Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by William Ladd on April 27, 2011 at 4:34am

Sir,  your posting raises the the hackles on my back. Some of our families, mine included, have been  owners of their properties from the time that the king of England allowed the early land speculators to purchase huge areas.

 

These families had to fight off local indians in order to  even pass thru many areas. The Cowanesque Valley was forbidden to the white man by these indians because of the great hunting to be found in the valley.  My Grandfather, six generations ago was the very first permanent settler in Westfield, Pennsylvania. He and his sons cleared their acreages and scratched a living as best as they could from these acres. They did their very best to preserve what they had.

 

I have seen outsiders from the eastern cities where they have made their wealth and turned their home areas into huge stinky landfills, ( swampy areas in New Jersey)  and sickening yellowish haze enveloping  New York City,  come to the area.

 

These hunters come  and post hundreds of acres  against trespassing. But they have no problems of trepassing on their neighbors!  They come for a few days with their hipower rifles and fourwheel drive vehicles. Many of them drive on newly planted areas or places that are easily made into muddy mudholes. Fences are cut and gates are often left open.  Some are even very beligerant when confronted.  One group shot at everything on four legs including a cow.  I have also seen in years past of deer carcasses in local trash piles with only a very few pounds of meat cut away. 90 percent of the meat was thrown away. 

 

And then there are the so called hunters who need to sight in their rifles or just shoot the mark for the fun of it.  For many years a group came unannounced in weekends. "BANG, BANG, BANG"  for hours and hours on end. Some in rapid succession as fast as they could pull the trigger.

 

Now I am not saying that your group is like that at all. But I am not in favor of this kind of land use.

 

Bill L.

aka Bummy

 

 

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on April 27, 2011 at 7:15am

Considering that it was our ancestors who ripped off the Native Americans and proceeded to decimate the big game populations, we're not entitled to claim a "moral high ground".  More like, "chickens coming home to roost". 

 

I do question the OP's objective as he has previously posted that his group has 500+ acres.  Why pay a shale gas premium for (more) hunting land in TC? 

Permalink Reply by William Ladd on April 27, 2011 at 10:46am

Yes Ann, our ancestors could be said to have "ripped off the indians' as you put it.  And it certainly was not right! And I believe that it is still taking place on the indian reservations today.  But where does the "ripping off" cease?  Someone comes along with a fist full of dollar bills with a story of how they will improve the acreage. Granted, some down trodden folks are willing to accept peanuts, not realizing that they have a valuble asset beneath their feet.

 

I can sit in my yard and have the deer browse unafraid and unmolested almost within a stone's throw of my chair.  I have even had black bear visit within a car length of my door a couple of times.  And no I do not bait them!  Turkeys are constantly roaming a few yards behind my house.

 

It may seem that I am against hunting. Not so!  I used to hunt myself when I was much younger. In fact my young neighbors are welcome to hunt my acreage.  It is the scuzzies that are not welcome.  One time I had a confrontation with a "Road hunter".  He had his wife and kids walk along the ridge with "walkie talkies " They would tell him where the deer were likely to appear.  He would then drive his car to a place where deer normally crossed an open area and wait for the deer to appear. Many of my neighbors, Kids who liked to hunt too, lost several deer to him.  This man got very beligerant with me and told me it was none of my business how he hunted.  That was the wrong thing to say to me! I then informed him that he and all of his group could no longer hunt any of my property.  My acreage was right in the middle of the ridge he had his wife and kids chased the deer thru.

 

One of his hunting buddies who was with him said,  "Come on Lets get outta here!" and they left.   The next hunting day he drove past the house and stopped hoping to spot a deer.   Our local town cop who must have been watching him stopped right behind his car. They had a very long conversation, at least 45 minutes.  Finally they both left. We never saw him drive by our house again looking for deer. 

 

This man shot and killed one of his next door neighbor's cows. That cow had been getting in his yard.  But shooting the cow was not the way to solve the problem.  As I recall, it cost him several hundred dollars in fines plus the value of the cow. His best option was to confine the cow and inform the owner. He chose to kill the cow instead!

 

Bill L.

aka Bummy

 

 

 

Permalink Reply by Theodore Koncsol on April 27, 2011 at 3:50pm

Mr. Ladd,

  I thought that I was responding to Bungy Roads post about his possible selling of property.  He had 40 acres, and if it was near our ground we may be interested.

 

BUT, if anyone has property they would consider leasing for hunting to a club that has been in existence since 1926 I think, with 24 members, please let me know.  We would consider anything near Covington/Mainesburg.  Please message me if there is any interest as to what we may be able to offer.  We would consider purchase always, but prices are skyrocketing.

 

Ann, no hidden agendas here.  If my group COULD get more gas land, GREAT, but after our last attempt to purchase neighboring property, that we got handidly beat on our bid, I don't think that's going to happen.  But we are trying to expand our hunting land one way or another in the area.

 

Also, Mr. Ladd, I find it humorous that you find such outrage in post, when you are a member of a forum that seems to promote wealth at the possible detriment of the land.  But I suppose you would never lease your land to a gas company or wind company, or if you do you donate all the money to PETA or Greenpeace.

 

Didn't mean to offend in my prior post.

Permalink Reply by Ann Ticopa on April 27, 2011 at 4:51pm

You did specify "purchasing" in your op;  leasing (or perhaps buying surface rights) makes more sense.

Permalink Reply by Theodore Koncsol on April 27, 2011 at 11:50pm

Yes.  Bungy Road had a post that he was considering selling his property, which we could buy since he is moving from the area.  He was also questioning what percentage of mineral rights to keep etc or if he could do that.

And if he would keep rights, the price drops for purchase. 

Permalink Reply by William Ladd on May 3, 2011 at 11:02am

Sir , You may find all the humor that you please in my reply. Never the less, I have seen many hunters who do not live in this area  buy up tracts of land for supposedly hunting for their members.  Very often the very first thing they like to do is post their property against everyone, even long time neighbors who have hunted in a safe and legal manner and neighbors who have worked together and are always willing to lend a helping hand when needed or wanted. Does your hunting club members  even know the names of their neighbors? Would they even be willing to help improve hunting areas for everyone, even next door neighbors?  Would they invite their neighbors to hunt with them?

 

I suspect your goal is really not so much to hunt as to acquire property for the mineral rights  from unsuspecting land owners!  For the folks who have chosen this area to settle in, raise their children in away from the garbage and noise of city life, why would would anyone want to trade what treasures they enjoy in this area for the few thousand dollars that might be offered them by a hunting club?

 

My answer to your posting was not meant to be offensive to you either. It is only what I have seen taking place by hunters ot hunting clubs during the last 65 years. Many well to do folks come to the area for relaxation and many come to supposedly hunt. They like what see. Many of them decide they want to build a summer home or retire here.  Then taxes go up for everyone.

 

Bill L.

aka Bummy