Power lines
Massachusetts
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Hi all, just wondering if anyone hunts around power lines on here? I just gained access to a friends property but it is directly intersected by power lines that are owned by Eversource. It would make life a lot easier if I was able to drive down the power line road and park. Just looking to see if anyone had experience with this and the best way to go about contacting someone to ask permission to use the road to access the land? Thanks in advance
Is there a gate? Often times they have a locked gate.
At one of my spots there is an eversouurce gate at the front of the access rd. They own like 20 yards then their road cuts off to the left and it turns into a farm road on the property I hunt. It’s not locked and they gave the farmer permission to use the road. Farmer told me to go through the gate and park down a little ways and park on his property. No issues for 2 years. Last year I had a cop come flying in behind me and threaten trespassing charges. Settle down buddy. Bottom line is you gotta call ever source, explain your situation, and ask permission. Oh, and don’t even THINK about walking down the train tracks to access a stand. GOD FORBID! Was just about held up at gun point for doing that once...
If there's no gate or posted sign, you'll be okay.
Don’t ask don’t tell. And power poles make great climbing trees especially the metal ones.
if theyre not posted, game on. I've been using powerlines for mountain biking, hiking, hunting, etc. for my entire life. If theyre posted, I would stay away unless I had permission though.
I hunt powerlines but no way would I drive them or park on them as it is their property although most times it is someone else’s and is an easement for the power company. You won’t be arrested if no posted signs but I just avoid that bs.
Been hunting a spot for the last couple of years where I park near the power lines and walk probably a quarter mile down train tracks to get to a stand. Have seen power company guys in the area more than once. Just wave and nod, never a problem yet.
Ive never had an issue hunting off power lines. I've never hunted any that have posted signs on them, or are in a "hunting by written permission only" town. I park fully off the road or in a clearly suitable parking spot where the road and lines meet. One area I hunt you pull into someones yard (at least it looks like it) to park in the lot of a local land trust - Eastie know's that spot too.
Only glitch I've found with powerlines are that lots of other guys use them for access too.
Thanks for the input guys. There is a gate but I’ve never seen it closed/locked. Not posted as far as I’ve seen so far. I’ll probably give Eversource a call anyways
Eversource Does not own the property under the powerlines, It is private property which Eversource has access too. Unless by a power sub station.
Check the property maps. A lot of towns have mapgeo property maps. Huntstand.com will show you property lines and who owns what.
Yes, mapgeo (GIS) is a godsend. Just type in “Brookline GIS,” or whatever. Probably not Brookline. Those maps are great—shows you property lines, owner, and you can also see the property lines overlayed on a satellite photo that is often better than the Google maps satellite photo. Some towns are a little more restrictive, though—for example, I don’t think Weston shows the property owner name. That devalues it quite a bit. And Walpole has some crazy version that I really can’t get any info out of. But for the most part they’re pretty useful.
Powerlines can be great especially if you find an area with growth that crosses the powerlines. Deer often cross here especially if it's swampy. As mentioned above, powerlines typically cross private property and if you are in a town that requires written permission you need that. I used to hunt one in Georgetown and found the cops waiting for me when I came out. I tried parking in a different area another time and a landowner saw me and confronted me. Needless to say I never went back.
Proline, that's a great point. Powerlines create awesome edges that deer like to travel. They provide different foods from the woods (grasses etc) and if you find those little dips we feel are barely there, like a little 5 foot dip in the terrain or an area of thicker cover going most of the way across... those are wicked funnels across the lines.
That said, I hunt one area where the lines haven't been cleared in probably 15-20 years, the deer bed on the lines and it's hard to hunt them since it's so thick you can't see your hand in front of your face in december the brush is so tight. So be it, great cover to help them get through hunting season and for fawn safety. Not to mention a lot of woody browse for winter food.
What fisherick said, I hunt around 3 that run through private land. Permission from landowner does it. I hunt one that as will said is thick and its great bedding area. My toughest challenge is I have to access a couple of spots through it and they bed and browse there. I hunt the edges early and late season and not risk leaving scent in woods near runs entering it.
This is all very uplifting news! The land I was granted permission is about 70 acres, 35 acres of woods on one side of the power lines and 35 acres directly on the other side of the power lines. I checked the property maps but doesn’t have anything listed as owning the power lines. I’m just hoping to use the power lines to drive down and park and then walk into the property I have permission to hunt just for convenience purposes. I’ll keep everyone updated throughout the season for sure. It’s a New property after losing access to the Z11 private farm I’ve hunted for the past 10 years so this should be interesting
My first 8 pointer came off a trail the crossed a powerline, the one I mentioned above.
Always check the map for ownership. If its privately owned then the electric Co, has an easement (for them only) but the land is still private. My backyard has this kind of easement and it used to be trespassed upon before I moved in. But not anymore!
As a matter of fact, I think the giant metal gates with signs are an invitation to dog walkers, 4 wheelers, hunters, bikers, hikers and everything that moves because it looks like "utility land" and a "who cares what they think" attitude prevails.
Unless of course, it is state or town-owned land it is someone's space and it is best to know and ask.