THE HUNT: OPENING DAY

I have several parts of the farm designated as wildlife refuges.  Wild animals are constantly being bombarded with threats of our modern society - mainly from human encroachment.

The parts of our land that house these creatures are untouched old growth forests, brush, apple trees, and marsh land.

One time a neighbor with 200 acres was spotted hunting on the farm here - "what are you doing", I asked.  "Hunting on your land", he responded.  "Why?" "Because the deer are hiding in your brush."

I was baffled that someone would come onto someone's land to hunt - right near my house - without notice of any kind.  It happened more than once.  Another incident, a neighbor with posted signs littered on the fenced in borders of his land - caught hunting on ours - the reason it was okay - according to him - we had no posted signs.

I hate those signs - they are an eyesore to the environment - and not required to keep others off your own land.  They must ask permission before they hunt on someone else's land.  There are many rules in hunting.

http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/8371.html

Q. Must I post to keep people off my property?

A. No. Trespassing is illegal even on unposted property.  At any time, anyone asked to leave the premises, posted or not, by the landowner, occupant or other authorized person, must do so immediately.

This is a hunting lookout that another person built on 200 acres - elaborate...

My feelings on those that eat meat are they do the animals a service when they are humanely shot in the field rather than put through a factory farming life.  That said, there are rules of fair play and human decency that should be followed.  Men that are hunters are often compassionate people and hunt to the rule of law.

This is a photo of some of our reserved land for wildlife.