Tobacco-Free Property Statement
Tobacco and nicotine use, including but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, pipes, snus, Electronic Smoking Devices (ESD), and nicotine products that are not Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for tobacco cessation, is prohibited at all times on grounds.
No person shall use any form of tobacco, nicotine or ESD product at or on any Bur Oak Land Trust-owned or operated grounds. This tobacco/nicotine/ESD policy applies to everyone while on grounds.
Appropriate signs shall be posted in appropriate areas. The community, especially users and staff of grounds, will be notified about this policy. Land stewards, board members, volunteers, and citizens of the community are asked to help enforce compliance with this policy.
Firearms Restrictions
The use or possession by the public of firearms and weapons of all kinds is prohibited on all Bur Oak Land Trust properties except those areas designated as game management areas and subject to restrictions of the Hunting Policy.
Bur Oak Land Trust Permission for Hunting form
Bur Oak Land Trust’s Hunting Policy aims to maintain ecological balance on the Trust’s properties by managing the white-tailed deer population. Overpopulation of deer can harm forest regeneration, reduce biodiversity, and cause conflicts with neighboring agricultural and residential areas. Regulated hunting will ensure sustainable wildlife populations and healthy ecosystems. The Trust only allows the hunting of antlerless deer with approved archery equipment. Firearms and crossbows are not permitted on any Bur Oak Land Trust property.
Please refer to Hunting Policy and Application document linked below for additional requirements. All potential hunters must read the policy in its entirety and submit an application to be considered for approval to hunt on Bur Oak Land Trust properties. Submitting an application does not guarantee hunting permissions. All applications and any questions about the hunting policy may be submitted to Sarah Lawinger, Land Stewardship Director, at sarah@buroaklandtrust.org.
Hunting Policy and Application
Exhibit A: Rules for Authorized Hunters
- Methods and Equipment
● Authorized hunters will be issued a placard at the beginning of every season which will be used to alert the public that hunting is taking place on the property. This placard is to be placed on the property’s entry kiosk or sign when the hunter arrives at the property and removed when the hunter leaves the property. Placard states: “Hunter on site while posted”.
● Hunters will report their total harvest of deer at the end of the season through a mandatory annual hunting survey.
● Deer may be field dressed and entrails allowed to remain in the field, but should be 50 feet from any trails or parking lots.
● Bur Oak Land Trust reserves the right to revoke or modify the granted permission at any time and for any reason, upon notice to the hunter. - Permitted
● Only bow hunting with approved archery equipment is allowed.
● Hunters will submit stand and trail camera locations to staff following placement.
● Each hunter is allowed one stand and one trail camera that will be tagged with the hunter’s first name and last initial.
● Stands must be placed no less than 50 feet from established hiking trails and parking lots.
● Temporary hang-on or ladder tree stands may be non-invasively attached to the tree via straps.
● Use of temporary apparatus is limited to no longer than 4 weeks prior to the season, through and including 2 weeks following the season. - Prohibited
● Crossbows, unless otherwise eligible under state law and any firearms.
● Placement of tree stands in living oak or shagbark hickory trees.
● Permanent or self-climbing tree stands.
● Spikes, climbers, screw-in pegs, or other apparatus that impale trees.
● Cutting of branches or clearing of vegetation from trees or surrounding areas.
● Ground blinds, either manufactured or utilizing natural materials.
● Use of motorized vehicles and any other power equipment without special and specific written permission from Bur Oak Land Trust.
This Exhibit A is subject to change from time to time. Any authorized hunter should periodically check with Bur Oak Land Trust to verify the current rules.
