Hunting BLM Land

[robsev]

If I'm hunting on BLM land and I come up to a normal unlocked ranch gate, I can go through it, right? I assume it's OK, just want to make sure.

 

[Musket Man]

It would depend if its BLM land on the other side of the gate or private. If its BLM you can.

 

[tdcour]

If it is BLM on both sides of the fence, you shouldn't have any issues crossing. Just remember to close the gate behind you if you open it... nothing like letting the cattle out to get the rancher on your side!

 

[suni123]

Mohsin

Musket Man

It would depend if its BLM land on the other side of the gate or private. If its BLM you can.

 

[WapitiBob]

Doesn't matter who owns the land on the other side. It depends on whether the road is open to public access on the other side (public easement). If the easement stops at the fence, you're done. If the easement continues, you're fine to continue on. Lots of public roads cross pvt land out west.

 

[Ilovethewest]

this is where national forest maps (if your in an area that they cover) come in handy. I was hunting an area in Thunder Basin National Grassland a few years back. I came to a gate just like you described. BLM on 1 side, and Private land on the other. 99% of the vehicles stopped at the gate. BLM maps showed the bLM lands, the road, and private on the other side. But the national forest map clearly showed that the road was a Public Access road and was highlighted as such. It was public access to a larger chunk of BLM on the other side of the private land. So we crossed the gate, traveled the access road to the public chunk, and had a great antelope hunt. We watched many other trucks stop at that gate and turn around. It is good to know the laws!

If your area is not in a Forest service area in which they have a map for it, call your local game warden and they may be able to help.

and.............always close those gates or you will anger many people/locals............not a smart idea!

 

[robsev]

I was talking BLM on both sides. I figured it was OK but I started second guessing myself. And yes, I do know about shutting gates. I've been hunting over 40 years and have never left a gate open.

 

[cnalder]

It also depends on the private land and if it's posted. In Idaho if it's private land and cultivated it does not need to be posted and the regulations define cultivated. Private land that is not cultivated has to be posted "No Trespassing" and with orange paint every 660 feet. Typically on gates, most private landowners post "No Trespassing" and have locks if they don't want the public through. I did run into a problem a couple of years ago where a private landownew wast posting "No Trespassing" on a gate they had no authority on. They just didn't want hunters driving near the backend of their property.

I have noticed in the last few years more landowners posting their land in Idaho.

 

[Old Hunter]

I never go through closed gates unless I know for sure it's ok. That means to me asking the BLM, or land owner.