curth83

ok heres the story...my land borders a state park that is huntable in some areas. so i went up to the park office today to get a permit to hunt it, and of course i was asking questions about some things. after i was done asking some simple questions, the lady proceeded to tell me that there are two access points, you can only come in through those points, and you have to "sign in". so im thinking ok thats kinda dumb but ill be able to just go in from my land. so im like, my land borders the huntable land, can i just go in that way instead of driving 20 minutes to walk like right next to my house? she then tells me no, you have to sign in and park at one of the two entrances.

now am i crazy or is that like the most rediculous rule ever? any suggestions on how i can persuade them to let me go in from my land?

uncle matt

You asked - I'll answer.

You are crazy. That is the rule the state has set for the land which they control. Obviously they want to know who is on the land. It could be for any number of reasons.

But it is their land land - their rules.

If the rule sez you have to sign in but doesn't say a thing about signing out - then go sign in at the beginning of season and sign out at the end of season.

wisbowhunter2009

I think thats pretty dumb but i guess you just gotta go with what they say... Think about it this way, atleast they let you hunt on there land they coulda just said no. But ask if you can just call and leave a message in the morning before you go out hunting instead of driving over there to sign a paper...

sjsfire

I can see the controled access, just sucks for you because of your land bordering theirs. Illinois just changed on of their dumbest rules. We can now hunt til 1/2 hour after sunset........used to have to quit 1/2 hour before sunset.

ballbusta

Is there anything else on the land that they would want to limit access into ( military , camp grounds etc. ) also most places that require you to sign in also require you to sign out

curth83

no there isnt camping allowed or anything that you would need to sign in for.

i appreciate the responses, even yours uncle matt honest answers are always best

GTOHunter

Can you "Sign In" then leave and access the hunting ground from your property? [&:]

TheformerLives

^^^exactly what i was thinking. drive, park, sign in and have a buddy drive you back to your land. or just walk in from your land, if its state land around it and everyone who hunts has to go through the entrance then there shouldn't be anyone that close to you anyways. just some thoughts.

really though, rules are rules i guess.

CamoCop

alot of our management area's have the samed rule down here. it's not a dumb rule either. the rule is in place so the state can keep track of the lands useage for statistical data AND to make sure everyone that is hunting each day makes it out safely.

NavyDeerHunter

Bingo!! CamoCop nailed it. These public land areas, be it state or federal have to have funding in order to operate. In order to get that funding, they have to justify the need for it. They use the sign in/out process to justify the funding needs based on the number of people who are using the property.
Also as Cop mentioned, it's to ensure that everyone got out. If your family knows you'll be hunting that land and for some reason you fail to show up back home after hunting and she calls authorities, they can check the log. If you never signed back out...maybe there is a problem. If you did sign out...maybe there is still a problem (your at the bar [8D]), but not a problem they need to worry about.