Closing pond access

[Swamp Girl]

You might remember that I bought 4.5 acres of waterfront last spring. I didn't want to be one of those landowners who keeps hunters and anglers away from water. Well, I gave two guys permission to trap beaver, two permission to hunt ducks, three to hunt deer, and two to hunt coyotes. I've also given more than a dozen permission to fish, but I'm not giving anyone else permission to hunt or fish. There are so many using my land already and I'm dizzy trying to keep track of them all. All who already have permission are free to continue hunting and fishing. Just no newbies. 

 

What instigated this change is a guy who approached me and said, "I've heard there's a path you can walk down to the water."

 

And I replied, "There is. It's on my land. I took a chunk out of my retirement savings to buy that land. And I paid to have the driveway built. And I paid for the gravel that coats the path beyond the driveway. And I pay the taxes on the land. And I fetched the dozens of pallets that built the boardwalk. And I paid to have the dead wood cleared on the shoreline."

 

The guy wants to take his two grandkids fishing and I gave him permission, but he's the last. It irked me that there's an idea out there that my path is open to the public. I cross private land to reach a couple ponds and whenever I do that, I arrive with all due gratitude in the form of wine, beer, cashews, pecans, or chocolates. I have zero sense of entitlement.

[WRB]

No good deed goes unpunished.

No access, Private Property,  Beware of Swamp Creature! A few signs that may deter a few folks.

Hope everything works out for you Katy.

Tom

[JHoss]

It's a shame our country is coming to it. Far too many people feel entitled to things they have no claim to. I live on 4.5 acres as well, and it's mind boggling to me how some neighbors feel entitled to let their pets and livestock roam and forage on my land. 

 

I can confidently say, I would not have been as generous as you've been if I owned your place. 

 

Do you know if any of the hunters have had success? Seems like a lot of people on a small tract unless they're just using it to access another piece. 

[Jar11591]

Give somebody an inch, and them and all their friends will take a mile. 

[A-Jay]

Just from reading your posts on this forum Katy

I totally understand where you're coming from.

But I would not be as generous.

History has shown that people given an inch take a mile.

I hope for your sake this doesn't turn into the cluster so many before you have endured.

Seems it always starts out like this and NOTHING good ever comes from it. 

You've worked hard and earned your little piece of heaven.

Sharing it is admirable but may not end up being what you thought it was going to be.

Not everyone is like you - 

I agree with @WRB and @Jar11591

I'd tell everyone that your land is closed to the public, like all private property.

Isn't that why you bought it ?

btw- game cameras are your friend and you'll need signs.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

 

[padlin]

It’ll take a toll on your fishery too.

 

There’s a pond I went to once, just a few cottages on it, has a small area that’s state owned but unmarked and undeveloped. Portaged the canoe in, beautiful place though lackluster fishing. Next time went there was a pole with a no trespassing sign, on public land. Can’t say I blame them, doesn’t take long to mess up a good thing.

[Fishlegs]

I don't think you're being unreasonable. It sounds like people are assuming that you're ok with them using your property because they see others use it, or the ones you've given permission to use it are telling others that you're OK with it. Maybe you should make it clear to the ones you've given permission to that they do not have permission to let others use your property.

 

I have permission to fish a few private spots, but I would never tell anyone else that it was OK for them to fish there without talking to the owners.

[Rockhopper]

You can do as you please with your land.  My personal opinion...shut all of that down immediately.  Like yesterday immediately.  That is honestly not that much land and you just described WAY too many people wanting to use it.  Signs, cameras, authorities.  I would also make sure to have a camera wherever these people park to access your land to get plate numbers.  Just don't point it at another's private property.  But you can photo anything you want from a public road (even private property).

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, JHoss said:

Do you know if any of the hunters have had success?

 

Just the duck hunters. 

 

23 minutes ago, Rockhopper said:

That is honestly not that much land and you just described WAY too many people wanting to use it. 

 

Yep, that's my thinking. It's full.

 

35 minutes ago, Fishlegs said:

I don't think you're being unreasonable. It sounds like people are assuming that you're ok with them using your property because they see others use it, or the ones you've given permission to use it are telling others that you're OK with it.

 

Yeah, that's what bugs me, people thinking that they're entitled. 

 

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

You've worked hard and earned your little piece of heaven.

Sharing it is admirable but may not end up being what you thought it was going to be.

 

I have worked hard. I'm thinking of putting a chain up and a "No Trespassing" sign. I'll tell the people who've been given permission to duck under the chain and keep using it, but only after they've called me for permission to use it on a specific date. I don't want any surprises when I'm coming through the woods in the dark.