New Private Land Ownership Bill Proposed in ND

Rich M · Feb 21, 2019

Brendan said:
Maine, Vermont, NH, and Mass are that way. I've hunted all 4, currently NH and Mass.

Best I know,

Vermont is not that way in the area I'm from. The people who live around my folks do not allow hunting and the lands are not posted. No-one trespasses on their land either. Timber company land is open to use. Private not so much.

ME is not that way either. Might be local ordinances but my uncle lives in NH and hunts NH & ME. He often laments about not having access in ME near where he lives. Mostly for turkey hunting. He does hunt timberland further north and has issues with outfitters claiming the land - they mostly block roads.

Essentially, if you are gonna go hunt somewhere you need to research the rules and not take anything for granted. I might be wrong about VT and ME - based on my experience I wouldn't just park and go hunt. without knowing who's land it is in those 2 states.

Whether or not we can or can't, do or don't, it is a big blow to hunters everywhere to lose access to land. It hurts not being able to do short trips after work with your kids, etc.

Brendan · Feb 21, 2019

Rich M said:
Best I know,

Vermont is not that way in the area I'm from. The people who live around my folks do not allow hunting and the lands are not posted. No-one trespasses on their land either. Timber company land is open to use. Private not so much.

ME is not that way either. Might be local ordinances but my uncle lives in NH and hunts NH & ME. He often laments about not having access in ME near where he lives. Mostly for turkey hunting. He does hunt timberland further north and has issues with outfitters claiming the land - they mostly block roads.

Rich - might want to go actually read the state law. Vermont is that way. As is Maine. As is NH. As is Mass. It's state law and in some cases stemming from state constitution. I just double checked and went and read the laws myself (again) from the proper resources in each state. As I said in my first post on it, if there is a town by-law, that can override it (at least in Mass), but that was the first thing I said.... There are also specific requirements on what constitutes legal posting.

I'm not debating whether or not you should seek permission - but the state laws are pretty clear. Might want to do your research and not take what you "know" for granted... I see scenarios like that all the time where "common knowledge" is wrong.

Being that this is a ND thread - message me off line if you want to talk on New England further. I can send you the specific citations and links if you really want, but this is something I look at frequently because I still live and hunt here.

Rich M · Feb 22, 2019

Brendan said:
Rich - might want to go actually read the state law. Vermont is that way. As is Maine. As is NH. As is Mass. It's state law and in some cases stemming from state constitution. I just double checked and went and read the laws myself (again) from the proper resources in each state. As I said in my first post on it, if there is a town by-law, that can override it (at least in Mass), but that was the first thing I said.... There are also specific requirements on what constitutes legal posting.

I'm not debating whether or not you should seek permission - but the state laws are pretty clear. Might want to do your research and not take what you "know" for granted... I see scenarios like that all the time where "common knowledge" is wrong.

Being that this is a ND thread - message me off line if you want to talk on New England further. I can send you the specific citations and links if you really want, but this is something I look at frequently because I still live and hunt here.

Fair enough. If you aren't getting citations, you have to be doing it right.

Brendan · Feb 22, 2019

Rich M said:
Fair enough. If you aren't getting citations, you have to be doing it right.

For the record, I meant "citation of the law" or quotations from the abstracts...

I still am in favor of asking permission where feasible, but I have hunted one undeveloped private swamp parcel owned by a trust some 2000 miles away without even thinking about pursuing permission...

lak2004 · Feb 24, 2019

Keep it the way it is, we post our land up there and it is not a big deal. We also let people hunt if we are not there, but want to know who is out there. Some of the neighbors don't post and some do. I have never once heard anyone complain about posting their land in ND.

wyelkhunter · Feb 24, 2019

I am glad here in WY it is the sportsman's/outdoorsman's responsibility to know where the private land is. In my opinion that is how it should be.

NDGuy · Feb 25, 2019

wyelkhunter said:
I am glad here in WY it is the sportsman's/outdoorsman's responsibility to know where the private land is.

It has nothing to do with being responsible or not, it's the current law. People are not being irresponsible for hunting un-posted land.

Like Lak said above this is not a problem but to a few interest groups. Neither myself or anyone in my network of landowners, farmers, or hunters had a problem with how it works currently.

Trial153 · Feb 25, 2019

Believe it or not but laws in NE states work quite well and are steeped in history of local land use.

NDGuy · Apr 8, 2019

Salmonchaser · Apr 8, 2019

In Oregon it’s incumbent on the trespasser to know where he is, period. Land owner is not required to post their land to prevent trespassing. Been reading through finding this very interesting. I guess we are just the opposite if you don’t know don’t go. Plus or minus a few acres 1/2 of Oregon is public ground.

NDGuy · Apr 8, 2019

Salmonchaser said:
In Oregon it’s incumbent on the trespasser to know where he is, period. Land owner is not required to post their land to prevent trespassing. Been reading through finding this very interesting. I guess we are just the opposite if you don’t know don’t go. Plus or minus a few acres 1/2 of Oregon is public ground.

Yes we are opposite. Vast majority of ND is private and we’ve always had this law. Makes the state an attractive place for NR Pheasant, Waterfowl, and Archery hunters.

They have also switched hands 3-4 times with this bill and know one else can follow along. Almost like they are trying to make it too confusing for people to oppose.

Some of the big money involved are ranchers that dealt with the ND pipeline fiasco last year.

NDGuy · Apr 17, 2019

Welp we dodged a bullet for now at least..

They split the bill into two parts and passed part of it. Basically put more strict laws and options to prosecute trespassers but left out the part where all private land is now posted for hunters.

Schism · Apr 17, 2019

NDGuy said:
Welp we dodged a bullet for now at least..

They split the bill into two parts and passed part of it. Basically put more strict laws and options to prosecute trespassers but left out the part where all private land is now posted for hunters.

It’s in conference committee now. The makeup of the committee has not historically been friendly to sportsmen. Things will happen fast. We need to keep following the bill closely and keep on our legislators.

New Private Land Ownership Bill Proposed in ND

Rich M

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Rich M

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Brendan

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lak2004

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wyelkhunter

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NDGuy

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Trial153

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Salmonchaser

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