36C Santa Margarita Ranch

[wildwoody]

Ya don't get trespassed,  it will follow you. 

[Rubberduckie]

My first time down there this year. The area I prescouted was blocked when I came back to hunt. These areas where just marked before the early rifle hunt. 

[trphyhntr]

7 minutes ago, Rubberduckie said:

My first time down there this year. The area I prescouted was blocked when I came back to hunt. These areas where just marked before the early rifle hunt. 

dang, that sucks 

[JAYgs8163]

If the road is marked with the proper signage and not blocked it’s still off limits as it serves as legal notification. Just an fyi per AZGFD warden conversation. Now the property lines may not be posted properly but that’s something you’d have to determine. I believe the statute states all corners of the property should be marked and posted, and then every 400 yards concurrently it needs to be posted. Now if they (property owner or employee) give you verbal notice then you are warned and next time it’s considered trespassing. Unfortunately this is a conversation I had with GF agent about this exact issue in 36c. 

[HyNoon]

On 11/3/2025 at 6:23 AM, zslayer said:

Anywhere that has access to the foothills for the whitetail season has waaay more pressure now.   Locked gates that allow foot access only and typically had 0-1 vehicles parked now have 4-5.    I two have seen way too much hunters trash left at camp sites from previous hunts and spent time gathering it all up and burning it after it had even blown all over and stuck into nearby trees!

 

what I worry about as well is this new closure will push most of the hunters to Kings Anvil and Elk Horn so now how long will it be before they get tired of all destruction and opt out of the program as well.   They are going to receive 3-4x the amount of people now.

Great ..  thats all we need. Less places to hunt down there. I wonder if they call on all the people walking north thru their property and dump trash and drugs and bodies. The good ol golden trail goes right thru there.

[My Rights As An American]

Anyone willing to hike will most likely have an entire area to themselves! 

 

But this sucks. 

[zslayer]

22 hours ago, JAYgs8163 said:

If the road is marked with the proper signage and not blocked it’s still off limits as it serves as legal notification. Just an fyi per AZGFD warden conversation. Now the property lines may not be posted properly but that’s something you’d have to determine. I believe the statute states all corners of the property should be marked and posted, and then every 400 yards concurrently it needs to be posted. Now if they (property owner or employee) give you verbal notice then you are warned and next time it’s considered trespassing. Unfortunately this is a conversation I had with GF agent about this exact issue in 36c. 

I believe all this is exactly correct except I believe all signs have to be posted every 300’/100 yards?

[JAYgs8163]

3 minutes ago, zslayer said:

I believe all this is exactly correct except I believe all signs have to be posted every 300’/100 yards?

Im not 100% positive but am just quoting the AZGFD Warden. I believe the size of the property contributes to distance between posting signs but I may be wrong. 

[zslayer]

looks like you are correct.   It says here “no more than one-quarter mile” so that would be every 440 yards.
 

17-304. Prohibition by landowner on hunting, fishing, trapping or guiding; trespassing; posting; requirements

A. Landowners or lessees of private land who desire to prohibit hunting, fishing, trapping or guiding on their lands without their permission shall post such lands closed to hunting, fishing, trapping or guiding using notices or signboards.

B. State or federal lands, including those under lease, may not be posted except by consent of the commission.

C. The notices or signboards shall meet all of the following criteria:

1. Be at least eight inches by eleven inches with plainly legible wording in capital and bold-faced lettering at least one inch high.

2. Contain the words "no trespassing", "no hunting", "no trapping", "no fishing" or "no guiding" either as a single phrase or in any combination.

3. Be conspicuously placed on a structure or post at all points of vehicular access, at all property or fence corners and at intervals of not more than one-quarter mile along the property boundary, except that a post with one hundred square inches or more of orange paint may serve as the interval notices between property or fence corners and points of vehicular access.  The orange paint shall be clearly visible and shall cover the entire aboveground surface of the post facing outward and on both lateral sides from the closed area.

D. The entry of any person for the taking of wildlife is not grounds for an action for criminal trespassing pursuant to section 13-1502 unless either:

1. The land has been posted pursuant to this section and the notices and signboards also contain the words "no trespassing".

2. The person knowingly remains unlawfully on any real property after a reasonable request to leave by a law enforcement officer acting at the request of the owner, the owner or any other person having lawful control over the property or the person knowingly disregards reasonable notice prohibiting entry to any real property.