Another state land question

[Beave]

Boehr, what's the rule regarding access to hunting on state land? Obviously all other applicable hunting laws must be followed, but are there certain types of zoning land must have in order to be huntable by the general public?

I ask because I can pick up a platt map from the local county and find some nice medium and small sized parcels of land that are owned by the state but aren't being hunted by the public for the most part. Often these area's aren't in any way posted as state land, but I'm assuming I can still hunt them right? Is there a special zoning code that land must have to be huntable, or is any land owned by the state without a fence around it open to the public?

I'm starting to scout out some land for a spring Turkey hunt, and I found several parcels of land on the platt map that are close by but I didn't realize were state land. I want to make sure I'm not breaking any laws when I hunt these. One small parcel of land in particular that I just recently found out was state land has some prime deer hunting on it, but it's butted right up next to someone's land who I know from growing up in the area. This is the kind of guy who'd have his own mother ticketed for trespassing if she tried to hunt on his land, and the fact that this land is the state's and not his shocked someone I talked to who lives right across the road from that parcel. The guy has basically been telling people he owns the land, to the point he keeps the shoulder of the road mowed in that area in the summer. I guess that's not technically a law unless he trys to actually restrict access to the land by barring entry or running someone off, but I suspect he'll be none too happy if I start hunting there this spring.

I obviously would like to hunt there, but I want to be well prepared before I do. Besides bringing a copy of the platt map, I want to make sure there isn't some technicality he can call a CO or LEO and have me ticketed for.

[boehr]

I suspect you should contact the District Office that the land you are talking about is in to find out for sure. Just because it is state land does not mean it is ok to hunt on it. Michigan Dept of Transportation has land but they don't allow hunting. The land could have been given to the state by some person's estate when they died or just simply donated to the state by a person with the understanding hunting would not be allowed or maybe hunting would not be allowed until a certain year. There are all kinds of possibilities. So if it's state land and it is not posted as open to public hunting then call, especially in southern Michigan but anywhere if there is a question about it.

[malainse]

Beave,
Very good question I was going to ask the same but have not gotten around to it. Have a section of Wetlands that MDOT had to make because they took some away building new section of M-45. Would be great duck hunting area and my friend owns property next to it......

I called MDOT and they said NO hunting!!!!!!

[answerguy8]

Wouldn't the state have to do the same thing any landowner would have to do to make a property 'no hunting'? Post it and or fence it?

The only concern I would have had was if there was a township ordinance for no discharge of guns or if the property all fell within 450 feet of residential building.

[boehr]

Posting etc., yes the state would have to do the same.

As for local hunting controls, here is the site where you can find out if a local hunting control exists.

http://www.michigan.gov/dnr/0,1607,7...597---,00.html