ya'll have too much stuff swirling in all directions at once....

Judge, the GWs interpretation of "guest" is vague and is very much NOT limited to being with the landowner. Since the lawmakers did not see fit to define "guest" then we cannot either. You can be a guest of a land/home owner and they not be present.

a written permit makes for easier understandings of who is supposed to be on any property, esp for the GW who may not personally know that landowner. My way of handling such instances was to take full information of anyone who may not have permission and to check with the landowner. no permission=get a warrant and ticket them.

I had two teenagers telll me they were the landowners grandsons. I was working these boys on an adjoining landowners complaint but had not talked to the man whose property I actually caught them on. I took all their information and statements and called the landowner later that day. When asked if he knew them he replied yes and the sobs wern't kin to him. LOL got the warrants and nailed em. Little more work this way but it works.

2 dogs, GWs do it all the time. Those that do have "permission" but no written permit get em thrown out by the landowner calling the judge or appearing in court. I personally have never heard of anyone being convicted of a permit charge over the objections of the landowner.

Not the way I did business but the "justify" doing it that way because the law says "written permit".....just kinds forgot that "guest" clause. I just take the info and see the landowner.

Figured if there was a question ya might check with the landowner and write him after the landowner says drop the hammer.

Right, common sense goes a long ways when dealing with the public. But they can enforce it without the landowner. As in all cases, the GW does their job, what happens after that is out of their control even if they may have some input.

Now, the original question. Is it illegal/legal to hunt on another persons land without written permission on person.
I still say it depends. The "guest" part changes things.

2dogs, me and you may interpret this differently. With 100+ GW in the state, you can bet there is different interpretations.

how about this one.
If you hunt on your own property Alabama says you do not need to buy a hunting license but still have to abide by the rules and regs regulating hunting. Can an agent legally come on your property to check you? The answer is no he cannot with out your permission or probable cause. If you are on leased land or public land and purchased a license he can legally come on that land to check you without probable cause or permission.

really??? GWs go on private land every day of the season to check hunting activity. Your answer is wrong.

Heck even I knew that.

Correct me if I'm wrong....but the GW's don't need any warrant...they essentially have more power than the popo....

Game Wardens are subject to the same 4th Amendment limitations as any other law enforcement. They would need a warrant to search a home, camp, vehicle, etc. unless consent was given. Now that even extends to cell phones.

Why no warrant to go onto private property then without probable cause?

Because the Supreme Court has never expanded their interpretation of the 4th amendment to encompass all private property. How do you think ABC agents find moonshine stills or DEA agents find marijuana plants growing in the woods. They don't need to obtain search warrants unless they are attempting to search a dwelling or structure or other area protected by the 4th amendment.

My advice is, if you become a GW and want to keep the job, don't go willy nilly onto private property writing everyone you encounter that doesn't have written permission WITHOUT the consent, OK , blessing , whatever from the landowner.

I bet the 100+ plus GWs don't have 100+ interpretations of this one either, not for long anyway.

Carry on.

Wonder if the GW can come on private property without permission as long as he is out of site and out of line of the property owner.

OK, 2dogs. The original question: Is it legal/illegal to hunt on another persons property without written permission with the hunter? Not our interpretation or the GW. What is your answer on the law?

I didn't say that middle section....

this ^^^ is the answer

I personally think it just hasn't been in the right court..yet.


lots of folks think that GWs have MORE power than other LEO, this is 99% not true. An exception is the right of GWs to search any vehicle on a WMA w/o permission or probable cause, because Als legislature set it up that way.

That is because of implied consent. If you drive onto the WMA, you have consented to the search.

You must have permission, but it doesn't in all cases have to be written. That is the answer.