Pheasant hunting question (railroad tracks?)

[DontShootMe]

On opener, I saw a man with his dog walking the railroad tracks.  Is this legal?  A gray area?

I've seen a Les Kubrou print of the same thing.

Also, recently, I saw a deer stand in some trees on railroad property next to the train tracks.

I've seen some might fine pheasant shrubs and grass next to railroad tracks with corn fields nearby.  Tempting...

[thunderpout]

I think you're right, its a grey area...My house's back yard butts up to railroad property and a set of tracks and they own an easment of land in between, we have compost piles and a deer feeder on it.  never had any issues.  One of my favorite WMA's in the north metro to pheasent hunt has a RR track as a boundry on a real swampy area and have hunted it for years with no issues...Just watch out for trains!  Oh yeah,  the paintings artist is Les KOUBA, he passed away a few years ago, I met him  a few times...really nice guy, sort of the grandfather of wildlife art and a mentor of mine.  Go chase them R.R. track roosters!      -thunderpout happy2.gif

[MulletvilleSprtsmn]

It's called the right-away and yes it's huntable. The Railway own the tracks not the land. And land owners dont either....... Our taxesat work for us.............

[Mayfly]

I have always hunted Railroad tracks. Not as much lately as I have in the past but still do on occasion. I use my discretion when hunting them. For instance I do not hunt them if they are near buildings or livestock etc.

[kenhuntin]

Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal, and trespassers are subject to arrest and/or fines. It is against the law in all states to trespass on any private property without permission of the owner or without having an official reason.  Alot of people believe they are huntable but that is not the case. I do not think it is enforced very often.http://pheasantsforever.org/page/PressReleaseViewer.jsp?pressReleaseId=7800

[Spinach]

Yep, Kenhuntin nailed it. It is against the law to hunt railroad tracks.

[DontShootMe]

Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal, and trespassers are subject to arrest and/or fines. It is against the law in all states to trespass on any private property without permission of the owner or without having an official reason.  Alot of people believe they are huntable but that is not the case. I do not think it is enforced very often.http://pheasantsforever.org/page/PressReleaseViewer.jsp?pressReleaseId=7800

Okay.  What about the ditches next to the tracks.  This is actually what I saw in real life (in the print, I saw on the tracks).

[The General]

I called a friend of mine who works for BN out of Willmar.  He told me it's legal to hunt the tracks for employees of BN.  He also said he can take friends along also.

[Mayfly]

Railroad tracks, trestles, yards and equipment are private property. Walking or playing on them is illegal, and trespassers are subject to arrest and/or fines. It is against the law in all states to trespass on any private property without permission of the owner or without having an official reason.  Alot of people believe they are huntable but that is not the case. I do not think it is enforced very often.http://pheasantsforever.org/page/PressReleaseViewer.jsp?pressReleaseId=7800

Okay.  What about the ditches next to the tracks.  This is actually what I saw in real life (in the print, I saw on the tracks).

You can hunt ditches. Although it seems to be a grey area as not everyone sees eye to eye on this topic. A few years back I contacted CO's and County Sheriffs in the counties that I hunt. They confirmed that I can hunt the ditches. A good ditch next to cut corn, one person and a dog, what more could you ask for

[GRIZ]

By ditch I assume you are refering to a drainage ditch and not a road ditch. All i have to ask is where in the heck do you find a drainage ditch that isn't posted.

[kenhuntin]

Railroads generally own the land that extends about 50 feet on each side straight out from the center of the track. In some places, the right of way is wider or narrower than 100 feet, but it's generally 100 feet.
 This info. is hard to find but it came from the minnesota united snowmobilers assoc. This general 100 foot wide strip is railroad private property there is no state or public buffer zone.

[rosiesdad]

I have a friend who used to be a RR detective(Chesapeak&Ohio). Said the RR never grants permission to civilians and because the RR is reactive and concerned with mostly theft/vandalism they dont go after trespassers a lot.
I suppose each Railroad line has different rules and priorities. So the answer could be "It depends"