Public land? or Private?

[G-Hunter]

How are we supposed to find out if land is public or private everyone?

 

I'm aware of the posted signs obviously but what if there are none?  I found a great spot (or at least I'm hoping so) for waterfowl hunting in my area but I'm not trying to piss anyone off by trespassing.

 

The swamp I have my eye on has about 3 duck nests spread out through it so I think it's a good spot to hunt.  

Here are some photos of the area to give you guys a better idea of what I'm talking about:

 

 

 

Photos 1 & 2 - the swamp

 

 

 

Photos 3 & 4 - an old hunting post with a ladder that's inaccessible due to age (looks like hunters once used this land at some point)

 

 

 

Photos 5 & 6 - an inaccessible (logging?) trail that's very overgrown with brush/fallen trees/moss

 

 

 

 

***It certainly looks like this location was once used but no longer anymore.  Is this a good sign?  Or can I expect trouble?  

Any input is really appreciated, as I'd like to get some spots marked down on my map for this season.

[SteveB]

County clerks office will have info on who owns it.

Unless it is unmarked public land, you have already trespassed in getting those pictures.

Not being posted is not an invitation.

I go by a simple rule - if I don't have permission, I don't go.

[gfdeputy2]

you only need to post this once you will get answers patience just like hunting

It is ilegal to hunt private land without permission posted or not

Public land is usually marked fairly well

[d-bone20917]

Check Google Maps.  It will show you where the public land is.  

[phade]

Wait, so before you actually know whether private or public...you walked it?

 

Wow.

[Five Seasons]

county clerks website. look for tax maps. Zillow is also a good source but not so much for larger plots.

[G-Man]

tax maps are the way to go, most have an overhead of the town with boundries roughley laid out and the tax number in them. then its just a matter of looking up the number for the owner's address. If you don't own it someone does! take the time to figure it out and ask.. lots of people just want to know who's there and best to ask far away from any open seasons...

[G-Hunter]

Wait, so before you actually know whether private or public...you walked it?

 

Wow.

 

I know, it was risky and I normally don't do that but I really like this spot and it's not too far from the road I drive in on.  I snapped a few pictures for this forum, and got out of there.  

 

If it's your land, I apologize!  lol

[G-Hunter]

you only need to post this once you will get answers patience just like hunting

It is ilegal to hunt private land without permission posted or not

Public land is usually marked fairly well

 

Yeah sorry about the multi-post, on other forums it works but this one not so much.  Won't be doing that again...

[G-Hunter]

County clerks office will have info on who owns it.

Unless it is unmarked public land, you have already trespassed in getting those pictures.

Not being posted is not an invitation.

I go by a simple rule - if I don't have permission, I don't go.

 

Thats a good rule of thumb to go by Steve.

 

How would you get permission though if you don't know who owns the land?

[mac]

if you dont know who the owner is.. stay away.. pretty simple.  Gotta put some effort in and research who owns it and try to make contact. If you have exhausted all avenues and are at a roadblock with, search for a new spot.  its not worth the trouble associated with trespassing with a weapon

[Culvercreek hunt club]

_{From the County Clerk's office. Start with the closest address you can identify on the road and if possible determine the distance from that property to the one you want to knwo about. It isn't that hard to do.}

Edited April 10, 2013 by Culvercreek hunt club

[G-Hunter]

tax maps are the way to go, most have an overhead of the town with boundries roughley laid out and the tax number in them. then its just a matter of looking up the number for the owner's address. If you don't own it someone does! take the time to figure it out and ask.. lots of people just want to know who's there and best to ask far away from any open seasons...

 

Thanks G-Man, I'll go check out some maps in my county clerk's office.  Or would a tax office be a better bet?

 

And I know!  I'm just trying not to step on anyone's heels here, I'd like to have a good season this year.  

 

 

What did you mean by "best to ask far away from any open seasons..." ?

[G-Hunter]

_{From the County Clerk's office. Start with the closest address you can identify on the road and if possible determine the distance from that property to the one you want to knwo about. It isn't that hard to do.}

 

Thanks culver, will do.  

[jjb4900]

all land is owned by someone, public lands are almost always properly marked..but I know of instances where private owners like to remove public land signs to keep people off......DEC has a very good interactive map.

Edited April 10, 2013 by jjb4900

[G-Hunter]

all land is owned by someone, public lands are almost always properly marked..but I know of instances where private owners like to remove public land signs to keep people off......DEC has a very good interactive map.

 

Yeah I'm not sure, but I saw only one hunting stand with an old wooden ladder that was rotted so it hasnt been used in a long time.  I'm guessing hunters once used the lands, and either it was sold or it was never allowed to be hunted on and this stand was constructed before they started cracking down on illegal hunting... hmm

[wdswtr]

There is a lot of county land that is public land in reality that is not marked.  It was a lot of years before someone discovered this in my hometown on a few large parcels of land that a certain group of family members dominated and threw everyone out.  Someone actually looked in to it and low and behold it was Theodore Rosevelt that turned a lot of land over to the county and got lost in the shuffle over the years.   

[G-Man]

I mean I wouldn't show up in camo opening day and expect to get permission. now is a good time, not 2 weeks before deer/ duck season. I go in the summer before hay cutting and offer to help do hay, spring and fall are busy seasons for farmers and they are usually busiest then and a week or two before getting equipment ready to go or fixing problems. How would you feel if your up to your elbows in grease fixing your car/ truck and some comes up and interrupts you so yu have to crawl out from under it ti talk to them???  Or the owner is getting ready to walk out and hunt  and sees another hunter walking up his driveway? far away from a hunting season make you more respected as your trying ti secura a place in the future giving enough time to trade labor or lend a hand , scout , learnt the property lines before you hunt. asking someone to give up time to show you lines boundries no hunt areas (where he/she might hunt) ahead is just respectful and is much appreciated in todays world by good hard working people.  

[jjb4900]

you can probably find an interactive tax map online, I know there is one for Delaware County...surprising how much land is owned by people who live outside the State.

[G-Hunter]

I mean I wouldn't show up in camo opening day and expect to get permission. now is a good time, not 2 weeks before deer/ duck season. I go in the summer before hay cutting and offer to help do hay, spring and fall are busy seasons for farmers and they are usually busiest then and a week or two before getting equipment ready to go or fixing problems. How would you feel if your up to your elbows in grease fixing your car/ truck and some comes up and interrupts you so yu have to crawl out from under it ti talk to them???  Or the owner is getting ready to walk out and hunt  and sees another hunter walking up his driveway? far away from a hunting season make you more respected as your trying ti secura a place in the future giving enough time to trade labor or lend a hand , scout , learnt the property lines before you hunt. asking someone to give up time to show you lines boundries no hunt areas (where he/she might hunt) ahead is just respectful and is much appreciated in todays world by good hard working people.  

 

That's great advice G-man, I'm going to the county clerk's office in an hour to learn the boundary lines of the area and then I'll go from there.  

 

Def wouldn't mind giving back to the owner with labor like you mentioned for a nice secure spot to hunt, that's for sure.  Respect goes a long way, you brought up a lot of good points.  Thanks bud

[CuseHunter]

I know this is a bit late but I found for my county (onondaga) I found online all of the tax parcel divisions. There is a view of the land like google earth, and the street view. you can click the parcel you want to find info, it will say who owns it, how much acreage, and contact info. Google "Onondaga county G.I.S. on the web" obviously change whatever county it is that you are in.

[PREDATE]

Good tip Cusehunter, I use it for my county(broome) alot, but some counties have a poor GIS system.

[CuseHunter]

Yeah, I always use it to find out contact info for those areas that I drive by and wonder... HMM who owns that that, no posted signs, looks like a good spot. So hopefully one of these days I can lock up a good spot. (hopefully)