Hunting close property lines

[Freelancebowhntr]

Here in upstate most parcels are fairly small in my area. 5-40 acres for most part. I have a few private pieces that are in this range

What are your feelings on how close is too close for bow hunting near property lines? Usually in the sense of hunting a major pinch point whether it be a creek crossing, broken section of old livestock fencing etc.

Always seem deer are skirting the edge of the property lines where I hunt. Want to push in but not cause issues with surrounding property owners that are anti hunting.

 

[Exhumis]

This is a highly debated topic. There’s the I’m on my property so I’ll hunt an inch from the line crowd and then there’s the I’ll give the neighbor some space crowd.
Me I’ll stay 100 yards away. I’m not trying to cause drama with the neighbors and in VA you have to have permission to enter someone’s property to track or recover a deer; I’ve had owners deny me access to the property. 100 yards generally gives the deer space to drop on my parcel for recovery.
Where I hunt in Northern VA there are many folks who are anti hunting which is another reason I stay away from property liners. Why give them more reason to harass me? I was scouting a parcel once and had a Karen(actual name too) approach me and proceed to inform me that she would come stand at the property line with a boat horn every time she saw me hunting and would call the cops just to report my truck parked on the side of the road. Needless to say I didn’t hunt that parcel for long. So I stay 100 yards.

 

[Kevin2]

If you are on your side of the property, why not. Just don't shoot onto the neighbors. Now, what do you do if the deer dies on their side? That could happen no matter where you shoot a deer on yourside though, so I'm back to staying on your side AND not shooting onto their side. I would not let their anti hunting thing ruin your use of your land.

 

[Loopwing]

I am of the camp, my property is my property until it is yours. On the other side of that when was the last time you shot a deer with an arrow and didn't have to track it. You can't control where it runs. In VA all we have to do is tell the homeowner we are going to recover a deer.
This is where community politics comes into play. Most of us don't live where we hunt and we hunt on permission. Last year a buddy of mine was hunting the property line of one of the farms I hunt. Shot a doe that ran onto the neighbors property, he text him we were coming to get the deer. He said get the deer a and get off his property. Monday morning we got a phone call we lost permission to hunt the farm. The two landowners came together and decided in the best interest of their community (big shouting yelling match, possibilities of field fires, gunfire) property lines would be strictly enforced.
Feuds between farmers/neighbors happen all the time and sometimes a deer can be the match for the powderkeg.

 

[kyler1945]

I just try to meet my neighbors and be a nice guy and someone of value to them. Someone they can trust and rely on.

I find that starting there leads to many opportunities, of which sometimes shooting a deer is one.

Yes there’s a lot of space between being a good neighbor and the decision on where to draw a line to hunt. But not starting in the beginning is how you get shot, start decades long feuds, and not be able to recover your giant deer shot on your property.

It’s all downstream of your connection to your neigbor.

There’s some wisdom we could apply to life in there somewhere I’m sure.

 

[Jammintree]

I just try to meet my neighbors and be a nice guy and someone of value to them. Someone they can trust and rely on.

I find that starting there leads to many opportunities, of which sometimes shooting a deer is one.

Yes there’s a lot of space between being a good neighbor and the decision on where to draw a line to hunt. But not starting in the beginning is how you get shot, start decades long feuds, and not be able to recover your giant deer shot on your property.

It’s all downstream of your connection to your neigbor.

There’s some wisdom we could apply to life in there somewhere I’m sure.

Man, I want more neighbors like you.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

This is a highly debated topic. There’s the I’m on my property so I’ll hunt an inch from the line crowd and then there’s the I’ll give the neighbor some space crowd.
Me I’ll stay 100 yards away. I’m not trying to cause drama with the neighbors and in VA you have to have permission to enter someone’s property to track or recover a deer; I’ve had owners deny me access to the property. 100 yards generally gives the deer space to drop on my parcel for recovery.
Where I hunt in Northern VA there are many folks who are anti hunting which is another reason I stay away from property liners. Why give them more reason to harass me? I was scouting a parcel once and had a Karen(actual name too) approach me and proceed to inform me that she would come stand at the property line with a boat horn every time she saw me hunting and would call the cops just to report my truck parked on the side of the road. Needless to say I didn’t hunt that parcel for long. So I stay 100 yards.

I’m sure you are aware, but Karen was already doing something highly illegal by harassing a legal hunter legally hunting, then further threats to do the same just compound her own dumbassitude. If she were to hypothetically call law enforcement, you’d be on the laughing end of that situation in a hurry.

 

[Freelancebowhntr]

A few years ago a buddy of mine shot a nice buck that ended up going 150-200 yards. We had permission on the adjoining property but it had crossed that property and had died on the next.

We contacted landowner and the lady was completely against hunting and us retrieving it. So we called the game warden to see if there was anything he could do. He came out and talked with the landowner.

After finally bring up the point of if that deer was not retrieved she was gonna be the one dealing with the smell. She finally gave in and let us retrieve it. The deer had crashed 50 yards off her back steps.

I do have one neighbor that is completely fine with recovering deer on his property. Even offered to help with his tractor if ever needed. He’s not for anyone hunting his place for liability reasons since he owns 400 acres of family land which is understandable. But I mentioned that I own a machine/fab shop so if he ever needed help with his farm equipment or anything around the house I could help him out. Maybe one day it’ll come full circle and I’ll get permission

 

[kyler1945]

Man, I want more neighbors like you.

Neighbors like me are more common than the ones that everyone tells each other about.

Human nature, gossip, all of it.

If you want that kind of neigbor, ya gotta be one, and ya gotta be around them. Life’s a bunch of tradeoffs.

 

[Glenn]

Depends on what the property line is and the neighbor. If the line is a fence anywhere from 30-50 yards depending on how thick and wind direction. I’ll hug a line and let my scent blow back into a neighbors property unless I’m expecting deer to come from their place. If the line is a creek, river, ditch, road or some other physical barrier, I’ll climb the tree with the paint on it.

As for retrieval, it may not be right or legal but if I can see it and it’s close, I’m just going to go get it and drag it across. If it’s a track job, I’m contacting the owner. And it’s kinda of SOP for us and neighbors. They do the same for our place. See it? Just come get it. Otherwise call.

 

[Jammintree]

Neighbors like me are more common than the ones that everyone tells each other about.

Human nature, gossip, all of it.

If you want that kind of neigbor, ya gotta be one, and ya gotta be around them. Life’s a bunch of tradeoffs.

That’s exactly right. Which is why I appreciate your post: I approach the neighborhood the same way. I make a constant effort to cultivate good relationships even with the folks who seem determined to do the opposite. People have a hard time being a jerk to someone who’s constantly nice and friendly.

 

[NimbleTimbo]

I’m literally on the line right now. The deer follow these rocks right down the line. I only shoot on our property but we have a good relationship with the neighbor who also hunts and will grant permission to come get a deer if it heads there to die. He has some stands near the line too in some spots and intercepts deer heading towards our food plots. Is what it is. Part of the game. I’m just glad to be on good terms

 

[sconnieVLP]

This is a highly debated topic. There’s the I’m on my property so I’ll hunt an inch from the line crowd and then there’s the I’ll give the neighbor some space crowd.
Me I’ll stay 100 yards away. I’m not trying to cause drama with the neighbors and in VA you have to have permission to enter someone’s property to track or recover a deer; I’ve had owners deny me access to the property. 100 yards generally gives the deer space to drop on my parcel for recovery.
Where I hunt in Northern VA there are many folks who are anti hunting which is another reason I stay away from property liners. Why give them more reason to harass me? I was scouting a parcel once and had a Karen(actual name too) approach me and proceed to inform me that she would come stand at the property line with a boat horn every time she saw me hunting and would call the cops just to report my truck parked on the side of the road. Needless to say I didn’t hunt that parcel for long. So I stay 100 yards.

This is why I’ve stayed away from the urban hunting in NoVA. Just dealing with people in a “normal” setting around here can be painful, add in the fact that you’re killing something and you can end up with a recipe for disaster.

I don’t really like hunting where I do here due to the number of extra hoops/rules I have to deal with there, but at least it’s one big contiguous block of the same property and IMO easier than dealing with a suburbanite anti-hunter.

Definitely makes me miss being able to walk out and hunt in my backyard where I grew up in WI.

 

[Exhumis]

I’m sure you are aware, but Karen was already doing something highly illegal by harassing a legal hunter legally hunting, then further threats to do the same just compound her own dumbassitude. If she were to hypothetically call law enforcement, you’d be on the laughing end of that situation in a hurry.

I know man, I know. But my experience with LEOs is they’re like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Example. This cow got out of the enclosure and the rancher was tired of chasing her for days on end so had my hunting partner and I harvest her.

So the three of us are in the middle of a field processing this cow when two sheriffs deputies show up and real casual like inquire as to the nature of our business. Now mind you it’s three dudes with guns and knives cutting up this cow, very unorthodox. Deputies were real cool about it and even hung around to get some learning.
Then a different time I had the cops called on me cuz a couple walking their dog down the road spotted me hanging from a tree and decided “that was strange.” It’s Northern Virginia man, lotsa folks making things their business that they ought not to be. It’s just not worth the hassle.

 

[The_Fit_Ness_Monster]

Regardless how anyone feels, legally your line is your line. Someone can be upset with that all they want. Now if you’re on the line and shooting deer that are on the other side that’s a no no, but if you shoot it on your side and it crosses you’re able to retrieve. But as far as strictly setting up if your on your parcel regardless of how close it is to another parcel it’s still on yours.

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

I know man, I know. But my experience with LEOs is they’re like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Example. This cow got out of the enclosure and the rancher was tired of chasing her for days on end so had my hunting partner and I harvest her.
View attachment 93217
So the three of us are in the middle of a field processing this cow when two sheriffs deputies show up and real casual like inquire as to the nature of our business. Now mind you it’s three dudes with guns and knives cutting up this cow, very unorthodox. Deputies were real cool about it and even hung around to get some learning.
Then a different time I had the cops called on me cuz a couple walking their dog down the road spotted me hanging from a tree and decided “that was strange.” It’s Northern Virginia man, lotsa folks making things their business that they ought not to be. It’s just not worth the hassle.

Fair points all around.
Also that’s a badass story and I had to show my wife your reply. She was fascinated by hunters field dressing a cow lol.

 

[Skunkworkx]

I’m sure you are aware, but Karen was already doing something highly illegal by harassing a legal hunter legally hunting, then further threats to do the same just compound her own dumbassitude. If she were to hypothetically call law enforcement, you’d be on the laughing end of that situation in a hurry.

Been down this road....As long as they're on THEIR property, then can do as they like according to DNR MD

DNR Maryland...
You have to get permission to track deer on others property
Property does NOT have to be marked to be charged with trespassing

 

[DelaWhere_Arrow]

Been down this road....As long as they're on THEIR property, then can do as they like according to DNR MD

DNR Maryland...
You have to get permission to track deer on others property
Property does NOT have to be marked to be charged with trespassing

Sure, going on someone else’s property is a no no, and yes you are allowed to do what you want on your own land, but around here, if you are making noise at another person’s property or otherwise harassing even from your side, put aside whatever anti-hunting violations you’re committing, you’re now in violation of noise ordnances as well as your voice and demeanor intruding, ie trespassing, on not-your property with ill intent. I’m no lawyer but I’m friends with a bunch of LEOs and neighbors. You yell at another person’s land maliciously and you’re in big trouble in one way or several others.

 

[dalton916]

Every situation is different and Glenn put that in perfect context. Wind will dictate how close or far as well as a lot of other factors. Bow vs rifle is a big one.

Most of the time if YOU act like the neighbor you would like have then you’ll take care of most of your problems ahead of time. Your land is yours, but talk to your neighbors and respect what they have to say.

All of your answers are contained in the above 2 paragraphs, but all situations are different and would take years to type out all possibilities.

I know a guy who’s neighbor will not let him recover deer. He knows this from talking ahead of time, not when he had a deer on their property. Didn’t sit well with him, but he respected it and hunted accordingly. She was very fond of her gardening skills so he established a bait site on their property line to draw in the deer so they might would wander over and eat some of her stuff. More than one way to skin a cat.

 

[1simplemann]

Lot's of variable to this. I have a tree on private property that's 3' from the line. If there were another hunter there in that area, I would back off. However No one hunts there so I hunt it. I have other properties where someone else has permission. I have No idea who he is. Never even seen him hunting. Just his tree stand. I still stay well away from his set up. I have had "in the dark" confrontation's before thinking that hunter wasn't hunting anymore. Never good. Basically I avoid all confrontations because you never know who your dealing with. They might have more pull than you. I've had another hunter who was family to the landowner actually go to the owner and actually attempt to get me kicked off the property. You can lose permission really easy these days.