Driving and setting in fields

Hi all,

This will be my first year running a land line for coyote and fox. I've been getting a good number of permissions over the past couple months and am now doing some last minute scouting before traps go in next week.

One of my landowners has about 9 properties throughout the county, and leases all of his farmland to a farmer. This farmer was growing soy on almost all of them and just recently spread seed for winter wheat. The best locations on a lot of these properties are well of the road, but there aren't two-tracks leading through most of them. I'm concerned that driving to the sets frequently will harm the wheat. In addition, I'm concerned that if I do make catches in the field, the farmer will see a bunch of catch circles where his crop is now destroyed.

The landowner said I could drive through the fields, but I don't think he realized how much I would be driving through them or what it looks like once an animal is caught. The last thing I want to do is (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) off the farmer and the landowner in turn.

I'm sure many of y'all have trapped in and around winter wheat fields. Will it be okay if I drive through the fields and make sets in the fields? Also, any recommendations for how to minimize damage? Walking back to a lot of these spots is almost out of the question. It would take up a LOT of time, and I'll already be struggling to check traps, put up fur, go to school full time, and sleep in the 24hrs we have in a day.

Thanks for your advice in advance.

What are you going to do when it rains?
Thankfully all the fields/plots I trap have 2 tracks running between or around them. But, I still only set where I have access for dry or possible wet weather. Some places I have to park and walk to check traps if we get inches of rain at one time, but those are limited and generally covered with a cell camera to help with checking.

As far as catch circles, I don’t trap farm land but hunting properties with numerous plots. All will sacrifice a catch circle for a coyote or cat.

Here’s a pic after 3” of rain that night. The owner laughed and said don’t worry about it, I can smooth that out. Moved the remake to the field and caught a fox.

Here’s another in an actual field...I try and set on the edges, but the tracks showed him walking the field and that was the driest spot at the time. This was a cell camera spot for sure. Like you I don’t have time to walk 600 yards round trip to check a couple of sets at 0430 and trying to make it to work on time.

In answer to your actual questions...don’t drive in the fields if you want to keep trapping. That farmer pays to lease that land, you are getting it for free.

Here in MN the law states that unless it is agreed upon between the LO and renter, the renter has the say as to how may hunt, trap or trespass upon the property. It's not uncommon for one to give permission and not the other. I would talk to the farmer who is renting it and find out how they want to handle it. Good relations go a long way as to weather or not you will be welcome back in the future. Take nothing for granted and you may just be rewarded for it later!

Thanks guys. These give me a pretty clear answer. (and nice catches there Wanna Be)

I'll reach out to the farmer and see what he thinks. Barring his permission to do whatever the heck I want, I'll just have to forfeit some spots to ensure I retain permission. On some of the best spots where it might be too painful to not set, I might just have to hike in and set them so I can glass them from the road, and set the very edge of the woods instead of in the field.

And in the future, I'll definitely be focusing on getting permissions on farms with two tracks or hunting properties. Look at me, already learning.

Check your mail box

That is a funny law or reg in MN 20scout. I all the states I know unless the renter has POA (power of attorney) in a written lease, it is the title holder of the land (the owner) that signs the trespass complaint and the local law enforcement is notified. With ownership, comes a host of state constitutional rights (in all states) and can't imagine giving that right up for a mere lease agreement but who knows................. If you want to limit crop/soil damage in fields (which is all we have here), use slide wires to get your catch off to the edge of the crop field and use a tall weed marker as a sentry to alert you to a catch. Drive on the field when it is froze solid and the w-wheat will not be harmed...................... the mike

Not ok to drive through OUR winter wheat and reduce the harvest and rut the property.
The guy that rents our fields an I are on the same page.
That’s why a 4 wheeler is a business expense for “patrolling”. ...or “accessing properties with minimal impact”

Or the farmer could supply you a tractor with small trailer

Looks like some of the same kinda property I trap on. I usually pick up a few coyotes on those food plots too.

In SD usually not an issue when the ground is frozen like concrete!

Land leased for agricultural purposes includes the hunting rights unless stated otherwise in the lease in NC. The land owner can retain the hunting rights by putting that on the lease and some do that.

Well as long as you have a Had a hard freeze My land owners tell me I can drive on the crops like rye and winter wheat and hay ground. But If It's wet I stay off so I'm not rutting things up.

A good pair of boots and a headlight, thats what I do here. We have several farms we set far off the road but hoof it in and not drive in. Yes its not as efficient I know but if I purposefully pick spots not accessible from the road easily and I walk in to check sets, around here st least I still catch animals and still have traps to check. Keeps me in shape, keeps my stuff from being stolen or messed with, and I believe there is less disturbance if I access quietly on foot vs driving into the field each day to check traps.
Jim

I'm not sure about your states regulations but I'd set snares on the trails leading to the fields or set up bait station's where it's convenient for you to check and still catch the coyotes and fox quickly and easily . Problem solved .
I'd be as concerned about driving into any of the properties during or even after a rain storm so as not to rut up the roads unless you have talked that over before the season too .
Allan

Same Here: I lease my own property and the farmer leaves an ATV egress around crops so I can access my trail system for hunting and trapping, I don't drive on crops. The other farms I trap, I ask where should I park so I'm out of your way and I offload the 4-wheeler and go from there.

Set only what you can check with a glass . I have a cheap spotting scope that I can even see a tripped trap at a half mile ( dang deer ) , I only go back there to collect a catch and remake the set . Most of these are on a two track but still don’t drive them unless i have to .

Yeah, there are a couple spots I feel like I'll need to set, even though I'll have to walk in. They just look too good. I'll be making sure I can glass them from the road though.

Our ground does freeze up here, but it takes a while, and if our weather is anything like last year, we'll be having freeze thaw all the way into January.

@Wife: slide wires are a great idea, especially considering the viability from the road at some of these places. How are you setting up slide wires for coyotes? They're a darn sight stronger than any coon I've caught.

Due to some family business, haven't had the chance to reach out to the farmer yet. Will let y'all know what he says.

Here in MN the law states that unless it is agreed upon between the LO and renter, the renter has the say as to how may hunt, trap or trespass upon the property. It's not uncommon for one to give permission and not the other. I would talk to the farmer who is renting it and find out how they want to handle it. Good relations go a long way as to weather or not you will be welcome back in the future. Take nothing for granted and you may just be rewarded for it later!

Where did you find this law? I don't think that it is that way in MN.

Discussed it with several wardens in the past. Had several land owners and renters tell me the same.

All I know is when I was deer hunting in Kansas my host said that I should not ever drive across any planted field, so I did not

And if it is wet you will get stuck (no if about it) it will not be fun getting out and that farmer will speak your name at the co-op or cafe and you will have a hard time getting permission for anything in the surrounding area

Like said above, farmer is paying to use. I would talk to the farmer though, might get you more places to trap if he sees you are considerate

Give'er the onion he'll let you know next year.
I had a rancher tell me it's ok I ride my wheeler on his place .
I did so for a few years and he asked me to look around for a dead cow for him.
And I did found it and cut the ear tag off like he asked ,
The next year I ask to trap again and he said who gave you permission to ride all over on a 4 wheeler like that.
What to do, some times you just can't win.
Oh well win some , lose some.

Get a small motorcycle. Way less impact than an ATV, get a dual sport and just ride it everywhere. That's always an option without a ton of snow.

Every farmer around here lets me drive on planted feilds. The only stipulation Is If It's wet stay off and once we have snow or after the first freeze your good to go. Every snow machine trail In WI probably goes through some type of planted field. And come spring you can't tell where they have passed.
And most of the ground I trap Is either bean ground or harvested corn fields and your not going to hurt that.

Pretty interesting rules for state trespass rights (hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking etc. ). Not uncommon here to have 1 guy rent the cropland, and then after harvest, another guy rent the stalks from the cropland renter. Suppose that is why here ONLY the landowner (the fee title holder) can sign the complaint for prosecution and legally have someone removed. Renters cannot and are considered hired individuals who can choose to produce a crop (or not) for a set cash rent fee from a starting to ending date. Our soils and weather are a lot different than the southern parts of the U.S. so when that winter hits they become as hard as ice so travel is inconsequential to the surface. Before the freeze there are Minimum Maintenance (dirt) Roads that you don't travel on even with a 4-wheel drive PU. Our Loess soils are unique to the mid Missouri River Valley area only to be duplicated in the Chinese Yellow River area, where freezing is very rare. 4-wheelers and S X S's are common field transportation here so a non issue even when wet and some type of vegetation is covering the surface. I still use some slide wires (not real quick for set up) when I'm setting a spot that I don't want (can't) to drive to daily. Use 1/8th cable with a sentry marker to indicate a catch and either use the ATV or leg work to get a closer look when wet................................ the mike