Would you ever pay an access fee?

[Marshian]

I was pondering this question as it popped up in another thread and I didn't want to hi jack it. What are your opinions on access fees? I'm not talking about a guide or outfitter that helps you find and get the animal, just paying to get on the land? I have never done so myself, but if i drew a coveted tag,I suppose I would consider it.

 

[mtmuley]

Nope. mtmuley

 

[ID_deerslayer]

I would not pay a monetary fee. If I was able to build a relationship with the land owner and do some work for him in exchange for access I would take that option for sure.

 

[mtmiller]

I will be honest and say "yes I would".

 

[Rat Fink]

I will not. I pay a buddy to stay in his ranch house he rents and to eat his food every time I hunt there, but it comes with a side of hunting. I will not just pay for access. I offer up my services for work or any way I can help the landowner and I always send or bring thank you gestures throughout the year. I have made some friends and good relationships by just knocking on a door. Those landowners deserve the utmost respect.

I had to work a little harder last fall to kill my sheep in the breaks, but I did it on the principle that I wouldn't pay a landowner 75 bucks for the right to cross their deeded land to then kill a sheep on public ground. Landowners complain about too many sheep which in turn causes FWP to issue more ewe tags, then said landowners lock the gates unless you give them money. It made my kill even sweeter knowing they couldn't profit off of me.

 

[dustinf]

Yes.

 

[fowladdict]

Sure. Nothing outrageous though.

 

[Marshian]

I should edit this to state, would you pay if the landowner wasn't accepting of your work, friendship, thank-you's, etc. Just a pay ordont get access proposition?

 

[MTbowhunter84]

About the only situation I could see myself doing so is if it was a very hard tag to draw and I was older to the point where it made the difference of harvest on a once in a lifetime hunt. To say I would never pay an access fee in this day in age is a tough statement to make. I prefer to do it on my own with public access, but won't say I wouldn't do it as long as the price wasn't way over the top.

 

[Dave N]

Guess it depends on where I was, what I was after, and how much they wanted.

 

[5 Point]

Its easy for us in MT to say no we wouldn't. We have so much publicly owned land and landowners who havent jumped the band wagon and started charging that we dont need to for the most part. But look at other states, especially out east, where if you dont have a lease, you arent hunting. It's normal in many areas.

I think (know) in MT I would never pay to access land but if I lived in a state where it's 'normal' the only way you could hunt, then I think if I had to I may

 

[noharleyyet]

Absolutely

 

[mtmuley]

Guess I'm too old fashioned. Guess it is different state to state. My family are long time Montanans. Hunting access was always done face to face with a handshake, no money ever. I like it that way. If I have to pay to hunt property, I'll hunt elsewhere. So, still no. mtmuley

 

[fishing4sanity]

The places I used to hunt around here, Washington, are all gone now, they've leased the rights to outfitters or clubs. From what I've seen in the areas I hunt, finding a place to go and hunt is becoming more and more difficult. The time I can spend away from work is very limited, so I would be willing to pay access fees. I've enjoyed hunting Block Management in Montana and isn't that a paid access fee, just under another name? I'm not bashing the Block program, I hope and plan to use it again.

 

[the nikster]

I have and I will again. It's cloaked a bit but the end result is the same. The landowner charges $150/$200 for a room with a shared shower and 3 meals. But I know I'm paying for access.

 

[Bulldog0156]

Doubtful. I like to feel like I earned it, paying for access would take away from that.

 

[sweetnectar]

Yes. I want to encourage him to take good care of what he is a steward over.

 

[dustinf]

Doubtful. I like to feel like I earned it, paying for access would take away from that.

Seriously?

 

[Bivy]

I have hunted Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland, New York, Florida, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, and Alaska...and all had ample publicland to hunt. Eastern hunters seem even lazier than the average Western hunter, so hikes were shortened to 1/4 mile to escape the majority of hunters. That said...Texas is a pain in the butt to hunt without cash, but then again it doesn't exactly fit the North American Model.

I still wouldn't pay one. The satisfaction of public harvests are much more gratifying for ME than horn porn. Hunt the interfaces and you will find stud animals! Elk and deer don't abide to property boundaries and four-strand fences.

 

[Okbow87]

I have been more fortunate than a lot in my home state to always have private land access for free, but have still leased ground before. If I think it is going to make a difference between me filling a tag, and eating tag soup. It is for sure something I would consider.

I also don't have anywhere near the public hunting experience most here have.