IE: he had his finger inside the trigger guard of a loaded weapon...

With a round chambered and the safety off...on a public road.

 

[Jstpssng]

With a round chambered and the safety off...on a public road.[
The public road isn't an issue; in Maine we're allowed to hunt from a gravel road. I agree about the "accidental discharge" , yet if the two were struggling for possession of the gun it would be easy to hit the safety and/or the trigger.

Then again, it could be another case of an "evil gun which shot somebody with no human intervention" ;-0

 

[dave1949]

It's an odd story all around.

Some how it escalated to violence when that should never have happened. I think that is a commentary on all of us, not just the people in the story.

I have no doubt that what many landowners will take away from this is, that it's a lot less potential hassle to just post their land and be done with it.

 

[Katahdin]

This is nothing. Just wait until ice fishing season starts.

 

[300UGUY]

It's an odd story all around.

Some how it escalated to violence when that should never have happened. I think that is a commentary on all of us, not just the people in the story.

I have no doubt that what many landowners will take away from this is, that it's a lot less potential hassle to just post their land and be done with it.

Here in Michigan, you hardly ever see private property that isn't posted. I started to write about why, but that discussion has been beat to death here.

 

[Jstpssng]

This is nothing. Just wait until ice fishing season starts...eo]

THAT's funny! Anybody who doesn't think so needs to have their sense of humor checked. ;-) (I didn't see the need to repost your link)

Also reminds me of smelting season tales... when the preparations for dipping include a pint or a twelve pack... one reason I don't go.

 

[kenmac]

In my state, all land is considered posted as no trespassing , signs or not. If you are caught hunting land by the Game Warden , you must have/show written permission from the land owner to hunt. If deer hunting,etc on your land (or rented land for hunting,) and you shoot a deer,etc , the deer,etc must die/fall on your land, You aren't allowed (by law) to go on another land owners property to retrieve the deer,etc unless, you have permission from the land owner

 

[Katahdin]

THAT's funny! Anybody who doesn't think so needs to have their sense of humor checked. ;-)

Glad you think so! :laughing:

On a more serious note, we had a young gentlemen stop by a couple days ago to seek permission to hunt. The family owns about 65 acres with a brook and apple trees, the deer do frequent area. Anywho, the gentleman presented my wife a "Recreational Access Landowner ~ Land User Courtesy Card" complete with his vehicle and contact information. I guess its part of a state run program to avoid further clashes like the one brought up in this thread. My wife was so impressed that she didn't even consult me and gave the guy permission to hunt on the spot. I guess a little courtesy goes a long way.