Hunting Etiquette

[AshleyWY]

Aloha everyone!

I apologize if this has already been discussed elsewhere on this site, or if this has been posted in the wrong category.

I currently live on the island of Moloka'i, Hawai'i, and I have made friends with an older gentleman at my church that is willing to take me axis deer hunting--I am beyond grateful!!! He is a bowhunter and hunts all over the island, but because I left my bow in Wyoming but have my rifle with me, he is going to take me rifle hunting. He has a particular place in mind he wants to take me specifically because I will be using a rifle rather than a bow, and it happens to be on his friend's private land.

Here on Moloka'i, it seems that access to land is the most difficult barrier to hunting; although there is definitely some public land here, there's not much. Anyways, I want to make sure to show my appreciation not only to my friend who will be taking me hunting, but also to the landowner that is willing to allow me to hunt on his property. I don't know much about trespass fees, but does anyone know of an approximate amount of money I should consider giving the landowner for allowing me to hunt on his property? I imagine the individual may not expect it, but I would like him to know how grateful I am for the consideration. I will also be doing the same for my friend taking me hunting. Are there any ballpark figures I should consider in these regards?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Ashley (FNGirl)

 

[BRTreedogs]

Unless they are in need of cash.
Most land owners are in need of labor.
If you have an extra day what I would offer is to help with any tasks they need.

 

[180ls1]

Tread carefully with $$$. They are likely doing this out of the generosity from their heart and there is almost no right amount to give.

I would find more creative ways to pay it forward. Help with the ranch, cook for some needy kids, get them something special from WY that they wouldn't get on their own etc...

 

[Slickhill]

I would visit with the landowner, being sure to show your gratitude, and ask if there’s anything you could do for him. I would consider it almost disrespectful if I wanted to give something to someone and they insisted on offering to pay me for it. Hard to explain but to me it makes the favor seem cheap somehow.

If I want to give someone something I give it to them and expect nothing but gratitude and respect. If I want to sell something to someone I will make the price clear in the beginning.

 

[AshleyWY]

Tread carefully with $$$. They are likely doing this out of the generosity from their heart and there is almost no right amount to give.

I would find more creative ways to pay it forward. Help with the ranch, cook for some needy kids, get them something special from WY that they wouldn't get on their own etc...

Thanks for your response, 180ls1! I agree that they seem to be doing this from their own generosity, which is why I am fearful I'd give too little and come across insulting. Thanks for your ideas!

 

[voltage]

Bourbon

 

[AshleyWY]

I would visit with the landowner, being sure to show your gratitude, and ask if there’s anything you could do for him. I would consider it almost disrespectful if I wanted to give something to someone and they insisted on offering to pay me for it. Hard to explain but to me it makes the favor seem cheap somehow.

If I want to give someone something I give it to them and expect nothing but gratitude and respect. If I want to sell something to someone I will make the price clear in the beginning.

Thank you so much for this response, Slickhill. I am really glad I have received these responses because I would not have thought of the situation this way if you guys hadn't opened my eyes to it. Your input is much appreciated!

 

[AshleyWY]

Unless they are in need of cash.
Most land owners are in need of labor.
If you have an extra day what I would offer is to help with any tasks they need.

Thank you so much for this response! I really appreciate this insight and will certainly offer any help I could possibly provide!

 

[AshleyWY]

Bourbon

I appreciate your response, but I must say that unless I know an individual personally, I don't generally give alcohol as a gift, as I don't want to tempt someone I don't know that may have a problem with alcohol to begin with. (But otherwise, my family lives in Kentucky and a lot of people like bourbon! :-D)

 

[MuleyFever]

I would not go to offering money, it is very impersonal. Find something they like and find a way to contribute to that. For the landowner I would offer to help on the property as mentioned above. Making sausage is actually very easy. If you kill an animal, make sausage and gift some. Even if its bad the gesture is always appreciated.

Bourbon

I wish I had land I could let you hunt.

 

[AshleyWY]

I would not go to offering money, it is very impersonal. Find something they like and find a way to contribute to that. For the landowner I would offer to help on the property as mentioned above. Making sausage is actually very easy. If you kill an animal, make sausage and gift some. Even if its bad the gesture is always appreciated.


I wish I had land I could let you hunt.

MuleyFever,

Thanks for the insight. I considered not even making this post, but I'm incredibly glad that I did after all -- you guys have helped to prevent me from insulting the people to whom I am trying to show gratitude and respect! Thank you so much!

 

[MuleyFever]

MuleyFever,

Thanks for the insight. I considered not even making this post, but I'm incredibly glad that I did after all -- you guys have helped to prevent me from insulting the people to whom I am trying to show gratitude and respect! Thank you so much!

You mentioned that it is an older gentleman. How old? Does he like to read? A book is always an option. There are lots of books on the art/history of archery. Not archery hunting but something on the history of archery may be a good gift. Or a book on anything you know he is interested in.

 

[Hnthrdr]

These guys are right, I have friends and family with private land access. If they let someone on they just want to see them respect the land and game animals like they do, I tend to try and give a small gift or cook a meal etc, but they love sharing their special place with someone who sees how special it is too.

 

[AshleyWY]

You mentioned that it is an older gentleman. How old? Does he like to read? A book is always an option. There are lots of books on the art/history of archery. Not archery hunting but something on the history of archery may be a good gift. Or a book on anything you know he is interested in.

MuleyFever,

The gentleman is in his early 70's, and a book is really a fantastic idea! I also spend some time with his wife at the church, so I may be able to glean some of his interests/wishes/needs from her as well. Thank you for helping me think outside the box on this!

 

[AshleyWY]

These guys are right, I have friends and family with private land access. If they let someone on they just want to see them respect the land and game animals like they do, I tend to try and give a small gift or cook a meal etc, but they love sharing their special place with someone who sees how special it is too.

Thank you so much for sharing your perspective, Hnthrdr. It's really good to hear about the experiences of your family and friends with private lands and how they appreciate respect in the way they do. Thanks for taking the time to respond to my questions!

 

[AshleyWY]

You mentioned that it is an older gentleman. How old? Does he like to read? A book is always an option. There are lots of books on the art/history of archery. Not archery hunting but something on the history of archery may be a good gift. Or a book on anything you know he is interested in.

This post inspired me: I ended up buying the friend that will be guiding me a big coffee table book with beautiful photographs and a history of the American Bison. He seems to have an interest in bison, and jokingly calls me "Buffalo Hunter" instead of my name, so I think it will be a more personable show of appreciation for his time and effort, as well as our particular relationship. As far as for the landowner, I am grateful for the suggestions everyone has given here, and will probably have to wait until I meet him to know how I can best show my appreciation to him. Thanks again!

 

[Yukon Cornelius]

Aloha everyone!

I apologize if this has already been discussed elsewhere on this site, or if this has been posted in the wrong category.

I currently live on the island of Moloka'i, Hawai'i, and I have made friends with an older gentleman at my church that is willing to take me axis deer hunting--I am beyond grateful!!! He is a bowhunter and hunts all over the island, but because I left my bow in Wyoming but have my rifle with me, he is going to take me rifle hunting. He has a particular place in mind he wants to take me specifically because I will be using a rifle rather than a bow, and it happens to be on his friend's private land.

Here on Moloka'i, it seems that access to land is the most difficult barrier to hunting; although there is definitely some public land here, there's not much. Anyways, I want to make sure to show my appreciation not only to my friend who will be taking me hunting, but also to the landowner that is willing to allow me to hunt on his property. I don't know much about trespass fees, but does anyone know of an approximate amount of money I should consider giving the landowner for allowing me to hunt on his property? I imagine the individual may not expect it, but I would like him to know how grateful I am for the consideration. I will also be doing the same for my friend taking me hunting. Are there any ballpark figures I should consider in these regards?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide!
Ashley (FNGirl)

Don’t be that haole. Lol

I did some pig hunting with friends when I lived in Maui. We shared beer and pig meat and stories.

Best bet is to show aloha and gratitude. Break bread with them.

I just don’t think the money is the way to go on the outer islands.

 

[AshleyWY]

Don’t be that haole. Lol

I did some pig hunting with friends when I lived in Maui. We shared beer and pig meat and stories.

Best bet is to show aloha and gratitude. Break bread with them.

I just don’t think the money is the way to go on the outer islands.

Thanks, Yukon Cornelius! I'm gathering from everyone's responses that money is not the way to go to show my appreciation for others' generosity, :-D I was raised to write thank-you notes and such anytime kind gestures or gifts were given to me, and I guess I had just assumed that since I don't know these people very well, a monetary offering (particularly where gas and groceries are out-of-this-world insanely expensive) would have made the most sense to show my gratitude, but the more I read these responses, the more I understand the essence of what you folks are telling me. Connection and respsect are far better than money, and I imagine that my own feelings of inadequacy (being haole, a new hunter, female, [somewhat] young, etc.) somehow made the idea of giving money to show appreciation more comfortable for me, but hey, I have no intention of insulting anyone, so it's time for me to get out of my comfort zone and do this right! (Also, I think this all came about in my own mind because I was thinking along the lines of tipping a hunting guide; I guess I just didn't want to get the etiquette wrong...and clearly I was heading down that road, :-D) Thanks for taking the time to respond!