Land Owners Posting Public Land

[huntnphool]

 For years I have been seeing signs posted along roads and out in the field on public land saying "No Trespassing" "No Hunting" etc.  I understand why its done, I just don't think it should be legal for them to do it.

 This sign is a good example. This is a public road going through public land, eventually running through private land. Now I understand that the state has this road closed to "motorized vehicles" but isn't it still legal to park and walk in?

 A couple years ago I spotted a nice buck back in on this state land from about a mile away. I knew it was state land and drove around to get to this road thinking I could hike in from there. When my brother and I got there there was a truck parked there and a rancher told us that it was private property and we needed written permission to access it. He was clearly sitting there keeping people from going in there even though it is public land.

 I'm just curious what all of you think about this.

[bobcat]

It appears that you should be able to walk on the road in order to access the state land.

[huntnphool]

It appears that you should be able to walk on the road in order to access the state land.

Thats what we thought, yet there was a rancher there running people off.

[lokidog]

I read in some state BS rules that a person that leases public land can post it if there is potential to damage crops or equipment.  I, personally, don't think that should apply to range land as there is no "crop" there.  Either way, it is a bunch of poo.

I asked a warden over by Davenport about a Posted corner of state land that was cut off where the road went up along the east side, curved and exited the NW corner of the section, he said don't worry about it and that I couod hunt that corner since they were not allowed to post it.  So, who knows.  Another case of the left and right hands not knowing what the other is doing? 

I would certainly bring it up to someone with the state.

[bigtex]

You can park and walk in as long as you are on public land. If it is some type of "landlocked" land you could end up in trouble.

I can see the picture you posted was in Montana. So they would be your best source of info.

Landlocked lands are really a headache for all outdoorsmen and is something the federal agencies are trying to eliminate. Federal agencies are getting away from owning lands to sell their resources, such as logging, and moving more towards recreation. So it doesn't make sense to have a bunch of landlocked lands. And they are eliminating this landlocked lands by either purchasing land which would provide access to the other lands or simply trading the lands away.

In WA, DNR is essentially the state logging dept, most states have such dept. DNR's main goal/mission is to bring in revenue for the state via DNR lands, NOT to provide a recreational opportunity. If it just so happens recreation can happen on DNR lands then cool. So for DNR landlocked lands are not a big issue as they are for the federal agencies.

[Bob33]

I have software on my GPS that shows property boundaries and ownership. I have encountered multiple situations in Washington and other states with public land posted as private. I believe it is intentionally done in the vast majority of instances. It is wrong, and should be illegal if it is not. I kind of enjoy finding these conditions, especially if the landowner visits. When told that harassing and interfering with a legal hunt is criminal, and that I'd be glad to call the sheriff and wait for him to come clear it up, the landowner usually leaves in a huff.

Two years ago I had an outfitter in Wyoming tell me to get off the property I was on. I did the same thing: let's call the sheriff and wait for him to come clear it up. The outfitter immediately left.

[Jonathan_S]

I'll chime in...

This is a gripe of mine too.  It happens in the NE in Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille counties and at a particular section of DNR down by the town of Mica South of Spokane.

The vigilante land owner types get a little zealous and a few memories that they have cemented in their minds justify "posting it"

If I'm positive it's public, I'll park right next to the sign and face the consequences.  So far nobody has been base enough to accuse me of trespassing. 

Overall, it probably doesn't hurt much.  If anyone is ever unsure about it, just look up the property boundaries, get a map (current) and stick to your guns.

[huntnphool]

You can park and walk in as long as you are on public land. If it is some type of "landlocked" land you could end up in trouble.

I can see the picture you posted was in Montana. So they would be your best source of info.

Landlocked lands are really a headache for all outdoorsmen and is something the federal agencies are trying to eliminate. Federal agencies are getting away from owning lands to sell their resources, such as logging, and moving more towards recreation. So it doesn't make sense to have a bunch of landlocked lands. And they are eliminating this landlocked lands by either purchasing land which would provide access to the other lands or simply trading the lands away.

In WA, DNR is essentially the state logging dept, most states have such dept. DNR's main goal/mission is to bring in revenue for the state via DNR lands, NOT to provide a recreational opportunity. If it just so happens recreation can happen on DNR lands then cool. So for DNR landlocked lands are not a big issue as they are for the federal agencies.

I hear ya, this is not landlocked. The public land comes right up to the road/sign where its posted.

[bobcat]

It's odd that the one sign says it's a private road, yet the other state sign says the road is closed to motorized vehicles. Which I would then assume it's open for walking or non motorized use (bicycles).

So is the road public or private?

[huntnphool]

It's odd that the one sign says it's a private road, yet the other state sign says the road is closed to motorized vehicles. Which I would then assume it's open for walking or non motorized use (bicycles).

So is the road public or private?

Yet the red Montana sign says its state land for recreational use, just no vehicles. The road goes right through the middle of the state land, it turns into private land a couple miles down the road.

[bigtex]

I have software on my GPS that shows property boundaries and ownership. I have encountered multiple situations in Washington and other states with public land posted as private. I believe it is intentionally done in the vast majority of instances. It is wrong, and should be illegal if it is not.

Previous to Summer 2012 unlawfully posting land to prevent hunting/fishing was a misdemeanor in WA. As a result of the change in fish and wildlife laws last year it was decriminalized and was made into a infraction. So it is now the same fine as barbed hooks, no hunter orange, etc.

[Jonathan_S]

I have software on my GPS that shows property boundaries and ownership. I have encountered multiple situations in Washington and other states with public land posted as private. I believe it is intentionally done in the vast majority of instances. It is wrong, and should be illegal if it is not.

Previous to Summer 2012 unlawfully posting land to prevent hunting/fishing was a misdemeanor in WA. As a result of the change in fish and wildlife laws last year it was decriminalized and was made into a infraction. So it is now the same fine as barbed hooks, no hunter orange, etc.

I think it should have stayed a misdemeanor, it's not like anybody doesn't know where their land ends.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not this again 

[huntnphool]

I have software on my GPS that shows property boundaries and ownership.

Me too. Funny story, two years ago M-ray and I were driving around taking pics in this one nice section in Montana, I was driving while Mark was watching the GPS and giving directions. He said "there is a large piece of state land coming up around this next corner". We went up hill and around the corner and guess what, a rancher was parked right where the state land went across the road for about 50 yards, where we could park and walk in. Right on the side of his truck was the name of the local ranch. Coincidence that he chose that one spot, the only spot for many miles, to sit in his truck?

M-ray went back there this year and actually parked and walked in. Guess who was sitting there when he came back out? Yep, one of the ranchers. He got out of his truck and walked up to talk to him. Mark said he was a pretty nice guy and didn't have a problem.

[hirshey]

I have software on my GPS that shows property boundaries and ownership. I have encountered multiple situations in Washington and other states with public land posted as private. I believe it is intentionally done in the vast majority of instances. It is wrong, and should be illegal if it is not. I kind of enjoy finding these conditions, especially if the landowner visits. When told that harassing and interfering with a legal hunt is criminal, and that I'd be glad to call the sheriff and wait for him to come clear it up, the landowner usually leaves in a huff.

Two years ago I had an outfitter in Wyoming tell me to get off the property I was on. I did the same thing: let's call the sheriff and wait for him to come clear it up. The outfitter immediately left.

I was surprised a few seasons ago to find some property that had always been "feel free too hunt" state land had been posted... but apparantly it was leased by a farmer and even though it was CRP owned by the state I was told by a DNR official leasees can still dictate access.. that may end up being troublesome for some of those landowner maps via a GPS and may be some of the public land being posted.. that being said, I know plenty of spots posted by land owners or hunters that want to deter others from their hunting grounds. Can't you get in legal trouble for doing that?