The Hunting Permission Loophole No One’s Talking About
Joplin’s urban bowhunting ordinance requires hunters to carry written permission from the landowner but there’s no standardized form, no verification system, and no requirement for notarization. That means a poacher could: Print a fake letter claiming permission Forge a signature Hunt on wooded private property without the landowner ever knowing This loophole is especially dangerous on wooded parcels over one acre , where visibility is low and enforcement is rare. These lots often unfenced, unmonitored, or owned by absentee landlords become easy targets for disguised trespass. “Nobody’s checking,” said one Joplin resident. “And if they are, it’s after the deer’s already harvested.” Without a notarized document or city-verified registry, anyone with a bow and a story can claim legitimacy. And once the arrow flies, the damage is done. What Landowners Can Do to Protect Their Property To prevent unauthorized hunting and protect re...