The Gate Was Open: A Public Land Hunt That Almost Didn’t Happen

The Gate Was Open: A Public Land Hunt That Almost Didn’t Happen

Someone forgot. Or didn’t care. Either way, it nearly cost us the chance to hunt one of the best properties in the region. If you love the land, protect it. Because if we don’t, someone else will ruin it for us all.

🚪 One Chain Link From Losing It All

We arrived before sunrise—me, my brother, and my old hunting mentor, Joe. It was a public-access lease, a walk-in property backed by state conservation dollars, open to foot traffic only.

As we turned off the county road, my heart dropped.

The gate was open.

Truck tracks in the frost. Mud rutted down the two-track. Beer cans in the grass. Someone had clearly ignored the rules and driven in anyway.

Joe muttered: “One more day like this, and they’ll shut it down.”

We parked by the road and hiked in—nervous, frustrated, but hoping the birds hadn’t spooked.

🐦 A Good Hunt, Shadowed by a Bad Sign

Despite it all, the coveys were there. Three points. Two clean rises. Four birds down between us and two more flushed wild. It was everything walk-in hunting should be.

But when we got back to the gate, two game wardens were waiting.

They weren’t there for us. But the damage had already been done—someone had poached a deer, shot from the road, gutted it halfway in the field, and left it.

Joe shook his head. “Won’t be long now. They’ll pull the access.”

🧠 What This Hunt Made Clear

✔️ Public land access is a privilege, not a guarantee
It takes nothing to lose a lease—and everything to earn it back.

✔️ The actions of a few threaten the chances of many
Someone’s laziness can erase decades of trust and cooperation.

✔️ Stewardship isn’t just about picking up shells
It means reporting abuse, educating new hunters, and walking the talk.

✔️ Respect isn’t optional—it’s the currency of access
Gate locked. Boots cleaned. Trash packed out. That’s the standard.

✔️ You don’t need a game warden to enforce ethics
We’re all gatekeepers now—because the future of public land depends on us.

🧰 Gear That Did the Job (The Right Way)

We filled a couple birds. But more importantly, we talked with the wardens. Showed them the cleaned-up trash. Gave them the vehicle description. And they thanked us for not being the problem.

🎙️ “If you love the land, protect it. Because if we don’t, someone else will ruin it for us all.”

📍Filed under: Access & Conservation
🕯️ Difficulty Level: Earned Entry, Shared Responsibility
🚫 Result: Coveys Flushed, Access on the Line
🌾 Location: Public Walk-In Property, Central Plains