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Find out if there is access via another rout, if not you have a case. Consider contacting the NM Wildlife Federation.

Also keep an ear out for their hunters using ranch only tags unit wide.

I also believe that b/c he chooses to lock the gate he is responsible for some of the upkeep of the roads of which he does the opposite. I think the forest service services only to silver creek.

If it really is public land there is no way he can do anything about you riding a bike in.

The only way he can legally lock it is if there is a portion of the road that crosses private before you get to public, but the road must be on private first, as mentioned earlier. Otherwise, that fella be breaking the law.

I may be mistaken (given bad information) but in NM you cannot landlock. But, ranchers and politicians in NM, what's the difference?

I too have hunted this unit and think I know where you are talking about.

Chaps my hide to work your tail off to hike around locked gates or small tracks of private only to cross fresh ATV tracks on the public land.

I've contacted NM Wildlife Federation and the warden, hopefully something is done before the opener. Carter practically runs Winston NM, comes from generations of ranchers. These gates are not the only ones he is locking keeping us off of our land. The guy has more money than davey crockett, I don't know why he puts everyone through so much trouble for his handful of elk hunts. BUT I assure you if he gets ranch only tags they are hunting unit wide... check the eplus list and then see if you run into any Black Range guides on public lands. I have, but doesn't do much good w/ no cell service and a game warden who is spread thinner than valvoline on a lake.

I do not know if he is responsible for the lock split is talking about but I know he is notorious for it so it wouldn't surprise me.

Is it as simple as the road(s) you refer to being no longer open per the TMP, therefore locked?

Some roads are open only for administrative/authorized personnel. Not sure who falls under this category, but perhaps ranchers with leases can access?

I realize it would be cheesy if a rancher has lease access and uses a road for hunters, but who knows?

Double-check that TMP. If you read the verbiage, the TMP is Alternative G. Not sure why they posted all of the other alternatives, as it sure makes things confusing.

Would be happy to discuss more via PM.

Carl

Not only would it be cheesy, it would be a violation. Now the odds of them getting caught and fined are slim to none, but I wouldn't hesitate to stand at the gate with a camera documenting who went through it if is indeed a now closed road with "authorized use only."

BTW, in talking with Forest Service people the past month, I have been assured that a picture showing someone or a vehicle with license plate is sufficient for them to mail a citation. Not certain how well it would stand up in court, but at least they would have to go to that hassle to fight it. I will definitely take pics with my phone and if I can't send them immediately, I will send them the next time I have cell coverage.

I simply wasn't sure what is included in "authorized use only".

For instance if a rancher has lease to access cattle (does that fall under authorized use?), and takes a hunter along in his truck, then dumps out a salt block or checks his cattle during the drive, maybe he can get away with it. Have never looked into the details of what exactly falls within "authorized use".

Carl

We picked up the camera and took pics of them driving right by the sign and then a few more as they continued down the closed road. FS guy came to our camp, looked at the pictures, wrote down their license plate #s and said he would be sending them fines in the mail. He told us to keep taking pics and gave us his card with his email. I sent him more after the hunt. What happened from there, who knows but it was quite satisfying regardless.

Looking at it the a-hole finally got the forest where I killed my first deer completely shut down to motorized vehicles. We were having this problem 35 years ago.

A few thoughts....many states have a "private attorney general" statute. If so, a lawyer doing something for the benefit of the citizens at large (normally it's something small which the attorney general doesn't have the time or manpower to handle) can ask the court to either have the State pay his/her fee....or the oppsing party. The State clearly has an interest in keeping public lands open to the public. You could sue for an injunction (an order) prohibitting The landowner from blocking a public road and/or ordering him to fix the road that he's damaged . If there is a fee provision as I mentioned in New Mexico perhaps this is something you could consider, especially if you have a friend that's also a Hunter snd a lawyet.

You can also perhaps sue him in small claims court for nusance. Then, immediately notify the media of the pending lawsuit re a rancher blocking access to public land I bet if it is reported in the local newspaper or even your local Internet community, I bet you get a lot of community support and perhaps even other people who are willing to help you. Pictures from a time stamp camera....or even that day's newspaper are helpful.

It sounds like he is running a business out of his house, and That can come with all sorts of pitfalls. For example, he may not have Worker's Compensation insurance for his guides. He may not be complying with state and local rules regarding withholdings and paying Social Security for his employees try your state "department of fair labor" and uninsueed employer's fund. Have you reported/complained IN WRITING. EMAILS can be ignored. A good old fashion hardcopy letter ....addressed to the very top person at that agency....like state lands....will generally be passed from the boss down to a supervisor and then down to an employee ....who id told, " please try to resolve this issue so this guy doesn't keep writing our boss." Phone calls go nowhere. Why? Because if you later say "I called 18 times to r eport x,y,z".....they say what? That is correct...." we have no record of your calls or a complaint. I'm actually positive we would've taken some immediate and swift action had you called in so .......(they don't usually say it directly but they're insinuating you're lying ) so send it in writing

The other thing that I have found , shich sometimex will work to resolve neighbor issues is.....direct communication. The land owner block in the land sounds like a pretty confident guy who may even be somewhat of a bully. So when you talk to him just speak directly and firmly with him and he will actually respect that. For example you go to talk to him and you tell him that you know it's a public road and he does not have the right to lock the gate you were hoping to resolve The situation before the two of you go to war. Now all you really want is access. So what about if you say give me a key if he says no I would remind him that he can give me the key now and that's the end of the issue or, if not you're going to go home and start contacting every possible agency and complaining in writing and you're not only going to complain about the dude you're going to complain about his guides are taking people off his ranch to hunt when he may or may not have permission to take animals on land outside of his ranch ..... and you're going to go on the neighborhood website and tell everybody what he is doing which you know he's doing on other roads so that all the neighbors can get together to pull their time money and resources to take him on collectively rather than individually. If he has half a brain he will say I'll drop a key off tomorrow morning. if not, it is time for you to teach him the art of was. Scorched earth. No surrender. No quarter. Because if you don't then he will start doing other things even more aggressive. These are all my thoughts and opinions and that's not to be considered legal advice. Please see your favorite lawyer and contribute to his kids' college fund by running all of this by him and paying him for an hour of his time.