Stranger Asking To Hunt My Land

[Johnny]

A guy pulls up to my rural residence with a pickup truck with a dog cage in the bed. He says he's been following a big bobcat that's currently on my property. He asks if he can run his dogs on my property, corner it and kill it. I say "no".

I went on to say I am well aware of Michigan's hunting regulations and its loopholes about hunting with dogs. According to MI law, he can legally enter my property to "retrieve loose dogs". I politely explained that any loose dogs on my property would be a threat to my "livestock" and therefore a legal target. I also told him that adjacent land owners feel the same way.

I'm not always an asshole. My wife and I have welcomed many people to use our land, even a few strangers. This guy was different. He was essentially "hunting from his pickup". He was polite and respectful, but something about him wasn't right. Sometimes you gotta follow your gut.

[rto]

It might be a good idea to see what your insurance covers about people being on your property whether they are hunting or taking a nature stroll if they become injured.

I wouldn't want anyone running dogs on my property.

[Johnny]

It might be a good idea to see what your insurance covers about people being on your property whether they are hunting or taking a nature stroll if they become injured.

I wouldn't want anyone running dogs on my property.

Good advice. I'm fine with high deductibles, not insuring some things and accepting risk. I'm very careful when it comes to liability insurance. When I retired and moved out to the country, one of the first things we did is buy an umbrella policy just in case everything else fails. In retirement, I don't want to be TOO careful and live my life in fear. I want to invite friends over, go hunting and not have to wall myself off from the world and potential liability. Both my wife and I became reserve deputies a few years ago and that carries special risk. The umbrella policy helps with that as well.

[10-32]

Umbrella policies invite litigation. Deep pockets attract litigation where shallow pockets avoid it. $.02.

[mrkalashnikov]

Your property your rules.

[Sanders]

I'd tell him to wait while I got my jacket and I was going to accompany him. I love watching a well trained pack of hunting dogs. Bobcats can be hell on chickens and other small livestock.

[55chevy]

NO way, tell him to move on.

[Johnny]

I'd tell him to wait while I got my jacket and I was going to accompany him. I love watching a well trained pack of hunting dogs. Bobcats can be hell on chickens and other small livestock.

You are not alone in your opinion. A lot of guys on a hunting forum are saying the same thing. Apparently, hunting with dogs for bobcat, bear and coyotes is more popular than I knew.

I still wouldn't do it, for many reasons: None of the neighboring properties want it on their properties and dogs don't obey property lines. I don't trust a stranger to handle firearms as safely I do. I like bobcats and if one is living on my property, I don't want to kill it or harass it in any way. And finally... the guy is tracking animals from the cab of his pickup truck. We can debate definitions, but he's essentially hunting from a truck. I don't like that.

I do own a flock of chickens, but both my coop and outdoor run are insanely over-built. Both structures are essentially bear-proof. Foxes, eagles, coyotes don't stand a chance. One of these days, I'm certain we'll lose a bird while they're out free ranging, but it won't be from the coop or run area.

[aviator]

He needs to present you with a Certificate of Insurance covering you and your wife for any damages to him or others and any property located within and or adjacent to the land in question. That will keep him off.

[Johnny]

He needs to present you with a Certificate of Insurance covering you and your wife for any damages to him or others and any property located within and or adjacent to the land in question. That will keep him off.

Being presented confusing insurance paperwork written in legalese would scare anyone off! 😉

A few friends and neighbors have "open invitations" to use our land. Most have never taken us up on it, but some have. It's never been a problem. Strangers we've allowed to use our land include You Tube guy who filmed some camping videos and a guy asking to cut firewood. The You Tube guy was super polite and "low maintenance". The firewood guy was a different story. He'd show up at weird times unannounced, would encroach on neighbors' properties, and sometimes would interrupt what I'm doing and ask for help. His chainsaw skills were unsafe. I finally had to put a stop to it.