Feb 28, 2026 6 min read

By Dave Bates

For the Observer-Reporter

Over the years, I have heard stories from farmers and landowners that were scarcely fathomable; stories that sounded so ridiculous that I thought there’s no way that could be true. But then I thought of some of my own accounts and felt that landowners, especially farmers, have probably seen it all. And farmers who don’t hunt probably bear the brunt, even more so. A farmer friend reached out this week, almost apologetically to ask for some help, and I have offered to lend a hand. I hope this article helps in some small measure.

For starters, I’ll include a few legal references that might be common knowledge or maybe common sense. Then again, you know what they say about common sense not being all that common.

– In Pennsylvania, one must have permission to hunt on private property. In short, if you don’t receive express permission to hunt from the landowner, you are trespassing, which starts as a summary offense, including a fine of up to $300 and punishable by up to 90 days in jail. Gradings go up from there. It is a crime. I won’t beleaguer the point but many hunters shrug it off and say “oh well.” We’ll cover this in lines to follow.

– On Sundays open to hunting, hunters must possess written permission, signed by the landowner, including your name, address, and CID number, plus the landowner’s contact information.

– Safety zones – It is unlawful to hunt, take or trap game within 150 yards of any occupied structure without specific, advance permission from the owner or occupant.

– Hunting in unharvested buckwheat, corn, sorghum or soybean fields requires landowner permission.

– Act 107 of 2019 (PA) makes it a primary offense to trespass while hunting, allowing officers to cite hunters immediately.

As a hunter safety instructor (HTE/Hunter Trapper Educator) we include such information regarding these matters in our courses. We have a class coming up at Mount Morris Sportsman’s club Saturday, March 7. If you are interested in attending, log into the PA Game Commission’s Hunter Safety portal for more information on upcoming classes.

While the above information pretty much covers the legality of trespass, what might not be included is nearly as, if not more, important. I’ll touch on them as “Items of Do’s and Don’ts.”

Do not think that your hunting license entitles you to trespass. It does not. Before entering someone’s property, ask permission. Someone owns the land. If you are not the owner, ask permission. Be specific. Are you asking for yourself or to bring along a friend? How many friends is acceptable? Better clear this up well in advance. Farmers might not like surprises like seeing an army of hunters disembark from their vehicles when they gave permission for you and a buddy.

What are you asking permission to hunt? Deer? Small game? Turkey? Coyotes? Landowners might be glad to have you harvest certain types of game but do not want anyone deer hunting the first few days of the season because of family utilizing the property. Make sure you clear up any questions in advance about your hunt plans.

Ask if the landowner minds if you place tree stands on the property. Are ladder stands acceptable? Do they mind hanging stands, screw-in steps, climbing steps attached with ratchet straps, etc.? By what date would they like the stands removed? You might be surprised what they don’t understand if the landowner is not a hunter. One might be confronted by quite the irate farmer when he discovers that a prized tree, destined for the sawmill, has been riddled with nails, bolts or screws in tree steps, costing thousands of dollars in loss.

Do they mind if you build ground blinds? Deer shacks? I have heard of a hunter hauling in an old Porta Potty to serve as a hunting shack. When the farmer saw it the hunter was told to leave the property. He never returned for his “stand” and from what I am told, it remains on property to this day. Sounds unbelievable? Not to the farmers who I have spoken with. Just another story in an unbelievable parade of obnoxiousness.

Where should you park so as not to make an imposition of yourself? Ask the farmer in advance so that you are not waking folks up in close proximity to their home or blocking equipment.

If a gate is open, leave it open and vice versa.

Ask the farmer if it is OK to access stands via your ATV. Is it permissible to retrieve game with your hunting vehicle? By what route?

Ask if there are going to be other hunters on property? Our group likes to get together to discuss where everyone is going to be set up. This has saved a lot of aggravation over the years.

Ask for hunting permission well in advance of the season. Arrive clean and neatly attired and be respectful.

If told “no” when asking for permission, then accept “no” as the final word. Remember, this is their land and you might or might not be invited as a guest to hunt.

These are but a few of the common sense “asks” that make life easier in the long run.

I’ll leave you with this analogy from my hunter safety class: When talking to kids, I remind them of the old fallback excuse that folks use when confronted by a property owner or game warden, “Well, it’s not posted!” I ask them if they own a pool? Many say yes. In turn, I ask them if they can picture how they would feel if they were to come home and find me out on their pool deck, grilling burgers, taking a swim uninvited? “It’s not posted!” Right? Then I ask how they would feel if I was decked out in my Speedo? That usually cements the analogy.

I think my point is made.

Dave Bates writes a weekly outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter. He can be reached at alphaomegashootingsolutions@gmail.com