Trespassing?

[Rainier10]

We have dealt with this problem alot since purchasing our property a little over a year ago. The previous land owner was out of state and didn't care if people used his property to recreate or access the Hancock land beyond that. We have had several people cited for trespassing because they think they have a right to use our easement to access that Hancock land.

This is the other problem. I bought timber company land that used to be open to the public, new ownership, new signage.  It was for sale for two years anyone could have bought before I did.  Just get out your wallet and buy the land if you want to continue to use it. If not you have to follow the new owners rules.

[Rainier10]

Hunting on the Eastside has shown me a few things.....

Most often it seems like trespassing is a local thing.....oh I know so and so or we'll I'm local or well I've hunted this area all my life.

I've only knowingly trespassed once. Was way out of my intended range and borderline lost. I could see a main road from elevation and knew if I went down I could simply walk the road a few miles to camp. Np problem except the huge tract of land and house below me. I headed down and when got to the property I unloaded, packed away my ammo and made a beeline best I could towards the house. I could see activity outside and I clearly stood out in my orange. Landowner met me when I got close and was clearly looking for an explanation.  I introduced myself,  apologized,  explained where I came from and was intending to go. He looked me over, noticed my rifle was empty and said well these things happen.  Glass of water and a handshake I was on my way.

Knowingly trespassing is simply not ok rural or not.

I woulda been totally cool w that 

It's the guys doing the shoot from their truck then run through your fence to snag and grab that buck, turkey that give hunters the bad name.

The shoot, grab and run happens at least once a year on my place.

[Rainier10]

So let me see if I have this straight.  I pay a ton of money for a bunch of land.  I then pay a ton of money every year after that in property taxes for the right to continue to own my land.  On top of that I have to provide the documentation to everyone that wants access through my land that they don't have access when there is a sign from DNR that says "authorized vehicles only beyond this sign"?......................

Why is there a sign from DNR that says "authorized vehicles only beyond this sign"

That language says "authorized vehicles".  That means VEHICLES, not restrictions on public access. 

The Forest Service, BLM and other agencies use the SAME LANGUAGE when the road is closed to vehicles, BUT OPEN TO PUBLIC USE.

IF there is NO PUBLIC EASEMENT on your property.  Get rid of that SIGN!!!!  Why is it posted in the first place??

That is why JOE BLOW is going across your property.  If I saw that sign, I would walk right up that road particularly if I knew that there was DNR beyond your property.

And you would be wrong and be the exact kind of person that I wouldn't want near my property. This is just like the corner crossing debate. Everyone feels so entitled to anything labeled public or government owned and you don't know what your talking about. So you go in anyways and cause a problem for the landowner to deal with and then the LEO that shows up can't hardly do anything cuz people play stupid and the law as it's written says "knowingly" entering private property. So you say "Oh I didn't know"  so the matter gets written off as unimportant and nothing happens. Then it happens over and over and over cuz people THINK they can do whatever they want and don't respect private property. You just want to spout off about being an important American citizen with tax dollars paying for the right to disrespect people and their property. Rainier10 is talking about people like you just driving in and acting like they can do whatever they want. It would be great if everyone walked in past the gate instead of destroying it. All of you who pop off about public land entitlement don't have a clue.

Oh, I have a clue. 

As a professional forester for 50 years with both private industry and government I have seen private owners post PUBLIC LAND.  Steal PUBLIC TIMBER.  AND ALL THAT TIME COMPLAIN ABOUT THE PUBLIC.  It works both ways.

Yes, the PUBLIC is  "entitled to anything labeled public or government owned" particularly public land.

Give me a break.

I have had landowners try to kick me off public land.  I calmly dial 911 and ask a deputy sheriff to show up.  Guess what, at the point every landowner said, "yes, that is public land, but YOU should still ask permission to since I live here".  I did help knowing the Federal, state and local law enforcement personnel.

Kicking the public off public land is a THEFT of government property.  It is that simple.   

BTW... I reviewed and checked the legal easements to the Wenatchee River that the Game Department bought years ago.  There are almost a hundred of them.  Some of those easements cost hunters and fisherman THOUSANDS of DOLLARS in license fees.  Now, the NEW landowners want the easements terminated at NO COST to them!!!

Sounds like the public has a legal easement across your property and you don't like it.  Fine, you never should have given DNR a public easement across your property.  Your lucky they agreed to limit vehicle traffic.

The public is getting ripped off by private landowners left and right in Washington and other states.  Time to end it.

DNR has an easement and it is very specific who can use it, what it can be used for and what they have to do every time that they do use it. I can guarantee you the public does not have an easement to mine.  If they did the county wouldn't be seeking federal funds to purchase an easement from me and improve the road for public use.  The county is looking to do it because there is no easement and DNR doesn't want to modify their easement because they don't care about the public accessing the land from my side of the property, like I said before there are multiple legal public easements to the exact same spot, no need to cross my property to get there.  BPA had to pay in 1990 for an easement to access their powerlines that had been there forever because they never had a legal easement.

[Rainier10]

These last few posts...


This is the main reason that I have quit letting people use my land.  This sense of entitlement and the attitude that someone has a right to use my property because of "their interpretation"  is exactly the reason that we no longer allow people access.

It was not always like this.  People who use the woods were respectful.  I have had timber men, farmers, you name it hunt my properties with no concerns. They collect mushrooms, or greens or owl biscuits, whatever.  Gates were closed, trash wasn't dumped, roads weren't tore up. That's not the case anymore, and that is why we shut the doors to everyone except those that we invite.   

I am right there with you Macs B.  I think you even reached out to discuss my procedure for granting access.  We have additional insurance coverage, release of liability forms, color coded access passes and each year we have allowed less access because of people breaking simple rules. It is so frustrating to allow access and have people abuse the privilege's.

[birddogdad]

Go to the county assessor's web site and look at it on the map. If there is an easement, it will show up on there.

The assessors site will show roads but it does NOT say if there is an easement through the property. Title Company can run a preliminary Title report and it will show if there is a recorded easement through the property and to whom the easement is for..Lots of State Land has  easements for DNR only--- through private property but the easement does not mean that the public has legal access also....Just knock on the guys door and ask....he's probably used to it.
Also, it looks like the road ends before it gets to the state land....so you will need permission from that land owner.

Drove by your place last weekend and smiled at your yard crew! The turkeys were out on display!

[LDennis24]

These last few posts...


This is the main reason that I have quit letting people use my land.  This sense of entitlement and the attitude that someone has a right to use my property because of "their interpretation"  is exactly the reason that we no longer allow people access.

It was not always like this.  People who use the woods were respectful.  I have had timber men, farmers, you name it hunt my properties with no concerns. They collect mushrooms, or greens or owl biscuits, whatever.  Gates were closed, trash wasn't dumped, roads weren't tore up. That's not the case anymore, and that is why we shut the doors to everyone except those that we invite.   

I am right there with you Macs B.  I think you even reached out to discuss my procedure for granting access.  We have additional insurance coverage, release of liability forms, color coded access passes and each year we have allowed less access because of people breaking simple rules. It is so frustrating to allow access and have people abuse the privilege's.

Someone posting with real world experience yet folks will say "you act like that stuff happens all the time" and unfortunately it does. Even after someone got permission, they still wrecked something and didn't follow the rules. Weird.

[Rainier10]

These last few posts...


This is the main reason that I have quit letting people use my land.  This sense of entitlement and the attitude that someone has a right to use my property because of "their interpretation"  is exactly the reason that we no longer allow people access.

It was not always like this.  People who use the woods were respectful.  I have had timber men, farmers, you name it hunt my properties with no concerns. They collect mushrooms, or greens or owl biscuits, whatever.  Gates were closed, trash wasn't dumped, roads weren't tore up. That's not the case anymore, and that is why we shut the doors to everyone except those that we invite.   

I am right there with you Macs B.  I think you even reached out to discuss my procedure for granting access.  We have additional insurance coverage, release of liability forms, color coded access passes and each year we have allowed less access because of people breaking simple rules. It is so frustrating to allow access and have people abuse the privilege's.

Someone posting with real world experience yet folks will say "you act like that stuff happens all the time" and unfortunately it does. Even after someone got permission, they still wrecked something and didn't follow the rules. Weird.

Exactly.  The worst part is we try to manage it so I have someone hunting every general season, every permit season and every weapon type so I always have an extra set of eyes watching the place.  When someone screws up I want to put someone else in that slot but it is tough to do at that point.  Why would I even try only to be disappointed if they don't follow direction or do something I never even thought I had to explain not to?  It's just frustrating.

[carpsniperg2]

I had a guy call me the other day and tell me he needed to meet up with me. So that I could write him a letter that gives him access to cross my private land to hunt public land. No introductions. no asking, just telling me what I had to do.

I proceeded to fake laugh as loud as I could
Told him to have a nice life and lose my number.

The amount of entitlement in today's world blows me away. I get probably 50/100 calls a year. I do give access to some.
Attitude and proper communication skills go a long way.
The moment it feels like "I am entitled to" or "you have to" is coming across. The phone calls ends quickly.

[salmosalar]

My friend has property that I hunt in SW WA. He bought it from a timber company. It appears that they had allowed access prior. He told the neighbor that he could access it if he called first.
On he first day of rifle season the neighbor was on camera. He had not called. We had a discussion with the neighbor. No more access. He just had to call and could not do that.
In the last year I have had 2 cameras stolen and he has had 2 cars dumped as well as caught others on camera. In that time I have contacted neighbors and others in the area asking for access. Sometimes it's a yes, sometimes it's a no. I am always kind though and I always ask. It's not hard to get an e-mail or an address and ask.
It's also not hard to look up any easements and read them for yourself. The Bonneville easements and the DNR easements etc. are all recorded. It's clear what they are. Just look them up. County GIS and auditor sites work. Even if there is an easement, I am tempted to ask/notify ahead of time. It's just he polite thing to do.

[Fatherof5]

My boys and I hunt private lands we have permission to be on. I will only hunt public as a last resort. As the IQ levels of some "hunters" are dangerously low.

Its frustrating to hear the comments from property owners on this thread about issues they've had to deal with. Explains why it gets harder and harder to find new areas with each passing year. I'm trying to train my kids in the mindset that when someone gives you permission to come on their land, treat it as being a guest in someone's home. Because that's what it is. 

And if your told no hunting/access, just move on. Someone will say yes eventually.

Common decency is not so common these days.

[Smossy]

Oh yeah? Well my friend has 40 acres in Ellensburg. I spent the entire weekend playing with scorpions.
Spent my whole life here and never even seen one, go out to this dudes place I find 9 within 30 mins.
Gotta pass through like 4 other private properties, have some INSANE 4x4, and gotta tote alllll your own water. Was cool.
Eastern wa is def a different breed. *Just now learning about easements and such*

[jackelope]

Oh yeah? Well my friend has 40 acres in Ellensburg. I spent the entire weekend playing with scorpions.
Spent my whole life here and never even seen one, go out to this dudes place I find 9 within 30 mins.
Gotta pass through like 4 other private properties, have some INSANE 4x4, and gotta tote alllll your own water. Was cool.
Eastern wa is def a different breed. *Just now learning about easements and such*

So you trespassed through 4 different pieces of private ground to get where you were? Maybe I’m misunderstanding.

[Smossy]

Oh yeah? Well my friend has 40 acres in Ellensburg. I spent the entire weekend playing with scorpions.
Spent my whole life here and never even seen one, go out to this dudes place I find 9 within 30 mins.
Gotta pass through like 4 other private properties, have some INSANE 4x4, and gotta tote alllll your own water. Was cool.
Eastern wa is def a different breed. *Just now learning about easements and such*

So you trespassed through 4 different pieces of private ground to get where you were? Maybe I’m misunderstanding.

Nope, hes already talked with them all before he even bought the land actually, great assumption making skills though jack you were always on top of them.
The road consists of about 6 properties of which 3 live there full time.

[Smossy]

Oh yeah? Well my friend has 40 acres in Ellensburg. I spent the entire weekend playing with scorpions.
Spent my whole life here and never even seen one, go out to this dudes place I find 9 within 30 mins.
Gotta pass through like 4 other private properties, have some INSANE 4x4, and gotta tote alllll your own water. Was cool.
Eastern wa is def a different breed. *Just now learning about easements and such*

So you trespassed through 4 different pieces of private ground to get where you were? Maybe I’m misunderstanding.

Any other investigative questions???

[jackelope]

Oh yeah? Well my friend has 40 acres in Ellensburg. I spent the entire weekend playing with scorpions.
Spent my whole life here and never even seen one, go out to this dudes place I find 9 within 30 mins.
Gotta pass through like 4 other private properties, have some INSANE 4x4, and gotta tote alllll your own water. Was cool.
Eastern wa is def a different breed. *Just now learning about easements and such*

So you trespassed through 4 different pieces of private ground to get where you were? Maybe I’m misunderstanding.

Any other investigative questions???

Not investigating anything.  Just reading what you wrote and wondering what the actual story was.
As you were.