Posting Property

[IRISH HUNTER]

What is your opinion on posting hunting property? Place signs on trees or posts? I know you can't stop scumbags if they are intent on trespassing, but any good tips will be appreciated.

 

[GoldenEagle09]

Probably trees... low enough so they can see... but high enough so they cant rip them down. lol

 

[GreyGoose]

property i hunt has been posted for years by certain paint colors.i put signs up just to clarify.usually put them as high as i can out of truck bed or off fourwheeler,never seems to stop those bullets from our free willing poaching scum.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I like putting signs on T-Posts to make it look more formal and "current". They just don't show up as well on trees. Signs on the posts give it more of a military base look and at least imply that the owner/owners are more active on the property. That's my take on it at least.

 

[Bayou Buck]

Paint the trees and put cheap posted signs out by any atv trails or entrances. I buy a cheap roll of 100 or so and refresh them as needed.

 

[Beekeeper]

Cheap signs and a stapel gun. It won't stop them but it might slow them down.

 

[BSK]

I used to do the cheap Tyvek signs and staple gun routine. However, after years and years of having to replace the signs due to weather wear and people tearing them down, I've recently started investing in long-life aluminum signs. I'm really glad I did. They are more expensive (about $0.90 a piece), but they stay bright and last forever. Plus they are very difficult to tear down. And when you look at the cost, the Tyvek/paper signs cost around $0.30 per sign and need replacing either every year or every other year, and figuring in the time/labor of replacing them constantly, I'm coming out much better at three times the initial cost but virtually never having to replace them. I carry a section of ladder stand with me for nailing them up so they are out of reach from anyone on the ground. I also use aluminum nails so they won't damage a mill saw.

 

[Bucket]

I used to do the cheap Tyvek signs and staple gun routine. However, after years and years of having to replace the signs due to weather wear and people tearing them down, I've recently started investing in long-life aluminum signs. I'm really glad I did. They are more expensive (about $0.90 a piece), but they stay bright and last forever. Plus they are very difficult to tear down. And when you look at the cost, the Tyvek/paper signs cost around $0.30 per sign and need replacing either every year or every other year, and figuring in the time/labor of replacing them constantly, I'm coming out much better at three times the initial cost but virtually never having to replace them. I carry a section of ladder stand with me for nailing them up so they are out of reach from anyone on the ground. I also use aluminum nails so they won't damage a mill saw.

Where do you get those signs? The aluminum ones I priced were more in the $1.50 range.

 

[BSK]

I used to do the cheap Tyvek signs and staple gun routine. However, after years and years of having to replace the signs due to weather wear and people tearing them down, I've recently started investing in long-life aluminum signs. I'm really glad I did. They are more expensive (about $0.90 a piece), but they stay bright and last forever. Plus they are very difficult to tear down. And when you look at the cost, the Tyvek/paper signs cost around $0.30 per sign and need replacing either every year or every other year, and figuring in the time/labor of replacing them constantly, I'm coming out much better at three times the initial cost but virtually never having to replace them. I carry a section of ladder stand with me for nailing them up so they are out of reach from anyone on the ground. I also use aluminum nails so they won't damage a mill saw.

Where do you get those signs? The aluminum ones I priced were more in the $1.50 range.

These are the ones I've been buying (0.012 gauge aluminum):

http://www.vosssigns.com/Specials.htm

 

[BlountArrow]

Thanks for the link, yeah that's really not too bad of an investment. Especially if you spread them out a little, but I still seem to think I read something one time on here or had a friend who talked to a wildlife officer that said something about paint being a "requirement" if you wanted anything to hold up in court, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

 

[BSK]

...but I still seem to think I read something one time on here or had a friend who talked to a wildlife officer that said something about paint being a "requirement" if you wanted anything to hold up in court, but I'm not 100% sure about that.

Not in TN.

 

[hitek7]

Paint the trees and put cheap posted signs out by any atv trails or entrances. I buy a cheap roll of 100 or so and refresh them as needed.

Is there a cetain color paint that is supposed to be used? Also, what is the max distance between painted trees (I am talking about to legally prosecute)? I know in Missouri it was purple but not sure in TN. The purple painted trees were as good as signs when it came to prosecuting.

 

[BSK]

Is there a cetain color paint that is supposed to be used? Also, what is the max distance between painted trees (I am talking about to legally prosecute)?

I don't believe paint is required in TN to prosecute for trespassing.

But perhaps scn can comment on this.

 

[MUP]

I think I remember being told, signage at 200ft apart, and at every major point of ingress and egress, and this would suffice in a court proceeding.

 

[backroads]

Here is a link and a couple of instructions:

http://www.tn.gov/twra/pdfs/permission.pdf

Land can be properly posted in one of the following two manners:
1. Approved signs must be placed along the property boundary at intervals no greater than 100 yards and at all major entrances.
2. Approved signs must be visible at all major points of ingress and must
be accompanied by fluorescent visual markings which markings must
also be placed at fifty-yard (50 yd) intervals around the perimeter of the lands being posted. Such fluorescent visual markings must be at least one inch (1�) wide and four inches (4�) long.

 

[scn]

Here is a link and a couple of instructions:

http://www.tn.gov/twra/pdfs/permission.pdf

Land can be properly posted in one of the following two manners:
1. Approved signs must be placed along the property boundary at intervals no greater than 100 yards and at all major entrances.
2. Approved signs must be visible at all major points of ingress and must
be accompanied by fluorescent visual markings which markings must
also be placed at fifty-yard (50 yd) intervals around the perimeter of the lands being posted. Such fluorescent visual markings must be at least one inch (1�) wide and four inches (4�) long.

That law only applies to Hunting by Written Permission only. The law was an attempt to keep landowners from having to go to court to prosecute the case or even testify. If worked as intended for a couple of years until the defense attornies found the "loophole". We now require landowners to take part in the prosecution.

There is actually NO signage requirement to prosecute for hunting without permission. But, signage certainly helps in the court prosecution.

The law on criminal trespass requires signage at all major points of ingress into the property. Without such signage the person without permission to be on the property has a statuatory defense against the charge of trespass.

 

[BSK]

There is actually NO signage requirement to prosecute for hunting without permission. But, signage certainly helps in the court prosecution.

The law on criminal trespass requires signage at all major points of ingress into the property. Without such signage the person without permission to be on the property has a statuatory defense against the charge of trespass.

Thanks scn. That's what I was looking for.

 

[BlountArrow]

Thank you, men. There is so much mis-information floating around out there amongst hunters concerning this issue. I'm no lawyer, but I imagine (like SCN said) you don't want to give the perpetrator any chance of defense in court so I go above and beyond the call of duty when posting. It would be interesting to hear a lawyer's take on how to best create an "air-tight case" (as much as possible).

Last year I had three different individuals on camera trespassing on my property (that I know of). One appeared to be scouting (backpack, camo, etc), one seemed to just be going for a joy walk, and one was in full brown carhart with an orange vest and hat toting a rifle (I actually have a 20 second video of him because I had this game cam set on video). Amazing how all three of them walked within 5 feet of my cameras and never saw them. Amazing what you don't see when you're not looking for it. Of course, I have no idea who these trespassers are so a picture is not much more than a picture for now.

 

[Bayou Buck]

Paint the trees and put cheap posted signs out by any atv trails or entrances. I buy a cheap roll of 100 or so and refresh them as needed.

Is there a cetain color paint that is supposed to be used? Also, what is the max distance between painted trees (I am talking about to legally prosecute)? I know in Missouri it was purple but not sure in TN. The purple painted trees were as good as signs when it came to prosecuting.

Paint is not required. I just like it because there is no excuse for a trespasser if you catch them and they cant tear it down or get rid of it and say they didn't know they were trespassing. Yellow or red paint will probably work.

 

[BSK]

My Tyvek signs got torn down all the time. To date, I have not had an aluminum sign put up with aluminum nails torn down.

 

[MUP]

My Tyvek signs got torn down all the time. To date, I have not had an aluminum sign put up with aluminum nails torn down.

I've had some develop bullet holes in them tho. :/

 

[BSK]

My Tyvek signs got torn down all the time. To date, I have not had an aluminum sign put up with aluminum nails torn down.

I've had some develop bullet holes in them tho. :/

Get shot, yes. Getting torn down, no.

 

[nodog]

I don't know about Tenn. but here in ohio a sign means more than keep out, it also means your legal to come in. If you post a no hunting sign your telling the dnr no hunting is allowed. They see someone hunting with it posted and that's a legal invitation to come check you out.

Just saying...

A few years ago a friend and his kid along with a larger party were hunting (it was his only day to hunt). While he sat there he watched a helicopter circle a near by woods and then head in his direction. When he looked down he was being approached by several officers. Everyone was rounded up and taken back to their cars. All the cars were searched and everyone inspected for any violations, there were none in the whole group. The reason for the search someone heard was because someone reported hearing a high powered rifle, we only shoot shotguns here.

I'm not up for visits when I'm hunting, it's hard enough beating a deer by myself.

If I ever do buy some hunting land I don't live on I'll get someone to live on it for me and keep an eye on it. They can live there free just for looking after the place. Be someone that knows how to look after a place.