Being nice is wonderful. Friendlier "No Trespassing" signs

There is a small article in Farm Show (Vol. 34, No. 6) called "Friendlier No Trespassing Signs." North Dakota landowners can choose to post alternatives to "No Trespassing" like, "Ask Before you Enter; Hunting or trespassing allowed by permission only," and "Walking Hunters Welcome; Please park your vehicle and walk. Thank you."

I just think that little things like this, even sort of subconsciously, make the world that much better:)

Give someone an inch...

  PRIVATE  FIRING  RANGE

ENTER  AT  YOUR  OWN  RISK

As a land owner myself, I hate the idea that anyone can "own" land in a way that prohibits other people from crossing it, and I like the law in Scotland, which says you can cross land and even camp and picnic on it, as long as you act responsibly (link). I think most of us would rather have the right to walk anywhere, than be confined to our own little cages with the right to exclude others.

Of course, the problem is that we live in a barbaric culture where many people do not respect the land. I've picked up litter on my property more than once. There has got to be some clever combination of words or images that will make the goons feel uneasy and the nice hikers feel comfortable. Maybe a bunch of plywood cutouts, painted to look like wild animals, with stern eyes that seem to follow you everywhere. And in case people knock them down, you can make little overhangs on the back that attract hornet's nests...

As a youngster I trespassed all over the place.  I would like youngsters today to have that same freedom, so I'm not all that worried about neighbor kids crossing our land, though I have never noticed them doing so (doesn't mean they haven't!  )

My tolerance of strangers has been affected by the antics of many total cretins who visit the public lands, National Forest land, that I travel through on the way to our mountain property. We, including four other private land owners are surrounded by thousands of acres of National Forest. Along the way in to our land we see the usual array of soda, beer and water bottles and cans discarded along with snack wrappers. Add to that the odd soiled diaper or strips of discarded toilet paper five or six feet from the roadside. Or how about the unnecessary "trail braiding" caused by irresponsible ATV riders for the most part. (Trail braiding is riding parallel to and zig zag across an existing trail.) Or how about the camp sight, abandoned with a smoldering campfire?

Two weekends ago we came across a newly felled pine about ten yards off the side of the dirt track a couple miles from our property. We have high winds from time to time that blow trees over. The first trip in on 4 wheels this spring we had to cut away four that had been blown across the road in. This one appeared to have a freshly sawn butt. So, curious, I walked over to it. Some jerk had cut down a perfectly healthy ten inch diameter pine. For no good reason, not to mention that is illegal. No wood was taken, the trunk cut matched the stump perfectly. Simply put it was a totally wanton act of destruction.

And some people wonder why we have a 4 strand barbed wire perimeter fence, shiny bright red and black No Trespassing signs (the unfriendly kind) plus a locked steel pipe gate on each of the road/trail access points?

I also have some surveillance cameras; game cameras actually. Luckily we have never been bothered by vandals or burglars. Lots of video clips and stills of deer, elk and a few bear though. Both probably because the cabin and outbuildings can not be seen from any public access points. And that most people are honest. But there seem to be a lot of people that should not be allowed outside their home.

Good fences *and* good signs make good neighbors. This is my own experience. It's like when people see open land they crap their pants from imagining the things they can do to spoil it. Not to mention that people will try to sue or claim grievances or create liabilities that property owners are responsible for.

*********WARNING*********
***zombie containment area**
*********NO ENTRY*********

Please feed our pit bulls

had a neighbor back homes whose signs read


"Enter at own risk; trespassers may be violated"

Welcome to Our Beautiful Farm and Home ! Please step back a moment or two and admire the elegant Old World Craftmanship displayed in our Fences and Gates . Call for an appointment if you would like to schedule a guided tour !

I knew a guy who would leave nasty stuff in trespassers cars while they were on his land. He once threw a bunch of dead bait fish from a fishing trip in through the sliding rear window of a pickup truck that was parked on his field. He left a note on the window " should have obeyed the signs". His property was well posted but some people learn the hard way.

My Father in law has been known to play with illegally parked cars with his trackhoe. Never actually touches the car, but builds hugelmounds or moats around them.

What about this one?

A friend has a sign posted "Danger. Keep out. Toxic chemicals sprayed on this land recently. Not responsible for injury or death of trespassers" .

My gate sign says, "Bad bull lose in pasture today. Call xxx-xxxx for entry. Not responsible for injury or death". So far the only trespasser has been my next door neighbor, but after my guard dog caught her and pinched her on her butt while she ran for the fence, she hasn't pulled that stupid trick again. Served her right for trying to snoop.

By law I have to have my property posted every so many feet, so I post "No entry. Very dangerous. See sign on gate."

Su Ba wrote:
By law I have to have my property posted every so many feet, so I post "No entry. Very dangerous. See sign on gate."

Why do you have to have it posted so much?

As she said, it the law.

The law in Vermont is:
Landowner permission is not required for hunting on private land in Vermont, except on land properly posted with signs prohibiting hunting, and also on all private land during the Youth Hunting Weekends for deer and turkey. However, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department encourages hunters to seek permission. The privilege of using private land is extended by generous landowners, and most landowners allow hunting when asked.

So, what's "land properly posted with signs prohibiting hunting?"

Hunting, fishing or trapping on properly posted land is illegal. Properly posted land will have records filed with the town clerk and the Fish & Wildlife Department. See Title 10, V.S.A., Sections 5201 to 5206.
To be properly posted land:

The owner or the person who has exclusive rights to fish, hunt and trap on the land will post the signs.
The owner or person posting the land shall annually record the posting at the town clerk’s office for a fee of $5.00
Signs must be not less than 11½ inches wide by 8 inches high in size
Lettering and background on the signs must be of contrasting colors
The signs must contain the wording that hunting, fishing or trapping or any combination of the three are prohibited or forbidden
Signs are valid even if additional information is on the sign, as long as a reasonable person would understand that hunting, fishing or trapping are prohibited or forbidden
Legible signs must be maintained at all times and dated each year
Posting signs must be erected on or near all the boundaries, at each corner and not over 400 feet apart.

So this actually might be bordering on 'good news'. Time will tell. I've been reading Blacks Law Dictionary...

I'm thinking of a sign something along the lines of

"Landon's Permaculture Homestead" "Work Area - Potentially Hazardous " "No Trespass without prior written consent" "Beware of Dog" "Beware of Geese" "Violators will be prosecuted"

Suggestions for making it nicer will be considered. Trust me it'll be way better than my original Idea which I am hesitant to put in print.

I've had it for years

"Dog friendly; Beware of owner"

I was pretty partial to Sams "Dog has a gun and refuses to take his medication" sign myself