Once again it is that tiresome time of year in the Northland. Off in the distance, bang! Too close for comfort, bang! Bird season has started and then next month is deer season with a few other hunting seasons thrown in.
Last time I checked, landowners in Minnesota are supposed to post their property with "No Trespassing" signs every 300-500 feet. In other words, hunters were free to trespass on private land that was not posted.
Even if posted, some hunters ignore the signs or even evidence that they were shooting into private property. One fall a bird hunter shot down our driveway with our red pickup plainly visible. My wife happened to be nearby and yelled at him. He grabbed his bird, ran to his truck, and drove off as quickly as he could.
What if my wife had a gun in her hand? If Minnesota had a "Stand Your Ground" law, would she be in the right to shoot the trespassing hunter?
Last season some bird hunters shot into our land where there was no brush under the power line. There were "No Trespassing" signs within 300 feet of where they shot. What if I had been walking on a trail that paralleled the road and had a gun with me. Would I have been "standing my ground" to shoot back? They were also shooting within 200 feet of an occupied dwelling on the other side of the road.
Given that a GPS unit costs less than most rifles and that St. Louis County, Minnesota, publishes plat maps, available free online, listing all the properties and owners, should landowners even be required to post their property?
Responsible hunters know where they hunt and respect property rights. They would be safe. But the few irresponsible hunters give the impression that all hunters do not respect property rights. These irresponsible hunters should be very glad that Minnesota doesn't have a "Stand Your Ground" law.
