Rancher blocks county road with gate?

longpolekole · Sep 18, 2017

Hi guys I've got a question about how to handle a situation in which a rancher is blocking off access to a section of state trust land with a locked gate across a county road.

This particular section has a county road that runs right though the middle off it, but dead ends before leaving the state section. I did some scouting there over the summer and found some pretty nice bucks. Went back the other day to do some bow hunting only to find a locked gate, a sign on the gate that says "hunting by permission only", and the county road sign has been removed.

I checked with county officials and verified this is indeed a county road that has not been abandoned in any way. I also checked the Wyoming Office of State lands and Investment online web map that shows which sections of trust land are "legally accessible", and indeed this one is according to them.

Im not terribly concerned about being able to hunt this section personally, as I have plenty of other good spots. But on principle this type of thing really gets my goat. From what I've gathered so far, this rancher owns thousands of acres of prime hunting ground, yet feels the need to keep this section all to himself. He also enjoys the benefit of my tax dollars helping to maintain this road, yet I as a sportsman am unable to use it.

Yall ever encountered a situation like this? Is it worth the trouble to find a remedy? Would this be a better suited for the local game warden to look into or the sheriffs department?

Thanks in advance for any info!

Triple_BB · Sep 18, 2017

Make a written complaint to the sheriff's office for that county, the G&F, the State Land Board and send a cc to the Governor's office. Include some photos and GPS coordinates. Did that once and was surprised how many people were CC'd on the reply from the Governor's office...

Gator · Sep 18, 2017

county commissioner, newspaper, local sheriff, IF it a school section call them they will send someone out to cut the lock
Now get any information that shows it to be a county road have it sent to you with names and dates, Phone calls are fine but paper in hand if it weight in gold.
in most case it the county grades it, it is a county road.
Kick those tires and lit those fires,Hope you get to hunt it.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Hunt4fun96 · Sep 18, 2017

What county is it in?

UtahJimmy · Sep 18, 2017

"...a locked gate, a sign on the gate that says "hunting by permission only", and the county road sign has been removed."

I would try to contact the rancher and get his permission first. Who knows, you may get permission to hunt some of his private if you are personable enough and he takes a liking to your approach.

If he is a crusty old man that wants nothing to do with you, then I'd go the route that others have mentioned.

Nice thing about asking the rancher first; if he does give you access, the sign stays up and will deter others. This potentially leaves the spot to hunt by yourself!

Good luck and let us know the outcome!

jm77 · Sep 18, 2017

>"...a locked gate, a sign on
>the gate that says "hunting
>by permission only", and the
>county road sign has been
>removed."
>
>I would try to contact the
>rancher and get his permission
>first. Who knows, you may
>get permission to hunt some
>of his private if you
>are personable enough and he
>takes a liking to your
>approach.
>
>If he is a crusty old
>man that wants nothing to
>do with you, then I'd
>go the route that others
>have mentioned.
>
>Nice thing about asking the rancher
>first; if he does give
>you access, the sign stays
>up and will deter others.
>This potentially leaves the spot
>to hunt by yourself!
>
>Good luck and let us know
>the outcome!

^^^Not this!

jm77 · Sep 18, 2017

Call and speak directly with the Sheriff in the county you are having this issue with. Blocking public roads is a misdemeanor offense the rancher can be written up on.

Do you have a picture?

longpolekole · Sep 18, 2017

>Call and speak directly with the
>Sheriff in the county you
>are having this issue with.
>Blocking public roads is a
>misdemeanor offense the rancher can
>be written up on.
>
>Do you have a picture?

Yes I have pictures...

From what I hear, the rancher is a pretty big name in this area and is one of the "good ol boys" associated with Wyoming politics. My concern is that he's buddies with all the county officials that would be charged with looking into matters such as these. I really don't want to make a huge issue out of this, but I do understand that if no one ever does then this type of thing will keep happening. I'll keep yall posted.

jm77 · Sep 18, 2017

>Yes I have pictures...
>
>From what I hear, the rancher
>is a pretty big name
>in this area and is
>one of the "good ol
>boys" associated with Wyoming politics.
> My concern is that
>he's buddies with all the
>county officials that would be
>charged with looking into matters
>such as these. I really
>don't want to make a
>huge issue out of this,
>but I do understand that
>if no one ever does
>then this type of thing
>will keep happening. I'll keep
>yall posted.

This needs to be made a huge issue. Wy BHA will gladly assist in this. Sportsman have for too long turned away from these kind of issues and it just causes more of it in the future.

Frankly, I could care less who this guy knows or who his buddies are. He needs to be held accountable.

UtahJimmy · Sep 18, 2017

>>"...a locked gate, a sign on
>>the gate that says "hunting
>>by permission only", and the
>>county road sign has been
>>removed."
>>
>>I would try to contact the
>>rancher and get his permission
>>first. Who knows, you may
>>get permission to hunt some
>>of his private if you
>>are personable enough and he
>>takes a liking to your
>>approach.
>>
>>If he is a crusty old
>>man that wants nothing to
>>do with you, then I'd
>>go the route that others
>>have mentioned.
>>
>>Nice thing about asking the rancher
>>first; if he does give
>>you access, the sign stays
>>up and will deter others.
>>This potentially leaves the spot
>>to hunt by yourself!
>>
>>Good luck and let us know
>>the outcome!
>
>^^^Not this!

Why not?

dillon · Sep 18, 2017

I've encountered the gate situation before on a county road. I let the sheriff know and the game warden for the area. The gate stayed up to control cattle, but the lock and no trespassing sign disappeared.

Homer · Sep 18, 2017

southern Carbon County???

Joe2Kool · Sep 18, 2017

Ran into a similar situation in unit 22 on an antelope hunt a few years ago. Several signs that said "no hunting" and other stuff that made us think it was a private road. But, it was a county road, graded, on the map, etc... We drove down it anyway, with no issue. Even came across a few trucks that looked like local ranchers.

I agree with those that said you should pursue it. Can't let people get away with it.

treedagain · Sep 18, 2017

Cut the lock and use the road. If it is public access who is he going to complain to?

How to start an argument online:
1. Express an opinion
2. Wait

jm77 · Sep 18, 2017

>>>"...a locked gate, a sign on
>>>the gate that says "hunting
>>>by permission only", and the
>>>county road sign has been
>>>removed."
>>>
>>>I would try to contact the
>>>rancher and get his permission
>>>first. Who knows, you may
>>>get permission to hunt some
>>>of his private if you
>>>are personable enough and he
>>>takes a liking to your
>>>approach.
>>>
>>>If he is a crusty old
>>>man that wants nothing to
>>>do with you, then I'd
>>>go the route that others
>>>have mentioned.
>>>
>>>Nice thing about asking the rancher
>>>first; if he does give
>>>you access, the sign stays
>>>up and will deter others.
>>>This potentially leaves the spot
>>>to hunt by yourself!
>>>
>>>Good luck and let us know
>>>the outcome!
>>
>>^^^Not this!
>
>
>Why not?

If everything here is true, and I have no reason to believe it's not, why on earth would you ask a landowner for permission to access public land he has illegally locked up?

Also Jimmy, are you into games to keep people off their public lands? Nice!

huntfishall1 · Sep 18, 2017

If you want to try and remain anonymous then get in touch with BHA and they should have the resources to tackle the issue.

DeerHunter53 · Sep 19, 2017

I had this happen to me and my son several years ago in X3-B.
We had an map that said the area we were hunting in was public, but the sign said Private no Trespassing. We'll we were just going in when a truck pulled up and said that is private. I showed him my map and he simply said I don't give a s---t if you cross that line I will call the sheriff and have you arrested. I said this is public he said maybe so but you won't get out of jail in time to hunt it.
I reported it to the Sheriff's office and it appeared that the sheriff was related or an good ole boy and after trying to get this straightened out for most of the summer I gave up as no one up there would help.
It was Cherry canyon in Modoc County

longpolekole · Sep 19, 2017

>>>>"...a locked gate, a sign on
>>>>the gate that says "hunting
>>>>by permission only", and the
>>>>county road sign has been
>>>>removed."
>>>>
>>>>I would try to contact the
>>>>rancher and get his permission
>>>>first. Who knows, you may
>>>>get permission to hunt some
>>>>of his private if you
>>>>are personable enough and he
>>>>takes a liking to your
>>>>approach.
>>>>
>>>>If he is a crusty old
>>>>man that wants nothing to
>>>>do with you, then I'd
>>>>go the route that others
>>>>have mentioned.
>>>>
>>>>Nice thing about asking the rancher
>>>>first; if he does give
>>>>you access, the sign stays
>>>>up and will deter others.
>>>>This potentially leaves the spot
>>>>to hunt by yourself!
>>>>
>>>>Good luck and let us know
>>>>the outcome!
>>>
>>>^^^Not this!
>>
>>
>>Why not?
>
>If everything here is true, and
>I have no reason to
>believe it's not, why on
>earth would you ask a
>landowner for permission to access
>public land he has illegally
>locked up?
>
>Also Jimmy, are you into games
>to keep people off their
>public lands? Nice!

You make a great point...

I was talking with a fella about this situation the other day... his opinion was "well it is common courtesy to ask permission from the lessee to hunt trust lands". I asked him to name another situation in which you would "ask permission" from a person who has no authority whatsoever to grant/deny such permission. He couldn't think of any. As far as I'm concerned the Wyoming office of state lands and investments has already granted such permission, so no need to "ask". Now as far as common courtesy goes, of course I always try and talk with ranchers in the areas I hunt and let them know my intentions... I leave gates the way I find them, even pick up other peoples litter I come across. That's common courtesy.

I've been looking into joining the local BHA chapter. Never heard of this organization before, and they seem like something I could definitely support. Thanks for the input guys.

elks96 · Sep 19, 2017

You owe it to everyone else to do what you can... Many here, myself included would gladly do the work if we know where...I strongly suggest we work this out. For now you may have other spots, but someday those spots may have the same issue.

Ask yourself this, would he allow you to trespass and not press charges? Why would you allow him to violate the law and hurt you?

Sorry but document it, send it to the county, the sheriff, the game warden and the governors office.

I do not care who they are, they are illegally blocking access to public land.

N_Corey · Sep 19, 2017

I think there should be a hefty fine for blocking public land like this to deter people from doing this otherwise it's likely to continue happening.

jm77 · Sep 19, 2017

This photo courtesy of Mr BuzzH. He was hunting around my country and sent it too me on his way in to hunt. This is on a county road.

The sign was gone before lunch the following day.

elkantlers · Sep 19, 2017

Longpolekole, Don't you have a chain in your truck?

BuzzH · Sep 20, 2017

UtahJimmy said, "I would try to contact the rancher and get his permission first.

Assuming that the road is illegally posted, this is absolutely horrific advice and should NEVER be an option or even considered.

The way things work legally, is that if a trail, road, etc. has a prescriptive easement, there is NO reason to ask for permission.

Further, even if a prescriptive easement exists, and the landowners post the trail or road and people ask for permission...that can have consequences and set precedent that the road/trail is private and permission is now REQUIRED.

Then things turn to chit in a hurry and the only relief is to take the case to court and reconfirm the prescriptive easement.

Don't ever, as in NEVER, ask permission to legally access any public lands, trails, or roads.

The best thing to do is what has been suggested, and that is to contact the local sheriff and make an issue out of every one of these cases...immediately. Don't wait.

The advice of contacting WYBHA is solid...myself and the rest of the WYBHA board take public access seriously.