Letters and Comments for October 27, 2009

Letters and Comments for October 27, 2009

Hunters need to respect

private property

To the Editor:

Hunting season is upon us and sportsmen should refresh their memories by reading the rules and regulations in the Oregon Big Game Regulations pamphlet. The trespass section states: No person shall; Hunt on cultivated or enclosed land of another without permission. Under ORS 498.120: Hunting on another’s cultivated land. (1) No person shall hunt upon cultivated land or enclosed land without first obtaining permission from the owner or lawful occupant thereof, or the agent of such owner or occupant.

Recently, we witnessed three hunters harvest two deer on a parcel of land we own without our permission. When we confronted them, we were affronted with disrespect, belligerence and the words, “it (private property) was not posted.”

Landowners aren’t required to post private property signs. Properly posted property, as per ORS 105.700, does give the landowner liability rights against the trespasser of said property for up to $1,000. Our property is posted with signs stating, “Private Property, our land is our livelihood, No Trespassing.”

The three hunters were given a choice of posting an apology to us in The Observer or of being cited for trespassing.

They chose to post an apology in The Observer. The problem is, the apology was not sincere. It reflected blame back on us, the landowners, for not having the property properly posted.

These hunters (we refuse to call them sportsmen) should have accepted responsibility for their own actions and not shift blame to us as landowners. We have been agreeable to having sportsmen hunt on our property if they ask permission. We also have worked with the local ODFW on special hunts or emergency hunts by having our name on a list of landowners agreeable to open their land to hunters who seek our permission.

The Mount Harris Sportsmen Club has a rifle shooting range on our property that many people in our valley use. It is encouraged for all users to become members of the Mount Harris Sportsmen Club. The Union County Sheriff’s Office also uses this range.

It is a privilege, not a due right, for sportsmen to enter and hunt on private property. Do not ruin the opportunity for ethical, responsible, honorable outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen to hunt on private property. Always seek permission from landowners before entering private property.

Russell and Patty Bingaman

Mount Harris Farms

Imbler