Legal to hunt railroad tracks?

[RifleRidge]

Is it legal to hunt walking down railroad tracks?... How many feet off the tracks does the railroad own?...

[mdbuck5x5]

No it is not...depending on what railroad owns the tracks they have their own police force and you could be charged with trespassing and pay a fine. In general they own from 50 feet or more on either sides of the tracks. It just not smart to hunt on them, trains can be a lot more quite then people realize and its not worth your life!

[shoot-em-dead]

All railroads are private property, really it is best to just stay off.

[RifleRidge]

Yeah, very good point. Thank you !

I am thinking about tracks that are not used by UP or AmTrack...
Railroad tracks that are pretty much not in use... in rural areas...

[Angus]

Yeah, very good point. Thank you !

I am thinking about tracks that are not used by UP or AmTrack...
Railroad tracks that are pretty much not in use... in rural areas...

Are you talking about the tracks in Yacolt? I saw a 2 point walking along those tracks Thursday, unfortunately I was in my work truck and could only watch.
Wish I could bring my gun or bow to work, would of been done a long time ago.

[RifleRidge]

Are you talking about the tracks in Yacolt? I saw a 2 point walking along those tracks Thursday, unfortunately I was in my work truck and could only watch.
Wish I could bring my gun or bow to work, would of been done a long time ago.

In town I am guessing 

[Kc_Kracker]

no been there done that, its considered a "maintained road" only for trains, same as shooting from or something IN the street. walking the tracks hunting around smight be a different story but no track shooting 

[RifleRidge]

  Some safety tips to remember: 

    Rails and recreation do not mix.

    If there are rails on the railroad ties, assume that the track is in use, even if there are weeds or the track looks “rusty.”

    Do not hunt, fish or bungee jump from railroad trestles. There is only enough clearance on the tracks for a train to pass. Trestles are not meant to be sidewalks or pedestrian bridges.

    Trains overhang the tracks by at least three feet in both directions and loose straps hanging from rail cars may extend even further. You can be hit by a train if you are in the right-of-way next to the tracks.

    Be aware trains do not follow set schedules. Any time is train time.

[adamR]

Is it legal to cross the tracks, to get to state land for instance?

[shoot-em-dead]

Is it legal to cross the tracks, to get to state land for instance?

As far as I understand- you can only legally cross at posted crossings. But I wouldn't hesitate if i knew of some good hunting.

[hornhunter1987]

80% of my hunting is done on rail road tracks. when trains come i step off to the side and the conducters always give me a wave or a head nod. rail road tracks are a great way to catch a bt moving from feed to bed or just cruising. i dont know how the rr systems are away from mason county but everyone around here has been very supportive. i say hunt them if you can make a safe ethical shot. i always take into account where my bullet will go past my target. hunting has to have a lot of common sense or it wouldnt work

[Skyvalhunter]

Your trespassing on private property and will be prosecuted if caught. The railroad has special investigators who patrol this.

[HntnFsh]

Your trespassing on private property and will be prosecuted if caught. The railroad has special investigators who patrol this.

You are right.  Especially since Homeland security came about.

[coachcw]

Rember guys all common sense has been taken away from us . I wish we lived more by the Darwin theroy with less rules and safe gaurds Really we are gonna get hit by a train ? Just Use the brain you where given for pete sake. Same mentallity as kids just stepping of a curb without looking because they have a green light !

[jackmaster]

i have used the same piece of tracks for years and even been checked by game wardens when i gotr to my truck, killdahl and dillman if any of you guys remember them, they were the good wardens, they actually gave a crap about hunters, they had are backs and they hated garbage dumpers, but anyways these tracks are never used but they are maintained, they never said anything about it being illegal about huntn the tracks only to be careful and use my head, i took my nephew down these tracks the last day of extended after my son and i tagged out on hancok and BANG, connor got his first deer, it was a dinkus 2pt but a great 2pt blackie none the less, sorry getn off thread..

[dscubame]

Nothing wrong with tracks.  Done all the time with many others, never heard of a single issue.

[Hunt4ever]

Nothing wrong with tracks.  Done all the time with many others, never heard of a single issue.

Been doing it for years... But the tracks i hunt are used very very little...

[boneaddict]

Is it legal to cross the tracks, to get to state land for instance?

I know several track crossings that are posted as no trespassing here in the Yakima e burg area.   I know because there was a huge bull on the otherside I wanted to photograph.   

[BiggLuke]

Not 100% sure....
But my bet would be that if a gemey caught you with a dead dear on railroad property, he'd ticket you on the spot.
Like if you got caught with a dead dear on the highway, or a golf course.

I mean, hell. There has to be a reason why STAYING OFF railroads is a key thing they point out during Hunter Ed.

All though..... if the tracks weren't in use any more.... you could try contacting the county office and seeing who still owns them, then getting a written permission slip?

That would seem to cover all your bases.  right guys?

[Bullets_n_Octane]

Remember that is may be jus personal opinion from gamie to gamie about what to do or say in the instance of someone being on or hunting on RR property. Any railroad property that is maintained, and ALOT that isn't IS Private property, even just to cross. Railroad police (UP & BNSF) have EXTREMELY different outlooks and enforcement policies than you're everyday Gamie, and can & most likely will, cite you. Also, I'm pretty sure there isn't any 'dedicated' Amtrak property in Washington, save for maybe some sidings in Dowtown Seattle and a few in the Everett Delta Yard. Most ALL of Washington tracks are enforced and patrolled by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Police Department. Likely walking on a railway with a loaded rifle would be treated the same as walking down a city street with a loaded rifle. It is still goverened federally by the NTSB, and by local/state DOT.

I wouldn't risk it. but that's my advice and 

[Kowsrule30]

I haven't done it in a while but a place where I grew up as a kid I and a few other kids all played and hunted off the tracks...      Don't remember ever seeing a no tresspassing sign...

[bigtex]

Remember that is may be jus personal opinion from gamie to gamie about what to do or say in the instance of someone being on or hunting on RR property. Any railroad property that is maintained, and ALOT that isn't IS Private property, even just to cross. Railroad police (UP & BNSF) have EXTREMELY different outlooks and enforcement policies than you're everyday Gamie, and can & most likely will, cite you. Also, I'm pretty sure there isn't any 'dedicated' Amtrak property in Washington, save for maybe some sidings in Dowtown Seattle and a few in the Everett Delta Yard. Most ALL of Washington tracks are enforced and patrolled by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Police Department. Likely walking on a railway with a loaded rifle would be treated the same as walking down a city street with a loaded rifle. It is still goverened federally by the NTSB, and by local/state DOT.

I wouldn't risk it. but that's my advice and 

 
The RR companies also have a contract with WDFW allowing WDFW Officers to cite for trespassing on RR property.

[Hunterman]

I've shot quite a few deer on rail road tracks, even had a couple of gamies help drag a couple to my truck  Hell a M.P. helped me one time..Never a poblem. I'd still do it this day and age if given a chance

Hunterman(Tony)

[Dmanmastertracker]

 My father worked for BN for 40 years.

 What I know:

 Abandoned tracks are treated differently -I would ask the owner about those lines, there are many abandoned tracks today that will not be restored to service in rural area's and often these lands are no longer even owned by the RR.

 As far as active lines, it is very foolish to hunt those today for a number of reasons, I can't tell you how many times dad had to help clean up after accidents on the tracks involving folks who thought is was safe to walk them. The security since 9-11 on tracks has changed things as well, you are likely to get escorted off any track you are hunting today in cuffs, they would take armed trespassing very seriously. I still work land agreements with the railroad today and as far as I have ever known, there are no exceptions.

[elkinrutdrivemenuts]

I have never heard of this being a problem where I hunted.  We had to walk the railroad tracks out to the duck blinds in Burbank (tri cities area).  Trains still use it and every time a train is stopped or a work crew was out there they always wanted to know how we did. Unless you had a boat or felt like swimming, the tracks were the only way to the blinds we hunted.

[dscubame]

Tri Cities yep......along the Snake River yep........Various in the Palouse yep.  No issues maybe it is a Eastern WA thing?

[CedarPants]

I see plenty of guys walking the tracks that border my land to the east.  I wish I could say they were just walking from point A to point B, but experience has told me that's not the case.  50 feet on either side of the tracks is an awfully narrow lane to drop a deer, assuming your plan is to drop it where it stands so that it doesn't wander off and die on private property that you don't have access to.

I've lost track of how many times I (and my property neighbors) have caught people that wandered in off the tracks because they either saw an animal, or because it was just too tempting to hop off the tracks and up the ridge to see what's on top.

Is it actually legal to hunt the tracks?  I honestly don't know.  What I do know from my observations is that hunting the tracks more often than not leads to trespassing on land people know dang well they shouldn't be on

[mdbuck5x5]

I see plenty of guys walking the tracks that border my land to the east.  I wish I could say they were just walking from point A to point B, but experience has told me that's not the case.  50 feet on either side of the tracks is an awfully narrow lane to drop a deer, assuming your plan is to drop it where it stands so that it doesn't wander off and die on private property that you don't have access to.

I've lost track of how many times I (and my property neighbors) have caught people that wandered in off the tracks because they either saw an animal, or because it was just too tempting to hop off the tracks and up the ridge to see what's on top.

Is it actually legal to hunt the tracks?  I honestly don't know.  What I do know from my observations is that hunting the tracks more often than not leads to trespassing on land people know dang well they shouldn't be on

And there in lies part of the problem. It is absolutely illegal to be on the tracks little own be hunting from them, its private poperty and people are trespassing plain and simple. How do know I this? Because I have worked for the RR (BNSF) for the past 7 years. You guys want a for sure answer, I will email one of our special agents and ask what kind of penalties you'd be looking at if you got caught!

[CedarPants]

I see plenty of guys walking the tracks that border my land to the east.  I wish I could say they were just walking from point A to point B, but experience has told me that's not the case.  50 feet on either side of the tracks is an awfully narrow lane to drop a deer, assuming your plan is to drop it where it stands so that it doesn't wander off and die on private property that you don't have access to.

I've lost track of how many times I (and my property neighbors) have caught people that wandered in off the tracks because they either saw an animal, or because it was just too tempting to hop off the tracks and up the ridge to see what's on top.

Is it actually legal to hunt the tracks?  I honestly don't know.  What I do know from my observations is that hunting the tracks more often than not leads to trespassing on land people know dang well they shouldn't be on

And there in lies part of the problem. It is absolutely illegal to be on the tracks little own be hunting from them, its private poperty and people are trespassing plain and simple. How do know I this? Because I have worked for the RR (BNSF) for the past 7 years. You guys want a for sure answer, I will email one of our special agents and ask what kind of penalties you'd be looking at if you got caught!

 

BNSF are the tracks I was referring to.  You are welcome at my place anytime.  I've ran into those guys several times, always great guys

[mdbuck5x5]

I see plenty of guys walking the tracks that border my land to the east.  I wish I could say they were just walking from point A to point B, but experience has told me that's not the case.  50 feet on either side of the tracks is an awfully narrow lane to drop a deer, assuming your plan is to drop it where it stands so that it doesn't wander off and die on private property that you don't have access to.

I've lost track of how many times I (and my property neighbors) have caught people that wandered in off the tracks because they either saw an animal, or because it was just too tempting to hop off the tracks and up the ridge to see what's on top.

Is it actually legal to hunt the tracks?  I honestly don't know.  What I do know from my observations is that hunting the tracks more often than not leads to trespassing on land people know dang well they shouldn't be on

And there in lies part of the problem. It is absolutely illegal to be on the tracks little own be hunting from them, its private poperty and people are trespassing plain and simple. How do know I this? Because I have worked for the RR (BNSF) for the past 7 years. You guys want a for sure answer, I will email one of our special agents and ask what kind of penalties you'd be looking at if you got caught!

 

BNSF are the tracks I was referring to.  You are welcome at my place anytime.  I've ran into those guys several times, always great guys

   Alright Cedar, thanks man I appreciate that! A couple of guys I work with are actually members on here as well.

[bigtex]

I see plenty of guys walking the tracks that border my land to the east.  I wish I could say they were just walking from point A to point B, but experience has told me that's not the case.  50 feet on either side of the tracks is an awfully narrow lane to drop a deer, assuming your plan is to drop it where it stands so that it doesn't wander off and die on private property that you don't have access to.

I've lost track of how many times I (and my property neighbors) have caught people that wandered in off the tracks because they either saw an animal, or because it was just too tempting to hop off the tracks and up the ridge to see what's on top.

Is it actually legal to hunt the tracks?  I honestly don't know.  What I do know from my observations is that hunting the tracks more often than not leads to trespassing on land people know dang well they shouldn't be on

And there in lies part of the problem. It is absolutely illegal to be on the tracks little own be hunting from them, its private poperty and people are trespassing plain and simple. How do know I this? Because I have worked for the RR (BNSF) for the past 7 years. You guys want a for sure answer, I will email one of our special agents and ask what kind of penalties you'd be looking at if you got caught!

Railroad Police (as they are known in WA, and many states) are certified WA st peace officers. RR Police Officers in WA use your local county courts (just like state agencies) and can enforce state laws. While they are not technically federal officers, they do have the authority to cross state lines. They were given expanded authority by congress in 1990 which allowed them to enforce all state and local laws on RR property, prior to this the crime had to actually impact the RR property (such as trespassing), however RR police now have the authority to enforce all laws on their property.

In addition, just like federal or limited authority agencies (such as DNR) RR Police Officers can seek expanded authority from the county sheriff to have authority off of RR property.

My point? If you are caught for trespassing on RR property it would be the same offense as if WDFW, WSP, or a County SO caught you, in fact your case would be heard in the same county court as the other agencies.

[CedarPants]

Great info. Thank you BigTex

[mdbuck5x5]

Once last response and I'll leave this topic alone. I'm not telling anybody what and what not to do but I just want to make sure you all know the law. Like I said before I would email one of our agents and I did get a response from him today and in short this is what he said.


"BNSF as well as all other railroads have a zero tolerance for trespassing on the actual tracks, including the right of way. Persons on the track or right of way are trespassing and subject to a criminal trespass citation and or criminal trespass arrest. The area does not need to be posted as railroad property and is considered "improved" per RCW 9a.52.080"

[Skyvalhunter]

Same answer I was given when talking to Tracker about it. He works for the railroad also

[mdbuck5x5]

Same answer I was given when talking to Tracker about it. He works for the railroad also

  We know each other!