Property lines - where to find maps

[twoSevenO]

So it's a well known fact that we have certain areas with a lot of private property. Sometimes this property is fenced aka marked, sometimes just marked and sometimes neither.

It makes it frustrating for those that would like to hunt nearby areas but have no way of telling how far a ranch property actually extends.

I have tried to look up areas on the same site where I can pull up my own property, but it is difficult as some of it is leased grazing land and not actual owned property etc

I have tried the Google earth overlay, which suffers kind of the same problem.

Is there a better solution? If I went to the city, could I request a document that shows the exact property extent of a ranch? What have others done?

I dont mind paying a few bucks if it means I have a peace of mind that I'm not accidentally driving my ATV over someone's property and coming back to it seized.

Thanks!

[boxhitch]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?110525-BC-government-Google-Earth-land-use-data-file/page4


All of the data is still available, it's just been separated to different datasets and you need to add them individually now. I think all of these have both KML and WMS options:

Cut Blocks:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...ted-cutblocks- (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/harvested-areas-of-bc-consolidated-cutblocks-)
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...lygons-fta-4-0 (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/forest-tenure-cutblock-polygons-fta-4-0)

Surface Ownership:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...face-ownership (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/tantalis-surface-ownership)

WMU's:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...nagement-units (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/wildlife-management-units)

Forest Roads:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...-section-lines (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/forest-tenure-road-section-lines)

Road Atlas:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...tributed-roads (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/digital-road-atlas-dra-master-partially-attributed-roads)

Rec Sites:
https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dat...-purposes-only (https://catalogue.data.gov.bc.ca/dataset/recreation-sites-subset-information-purposes-only)

[dodge]

I found myself looking for the exact same thing this year.

After some research, I downloaded iHunter BC to my phone and subscribed to the landowner overlay for about $10 per year. It allows you to cache the maps for offline use, and even provides a copy of the regs.


Total cost was about $15 and so far I've been very impressed!

[Haddy]

https://ltsa.ca/online-services/parcelmap-bc

Try this.

Haddy

[Hidehanger]

FYI.
http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/18003/search/CIVIX_DOCUMENT_ROOT_STEM:(trespass%20to%20property )?3#hit1

[twoSevenO]

https://ltsa.ca/online-services/parcelmap-bc

Try this.

Haddy

I tried this before but I do not find it reliable.
Am I the only one?

[RyoTHC]

I found myself looking for the exact same thing this year.

After some research, I downloaded iHunter BC to my phone and subscribed to the landowner overlay for about $10 per year. It allows you to cache the maps for offline use, and even provides a copy of the regs.

Total cost was about $15 and so far I've been very impressed!

while Ihunter has been great for listing a lot of what’s crown private etc, do not rely on it 100 percent.
there are a few areas around where I hunt that I KNOw are private property(know and speak to the owners)
but for whatever reason on the app, their entire property shows up as general use crown land, and that’s certainly not the case. Even their ranch house is included in the shaded crown portion, so just food for thought ! It is absolutely better than guessing or having nothing though ! Worth the $15

[Hidehanger]

Link is broken
Google BC Laws and then search for Trespass to property and you can see the legislation. FYI

[twoSevenO]

Link is broken
Google BC Laws and then search for Trespass to property and you can see the legislation. FYI

What are you getting at? I'm not interested in trespassing or arguing the right of some easement or anything like that. I simply prefer to stay out of confrontation.

[twoSevenO]

while Ihunter has been great for listing a lot of what’s crown private etc, do not rely on it 100 percent.
there are a few areas around where I hunt that I KNOw are private property(know and speak to the owners)
but for whatever reason on the app, their entire property shows up as general use crown land, and that’s certainly not the case. Even their ranch house is included in the shaded crown portion, so just food for thought ! It is absolutely better than guessing or having nothing though ! Worth the $15

This has actually been my problem for every source. Always some inconsistencies

[Wild one]

Have you tried talking to the property owner?

I know it’s not what you asked for but would likely eliminate the chances of an accidental trespassing conflict. Who knows might be able to get permission to hunt the land it self or trespass through if needed

[Bugle M In]

I feel for ya.
Last season along Hat Creek, it was a bit of a nightmare to figure out what was and was not private.
Signs all over that say no shooting at times, but never saying private or left unmarked.
Purposely done so I suspect.
BC Mapbooks could add that feature to their gps maps, and they would make a killing in sales, imo.

[SemperAurum]

I have encountered many "no hunting, no trespassing, keep out, private property signs" over the years.

It is not uncommon for people to post up b.s. signs just to keep people out. Be diligent and dont believe every sign that you see. Some are fake. Verify.

[twoSevenO]

Have you tried talking to the property owner?

I know it’s not what you asked for but would likely eliminate the chances of an accidental trespassing conflict. Who knows might be able to get permission to hunt the land it self or trespass through if needed

Yes.
"No. You cant hunt there. No, you cant park there either. No, theres no easement on that road, if you park there I'll have ya towed, I dont care what you've been told."

Etc etc.

I have no interest in knocking on doors or talking. I just wanna know where I park is legal and that's it.

[Gun Dog]

I was using imapBC to look at property boundaries for a friend's place near 100 Mile. The site still has the survey markers and I turned on the aerial photography. Decent resolution but the property lines were out by dozens of metres. The accuracy is better in Langley around my house. So which is correct -- imapBC or the IP (iron post) in the middle of nowhere?

Anyway, I wouldn't trust the online data for exact information. You can also use BCAssessment (https://www.bcassessment.ca/) to look at ownership and give you an idea of what's going on.

[boxhitch]

Then best bet is to talk to the local regional district office .
Have good details about the location so staff can fine the right map easily

[Slinky Pickle]

The issue with looking for "another source" is that there isn't one. Any publications (whether they be government or private) that show land ownership status are all referencing the exact same government database. The info you're looking for is available in the Front Counter overlay for Google Earth but it can be a bit of a challenge to find.

If you need a hand looking at a specific spot I can probably help you out but I realize that you might not want to do that. PM me if you're interested.

[Bugle M In]

I get the frustration for sure.
I know a spot where I hunt elk, there is private property, and I also know (because my dad back in the day was considering purchasing it),
to a good degree, where the boundary is.

BUT, the owner placed signs not only on "his side of the road" to which is his property.
But also "on the other side of the road" which isn't his!!

As far as I am concerned, if we can be charged for trespassing, they should also be charged for false "signage"!!
Lots of people doing this!

Like I said about hat creek last year.
I am all good with respecting private property (well, I have to!), and appreciate "legal signs", IT, would be nice if I can be respectful for
their wishes, they could be respectful of everyone else as well and state "private property ends here".

But you will never see that happen!
They like the "deception" for those that don't know.

After reading this thread, I do thing the onus should be placed on the owner to put up signage, appropriately, and keep up with the signs.
Because as many state, it is damn near impossible to find out what is private at times.

[twoSevenO]

Yes, people put up signs often that say no hunting or trespassing even though it is outside of their actual property.

I did get the Google Earth overlay to work at some point, but i found it unreliable. Glad i'm not the only one that is noticing inconsistencies. I know some people have had issues with the Douglas Ranch and access through it ... it's a shame that our public FSRs can, essentially, be "claimed" by a rancher and unless you come prepared you can be scared away rather easily.

Anywho, i paid the $10 to get the private land layer for iHunter ..... it seems like a pretty good one to have on hand.

Thanks guys!

[Ltbullken]

What I've found quite interesting with iHunter is that there is some discrepancy between what some landowners are posting as 'private' and what the app shows as crown. And the other apps available also show the same. Also, remember guys, what isn't posted and signed has no come back on us as hunters.

[twoSevenO]

After reading this thread, I do thing the onus should be placed on the owner to put up signage, appropriately, and keep up with the signs.
Because as many state, it is damn near impossible to find out what is private at times.


EXACTLY! My house has a yard that's pretty clearly marked, fenced. People know the extent of my property.
If you own 10,000 acres in the middle of nowhere, how am i supposed to know i've entered your property???

Many moons ago i ran into a guy up in Kane Valley that I had a chat with. It's actually an interesting chat. I hiked in from Aspen Grove side and passed no signs or fences or markers. Ran into a guy who came over to inform me i was on private property.

I said ok, i didn't see any signs. Were there any?
He said "well i put them up but people take them down. I can't be sure that every sign is up"
Then i asked "how do i know you're not just another hunter that wants me out of here?"

lol ... it was not a heated conversation, but he thought about every response for a bit before he spoke up.
I'm sure ranchers are busy people .... but if you really want people to get the message, you gotta be more diligent with your signage and/or fencing. I know for sure if i had a property i didn't want others to hunt there would be some decent signs off all major nearby roads with a GPS coordinates marking out the boundaries.

As it stands, you really gotta go to the Land title office to be really sure .... and even then, i'm not sure if they would draw up the documents for someone else's property and not just your own.

Yes, annoying, but lets be happy it's not nearly as bad as it is down in the USA.

[Redthies]

As far as I am concerned, if we can be charged for trespassing, they should also be charged for false "signage"!!
Lots of people doing this!

After reading this thread, I do thing the onus should be placed on the owner to put up signage, appropriately, and keep up with the signs.

To your first point, if falsely marking crown land, they could possibly be charged with interfering with a lawful hunt, but good luck getting that charge even considered by COs. I agree 100% that the people knowingly signing crown land should be charged. Tough to prove though.

For the second point, I would support a “no signs, no charges” scenario. There are so many spots that aren’t fenced or signed, and you can cross from crown to private land in one stride. If it’s not marked, or obvious, I think a warning is all that should be allowed. Of course,some a-holes will always take advantage of a law like that and knowingly hunt on private land which would cause a lot of potential issues too.

[Redthies]

EXACTLY! My house has a yard that's pretty clearly marked, fenced. People know the extent of my property.
If you own 10,000 acres in the middle of nowhere, how am i supposed to know i've entered your property???

Many moons ago i ran into a guy up in Kane Valley that I had a chat with. It's actually an interesting chat. I hiked in from Aspen Grove side and passed no signs or fences or markers. Ran into a guy who came over to inform me i was on private property.

I said ok, i didn't see any signs. Were there any?
He said "well i put them up but people take them down. I can't be sure that every sign is up"
Then i asked "how do i know you're not just another hunter that wants me out of here?"

Kane Valley is a great example. I’ve hunted up there quite a bit, and I obey any signs I see, but there is so much that is left in question once you get past the main clusters of houses.

[Ltbullken]

From the Hunting Regs:

Private or leased property is considered enclosed if any
one of the following conditions are met:
• there are clearly visible signs
prohibiting trespassing posted at
each ordinary access point; or
• the property is surrounded by a
lawful fence; or
• the property is surrounded by a
natural boundary such as a river
bank or a 4 1/2 foot hedge.

From this, there is no onus on the hunter to prove the hunter knows what is private or not, it is up the owner/lessor to show the land is private or no-go.

[Gun Dog]

[QUOTE=Redthies;2123771For the second point, I would support a “no signs, no charges” scenario. There are so many spots that aren’t fenced or signed, and you can cross from crown to private land in one stride. If it’s not marked, or obvious, I think a warning is all that should be allowed. Of course,some a-holes will always take advantage of a law like that and knowingly hunt on private land which would cause a lot of potential issues too.[/QUOTE] There is a Trespass Act (http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/18003) (and regulations) that define "enclosed land" and a "lawful fence". Just because someone tells you it's private land doesn't mean you breaking any laws. There's also leases, permits and tenures of crown land and they have their own rules too.

At the end of the day it's better to get along with private land owners. Most of them hunt too.