Posting land for 'No Hunting'

MossRoad · Nov 5, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

!!! Jinman, you crack me up! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Good answers.

Another thing I have seen is signs that read

Leased Hunting Area
Please Call 123-4567
For Information

If someone calls, just tell them it is already booked. You don't have to tell them that it is booked by you and the "lease" is the taxes you pay /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

ByronBob · Nov 5, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

Gary here is a link to the NYS Dept of Conservation regarding posting property. I would imagine your state has one also.

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/sportsed/posting.html

hudley · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

I recently moved to a 40 acre wooded lot. It is essentially a horse estate built by the prior owners. They allowed hunting by some folks and did not attempt to enforce "no trespassing" by locals. These folks had horses and supposedly rode on the trails.

My wife and I DEFINITELY ride on the trails and use the area that would be good for hunting for recreation other than hunting (riding, running the dogs, etc.). We've only recently moved in and I posted the land even as I heard hunters around me sighting their rifles! I definitely understand that I might come off as an "overzealous new guy/city slicker." I'm often out grooming the trails on my bright orange Kubota tractor with the noisy diesel engine. We often walk the dogs off leash on the trails.

My question...should I assume hunters will be courteous? I have no reason to believe that they wouldn't except friends of mine who hunt in other areas telling me "the rules" for posting. They kind of lay it out like I need to "defend" my land from hunting as it's assumed that hunters get the right-of-way. Michigan law reads the exact opposite and spells out the land owners obligation regarding posting/fencing land.

I feel like hunters should respect others property whether it is posted or not, and I'm assuming that they would. I thought that posting the land was more or less fulfilling my obligation to let others know I don't want them to hunt on my land.

Am I out of line to post my land? I don't want to alienate my neighbors but feel strongly about not having my land hunted.

Alan

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

Since I started this thread I'll share my thoughts here. If I just closed on the land I'm buying, I wouldn't post 'No Hunting' right now since we're already upon hunting season. I'd go with the 'by permission' signs and, when someone approached me I'd grant them permission this year since they'd hunted it in the past and were already there, etc.

It would give me the opportunity to explain that this will be the last season the land will be open for hunting and why. I'd think that would be more friendly than turning someone away who'd already planned to be there, etc. I'll be doing the same thing I just described next hunting season. I figure that way I give anyone who hunted it in the past a full year to find a new place to hunt. I'll go with the 'No Hunting' signs in year two.

shvl73 · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

I wouldn't feel bad about posting your land, it is after all, your's. I would think the majority of hunters will respect your posting's, however you'll most likely be unable to tell, as the ones respecting your wishes will not be on your property. The few who hunt there anyway, you might see & feel as no one's respecting your no hunting posting. It only takes a few to ruin the reputation of many.
You could try a sign stating "Hunting with permission only" to "appear" less restrictive.

hudley · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

I don't mind hunting, although I'm a not a hunter myself. Part of my concern is for safety. We will have borders soon and have been dreaming of a place like this to ride horses and run our dogs on...we moved only weeks ago and we are "greedy" to be on the land. I don't want to feel worried about hunters while we begin to use the land. On the whole, it feels like a bad timing issue, but any potential borders need to know that we're letting folks know that we're here.

Would anyone recommend a "warning: equestrian activity" type sign?

Alan

MossRoad · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

Unfortunately, most folks that I meet up with in the woods around here are yahoos and give true hunters a bad name. I say this from my personal experience only. They will do whatever they want until they are caught, then plead ingorance. Real hunters will always ask for permission, are very courtious and polite, respect the land and the animals and are generally good folks. I did give one person permission to hunt our property for several years. I always gave him a card that stated he had permission to be there that year only and I gave him a key to the gate. The card had my number on it, too. We renewed the card every year that he wanted to hunt. He hunted there for several years and never took a shot. He just liked being out there. He did a great job of looking after the place, too. That's the kind of people you want on your land.

The problem with purchasing property is someone might have had permission from the previous owner to hunt there and not even know that the property has been sold. It is the hunter's responsibility to check with the landowner each and every year, even though the landowner might have told them it is not necessary. It is also the new owner's responsibility to let people know things have changed, by posting signs. Put a phone number on the signs if your want. That way they can call you to see what's changed.

All in all, it is up to the person walking the land to know who owns it, even if they've been walking it for years. I wouldn't prosecute someone for accidentally wandering onto my land. But now that I've owned it for 15 years, it is pretty clear that anyone that sets up a tree stand or some illegal bait knows just what they are doing and deserves to be prosecuted. These are just my opinions, of course. Do what you have to do to feel safe and secure on your own property.

YanmarFever · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

These are the words of my ATTORNEY
If I give someone permission to hunt on my land
I am responsible for anything they do. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Such as if they shoot a neighbors house , kid ,dog,ect...
I am the one held responsible, because that bullet was fired from my property, with my permision.
There fore I dont let anyone hunt on my property unless they have an unlimited amount of funds (get the picture) /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
MY .02
Ernie

slowrev · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

Here in KY you MUST have the landowners permission to hunt on their land. No posting is required, but many still do it. I have posted the land adjacent to my home. Only a stupid hunter would be in there anyway with houses less than 100 yds in any direction.
I had a friend in the sign business make me up some smaller signs stating "Survivors will be prosecuted" which I placed under the NO HUNTING signs. So far no hunters...
Not against hunting at all, just against stupid hunters.

Ben

Gatorboy · Nov 8, 2004

Re: Posting land for \'No Hunting\'

<font color="blue"> I am the one held responsible, because that bullet was fired from my property, with my permision. </font>

I would think the person that SHOT the bullet would be responsible.