|
 Contributed
by Jason Grogan,
Research Technician, Forest Measurements, Forest
Resources Insitute
Arthur
Temple College of Forestry, Stephen
F. Austin State University
Reprinted from The
Monitor,Summer 2002
During landowner interviews for FRI's Nonindustrial Private
Forestlands Research Project (NIPF), one of the questions asked
is "Do you lease your property for hunting?" Too often
the reply from absentee landowners is "No, no one hunts
on my land." I hesitate to respond, yet, unfortunately
if a landowner or their agent is not able to closely monitor
their property, in East Texas, it most definitely is hunted!
These parcels are the ones that we hesitate to visit during
hunting season, as there is a good possibility of encountering
unauthorized hunters on the property.
Landowners may ask "Why can't we keep the poachers out,
are laws not enforced?" My response is, as long as landowners
(as a group) are complacent and continue to allow unauthorized
use of their property, all the laws in the world will do little
good. As with most private forestland issues, the real power
lies with the landowners themselves. Here are a few recommendations
to help prevent trespassing and poaching on your property.
|
"POSTED PURPLE" |
Many states have
laws providing a certain color paint to be used in place
of costly signs for posting property. You may have noticed
"posted purple" paint on trees and rocks in Arkansas and
wondered what all the marks were for.
These marks, when placed properly, are assumed to be "posted
- no trespass signs". The state of Texas recently has enacted
a law (Texas
Penal Code, Article 30.05) providing for the use of
purple paint to post property boundaries (Texas
Statutes, 2001). The use of written posted signs are
still recommended at access points, such as gates. Unlike
signs, marks are not easily removed or torn down and do
not have to be replaced often. In order to post your property
using this paint method, the following is required:
- Place purple paint marks on trees or fence posts
- Marks must be vertical lines at least 1" wide and
8" high
- The bottom of the mark must be between 3' and 5' of
the ground
- Marks must be placed at locations readily visible
to person approaching property
- Marks must be no more than 100' apart on forestland
and no more than 1000' apart on non-forestland
The major drawbacks to this method are concerns over excessive
amounts of paint on trees ruining the visual quality of
our rural areas and the public's lack of knowledge of thelaw.
Each landowner will have to make his or her own decision
on whether or not the paint is visually offensive to them
and their property. With increased use of this marking practice,
and perhaps some publicity from landowner associations,
the public should become aware of the meaning of "purple"
boundaries, making them as effective as posted signs. |
- Join your county landowner and forest landowner associations.
- Form alliances with neighboring landowners.
- Ask a friend or relative who lives in the area to routinely
patrol the property.
- Lease the property to a reputable individual.
- Make regular visits to property, move objects around,
mow lanes, etc.(make it evident someone has been there.)
- Call the local game warden or sheriff if you suspect trespassing.
- Gate roads and other access points to property.
- Put up posted signs and/or clearly mark boundaries with
"posted" purple.
The best deterrents to unauthorized use of your property is
the periodic presence of authorized individuals and evidence
of frequent use of the property. Landowners who live on or near
their property are ahead of the game in this area. Absentee
landowners are presented with the problem of frequent travel
to visit their property or with finding someone to periodically
visit for them. One alternative is to lease hunting rights of
the property to a reputable, local individual. This person will
pay you to look after your property!
 Many
landowners do not lease their property because they do not believe
in the practice of hunting. I will not attempt to justify hunting,
although I think it does have ecological importance. If a landowner
does not want hunting on their property, there are other alternatives
for leasing the property. Non-consumptive forest uses such as
bird watching, wildlife observation and recreational bicycle
and motorcycle riding is becoming increasingly popular. Many
factors must be considered when making your property available
for these other uses, but leasing your property for non-consumptive
uses as an alternative to hunting, is an option.
The bottom line to help prevent trespassing and poaching is
for landowners to stand together, and for each property tohave
a local individual with a vested interest in the conservation
of the property, whether it be the property owner himself or
a lessee. |
