LAST EDITED ON Jul-20-08 AT 11:35AM (MST)[p]wyoelkchaser,
Since I was the only "other MM member" who mentioned anything about the landowner issues in 7, I guess your post was directed at me.
You sound like you do, in fact, live in unit 7...yours is the exact attitude I dealt with on several occassions with others that "live in unit 7".
Just to clear the record and to help you understand the issues I dealt with, I'll provide details. I wont mention landowner names or specific locations unless you want to continue to question the incididents and/or my specific job related skills regarding access, public lands, map reading, etc. I also wont post the specific information on the net, but will give details via PM or email.
One incident involved a decent sized block of State land/BLM accessible via County Road. The thing about this particular fairly large piece is that its easier to glass the area from a distance from another county road. While sitting on the PUBLICALLY OWNED County road and glassing early one morning for elk ON MY PUBLIC LAND, we were approached by one of the PITA landowners I described above.
He immediately wanted to know what we were doing, which amoung other reasons, was really non on his damn business. In all likely hood, I should have pretended like he wasnt even there. But, I actually enjoy telling these type of people what they need to be told. So, I explained that we were glassing state owned wildlife on public land. He then proceeded to tell me that the area we were glassing was "not public land".
I immediately produced a map, along with specific GPS coordinates. He was very agitated and told me, "you guys better know exactly where you're at!". I told him, "Thats what this is for", and showed him my GPS.
He then conceeded that the area we were looking was public land, but that to get there you had to "cross me to get there". I said, "nope, not true" and proceeded to show him the legal access via a different county road and public land to the sections we were glassing. Again, "well, you better know exactly where that access point is" (for the record the road crosses an ENTIRE State section so, pretty tough to miss a mile long section of "access". Not a problem with a GPS, a map, and more than two firing brain cells in your head.
The guy, obvsiously agitated that he'd been "told" how it was warned us again that if we set foot "on me"...we'd be getting a visit from the Game and Fish and the Sheriff. Clearly, he was angry that he handnt been able to run us off the county road, and keep us from hunting state owned wildlife on accessible public land.
Another similar story in unit 7. I found a MARKED piece of BLM, about a half section, that was a perfect location to park a camp trailer on. Again, the 1/2 section was bisected by one mile of county road. So, we set up camp. Before we had the trailer unhitched here comes a vehicle from the nearest house. Sure as the day is long, they pull right and ask what we're doing. I said, "camping on public land". The reply I got was, "well you're pretty close to private". Which, I dont care if I was only ONE foot into public land. You're either on public or you're on private, theres no such thing as "pretty close". I again produced the map, showing the PITA landowner that I was at a minimum, a full quarter mile away from "being pretty close" to private.
He then asked, "well, how long you going to be camped there". Which again, I should have just ignored, but replied, "up to 14 days, the legal limit on my public land".
Discussion over.
Bottom line, there are more than a few landowners in unit 7 that are nothing more than nosey hecklers who will, and do, try to keep hunters off legally accessible public lands. They have no right to do it, and I suggest to everyone that they excercise their rights to legally access every stitch of public land that they want. I further suggest that if a landowner like those that I dealt with harrass you, question you, etc. report THEM to the Sheriff and/or G&F. They need to know that public land is for everyones enjoyment and that people absolutely do not need to be harrassed or intimidated from using the very land they own.
Also, I contend that if there is that much public land, (which I know for a FACT, there is not that much of) that has changed hands in unit 7, the landowners have a responsibility to post it. Legally, they may not, but I can assure you that in a court room, the most current map available with ownership information, will hold substantial weight. Equally, proper posting of private land will hold substantial weight as well. If a landowner chooses to not post private land, that in particular has recently changed hands from public to private ownership, they will find themselves having one hell of a time actively pursuing any type of trespass charges.
I dont tolerate trespassers, and I also dont tolerate landowners thinking they own public lands.
That being said, next time you accuse me of "trespassing" I think that you, along with your landowner friends that live in unit 7, should both get your facts straight.