Licensing confusion

[Ryzari]

Hey all, first time hunting in IN and had a quick question.
The fiancee and I own 40 acres that fall under the agriculture description, so should get to hunt without the licensing costs.. right?

My confusion comes in as to how "ownership" is defined. The property is only in her name, however it is my sole residence as well. I pay half of the mortgage and bills. It is "my" land, just not according to property records.

Do I still have to get a license to hunt our land, or is my fiancée going to become a crack shot in the next couple weeks?

 

[jagee]

From the IN hunting website regarding exemptions:

"Resident owners of Indiana farmland, resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, and the spouses and children living with them while hunting, fishing, or trapping on the farmland they own or lease."

Are you a spouse or child of the landowner? Common-law spouse maybe?

 

[Ryzari]

We are not married. It is absolutely absurd that even though we share a home, but decided against marriage, the state says I can't hunt my own land without paying them for a license. Land that I help pay for, farm, and maintain, yet just because the bank wouldn't let me add my name to the deed, the state says it's not "mine".

Looks like her, or our 2 year old, are going to become pretty good shots by the 18th..

 

[Michigan Slim]

The first good reason to get married that I ever saw.
Careful admitting to being a future poacher on line.

 

[Ryzari]

It was clearly a joke, like the DNR regs.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

We are not married. It is absolutely absurd that even though we share a home, but decided against marriage, the state says I can't hunt my own land without paying them for a license. Land that I help pay for, farm, and maintain, yet just because the bank wouldn't let me add my name to the deed, the state says it's not "mine".

Looks like her, or our 2 year old, are going to become pretty good shots by the 18th..

Umm... if you're not married, it's not your land. Pretty simple.

No offense, but you sound like you want to have your cake and eat it, too. Do you, or do you not, want the state to recognize that you and this woman are partners living together, jointly owning property, and constituting a single "unit", AKA, a family? If you want the state to see you two that way, then get married. If you don't want the state to see you two that way, it's kind of harsh of you to bash on the state for not doing so.

Or wait a sec... can't two people who aren't married jointly own land? I'm pretty sure I've seen that before. If it really is your land, then get your name on the title. OR, you can also pay her $1/year to lease the land and farm on it, since the law does say "... resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land..."

Or why not get married? JMHO, but if you're living with the woman and having children together, that's gonna be a lot better for both of you in the long run.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

Careful admitting to being a future poacher on line.

^^^ What he said.

It was clearly a joke, like the DNR regs.

Our state overlords are not known for their sense of humor.

 

[AndreusMaximus]

License or a tag?

My understanding is that you do not need to buy a license if you fall under "Resident owners of Indiana farmland, resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, and the spouses and children living with them while hunting, fishing, or trapping on the farmland they own or lease" but you still need a tag no matter what. IANAL, this is not legal advice, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[1nderbeard]

Licenses are like $150. If it were me I wouldn't chance an encounter with your friendly local DNR rep.

 

[Ryzari]

My understanding is that you do not need to buy a license if you fall under "Resident owners of Indiana farmland, resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, and the spouses and children living with them while hunting, fishing, or trapping on the farmland they own or lease" but you still need a tag no matter what. IANAL, this is not legal advice, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

From what I have read/been told, landowners just need to check in online using the landowner option, no tag required. Then print up a transportation tag to haul to processing.

OR, you can also pay her $1/year to lease the land and farm on it, since the law does say "... resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land..."

One would assume that since I already pay "rent", and it is my legal address, and it holds my livestock, that I'd already be a valid lessee. Might just have to print out some generic lease agreement and do this though I suppose. Definitely a better option than paying the state.

 

[Ryzari]

Licenses are like $150. If it were me I wouldn't chance an encounter with your friendly local DNR rep.

The money isn't the issue, it's the fact I'm not paying the state for their permission to hunt the land I live on (and already pay a fortune to do so). I'd rather just not hunt and let the deer age some more until we can refinance to put my name on the deed.

 

[firecadet613]

My understanding is that you do not need to buy a license if you fall under "Resident owners of Indiana farmland, resident lessees of Indiana farmland who farm that land, and the spouses and children living with them while hunting, fishing, or trapping on the farmland they own or lease" but you still need a tag no matter what. IANAL, this is not legal advice, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks. I can't seem to find much about the tag, except to check in online. Plenty of info about the license online, is there a per tag cost?

I'm new to hunting, but having 15 acres now with plenty of turkey and deer roaming around, how can I not? I could take a turkey from the back porch. I sat in with my 10 year old as he went through hunter education last year... little guy aced his test!

 

[AndreusMaximus]

Thanks. I can't seem to find much about the tag, except to check in online. Plenty of info about the license online, is there a per tag cost?

I'm new to hunting, but having 15 acres now with plenty of turkey and deer roaming around, how can I not? I could take a turkey from the back porch. I sat in with my 10 year old as he went through hunter education last year... little guy aced his test!

I believe what @Ryzari said is correct. You just check in through the online portal, and it'll then let you print a tag which you keep with the deer until it has been processed, I don't believe there's any cost. I think there's also an option to just have the tag downloaded on your smartphone, for example, and that'll serve in lieu of a printed copy. I'm not super familiar with the process, though, so hopefully someone who is can chime in.

From what I have read/been told, landowners just need to check in online using the landowner option, no tag required. Then print up a transportation tag to haul to processing.

 

[jagee]

No tag except temporary transport tag. CheckIN online. Get a confirmation number. Write confirmation number, along with other info on paper, keep paper connected to animal until processing.

They have blank transport tags online you can print off. I print a few copies and keep them in by bag. Kill a deer, fill it out, zip tie to deer while transporting to processor.

 

[Ingomike]

The money isn't the issue, it's the fact I'm not paying the state for their permission to hunt the land I live on (and already pay a fortune to do so). I'd rather just not hunt and let the deer age some more until we can refinance to put my name on the deed.

She can quitclaim the deed to a new deed that includes you anytime. Could have put your name on the deed at closing. This has nothing to do with the mortgage which will stay in her name only.

 

[two70]

The State made a big mistake with the landowner exemption. It is easily the most abused regulation in the book and only serves to encourage entitlement and a taker's mentality.

 

[Michigan Slim]

The money isn't the issue, it's the fact I'm not paying the state for their permission to hunt the land I live on (and already pay a fortune to do so). I'd rather just not hunt and let the deer age some more until we can refinance to put my name on the deed.

I get that. My tag to hunt MY land in Michigan is almost 200.00.

 

[Ryzari]

The State made a big mistake with the landowner exemption. It is easily the most abused regulation in the book and only serves to encourage entitlement and a taker's mentality.

Entitlement? By thinking you should have the right to hunt your own land, that the state isn't paying for, up to the regulated limits, without having to pay the state, after already paying taxes on the land for the entire year to begin with? Ok..

 

[AndreusMaximus]

The State made a big mistake with the landowner exemption. It is easily the most abused regulation in the book and only serves to encourage entitlement and a taker's mentality.

I know, right? Can you imagine people wanting the right to use their own land without asking the state's permission? The entitlement of people these days!

 

[Ingomike]

Entitlement? By thinking you should have the right to hunt your own land, that the state isn't paying for, up to the regulated limits, without having to pay the state, after already paying taxes on the land for the entire year to begin with? Ok..

I know, right? Can you imagine people wanting the right to use their own land without asking the state's permission? The entitlement of people these days!

I read that completely different than you two, based on the rules listed above, specifically who can hunt in the land it does seem ripe for abuse. Almost no one here would say you need the government’s permission to hunt your own land including two70, whom I have discussed other topics with.