Thank the Landowner

As each year comes to a close and our hunting experiences become memories, it is time for us to remember the landowners who through their generosity helped to make these experiences possible. Remember that access to hunt is a privilege provided us through the generosity of the landowner.

The following are but a few ways to say thanks to those who allow us to access their property to hunt.  Be thoughtful, considerate, personal and sincere in expressing your appreciation, always treating the landowner, as you would like to be treated.  If you are mentoring a young hunter, include thanking the landowner as part of the process.

• Visit the landowner at the end of the season to express your appreciation in person and provide them with some of your harvest.
• Offer to assist with tasks around their property that they need help with.
• Send a personal note to the landowner thanking them for the opportunity to access their land.
• During the holidays, send a Christmas card, including a brief note thanking them for the opportunity to access their property.
• As a token of your appreciation, you may wish to provide them with a small gift such as a gift certificate to a local restaurant, gift basket or Fish and Game’s fish and wildlife calendar which makes a great gift that will express your appreciation throughout the year. Calendars are offered for sale at Fish and Game Headquarters or can be ordered by using the form available at www.WildNH.com.
• Assist them in protecting their property through documenting and reporting suspicious activities to them. 
• Offer to clean up and properly dispose of illegal dumping that has occurred on their property.

Remember that hunting is a New Hampshire tradition that will only continue if we all follow the basic principle of landowner relations. Treat the landowner as you would like to be treated and treat their land as you would like yours to be treated.

As each year comes to a close, take a few moments to reflect upon our hunting tradition, the importance of access to private lands in maintaining this tradition and what you can do in the future to ensure that our tradition will available for future generations.