Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: atomicjoe23 on January 03, 2009, 07:18:33 PM

Title: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 03, 2009, 07:18:33 PM: Does anyone know whether or not it is legal to hunt power line cuts???

I couldn't find anything about it when I was looking through the reg's. . .I live in Kitsap County so parts of it are firearm restricted areas, but right now all I have is a SG & bow anyway so that's not a problem. . .there's a fairly promising looking powerline cut less than 5 minutes from my house. . .I would only have a limited number of shooting avenues because I wouldn't want to shoot towards the nearby road that parallels the cut, but I'm sure that there coyotes in there. . .and I doubt that they are wise to calling and I'd really like to give it a try. . .

. . .I've thought about just stopping and setting up and calling without a gun just to see if I get a response, but I don't want to make any of them call shy when there might be a chance at taking a shot at one!!!

Thanks guys!!!
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: bucklucky on January 03, 2009, 07:23:59 PM: I know around here there is alot of private land that the power lines go through. There is a right of way for the lines and crews but as for the public, you would have to make sure its not going through someones private land.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 03, 2009, 07:28:34 PM: Good point. . .I'll have to double check, but I'm pretty sure that it should be public land just because there is only a small wooded section separating it from the road and then the cut then another wooded section and then private land. . .it seems to be fairly well demarcated. . .

. . .but definitely thanks for the reminder. . .would hate to think I was just out minding my own business and then end up in a world of hurt!!!
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: bobcat on January 03, 2009, 07:30:14 PM: Well technically it would be considered trespassing unless you have permission from the powerline company. There's no law that says you can't hunt powerline right of ways, but it is private land and therefore you must have permission to hunt it. I've noticed that usually if there is a lot of homes adjacent to a powerline that it will be posted no trespassing at any access points.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 03, 2009, 07:41:56 PM: Just sent an email to WDFW to get their take on the matter and to PSE to determine whether they own that right of way and whether they allow "recreational use" of that property if they do own it. . . ;) ;)
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: bobcat on January 03, 2009, 07:48:44 PM: I don't believe WDFW will really have an opinion on it, other than if it's private property you must have permission to hunt it. You might try WDFW's "Go Hunt" online map to see if the powerline goes through, or is adjacent to public property. If it's not you can check with the Kitsap County Assessor's office to determine ownership.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: billythekidrock on January 03, 2009, 07:52:15 PM: Quote from: atomicjoe23 on January 03, 2009, 07:41:56 PM
Just sent an email to WDFW to get their take on the matter and to PSE to determine whether they own that right of way and whether they allow "recreational use" of that property if they do own it. . . ;) ;)

F&W probably won't say a thing. It is a private property issue. Thanks to shooters and dumpers, PSE will probably say stay out. :dunno:

I hope you get the answers you are looking for.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: contractor3 on January 04, 2009, 03:43:22 PM: contractor3

The hog hunting around the house is something else. Its a dam good time, but the hogs have mess up all our winter green fields back in Alabama. We do alot of night hunting for yotes, and if were not having any luck you can always find the hogs..
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 04, 2009, 07:02:11 PM: It depends on where the lines are. PSE only owns a small portion of the land the lines run through. The majority of it is private land. Unless the lines run through State and National Forest.

If it runs through State and National Forest land PSE may only have the right of way. Meaning that they don't actually own it.

Look on Assossor Maps online if your county provides them. They should tell you.

I use to work with (not for) PSE. I was one of many responsible for getting permision from private home owners to trim trees for PSE. That required me to know what land was and was not owned by PSE along the power lines. I used a lot of different maps and county assessor maps.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: stumprat on January 04, 2009, 07:06:27 PM: Quote from: contractor3 on January 04, 2009, 03:43:22 PM

contractor3

The hog hunting around the house is something else. Its a dam good time, but the hogs have mess up all our winter green fields back in Alabama. We do alot of night hunting for yotes, and if were not having any luck you can always find the hogs..

WTF :dunno:
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: zach318 on January 05, 2009, 09:15:26 PM: I know the power lines that go through my property are on my property and its not public land but the power company does have the right away to come in and look at the area 50ft on either side of the lines. I would look into the area you are thinking about a little more. good luck in your search
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: bobcat on January 05, 2009, 09:42:19 PM: Quote from: Little Dave on January 05, 2009, 09:25:31 PM
My guess is that there are firearms regulations regarding damage to utility infrastructure.

That's true, there is, but I'm not sure hunting there would be likely to cause any damage to the powerlines. :dunno:
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 05, 2009, 10:13:06 PM: I don't think this is privately owned (by individuals) land because it is fenced off from the privately owned land. . .and the power line cut goes from the fence to a small treeline and then the highway right of way. . .doesn't look likely to be privately owned. . .

haven't heard back from PSE yet, but I'm gonna double check assessor's map's as well. . .
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 06, 2009, 06:42:54 AM: There are definitely better conbditions. . .but this is on my way home. . .less than 5 minutes away. . .so if I don't have time to drive 30+ minutes out of the way and spend an entire day out. . .only enough time to do a set or maybe two. . .it would be a chance to give it a try. . .it looks to be ideal to me. . .it's a wooded/semi-open area next to a ready food/water supply. . .easy route of travel (for the coyotes) and unhunted. . .if nothing else it's a good place to practice some calls. . .
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 06, 2009, 12:54:39 PM: Quote from: bobcat on January 05, 2009, 09:42:19 PM
Quote from: Little Dave on January 05, 2009, 09:25:31 PM
My guess is that there are firearms regulations regarding damage to utility infrastructure.

That's true, there is, but I'm not sure hunting there would be likely to cause any damage to the powerlines. :dunno:

To my knoledge their are no Firearm restrictions in the power line right of ways.

Just don't get caught shooting out an insulator. Big tome FINE!

Just because it is fenced off does not mean it isn't private property! I have run accross dozens of areas like this.

If I knew what line you were talking about I could probably tell you if it was private or not. Wether it is PSE 230kv - 115kv. BPA owns the 500kv+ lines.
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 06, 2009, 05:49:24 PM: Just got an email back from PSE. . .the land is owned by the county (Kitsap) and has an easement allowance for PSE. . .thus would be considered public land. . .YEAH!!!

Also. . .the firearms restriction is because it is in Kitsap County and the location within Kitsap County. . .plus it's close enough to houses that I wouldn't even consider using a rifle anyway!!!
Title: Re: Legality of hunting power line right of ways???
Post by: atomicjoe23 on January 07, 2009, 10:39:49 AM: Just got an email back from DFW. . .looks like this particular area is legal to hunt. . .keeping both emails from PSE and WDFW and will have them on me while I'm on the land though. . .just in case!!!