J7-

You make a great point - often times when I've talked to landowners in E-Wash... many of them I already know or my freinds know, it's 'guilt by association'. They've had bad experiences with other hunters and just don't want to deal with it at all-- even with people they know and trust.

Case in point- I read that over 1/2 of the farmers with CRP feel-free land have opted out of the program for 2007. Just too much hassle and problems dealing with the 'idiots' you speak of. (I like to call them goat-ropers...:)

My buddy and I have been working hard for 8-9 years, and have literally been all over the state trying to find something that's worth going back too. We've tried a new places every year- tried to develop relationships with famers, and hike our a$$e$ off to get away in public areas, but there are always crowds, nice 4pts on the other side of the fence, or the deer are just getting chased around. We've also tried AHE, but that is a big joke, unless.... guess what- you've got private land locked in. Even AHE doesn't mean anything with the landowners- many have had bad experiences w/AHE.

Sure, we've taken deer... maybe average 50% or better success rate, but it's always a little bitter sweet. That's why I'm trying to find something a little more pure... we've spent our twenties searching for that place to go back to every year- it's just not happening.

Again, you are right about the idiots-and It frustrates me to all ends... I'm just starting to think our collective 'bad rap' is beyond repair.