hunting along gravel roads

[1/2 Canadian]

I recently moved to Moorhead MN, and its been a few years since I've gone goose/duck hunting. I've always had my dads land to hunt on so I've never been in a situation to ask for permission to hunt. I know that its o.k. to hunt on railroad right of way. But what about gravel roads? I'm asking about MN regulations.

[Ray1]

I wouldnt hunt the tracks like your talking because that is illegal. The right of way belongs to the railroad. As far as hunting out of ditches i would check with Phill Sefeldt(Clay County game warden) The problem with hunting out of a ditch is how are you going to retrieve your game that lands on private land. There has been a big problem with this north of Moorhead on the lagoons by crystal sugar.

[tearin' lips]

I would double check with the C.O.

[BucksnDucks]

Small game, which is what waterfowl are classified under, may be hunted from the road ditch. And to answer the question about retrieving game that lands on private property, aslong as it was shot in a legal manner you may enter that land {Without your firearm of course} to retrieve your game. If anyone where to harass you about it, I would not think twice about getn the warden involved.

[Mclovin]

so any ditch is legit?

[BucksnDucks]

Not any, there seems to be loopholes for almost everything. But yes for the most part your ok. I know around the refuge lines near Hutchinson, your not allowed to shot from the road ditches, im guessing its the same around most refuges in the state. Otherwise yes your perfectly legal.

[Dave S]

Do keep in mind that if a property owner asks you to leave their property prior to you retrieving your game, you must do so. If the land is legally posted, you can be cited for trespassing. There may not be signs in view as land only needs to be posted once per year. Many times people (not the property owner) may remove the signs or the weather can blow them off. It's still legally posted. The COs carry affidavits with them in the event this situation would escalate.

Also, some road ditches are private property. There are limited cases of property owners owning the land to the middle of the road. The only way to know this would be to visit the County Assesor or Recordes's office for a specific area.

If you so choose to hunt ditches...............HUNTER BEWARE.

With all of the issues that can come to light, I would advise looking for someplace else to hunt. But that's just me.

[S 16 Guy]

How about this for a rule,,,, not posted as public or given specific permission,,, DON'T hunt it. Your likely in violation of MN tresspass rules.

And Bucks/Ducks, the small game rules don't apply to the MIGRATORY BIRDS...

I also suggest that people (you do it ALL THE TIME) who solicite legal advice or interpretation on this HSOforum from people you don't know, GET A CLUE.... Contact the DNR, Sheriff's Office, CO, or at the very least someone you know and who's opinion you respect on the topic...

[BucksnDucks]

If you could supply us with your legal advice as to where it states in the regs. that this rule does not supply to waterfowl, I think would suffice? I believe the way I read it, all its says is that you can not discharge a firearm over or across a roadway!

[Gordie]

waterfowl is the only thing that you can leagly shoot from the right of way except geese in the early and late seasons and yes you can not shoot over or across a road.

[fasternu]

I asked a CO this same thing two years ago and was told that yes, it is LEGAL to hunt ditches. He said something about the wording of the law changed two years ago to allow it. No, you can't shoot over roads, and yes you have the right to retrieve game on private property if you enter without your firearm. Again, all that came from a CO.