The tax roll maps do indeed show all that land as privately owned. I just
talked to Sheriff’s Office. I asked about this specific circumstance. I was
told "as long as you’re on the right of way and off the road and not blocking
traffic you’re good.” “You may get some calls regarding suspicious vehicles but
you’re good.” Even so, there may be landowners with a different interpretation.
Heck, different Deputies probably have different interpretations. In the long
run we would lose a pi$$ing contest so courtesy & discretion is the rule of the
day.
On Nov 1, 2021, at 3:11 PM, James Crites ("jrcrites")
<dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi All,
I was birding in Yellowhouse Canyon this morning trying to chase the
Black-throated Green Warbler that Anthony and Sheri saw over the weekend. I
was unsuccessful, but I did see a mixed flock of small birds about a mile
east of the intersection of CR 7300 and CR 3600. There is a very small
stream near the ranch house and compound before you start driving out of
canyon on CR 7300. There was a small amount of water in the stream. Here I
was able to hear the nasal call of a Red-breasted Nuthatch and see a
White-breasted Nuthatch. Two Black-crested Titmouse (Titmice?) and a Brown
Creeper also flew into view. While I was sitting there a small flock of
Turkey’s wandered through, a Ladderback Woodpecker, a Golden-fronted
Woodpecker, and a Northern Flicker were also present.
I had pulled off of the road onto a concrete pad that is over the culvert for
the stream. I was clear of the traffic on the road and did not get out of my
car. While I was sitting there, a man in a truck pulled over and wanted to
talk. He was very pleasant (not irate) and informed me that he owned the
ranch land on either side of the CR road. He said the county has
right-of-way for the road but he owns the land and there is not public
access. He said he was not going to make me leave, he just wanted me to be
careful and not get hit by tractors passing by as this is a blind curve. But
he did indicate I was unlawfully on his private land.
This is the same problem Drew Harvey and I had last year in northeast Lubbock
County. It seems the land the road is on is privately owned but Lubbock
County has the right of way for the road. I do not believe the landowner has
the authority to make me leave the Lubbock County’s right of way. Does anyone
have any information on this? I do not want to trespass on someone’s land
but if I am on the right of way I think I am being lawful. If you go chasing
the White-breasted Nuthatch, please be aware of this possible problem.
Jim Crites
Sent from my iPad