New SK trespassing laws coming soon

[griffin86]

I read the recent paper put out by the Sask Dept of Justice on the trespass topic. If implemented as proposed, it will pretty much eliminate white tailed deer hunting as Sask residents know it. It is the first step in Texas-Wyoming style hunting where you pay the land holder to enter the land and it does not matter if game is present or otherwise. The Association of Rural Municipalities has been begging government for years to have this kind of legislation put in place to essentially close down all kinds of hunting and all other activities. The Conservation Officers Association favor this kind of legislation too as they would prefer to direct highway traffic and play hand maiden to the local RCMP with new anti drinking legislation now in place rather than do actual conservation work. There is more. With farms now becoming huge corporate enterprises where 5000 acres of cultivation is pretty much the minimum for a viable grain farm, the paper suggests at special rules for cultivated land. Clearly, the drafters of the government paper don't know that passage over or through cultivated land is necessary to access even the simplest deer or anteloper habitat

So you feel like you’re entitled to hunt on my land?

 

[dgl1948]

Current Sk trespass act:
http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/freelaw/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/T20-2.pdf

This is only one of the trespassing acts. Better check trespassing under the ATV act , the Snowmobile act as well as others. The courts have also ruled on trespassing INV Sask. Basically what the courts have said is no one has the right to trespass and lack of signage does not give rights of access.

 

[scott_r]

This is only one of the trespassing acts. Better check trespassing under the ATV act , the Snowmobile act as well as others. The courts have also ruled on trespassing INV Sask. Basically what the courts have said is no one has the right to trespass and lack of signage does not give rights of access.

Then why is SARM having this in meeting and the Gov't considering changing the Act??? Why waste their time if this is already law?

 

[skhunter]

How are you getting penalised? If you want to hunt on private propriety buy an RM map and make some phone calls. Every year I make up a list of people to call where I'll likely be hunting, phone to get or be denied permission, and hunt accordingly. Its very easy to do, and now I've got a reputation with people as someone who calls ahead and respects the landowner, and sometimes I get a visit from the landowner while hunting to go check a spot out where a nice animal has been hiding all summer.

As a hunter I am being labelled a criminal even though I don't cause any damage. As a landowner now I have to put up with phone calls and strangers in my yard.

I have no problem with anyone hunting on my land. If problems crop up I can post it.

Changing these laws will do nothing to deter crime and just inconvenience a lot of honest people. Hmmm, sounds familiar.

 

[skhunter]

There are road allowances every mile east west, and every 2 miles north south in SK. A hunter can stay on the allowance until they get to the area they have permission to be on.

Road allowances are not roads.

 

[skhunter]

Then why is SARM having this in meeting and the Gov't considering changing the Act??? Why waste their time if this is already law?

Too many farmers with "get of my lawn" syndrome.

 

[skhunter]

So you feel like you’re entitled to hunt on my land?

Do you feel entitled to wildlife damage payments?

 

[griffin86]

Do you feel entitled to wildlife damage payments?

I have never taken any crop damage or wildlife damage payments ever.

 

[griffin86]

Too many farmers with "get of my lawn" syndrome.

Funny, I haven’t seen you make any of my $50k+ a year land payments, comrade.

 

[bearkilr]

Interesting (and disturbing) to read how many have such socialist views on private property. I guess the NDP roots still run strong.
If you want unrestricted access, hunt crown land or buy your own. Simple.

 

[guy329]

My family owns land in Sask, and we have never refused hunting permission, as long as they showed us some indication they understood and respected the fact that it was private land. We will also try to give them information on where the game is (runs, feeding areas, etc). But sometimes, because we hunt too, the answer is no, at least for the time we have out hunt planned.

Landowners pay property taxes and maintain fences and gates. It is not very often we see gates left open or fences cut, or simply run thru, but it does happen. It only takes once or twice and it really leaves a bad taste.

Why not just talk to the land owner? It's not that difficult.

 

[Dukester]

That's my interpretation as well, but I'm no expert either. "Unless' the land is posted as I read it.

We're posting our land this fall and locking gates. Simply too many taking liberty, in one case putting deep ruts all across a hay 1/4, which we bounce over twice every round while cutting, tedding, raking, baling and picking bales. That's it. Ours was about the only land for 20 mi that wasn't posted.

edit: not, "just" due to that, but between that and unknown snowmobilers blasting through our yard we've simply had it.

Yes the gift that keeps on giving, ruts.
4 wheelers rutted up a field years ago and a few years later, related or not , I busted a spindle on the haybine in the middle of a real "gotta get this cut" scenario.

Funny how every time going around a field your equipment or your arse take a hit it reminds you not to trust people to respect your property.

 

[canadian hunter312]

Interesting, I wasn't aware it was like that out there. Not judging anyone, but it's my opinion that one should always seek permission rather than treating privately owned land as if it's crown land. I'd feel like I was disrespecting the landowner if I started hunting without asking first.

 

[skhunter]

I have never taken any crop damage or wildlife damage payments ever.

Have you ever had wildlife damage?

 

[skhunter]

Funny, I haven’t seen you make any of my $50k+ a year land payments, comrade.

Nobody else has made any of mine either. Doesn't mean I have to be bitter.

 

[skhunter]

My family owns land in Sask, and we have never refused hunting permission, as long as they showed us some indication they understood and respected the fact that it was private land. We will also try to give them information on where the game is (runs, feeding areas, etc). But sometimes, because we hunt too, the answer is no, at least for the time we have out hunt planned.

Landowners pay property taxes and maintain fences and gates. It is not very often we see gates left open or fences cut, or simply run thru, but it does happen. It only takes once or twice and it really leaves a bad taste.

Why not just talk to the land owner? It's not that difficult.

Neither is nailing a no trespassing sign to a fence post.

 

[skhunter]

Yes the gift that keeps on giving, ruts.
4 wheelers rutted up a field years ago and a few years later, related or not , I busted a spindle on the haybine in the middle of a real "gotta get this cut" scenario.

Funny how every time going around a field your equipment or your arse take a hit it reminds you not to trust people to respect your property.

Did no trespassing laws stop them from making ruts?

 

[skhunter]

Interesting, I wasn't aware it was like that out there. Not judging anyone, but it's my opinion that one should always seek permission rather than treating privately owned land as if it's crown land. I'd feel like I was disrespecting the landowner if I started hunting without asking first.

Treat the land with respect and I don't see the need for you to ask me for permission.

 

[caver77]

Interesting (and disturbing) to read how many have such socialist views on private property. I guess the NDP roots still run strong.
If you want unrestricted access, hunt crown land or buy your own. Simple.

Amen!

 

[rkr]

These changes should technically almost put and end to the weekend road warrior style of hunting (i.e. driving down the grids until an animal is spotted in a random field, then shooting it). I understand that not everyone has the time to put into baiting, walking the bush, etc. and that sometimes you have to drive the roads to be able to put meat into your freezer when you only get those 2 days off in a hunting season, but it would be nice to eliminate the road warriors that are simply too lazy to get out of the truck.

I'd like to see this happening. 90% of SK hunters do just that. No real hunting, just catching...