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road trapping question

7K views 17 replies 10 participants last post by  Grandpap trapper 
#1 ·
i am thinking about trying road trapping this year. i never done it before. what are the laws and what are some do's and dont's
 
#6 ·
Please tell me who to ask permission to trap on state right of way,municipal right of way,state forrest,game lands,or flood control.Every culvert or bridge is a pinch point for any animal traveling the watercourse.Stay off private property and use discression for the other issues mentioned.I peronnally refuse to ask permission to trap public property.Private property is another thing.Respect the landowner.I have had state troopers stop and ask if there was a problem.Explain you are trapping and they tell you good luck and have a nice day.
 
#7 ·
Ironbelly said:
Please tell me who to ask permission to trap on state right of way,municipal right of way,state forrest,game lands,or flood control.Every culvert or bridge is a pinch point for any animal traveling the watercourse.Stay off private property and use discression for the other issues mentioned.I peronnally refuse to ask permission to trap public property.Private property is another thing.Respect the landowner.I have had state troopers stop and ask if there was a problem.Explain you are trapping and they tell you good luck and have a nice day.
X2 I have also been told the same thing by state troopers
 
#9 ·
most state and county roads are a 50ft wide right of way. the pavement and berm covers approximately 35ft of that.. That's why people think roadside sets are ok. However, it is a right of way, not ownership. You cannot put legally put a set 2 feet off the pavement anymore than you can trap any old gasline or powerline right of way you see.. I know setting bridges is commonplace but as bob said, if the landowner complains, you will not be in the right... Ask permission if you want to do it right.
 
#10 ·
Right of ways are not public land, they are right of ways for a purpose on private land. If you own rural land you own to the center of the road. If you own both sides of the road then you own the whole roadway. The state/township/etc. has a right of way for the explicit purpose of public travel only and they maintain it for that purpose. You can't do anything you please in that right of way, you can't just hunt, fish, or set up a roadside stand. Maybe you have a power or gas line across your property, the power company has a right of way on it for one explicit purpose, employess can't hunt, camp, fish, or hold a company picnic on it. The right of way access is ONLY for maintaining the line.
 
#12 ·
Well, look at it this way. VASTLY more of my tax dollars than yours are being used for the land that bridge is on. I am paying property taxes specifically on every square inch of that land that you have a right to pass on. I get no property tax break for the portion of my land that is in public right of way. And I still have to pay those same income taxes that you are talking about. Seems fair to me that the state should have to lease my land if they want a public road and bridge on it. Why should I have to be the only one paying property tax on it and yet you can use that portion of my land. That sounds more like crap than not being able to walk on someones land because you pay road taxes.
 
#14 ·
Bob, Trapn 4 reds, and Tundragriz are correct. The "ironbelly" mentality will eventually catch up with you and hopefully cost you some cash. The state police (or game commission) will not harass you and most likely won't even ask if you have permission until someone files a complaint/presses charges. I don't understand why so many people insist that they don't have to ask for permission. It states in the pgc digest that you must have permission to hunt/trap private property. What PA needs, are stiffer penalties for tresspassing (Like Ohio and mid-western/western states). I feel that greater penalties would lead to a more polite, and respectful society.
 
#15 ·
The ironbelly mentality as stated is to respect the landowner at all times absolutely.I deal with road right of way issues in my work almost daily.Be assured that I am correct in telling you that there are full width rights of way that are deeded state or municipal property and as such are public property.Tresspassing is always wrong and should be prosecuted.bux&dux asked a question and got a wrong answer.I guess he will either have to consult an attorney or still wonder what "dos and don'ts" of road trapping are.I'm not going to argue.
 
#18 ·
There are private lands under the farm-game and safety zone programs that are open to hunting and trapping. Still, always best to contact the land owner especially for trapping. On the large co-ops such as with utility and lumber companies, it may not be necessary to contact anybody since it is usually posted open to hunting and/or with Game Commission signs.
 
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