Asking and Thanking Landowners for Permission
Source: Village Soup, by Holly Bennett
August 27, 2007
WALDO COUNTY (Aug 27): “The landscape has greened up, gardens are delivering their first veggies, the fish are biting, and the kayaks are on the shore. We have busted out of our cabins to enjoy that outdoor quality of life that defines our state of Maine and our lives. And, much of our enjoyment is taken on private lands.”
It is critically important that you ask permission to access private lands and thank the landowners afterwards for that privilege.
Did you put your kayak in the water at a privately owned waterfront site? Many kayakers and canoeists will use a private site to launch; very few ask permission, even fewer return to say thanks. Others leave their trash behind for us to pick up.
“Although Mainers have the right to cross unimproved private land to access lakes and ponds, we don’t have the right of access to rivers, streams, and brooks. Please ask first.”
Did you stop somewhere to pick wildflowers, mushrooms, or fiddleheads? Someone owns them. Find out whom and ask permission. Imagine the frustration of a landowner who approaches his favorite patch of fiddleheads only to find someone has trespassed and stolen them.
Did you exercise the dogs on someone’s camp road? How about thanking the road owner? Did you hike up through someone’s high field to look for warblers in a patch of pines and spruce? Wouldn’t it be nice to stop by and let the landowner know what a splendid array of birds are living in his back forty?
“Unfortunately the Maine tradition of land sharing is rapidly disappearing, for many reasons. Some landowners are fed up with the abuse of some people who misuse that neighborly tradition of access” Others – especially folks who move here from areas where they don’t have this tradition of sharing – aren’t comfortable with people walking around on their property. And, some flat out don’t like what we do out there.”
It is disheartening to see these neighborly traditions falling by the wayside. and to ride for miles and miles and see so much posted land, but we know that this trend will not be reversed.
“It is up to each of us to practice good landowner relations so that our favorite areas, whether used for vacationing or simply occasional use and enjoyment, will remain accessible for years to come. Building a relationship with those who own land that you regularly access and enjoy is critical to keeping that land available to you – especially if that land belongs to your own neighbors. Don’t take that land for granted. “
Believe me, saying thank you pays big dividends.
As the neighborly tradition of sharing land continues to erode, the pleasures we find in other people’s land can only be maintained by those magic words: please and thank you.
“Try them out this weekend on some private landowner who blesses you with access to his or her land. Trust me. You will be glad you took the time to do it.”
Excerpts taken from the article By George Smith, Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, July 2007
