Rules
The following rules apply at High Ground Hunting Club and on Hunting trips sponsored by High Ground Hunting Club.
Section 1: Waterfowl Hunting 2/08
Safety is our #1 rule.
1.1 Members are not allowed to hunt areas outside of field assignments.
1.2 Members will obey all hunting laws and have all required licenses. The hunter will assume all liability if any violation occurs.
1.3 Absolutely NO consumption of alcohol is allowed before or during a hunt or while firearms are in use.
1.4 No illegal drugs are allowed on High Ground LLC properties.
1.5 Guns should always be unloaded when traveling within fields.
1.6 Keep your safety on until prepared to shoot.
1.7 While birds are approaching a blind, switching of shells in guns is forbidden. (ie: duck load to goose load)
1.8 Please respect all other hunters and field boundaries.
1.9 At the end of each hunt, the designated pit manager is responsible for the shut down procedure posted in the pit/blind.
1.10 All birds leaving the property must be properly recorded and tagged.
1.11 If any guide feels that other hunters, he, or guide dogs are in danger of being shot, the hunt will end immediately and no refunds will be given.
1.12 In order to share the most productive spots it may not always be possible to choose a selected farm or blind. To manage our fields and blinds for quality hunts, certain locations will be posted as CLOSED by the club manager. This process of “resting” a field or water blind encourages the large flocks of waterfowl to return to an area.
1.13 We ask our members to be courteous to other members and to share the hunting opportunities. This includes things such as allowing other hunters in the blind to shoot first after you’ve bagged a goose or a couple of ducks or to rotate positions in the blind if the hunters on an end always have the best shots at the passing birds. Before a hunt begins, hunters will designate a pit/blind manager to manage the hunting activities.
1.14 If you are not an experienced caller please ask the more experienced callers if your calling is acceptable. On some days only the best callers can lure in those flocks that have been dodging shot for the past few months since leaving Canada.
1.15 Hunters will be responsible for claiming all birds as they are shot. Please do not shoot someone else’s birds. If you do so, you will be responsible for claiming that bird and lose your turn in the shooting rotation.
1.16 Be courteous at all times to other hunters. Remember that our members come from different states, work in different professions, and certainly have different life experiences. Try to treat others with personal respect and get to know your fellow members. This is a club and everyone has the same right to great hunts and to have fun!
1.17 HGHC owners and their guests can hunt any blind on any property and have first choice of these blinds.
Section 2: Deer Hunting 2/08
2.1 Hunter is responsible for their own safety equipment, licenses, and deer tag.
2.2 Hunter waives all liability for injury, damages or loss and executes a complete waiver of liability release.
2.3 Hunter arrival and departure dates and times are required through the deer manager.
2.4 Hunter arrives the evening before the first day of the hunt for sign-in orientation and departs the evening of the last day of the hunt.
2.5 There is no trophy fee, but a "Trophy Buck" with a bow is P&Y (130) gross score. Penalty of $50 per inch/$200 maximum for harvest of a lesser buck under such gross score and may result in the forfeiture of your membership.
2.6 A hunt terminates if a hunter shoots a buck and needs to locate it. If you are not able to locate a wounded deer, the hunter may hunt that buck but not a different buck.
2.7 If a hunter needs help in locating a deer, contact the deer manager for assistance. Every effort must be made to locate a deer.
2.8 A hunter may choose a stand for the entire day. Decisions on hunting the same stand or any other stand for the afternoon should be made by 12:00 noon the day of the hunt. If you do not plan on hunting the same stand in the afternoon, pull your pin upon returning to the lodge the morning of the hunt in order to allow other hunters the opportunity to hunt that stand.
2.9 Button bucks will count as a buck harvested.
2.10 All annual members must harvest a doe in order to keep their membership.
2.11 No guests are allowed.
Section 3: Club House 2/08
3.1 All lodging will be at the Sanctuary Lodge only. There will be no member lodging at any other lodge.
3.2 Sleeping arrangements at the designated lodge are on a first come - first serve basis with respect to annual members. If there are more guests and members than space available members will be given preference.
3.3 This is a home away from home and members/guests are responsible for cleaning up so that incoming members will have an orderly lodge. Please leave it better than you found it for the next party.
3.4 All food and drink placed in the refrigerator and cupboard are available to all. Foods and drink maintained in coolers etc. are considered personal property.
3.5 Parking is permitted in designated club and state areas only.
3.6 Violations of these rules will result in a loss of clubhouse privileges.
3.7 Efforts should be made to not disturb hunters who have turned in for the night.
Section 4: Dogs/Handlers 2/08
4.1 HGHC owners’ dogs have priority in hunting.
4.2 Dogs must be under control at all times.
4.3 Dogs must remain kenneled until in the field.
4.4 When traveling to blinds in vehicles, dogs should be kenneled in the vehicle until arriving at the hunting location.
4.5 Dogs are not allowed in the club house.
4.6 You are responsible for the conduct of your dog toward other hunters and other dogs. Aggressive dogs will not be tolerated.
4.7 You must be able to manage you dog’s conduct and ensure he quickly returns to the blind after a retrieve.
4.8 Dogs should be rotated on retrieves while hunting. The safety and health of dogs is of utmost importance and should be carefully monitored in severe weather conditions.
4.9 If your dog is not fully trained, you must discuss this with other members in your hunting party.
4.10 HGHC is not responsible for injuries, accidents, or deaths of hunters’ dogs.
4.11 Dogs are welcome and may be hunted on a space available basis provided they qualify under the HGHC dog guidelines.
4.12 Violations of these rules will result in your dog being excluded from all HGHC properties.
Section 5: Guests/Annual Members-Waterfowl 2/08
5.1 Any guest is the member’s responsibility, and a membership could be terminated based on their actions.
5.2 Guests must be accompanied by an annual member.
5.3 Club management should be notified 48 hours prior to a member bringing a guest.
5.4 Guests are permitted to hunt with any one annual member a total of 3 times. They are allowed to hunt the property a total of 5 times per season as a guest.
5.5 Only one gun and one limit will be shot when a guest accompanies a member to a blind.
5.6 Shooters will be the only persons allowed on the shooting platform unless otherwise stated by the pit manager.
5.7 Guests are allowed to bring dogs and must follow the above listed dog guidelines.
5.8 Host is responsible for all paperwork and licenses required for a guest.
5.9 Children under the age of 16 years are allowed to hunt on a space available basis. After 16 years of age, a child must purchase a junior membership if they are still living at home with the member and attending school. All youth are required to have a hunter’s safety card in their possession in order to hunt or be present in a blind, pit, or any hunting activity.
5.10 Family members of an annual member who are in active military service will be hunted as a guest of the owners.
5.11 HGHC workers are not allowed to bring guests to hunt.
5.12 Management reserves the right to deny a guest from hunting.
Section 6: Guests/Corporate-Waterfowl 2/08
6.1 Any guest is the member’s responsibility, and a membership could be terminated based on their actions.
6.2 Guests are allowed and do not have to be accompanied by a member.
6.3 Host member is responsible for guest’s license, permits, stamps, and obtaining signed liability waiver.
6.4 Club management should be notified 48 hours prior to a member sending a guest. Management reserves the right to deny a guest from hunting.
6.5 One gun and one limit of waterfowl are allowed.
6.6 Shooters will be the only persons allowed on the shooting deck.
6.7 Host or guest not shooting must stay below deck unless invited up by the pit manager.
6.8 Guests are allowed to bring dogs but must follow the dog/handler rules.
Section 7: General 2/08
7.1 The guiding principle of this club continues to be safe, family oriented hunting for use by members year round.
7.2 Safety always comes first.
7.3 Owners/Management is not responsible for items lost or stolen from the property.
7.4 Owners/Management reserves the right to accompany or have a guide accompany any member while in the field.
7.5 Membership can be terminated for unsafe or inappropriate actions.
7.6 Maximum speed limit on all properties is 10 mph.
7.7 Violation of any State or Federal Laws can result in immediate termination of membership, without any refund of monies.
7.8 ATV’s (preferred) and club designated vehicles only should be driven on the property during hunting seasons.
7.9 Any annual member, package hunter, or guest caught intentionally trying to deceive the club in any manner (unreported game, violation of laws, etc.) will immediately have their membership status subject to a vote of the club owners. The owners may decide, at their discretion, to revoke club membership or suspend privileges.
7.10 All gates will remain closed at all times.
7.11 Only ATVs and farm equipment allowed on or near (50 feet) food plots and fields.
7.12 Alcohol is not to be consumed when involved in the following activities:
7.12.1 Before hunting or going into the field with hunters.
7.12.2 Operating a Motor vehicle (ATV included) or equipment on premises for club purposes.
7.13 Club members are entitled to use the club property which primarily consists of boats, decoys and blinds. If one piece of the equipment is damaged or missing, please report this to the club manager immediately in order for repairs to be made quickly.
7.14 The club will also provide decoys for each blind. The club owns approximately 5,000 decoys. This is all mostly new equipment in very good condition. Please treat it like your own, since we want it serviceable for the next couple of years.
7.15 Radios are available and required for each party. Proper language and etiquette is required by FCC rules at all times and is subject to heavy fines.
7.16 All owners, members, and guests are required to sign in daily. Everyone is required to complete a liability release form and club information form before hunting each season.
7.17 Keys for locks should be returned to their “lock box” after opening doors or gates.
