shootbrownelk
Veteran member
Have you EVER heard of a rancher being fined for illegal posting? I never have, and most likely...never will.
Illegally marked?
- Thread starter islandlaker
- Start date
yeah few years ago I got an outfitter in trouble for illegal posting on blm. the rancher/landowner of adjacent land has an outfitter that uses the land. well, he started painting every tree orange well into public land, we are talking a couple of miles into public land. he tried chasing me off and hell was raised. I told him to have the landowner talk to me and we will go from there. I had a camp set up and I luckily found a game warden out on main rd, guy ive known for several years. he came and sat at camp with me and sure enough landowner and outfitter showed up. landowner asked what prob was and the warden told him what the outfitter was doing, landowner looked at outfitter and called him a stupid ass and told him after this year you no longer are allowed to hunt on my property. made me smile!!!
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I wish I could have been there, just to see the look on the outfitter's face! Did he also get in trouble for Vandalizing the trees? Ha!!
he gave him a good piece of his mind while still maintaining a professional affect. what I hate most is ranchers who lease land and think it is theirs! these good ole boys have been leasing same land for 50 plus years but that still doesn't make it private land, there really does need to be something done about it. I hunt private land a lot of time and I don't care what anybody says, hunting private land gives the hunter a huge advantage over public land hunts. it is totally different, my hunts on public lands where I harvest an animal gives me a much bigger means of accomplishment. simply put, private land hunts are easier. western hunts aren't texas hunts, we have lots of public grounds here, a lot. where other states have almost none.
The Deer
Member
I hunt in Oregon and I have a chip I will tell you that sometimes it is wrong. I found this out first hand during our 2014 archery hunt where there is a lot of private I shot a bull on public but it jumped on a parcel where it was marked public on the gps but it actually was not. The land in question had for sale signs all over it which threw up red flags. Fortunately I contacted the landowner which saved me a ticket, unfortunately he would not let me recover my bull.
Last edited:
that's another thing that yanks my chain, you obviously had no ill intentions due to the fact you asked the landowner if you could recover it. I hear this story all to often, some people are so damn self entitled. now all you land owners don't go blowing your lids. if a guy did that on purpose he sure the heck would go out of his way to find the land owner to notify him, he was doin what was right, let the guy have his game. ive chased people off land before but its all how you present yourself.
The Deer
Member
It broke my heart for a couple of reasons; one, My family and I really enjoy elk meat and eat off of it for a year and 2 it was my biggest bull.
Legally or illegally marked. It is always your responsibility to ensure that you have the permission/privilege to enter and hunt land. That includes public lands. Every state has that spelled out clearly. So if you weren't sure you had permission to hunt that land, you did the right thing by walking away.
This could be remedied by some off-season homework to determine the status of the land, and to get permission. There are good land owners to work with and bad ones. Likewise, there are good hunters and bad ones that ruin it for the rest. The cycle goes on and on...
This could be remedied by some off-season homework to determine the status of the land, and to get permission. There are good land owners to work with and bad ones. Likewise, there are good hunters and bad ones that ruin it for the rest. The cycle goes on and on...
westenvy
Member
I had a similar instance when trying to access some BLM in CO this last year. Basically there was a small sliver that ran out to the road according to my GPS and other maps. I contacted some of the ranchers that surrounded the BLM and they all said it was land locked and couldn't be accessed and of course no one would give me permission to cross their property. I was certain my maps were right so I called the BLM warden and he knew of the piece I was talking about. He confirmed that it came out to the road and that I could access it. I thought the piece was going to money to fill my deer tag but ended up watching a private vehicle drive all over the piece and then standing outside his vehicle and tried to call an elk.(but that's a whole different story in itself) Anyway I don't think there are many landowners that are going to do you any favors for telling you what's actually public. I would trust my OnXmaps chip again over them.
The Deer
Member
I didn't walk away I knew where I was too. I got the state police involved at the local level and state level as well
In God We Trust
Very Active Member
Walking away is not the right thing to do. Walking away lets the scum bags get away with pulling a fast one on the public land hunter. Getting the law involved is the right thing to do. If you have to bypass the local law that is buddy with everyone then go to the state troopers. Do not just walk away because then these wonderful people are empowered and continue to take more and more.
dan maule
Veteran member
One possible explanation is that at some point there was a land swap and the rancher never removed his signs. I have run into this situation and I have also ran into a rancher and his son reading me the riot act while I was standing in the middle of several miles square of blm and state. It is extremely intimidating being come upon by a wildly irate individual when you are 1000 miles from home and three miles from the rest of your hunting party. I own land here in Michigan and can't stand trespassing I always do my research and know exactly where I am in an attempt to avoid such a situation but there are lots of aholes around and as more and more money is involved it will only get worse.
I am surprised that this thread took of like this! Like a lot of you I was mad and I wanted to hunt this specific ridge it was gorgeous. I could tell I was mad because I almost wanted a confrontation realizing this I decided to just walk away and avoid any issues. I had certainly intended to talk to a warden either in person or by calling but I never ran into one and I didn't have any cell reception in the Big Horns. I later tagged out and by the time I had service I was so exhausted from the trip it slipped my mind. I had both a up to date GPS chip and a brand new map telling me it was public land. I may have just hunted it since I was sure the sign was illegally posted but the day before I had talked to a local camping next to us and he was telling me pretty much how much of a "dick" that guy was and said if you go even come within a mile of his land him and some of his "cowboys will come riding up to you ticket and threaten you". Can ranchers just give you a ticket like that? They don't have to call in a warden?
Againstthewind, it was me that you recommended that area too. Thanks for the recommendation it is gorgeous. I saw big bull moose and Elk everywhere it was amazing. Lots of deer too but I didn't see anything too large roaming around.
Againstthewind, it was me that you recommended that area too. Thanks for the recommendation it is gorgeous. I saw big bull moose and Elk everywhere it was amazing. Lots of deer too but I didn't see anything too large roaming around.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Not knowing any of the particulars in any of these situations, there is one fact to remember. GPS data is take from county land maps and these can be out of date. There were some adjustments made to road numbering here in my area and it took almost a year before my GPS would even "guide" me home when my address was put in as the destination. Bottom line is the GPS can show exactly what the map shows, but if you go to the county land office to settle a dispute, someone in the office could say "It is now private, map is in the process of being updated"
Just sayin..................
Just sayin..................
You, yes I'm talking to YOU, are responsible to know that you have permission to enter. If you do not know, don't go.
Alabama
Veteran member
He's talking about when you KNOW you are on public land. Someone has to stand their ground or they will continue to post land, harass hunters and treat OUR public lands as their own private ground to do as they wish.
I think people are missing the point. It is irrelevant if it is public. There are many public lands that cannot be hunted. Federally leased land in many states are not open to the public. It isn't illegal. It may not sit well with you, but it is legal.
As far as someone doing something illegal, feel free to involve the authorities. My statements are for Islandlaker, who in his first post mentioned that he did the right thing. That is because he was not sure, walked away, and asked us his question.
where the H is all the snow???!!!