Cooperative Extension offers tips
to avoid trespass during hunting season

Trespass can lead to unsafe hunting conditions, vandalism, theft and/or property damage during hunting season. By knowingly going onto someone else's land without consent, a person violates the law against trespassing and can put everyone at risk especially during the hunting season. Hunters receive training on property rights and know to seek permission in order to access a property for hunting and/or claiming a downed animal taken on nearby land. If given permission, both hunter and landowner should share details about hunting locations, access points, description and parking of vehicles and expectations regarding use of the land.

To avoid trespass, Bob King of Cornell Cooperative Extension asks landowners to consider the following:

•Post it - The posting of No Trespassing signs in plan view and where entry appears to be occurring is an ideal way to inform an unwanted visitor to stay off a property. For enforcement, New York Environmental Conservation Law requires a No Trespassing sign to be a minimum of 11 inches by 11 inches, have a clear message and include the owner's address and signature. Signs have to be posted high enough to be seen and no more than 660 feet apart. Every corner of the property and the middle of each boundary line must be posted with a sign.

Most local law enforcement agencies encourage the use of No Trespassing signs for enforcement purposes, since a trespasser may be unaware of going on to land without consent. On unposted-open lands, a trespasser must be given verbal notice or a certified return receipt letter before enforcement can be made. Although fenced lands do not require personal contact between landowner and trespasser for enforcement, ideally fenced lands should be posted.

•Prevent it - Prevent unauthorized entry or access to the property by using gates, fencing and other physical barriers such as stakes, landscaping and landscape berms. These barriers can help deter trespassing when strategically placed in high traffic areas of unwanted access. Ideally, all fencing, stakes and other physical barriers should have no trespassing signs attached in a conspicuous location along with reflectors and other warning devices.

•Keep an eye on it - Monitor the property for signs of trespass and unauthorized access. In sensitive areas such as equipment and buildings, use lights, alarms, motion detection lights, cameras or other security equipment.

•Report it - When you observe trespass, report it immediately to local law enforcement. Call 911 or your local law enforcement phone number. If possible, get the hunting license number of the trespasser, license plate number of any suspicious vehicles parked around the property or any other identifying characteristic that can help law enforcement identify the trespasser. By state law, an owner or owner's representative can demand to see but not take possession of a hunters license number for identification purposes. Make sure that employees, family and neighbors know how and where to report trespass and who has permission to be on the property.

For information about trespass check out: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/sportsed/posting.html