Trespass while hunting (lawyer, law, dangerous)

[MissingAll4Seasons]

OK, I can find all the laws stating that it is criminal trespass to hunt on posted private property without the express permission of the owner.

What I can't find is whether Alaska is one of the states that allows hunters to pursue an already wounded animal onto private property without permission for the sole purpose of retrieving their prey (or their hunting dogs) regardless of any posted trespassing notices.

Some states allow this, and I thought I'd read that Alaska was one of them; but I can't find the link now. Can someone please confirm or deny (with links if possible)?

[NorthWord]

It's not the state or the property owners you need to worry about, it's the Federal Government. Be extrememly careful about hunting near a national park. Bring a GPS and a lawyer just to be safe.

We don't use dogs to hunt, and we generally use bullets that a big enough to stop an animal in its tracks.
Most of the more popular hunting areas are a long way from private property.

[MissingAll4Seasons]

Thanks NorthWord -- I'm looking at this more from the perspective of the property owner rather than the hunter though. My property is surrounded by state land that is pretty active during the hunting season, so I just want to make sure I know my rights and the hunter's rights so neither are violated.

I'm not opposed to a responsible hunter pursuing a wounded animal onto my property, but I don't want some yahoo using that as an excuse to stand on the easement and take potshots at critters on my land either.

[NorthWord]

Post signs if in doubt - lots of them.

Where you're going is prime moose territory in the fall, so no doubt there's folks up there that have been hunting on what is now your land for quite some time.

Get to know your neighbors, and let everyone know where you stand on the issue.
You will probably run into the famous Alaska "...I've been here for xx years and I have always hunted/fished/rode/hiked/whatever here..."
Just cut those folks off, it's yours now. Out of common courtesy, the landowner gets first dibs on critters.

[Huckleberry3911948]

for many the sign means if the owner is not around come on it and get to shooting.

[NorthWord]

Not around here.

I'm as fast with a backhoe as I am with a .45

[MissingAll4Seasons]

ROFL -- I'm even better running claymore tripwires than I am with my .45. I figure after a few splatterdays people will get the hint that hunting on my land is not healthy.

No, but seriously, I do want to know whether the law stipulates that a hunter can temporarily trespass without permission in pursuit of a wonded animal... or whether "no hunting" and "no trespass" means absolutely not under any circumstances.

[Glitch]

I have been hunting for more than 40 years, and I have never hunted on someone elses property without their permission, and often their written permission. If I see "No Trespassing" signs someplace where I would like to hunt, or any other indicator that the property may be privately owned, I seek out the owner of the property. If I am not able to find them, or if the owner does not want me to hunt on their property, I look for someplace else to hunt.

I have never had to follow wounded game on to someone elses property. If such an event were to arise, I would not go on to someone elses property without their consent. I don't really care what the law says on the subject, it is both common sense and common curtesy to obtain the permission of the property owner before entering their property. I would not want strangers coming on to my property, armed or not, without my permission. Why would I treat any one else differently?

[MissingAll4Seasons]

I see your point Glitch, and in a sport hunting scenario or just random trespass I totally agree with you on all counts... but lots of the locals are hunting for food so the line gets a little fuzzy (for me) with respects to allowing them to pursue a wounded animal onto my property. I also wouldn't want a wounded animal to lie suffering/dying somewhere on my property until I could be contacted by the hunter or found it myself or it attracted a potentially more dangerous animal.

[Captain Crunch]

Jeff King this past year...know the boundaries and use your GPS as best ya can

newsminer.com • Four-time Iditarod champion Jeff King charged with illegal moose kill

newsminer.com • Jeff King to pay fine, restitution in Denali Park illegal hunting case

Iditarod musher King charged with illegal moose kill: Hunting | adn.com