GPS for running fencelines

[Opti-Mist]

I think it varies by state. Here in IL if you occupy and maintain the property for a certain number of years you can claim it. A friend in Washington state lost some of his ground that way. He spent more on legal fees than the land was worth fighting it, and ended up losing. I looked into claiming some land behind a rental property I used to own. It was a no mans land between my property and state owned property. I decided not to pursue it because it would have increased my property taxes. There would be some red tape involved but I suspect your neighbor could claim that piece of your land. You should talk to a real estate lawyer before you move the fence or talk to the neighbor.
I'm in the same situation with some property I own. The back fence is off by 20-some feet. I doubt if my neighbor will try to claim it though.

The legal term is "adverse possession".

 

[Jerry/MT]

I have a half mile property line where the N corner is not visible from the S corner. I had a surveyor shoot the line and mark it very 200 ft. Didn't cost much. You really should do this if it's a property boundary. Don't depend on some old fence posts. They maybe in the wrong place.I had another place on 5 acres where I had a the corners located but there was brush and trees so I hired a guy with a Cat to clear the line and I placed markers on the corners and used a string after creating a line of sight through the brush

I use a small 22 rifle scope to shoot the fence lines (no pun intended) between surveyed points that we make visible with poles and orange flagging tape . I use the verticle cross hair to line up on the long verticle pole as I locate the scope over one of the survey markers. I can do it my self, trial and error, or I send the wife out an eighth of a mile between corners that we make visible with poles and orange flagging tape and shoot the line. She places a steel fence post in the spot I direct her too. We then do it for intermediate distances and then stretch a string between the steel posts to use to set the posts.

When we bought out ranch, some of the fence lines were off by over 20 ft. A requirement of the sales agreement was a survey which I had to agree too. When the survey was complete, I told all the neighbor's what the result was and they agreed to live with them. I could then close the sale. I happen to live in a place where litigation is very rare and a neighbor's word is still good. Otherwise I would have had to get signed agreements.

 

[Scotty370]

I'm in the business! Call the original surveyor, and have him re-stake the line! The cost will more than cover the expense of doing it wrong! He'll have field notes and tie points that will make it better and cheaper than you can ever accomplish! GPS? Great for finding a wedding reception, boat landing, or a runway! Spotting a property line that people will 'sue' you over for a 'foot' of ground? I don't think so! ~Scotty

 

[Pops15]

The legal term is "adverse possession".

Thanks. I had a senior moment and couldn't remember the correct term. That really sucks because I'm not a senior yet.

 

[wolfgreyt]

How sure are you that the corner marker pins aren't there? Have you checked with a metal detector?

Found them with metal detector, they are about 3500 feet apart thru the woods,brush etc.

 

[wolfgreyt]

you need to pay attention to the position accuracy. I dont care if it thinks your within 3' of the point you wanted, if the position accuracy is currently saying +-15' guess what, that "within 3'" number is useless.

but putting aside the issues of accuracy associated with any hand held GPS

theres also the issue of generating the points you need to set the line. finding corners are one thing, but setting points along the way is entirely different. you need to know for certain what your end pts are, then useing those coordinates, using math generate the new pts along the way.

doable but not easy.

Thats the issue in some areas its unpenetrable, moreso in summer with swampy areas, actually started just limbing trees up to about 10-12 feet and clearing brush slowly to get a clearer view without cutting. Then gonna mark harvestable trees etc as we go.

 

[wolfgreyt]

A handheld unit is definately not accurate enough for establishing a Fence (property) line.

How old is the Survey? Has there been anything going on around the corner locations, i.e. clearing land, road grading, ditches cut? They are usually monumented with iron pipes, rebar, or 4" x 4" concrete monuments. Those monuments should be intact unless something disturbed them. Borrow a metal detector and start there.

The information on your Survey is probably given in Bearing and Distances and, the coordinates are more than likely a State Plane Coordinate System not Lattitude & Longitude. They can be converted so you can use a handheld to aid in finding your "corners." Also be aware of additional corners along a line, a jog in the boundary.

Surveyors are starving for work these days. Contact the Surveyor that preformed your survey, he might be willing to recover the line needed and place stakes along the line for a small fee. That would be cheaper and easier than moving a fence or clearing too much property.

Just a few suggestions.

Survey is about 30 years old came with farm when we purchased it 3 years ago.. Original guy is dead but have found a surveyor who owns the original guys , notes , etc. Corners were re-established and coincide with it. Now going to mark swath thru tangle while ground is frozen and snowcover is limited right now. Limbing trees in general area up to 10-12 feet ( make work project) then will have easier view. Going to local forest management seminar to get idea on proper thinning etc . Lines up local with portable sawmill who is gonna square off timber we harvest. We plan to chip the waste to form part of trail bed.

 

[spo307]

I'm in the business! Call the original surveyor, and have him re-stake the line! The cost will more than cover the expense of doing it wrong! He'll have field notes and tie points that will make it better and cheaper than you can ever accomplish! GPS? Great for finding a wedding reception, boat landing, or a runway! Spotting a property line that people will 'sue' you over for a 'foot' of ground? I don't think so! ~Scotty

Agreed, they are not that accurate for pin marking, I had my surveyor, put ribbons every 50' all the way around 60 acres, then I posted the whole line

 

[Opti-Mist]

Thanks. I had a senior moment and couldn't remember the correct term. That really sucks because I'm not a senior yet.

Heh, Heh! I am, but as they say, every once in a while .....

 

[tawilson]

Somewhere back there the op asked for handheld recommendations. I bought the Garmin Dakota 10 with the topographical software. It's a touchscreen and I like the unit, but did have to return 2 of them because they quit working. I bought it at Dick's, and if they had stocked one of their better units I probably would have swapped for them. The builtin compass would be nice. They also have some that have cameras builtin.