So the back of my new property is woods in northern Maine... Was "select cut" in 2002, with some skidder trails still visible. One of those trails, and part of a field perimeter road have been used by the local Maine Snowmobile club for several years with permission from the former landowner. For this season I gave permission as well.
I find the local sled club folks are nice and respectful of the properties. They have good signage, they groom the trails, and educate sledders in not leaving trash behind and that sort of thing. Obviously, they can't control what individuals do.... But so far I've heard nothing bad. I'd like to continue allowing the Trail to cross my property (landowner permission is asked for every year).
Curious...Anyone else have clients with similar situations, or perhaps have forest where local sports clubs maintain trails? What has been your experience? Pros? Cons? Any impact on land, forest, pasture and roads/trails?
(Liability is not a factor in this case, Maine has laws that protect landowners from liability should others be injured etc on your land while in the pursuit of recreation unless it can be proved that the landowner deliberately sought or set out to cause harm. )
In my experience general, the snowmobile clubs tend to be reasonably decent. Once you agree where the trail is to be and it's marked and groomed, most riders tend to stay on it. The machines today mostly don't do that we'll in deeper snow. And most clubs are well established and responsible as you have noted.
Four wheelers can be another story though. There seems to be a certain attraction with mud for some people. Generally the ATV clubs if there is one in your area aren't as well organized and disciplined and there seem to be many many more "independent" riders who just like to go out and raise (admin edit). The problem here can also be really area/topography dependent too. One area may have some "features" that attract certain activity while another nearby area may stay pretty calm.
Interesting. I hadn't given any thought to ATV clubs. Meanwhile, I did notice that I had some one come on the property (stop car and walk in trail in the snow) about 400 yards or so to an old shed in the mid field area. Not sure what they were doing, the shed is unlocked, nothing in it but rotten floor. I've reported it.
Like most ppl, I don't mind if some one has an emergency, or is lost, or whatever ... Needs shelter. But hard to get lost in plain view of the road... And you drove in. Im thinking that they were looking for stuff to steal, or maybe a place to set up 'shop'.
Yeah... hard to say why they went there. Just tracks in and then right out again? And that only happened once? Sounds like somebody may be "exploring" for some reason..
This time of year it might have been someone looking to set up a place for night coyote hunting.. night season began last month and 400 yds off the road with wood lines to watch might have been a good location. I don't know how you feel about hunting or having hunters on your land. Had anybody asked you about it? Any of the neighbors having similar experiences or allowing hunters? Just a thought.
I assume you aren't right there most of the time. You know it might not be a bad idea to buy and set up a couple of trail/game cameras in strategic spots to see if you can get an idea of what may be going on. I bet you hadn't thought of that yet. ;)
The most common issue is beer cans, although my buddy sat down to dinner with his young family and some clown decides to unzip in the back corner of the lot. He wasn't happy.
My buddy has a trail to the his restaurant through our land directly off the old r.r. bed, now a county rec. trail, so it sees a lot of action, and a lot of beer cans. Just pick'em up and toss'em in the bin. But I also stumble across some nice hand tools too. Come to think of it, I should take the hoe and make that trail a little bumpier, can always use tools and spark plugs. :D.
Caught a couple late teens on three wheelers way off the trail Sunday hiding under some big pines, gave'em the business briefly. Turned out good and we shot the breeze for half an hour........and they weren't even smoking the cheeb! :o Good kids.
I have one on my wood lot, All is good.
Quote from: Crow99 on January 08, 2015, 03:53:44 PM
This time of year it might have been someone looking to set up a place for night coyote hunting.. night season began last month and 400 yds off the road with wood lines to watch might have been a good location. I don't know how you feel about hunting or having hunters on your land. Had anybody asked you about it? Any of the neighbors having similar experiences or allowing hunters? Just a thought.
You know it might not be a bad idea to buy and set up a couple of trail/game cameras in strategic spots to see if you can get an idea of what may be going on. I bet you hadn't thought of that yet. ;)
Coyote hunting? Really? Gosh, I'm ignorant... I didn't even realize there
was a coyote season - another thing to check on. The land is not posted yet, but it will be. The boundaries are getting cut, marked this month (professional surveyor hired) - and my husband will brush out the boundary line this summer and post before fall. So then hunters coming in from the back area, will have to be blind not to recognize the boundary when they stumble over the cut line, fresh neon blue blazes, flagging, T posts and signs.
I don't want to start a 'hunt' versus 'no hunt' war now. ;) I don't mind hunting, have nothing against it, and would gladly allow some experienced hunters I know on my property (for the small 'fee' of a venison roast or two!), but.... but, I'll be out and about in my woods this fall and I'd prefer not to take a bullet 'cause some idiot with a gun is 'hunting' nearby. (Most hunters on this forum, I realize, know better than to get all jacked up and shoot at sound without sight-verifying a target.) But accidents happen. We're only a 1/4 mile from town, I'll have kids on the property, there are kids in the Amish family that's my neighbor too, and I don't want anybody getting hurt by accident if I can help it. Of course, personally, I don't want to get shot standing on my porch or in the back yard just cause I happen to be wearing white mittens. Mainers, remember that?
Back when I was growin up... there was a not-too-bright guy who shot someone's COW, that was standing INSIDE the fenced pasture... at night.... thinking it was a deer. Driving down the road, stopped the car, got out and shot her dead, FROM THE ROAD. Idiot bragged about bagging a 'big deer' that he was gonna go pick up after he finished his coffee (he was at the local/trucker breakfast diner that morning). The police, game warden and the farmer were waiting for him when he got there... Really, I don't make this stuff up. Happened about 20 years ago, mid Maine.
And @Crow99 (https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?action=profile;u=21412) , yeah... lol... already thought of it. Great minds think alike. Husband is working on that one. ;D
To clarify a little. .. there's no closed season as such on coyotes. They can be taken year round. But during winter months Dec. to April iirc Maine also allows night hunting with an additional permit (only a few dollars).
And during warm weather some folks like to shoot groundhogs which can also lead to someone stopping on the road, crossing your fence and taking a shot into one of your fields. Be aware that any such shooting has to be at least 300 feet from your house unless you give permission otherwise. Might be a decent idea to develop a good relationship with the local game warden. And as always photographs can be very helpful.
These are just a few of the things about "country living. "
QuoteThe land is not posted yet, but it will be.
Not a very friendly introduction of yourself in your new community. But it happens often with newcomers.
I took a different approach when buying land in a rural setting. I was aware that the locals hunted this property, but got to know them first and asked only that they let me know when they planned to hunt ahead of time. Had some encroachment along the road, and put up signs that said "No trespassing without permission". That seemed more friendly than "No trespassing" or "No hunting".
The locals would drive my land during deer hunting (that is how they hunted back in the day) towards the standers. But they let me know ahead when they would be driving. Helped me get a deer or two when they stirred them up. They also would let me know when they were coon hunting and running their dogs. A few times the dogs took a different route than planned, so would end up with an apology for that but made for good neighborly conversation. Even an invite to go on a few coon hunts which is a riot in itself and a lot of fun.
Suit yourself if you want to throw up signs "stay off" or not. But you don't sound like the "standoffish" type. ;)
PS. None of the locals hunt my land now, and I have had no signs up for at least 35 years. Nor do any of my neighbors have land posted. They just respect each others wishes and ask before going on others' land.
posters are like pad locks if you know what I mean I have both ;D
They will get over it. I posted some of my land,not that it really matters. No one lived here for years,I built a house,I want hunters to know there is a house here now. Have to protect yourself,or try too.
A lot of the few posted signs I've seen in northern Maine have had bullet holes in them. Posted signs in some places bring nothing but trouble. The opinions of private property are different in this part of the country than some others for some historical reasons. I don't know if Maine has the same law, but in VT you can post a safety zone around your home/buildings, leaving the rest un-posted. It tends to result in less problems.
You all bring up good points. I keep thinking back to another thread where one of the Foresters on this board posted about poachers on private or company land.
Interesting, it's 500 ft. in NY unless given permission, many wrongly believe it means your own structures as well. Oh well.
I had to post my land because I'm out there all the time. I allow many people to hunt, but call first. For one, if there's multiple parties I want to let them each know, and two, I may slip out knowing they may push something to me.
I also don't allow shooting yotes. We have Chronic Waste and they keep down sick deer, but I also see less small game my son wants to hunt, so may have to rethink that. Especially when they're getting $40 bucks a hide when I was only getting 5 or 6 when processing deer! >:( :D
i have a trail that runs through back side of property and i am a snowmobiler also , haven't had any issues with the snowmobiles ,but 4 wheelers are another issue. had to post my property as many hunters thought they could hunt whenever they wanted and being avid hunter i didn't want them on the property, shooting whatever walked by them! this was the 3 hunting season and didn't have to kick anyone off this yr. snowmobile clubs are very determined to keep their trail systems and will always try to accommodate the land owners request.
the Maine dept of inland fishery and wildlife will give you free signs that say access by permission only. not sure where you are up here but different areas have different levels of hunting pressure. Maine has tough 4 wheeler laws already if it is not a designated trail they need your permission. I never had any problems with snowmobilers and had a few come into the yard on my trail that connects to the club trail, just a wrong turn on there part, but no issues. Not with hunters either, and only 1 ATV issue, in which i had given permission but expected a bit more discipline.
My advice for most of northern Maine i been around would be to take a wait a see approach, if you have issues then post, i have never posted never had a need to, bottom line is those who would do something stupid would probably do it posted or not. In the mean time yes people in northern Maine your neighbors may be offended by seeing land posted, even if they don't even have plans of entering your property, and would ask first anyways. It may change how people look at you, just the way it is, not saying it right or wrong but is the way it is.