Land Owners Posting Public Land

[quadrafire]

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"

Johathon I have been confronted at that Mica location as well. I'll bet it is the same one.

[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. 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.

Can't you get in legal trouble for doing that?

Already responded to that question.

Quick answer, yes, but not as much as you could prior to 2012.

[hirshey]

Can't you get in legal trouble for doing that?

Already responded to that question.

Quick answer, yes, but not as much as you could prior to 2012.

Yes, I saw that... I had already scribed my response before you posted.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Thats why its good to know exactly where you are hunting ... I can not count how many times I have been confronted by some land owner claiming I was Trespassing... and almost everytime I told them to call the President , the cops  and the wardens and never once have they ever came ... I have a glove box full of maps from DNR in my truck ...Just dieing to pull them out and show someone but no one ever comes ....

[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.

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

Unfortunately when the State Supreme Court decided all criminal matters must be brought before a judge it meant all WDFW criminal cases would have to go before a judge, whereas before most could be handled by simply paying a ticket. Unfortunately this meant courts would be even more backlogged

In WDFW's opinion it was best to decriminalize certain offenses so they would not flood the courts even more. WDFW made the decision to decriminalize offenses that didn't impact a resource. As a result this violation went from a misdemeanor to a infraction.

I think in the next couple years you will continue to see agencies decriminalize certain offenses so they could realistically enforce them 

[jackmaster]

that reminds me of something huntnphool, where i grew up hunting up off of scott turner road, well there was land that we always hunted ever since i was a little kid, well one year it turned up posted, i just figured wow someone bought some state land or the state sold it or whatever, well it turned out to be a couple guys that started posting alot of land that was state land in hopes of keeping people out so they could have it all to their selves, i doubt that is legal to do that crap, but if it hell i know alot of land that i would like to post 

[predatorpro]

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?

i believe it depends who actually owns the property (state/dnr/blm/wdfw) they all have their own set of rules on who is allowed to control hunting rights when its being leased by a farmer, if its actually owned by "state of washington" or "USA" land when looking at it on a county gis map im pretty sure the farmer leasing it has no right to post it, i am actually almost 100% on that! now if its owned by the dnr or blm that could be a completely different story!

[turkeyfeather]

I would've called a gamie. I had this happen to me once and I knew I was right. I called the gamie, showed him the maps I had and assesors reports. He politely informed the landowner (who owned the adjacent land) to take down the private property signs and quit harrasing people. Otherwise he would be the one facing charges.

[huntnphool]

There is a large chunk of land in the Methow that used to be owned by old Doc. Prewett (sp) but was purchased by the state yet its still posted as private as well.

[CAMPMEAT]

Bigtex, there is a county road on Vulcan Mtn here in Ferry County, that has been posted by the WDFW, no motor vesicles beyond this sign. The county plows that road with my taxpayer money, so why would that be posted ? The road goes about 1 1/2 miles and ends into private land of which I have permission to access.

[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.

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.

Unfortunately when the State Supreme Court decided all criminal matters must be brought before a judge it meant all WDFW criminal cases would have to go before a judge, whereas before most could be handled by simply paying a ticket. Unfortunately this meant courts would be even more backlogged

In WDFW's opinion it was best to decriminalize certain offenses so they would not flood the courts even more. WDFW made the decision to decriminalize offenses that didn't impact a resource. As a result this violation went from a misdemeanor to a infraction.

I think in the next couple years you will continue to see agencies decriminalize certain offenses so they could realistically enforce them 

Why couldn't they be charged with "Harasses, intimidates, or interferes with an individual engaged in the lawful taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife" which is a misdemeanor?  By posting their land and telling me I can't go on, they are interfering with me.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.210

(1) A person is guilty of obstructing the taking of fish[, shellfish,] or wildlife if the person:

     (a) Harasses, drives, or disturbs fish, shellfish, or wildlife with the intent of disrupting lawful pursuit or taking thereof; or

     (b) Harasses, intimidates, or interferes with an individual engaged in the lawful taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife or lawful predator control with the intent of disrupting lawful pursuit or taking thereof.

     (2) Obstructing the taking of fish, shellfish, or wildlife is a gross misdemeanor.

[bigtex]

Bigtex, there is a county road on Vulcan Mtn here in Ferry County, that has been posted by the WDFW, no motor vesicles beyond this sign. The county plows that road with my taxpayer money, so why would that be posted ? The road goes about 1 1/2 miles and ends into private land of which I have permission to access.

Campmeat,

Honestly can't say for sure. Usually those signs are meant to be placed in areas where people have illegally driven off the road and created their own road, or spur roads where people aren't suppose to go. Sorry can't be more help.

[boneaddict]

There is a large chunk of land in the Methow that used to be owned by old Doc. Prewett (sp) but was purchased by the state yet its still posted as private as well.

Still bugs the hell out of me and I wish I could get to the bottom of it.  His neighbor just did the same thing.  Tack on another couple thousand acres. 

[Bob33]

There is a large chunk of land in the Methow that used to be owned by old Doc. Prewett (sp) but was purchased by the state yet its still posted as private as well.

Still bugs the hell out of me and I wish I could get to the bottom of it.  His neighbor just did the same thing.  Tack on another couple thousand acres.

I would go to the county assessor, get current ownership information, and then tell him to pound sand if it's not his land.

[huntnphool]

There is a large chunk of land in the Methow that used to be owned by old Doc. Prewett (sp) but was purchased by the state yet its still posted as private as well.

Still bugs the hell out of me and I wish I could get to the bottom of it.  His neighbor just did the same thing.  Tack on another couple thousand acres.

It would end up costing me some time in court but I seriously doubt they could convict me for hunting on that land since its been purchased by the state.