To post or not in PA
 

I am hoping to get a bit of input regarding a property I purchased in May in central PA. It's about 150 acres of steep mountainous land that shares a .75-mile border with a modest sized state game land. During the summer and fall I would see a hiker or 2 from time to time and another time I had a couple of 4x4 trucks making their way through the property. I have since installed gates at main access points to prohibit motor vehicle use. I have also seen ATV tracks, but nothing destructive. Due to erosion concerns, the only ATV’s I want on my property are my own.

On opening day of rifle, however, my young son and I counted at least 12 hunters on property, most of them just walking around. I feel that is excessive. My tree stand setups ended up being useless. I also found the first litter on the property that day which ticked me off. I have enrolled my property in the forestry stewardship program and plan to practice QDM on the property. I am spending time and money installing food plots, habitat improvement, and road and trail improvement. None of my goals can be met with hunters on the property whose ethics and standards are unknown.

My forestry consultant is telling me to post the land without exception. I am hesitant as I am willing to share the land with a controlled amount of people who share my vision for it and might be willing to pitch in. I also do not wish to build resentment with the local folks. Any experiences or thoughts would be helpful.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

You need to post it then allow who you want on the land with written permission only.

Your going to hear well I've hunted here for ever and many other stories but you paid for the land,and pay the taxes on it.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

yea, what part of central pa? i have hunted all around state college, raystown and altoona area. I would DEF post the property especially the border of the gamelands because people sometimes don't know where it ends. If you are going to manage it for deer, i would not put the fields near the gamelands cause it will be over run with hunters. i understand the part of not pissing off the locals but you need to make friends with some of them and ask them a few to watch over the property when you are not around in exchange for hunting rights. Next time you go hunting, just go up and talk to them. Some people don't know a property is not gamelands, some just disobey......its up to you in the end but i would post!

RE: To post or not in PA
 

The property is in Juniata County. Thanks for the advice.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Just about every tree is spray painted along a boarder between state and priviate property isn't it?

RE: To post or not in PA
 

I understand how you wanna leave it open and not make anyone mad. But on the other hand if you and your son want good quality land, posting is almost a must. The local will have no choice but to respect your decision, you bought it and they didnt. I live in Huntingdon county which is near by. Good luck, hopefully everything works out for you.


Zach

RE: To post or not in PA
 

The trees were freshly painted white, every 50 yds or so a week or two before opening day. This one old guy sitting next to one of my logging roads tried to tell me that he was on game lands. About 200 yds uphill were blazes that were clear as a bell. He didn't seem to care and said he "knew" this property was owned by the state. At this point is was 2:30 pm and our day was ruined so it was even worth the arguement. Any deer that were on my property at that time were deep in my laurel patch.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Sounds to me like you really dont have any other option than to post it. But evenif u would postit thatdoesnt mean you still cant let some people on it like you said earlier. If they are friendly and respect you, let'm have atit. But if they act like that old fart did, there would be problems. The last thing you want is someone giving your son a hard time sometime on your own land.



Zach

RE: To post or not in PA
 

I commend you for not wanting to post. But I do agree that you should post it and then determine from those who ask whetheryou want to still allow them.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Post by written permission only. That way you can control access. Who knows you might meet some new hunting partners who will want to help you do the work.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

As a fellow PA resident you have no choice but to post your property and it's unfortunate but when it comes to rifle hunting in PA, unless it's posted you'll have trespassers. It's the shame that is PA.....and a reason I took up bowhunting more than 20 years ago and I still have to patrol the property come rifle season.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Thanks Rob. It does seem a little sad though that it looks like I'll be forced to post.

I bowhunt at least 100 hours (most of it Chester County at home) a year compared to one or two days with a rifle or shotgun. I still think it's a lot of fun and a different way to hunt with a firearm than a bow. I enjoy shooting and it's nice to blow the dust off my rifles once a year. I also think it's inportant to introduce my son to hunting both ways. I think his odds are a little better with a rifle until he gets bigger and stronger.

Anyway, it looks like next year I'll be chacing people off the property opening day until they "catch on".

RE: To post or not in PA
 

DITTO!

It's sad that it needs to be done...but unless you do, there will always be people on the property.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Post it like fort Knox, before they take it over. Only allow chosen few you know, and if your not from their, make friends with a local to watch it for ya. Don't be a prisoner of your own land. I've had enough bad experiences. Take care.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

post it just make sure your posting only your land. my dad has land that is surruonded by private property but people walk on it any way and its posted. on the opener a guy came out of his cabin and yelled at my dad for walken on public property because the dcnr wont let the gut ride his atv on the roads

RE: To post or not in PA
 

You mean Pa is overan with slobs, sorry to put it that way but I have private land and thats just what I've been dealing with for the last 10 years, and with HR its taking its toll!!!

RE: To post or not in PA
 

I'd definitely recommend doing two of the things already mentioned. Post it, and make friends with neighbors.

As far as posting it goes try to get the signs that have a spot to write in your info if you want to let others hunt by permission. Ethical hunters will use the info to contact you and ask permission.

Your neighbors will be your best asset when you're not around. Posted or not folks will still trespass. Also, some wind as well as unethical hunters can make posted signs disappear. On the same note be sure to walk the property line every so often to make sure the signs are still there and no one has cut their way in.

Just my 2 cents. Dealing with the same thing myself in MA.
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RE: To post or not in PA
 

it is very sad to say, but yeah you got to post it. though i hate that but i would do the same thing.. and for you even thinking about it and also really not wanting topost,you are a very good man, not to many people even think about it, they just post. good luck to you on your new honey hole. if you need aturkey hunting buddy this spring let me know..lol

RE: To post or not in PA
 

i posted my land do to poaching.then my deer came back and poaching got worst.then our camps got broke into.you cant be there 24 hrs a day.these people know your every move and they will get deer ,if any are on there.its so bad that some are putting 8 ft fences all around their land here.you should see this, 5 strands of wire for 1200 acres of land, oh my.my dog ran under my neighbors wire hunting grouse and they were going to shoot my dog for tresspassing.i said, try it. its terrible.i never posted but they were killing all my doe off and still are.if you feed deer put your feeders deep in woods as poachers will shoot right off your back porchs of your camps.they are bold and nothing scares them.some have been arrested 3 times and are still doing it.if you want good hunting, you must post and dont let anyone on it.if you do, make them help pay for your property taxes.i charge 500 dollars per year , per hunter and only let 4 on my land.that pays for my taxes and some left over to plant food plots etc.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Check with your regional Game Commission headquarters. They have access to signs that state “Hunting permitted with landowner permission.” We use them in our bow hunter safety program. This will keep both sides happy and may resolve your problem.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

But with written permission, make sure they know what your rules are and that it applys only to them and not their friends to hunt on your property, or you could have 15 people that you don't know on a deer drive for that 1 person and his buddies that you gave written permissionfor that onehunt.
Just lay down the rules for anyone you invite. And sometimes those posted signs don't work if your bordered around other property owners who might be slobs and assume it's allright for them to tresspass, cause they would allow you since your neighbors. And they would end up driving your property andthe deer and your management would of gone to waiste, cause they shot the deer you was trying to help manage decent antler growth. I would presume that what your intentions was for with the food plots anyway.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

My neighbor seems like a pretty decent guy. He has 111 acres that I have my right of way through. I need to be careful with him and include him as much as possible. He lets us ride our atv's on his property in the summer so I feel obligated to reciprocate and allow him on ours. He hates atv's by the way but I think he sees how considerate we are. My largest concern is that he is not convinced about QDM working. However, I'll lay down the ground rules with him about the food plots, antler size, drives, and doe harvest and hopefully that doesn't turn him off. My larger concern is the Amish that are on the other side of his land. Apparantly they don't need a license or care whether it's hunting season or not. Their land is posted and we don't go on it - hopefully they can do the same for us.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Post it, and Amish people can be arrested for trespassing just like anybody else....

RE: To post or not in PA
 

Posting is probably your only alternative and the advice about using signs that say Hunting By Permission Only, sounds like a good way to handle it, for starters. Those with any class will ask first, the rest will do what they want to anyway. You'll eventually figure out which ones are which.


I finally started posting my ground along the road frontage, when road hunters fired a volley that came within 50 yards of a stand I was in, back in one of our last doe seasons. None of my otherboundaries are posted, since I have permission to hunt on neighboring land. All of my neighbors in the area know the posters are not for them, some still make a point of asking anyway.

Inyour situation, boundaries with state land will probably also need posted, if people have become used to straying onto what is nowyours. It will tick people off, but they'll have to adjust to things. It ain't their land. Also good advice about making sure where the actual lines are so posters are correctly placed.

Establishing good relations withneighbors is always a positive, especially when you live someplace else. They're always there, you aren't. Fortunately for me, I have relatives in the area of my cabinand have known most of my neighbors since I was a kid.

Sad that posting may be your only solution, but there is no shortage of people more than willing to take advantage of things and basically become a major PITA. You ownit, you pay the taxes, it's your decision that matters, not the opinions of those that think they can abuse your investment. Best of luck.

RE: To post or not in PA
 

I have alot of experience with the Amish and i can tell you this,,,if their close to your property,,,there will be no deer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

POST EVERY TREE WHERE THEIR CONSERNED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RE: To post or not in PA
 

I agree and have zero respect for them...sorry, too many pathetic dealings with them.