As responsible sportsmen, hunters, fishermen, wanderers and foragers, we all need to be aware of the border lines around us. It is not legal or wise to assume you are welcome on someone else’s property. Before you cross a fence or property line for any reason, remember…it is the law you need express permission from the landowner.

Property lines used to be easier to determine when they were posted with “No Trespassing” signs. Now, the definition of “no trespassing” may be harder to determine.

On July 1, 2018, Indiana became the newest state to adopt the “Purple Paint Law,” joining several Western States in this type of legislation.

With the inaction of the law, a property marked with designated patches of purple paint is to be considered the same as a property posted by signage proclaiming “No Trepassing.” In short… keep out!

Unfortunately, even with rural country folks, the law remains obscure, confusing and little recognized. People seeing a spotch of purple paint don’t automatically equate it with a written sign saying “no trespassing,” especially individuals coming from an urban lifestyle. The “city folks” just don’t know.

The old saying, “Ignorance is no excuse of the law” is sure highly applicable here.

The basic law reads: #1 A tree: 1. as a vertical line of at least 8 inches in length and with the bottom of the mark at least three feet and not more than five feet from the ground, and not more than 100 feet from the nearest other marked tree or post.

#2 A post: 1. With the mark covering at least the top two inches of the post,and the bottom of the mark at least three feet and not more than five feet six inches from the ground and

2. Not more than 36 feet from the nearest other marked post.

I, for one, greatly prefer highly reflective metal signs proclaiming “No Trespasing.” Unlike purple paint which becomes almost invisible in darkness and in shadows, it is hard to deny the effectiveness of standard trespass posting. Shortly after the law went into effect, farm and paint stores were quickly sold out of purple paint while there were stacks of highly visible “no trespassing” signs available in both English and Spanish.

Granted, signs may be subject to vandalism, but keep in mind, anyone vandalising trespass signs is not going to be respective of trespass laws.

My suggestion is for anyone granted permission to accesss a property… get it in writing. It eliminates any possibility of a relative or neighbor attempting to rescind your right of access. In any situation involving a law enforcement officer, written permission trumps all.

Should you encounter someone trespassing on your posted or “purple painted” property, contact the Sheriff’s Department and ask for a deputy to be dispatched or have them contact the local conservation officer. If the trespasser is caught, the landowner has the right to press charges.

It is no different in a situation of lost game. Should you be blood trailing a wounded deer and it crosses onto property you don’t have permission to access… stop. Immediately notify the local conservation officer and see if the officer can help obtain permission from the landowner to retrieve the animal.

Remember… Purple is the color of trespass.

Hoosiers are the key to stop poaching

Indiana Conservation Officers encourage Hoosiers to help the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) put an end to poaching by reporting potential violations to Turn In a Poacher, Inc. (TIP). TIP is a nonprofit conservation organization partnering with Indiana’s DNR to protect fish and wildlife resources by increasing public support and involvement in bringing violators to justice.

A poacher is a thief who illegally steals wildlife belonging to all Hoosiers. Indiana’s DNR manages wildlife for everyone, and every person can help TIP support DNR efforts by reporting potential violations at 1-800-TIP-IDNR (800-847-4367) or to tip.IN.gov. Doing so will help conserve wildlife for future generations.

Call TIP if you see, hear, or learn about poaching or another violation regarding fish and wildlife. If your “TIP” leads to an arrest, you may receive as much as a $500 reward, or you can remain anonymous if you choose. In 2022, TIP received nearly 600 tips and paid thousands of dollars in rewards for tips leading to the arrest of a suspect.

“Concerned citizens are key in assisting Indiana TIP in the fight against poaching and bringing to justice those who violate fish and wildlife laws,” said Col. Steve Hunter, director of DNR Law Enforcement.

Big 4 Trail extension complete

On Oct. 4, DNR, in collaboration with the towns of Whitestown and Zionsville, celebrated the opening of two new sections of the Big 4 Trail.

The celebration signifies the successful completion of two adjacent trail projects. In Zionsville, the town constructed a 1.79-mile asphalt multi-use trail with the assistance of a $1,812,295 Next Level Trails (NLT) grant, which was awarded in March 2021 during the grant program’s second round. In Whitestown, the town extended the trail 1.54 miles, thanks to a $1,163,590 NLT grant announced in April 2022 during the program’s third round.

“Through Next Level Trails, Gov. (Eric) Holcomb set a priority to foster connections among and between communities,” said DNR Director Dan Bortner. “Today the Big 4 Trail is providing a new connection between Whitestown and Zionsville, doing exactly what this program was created to do.”

The two trail projects intersect at Whitestown Road and East County Road 400 South, the town boundaries. From there, Zionsville’s new trail extends east to Heritage Trail Park, where it connects with the existing Big 4 Trail. Heading south, NLT funds extended the trail from Starkey Avenue to Zionsville Road. The project includes a new trailhead near the Vonterra neighborhood.

“We are beyond excited to complete our two trail extension projects and join Whitestown along the Boone County Big-4 Rail Trail,” said Jarod Logsdon, superintendent of Zionsville Parks and Recreation. “Residents can now enjoy nine miles of connected, multi-use travel between our two communities, visiting various shops, restaurants, and parks. We welcome visitors and trail enthusiasts to begin their journey with us at the Zionsville Road trailhead and explore the charm and character across Boone County.”

West of the town boundaries, Whitestown’s recently completed NLT project links with the existing Big 4 Trail just east of Albert South White Drive. The existing trail continues for 1.7 miles through the town until it meets the western segment of the newly constructed trail at County Road 575 East, ultimately ending at County Road 500 East.

To date, 26 NLT projects are complete, totaling more than 81 miles of new trail open to the public. An additional 13 projects are actively under construction, with more projects slated to break ground later this year.

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication, or e-mail to jackspaulding@hughes.net.

Spaulding’s books, “The Best of Spaulding Outdoors,” and his latest, “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com in paperback or as a Kindle download.