Preserve in back of my house

S

seanuhthin

Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
362
So my family recently moved to a place called Botanica lakes, and it turns out, there is a rather large preserve in back of my house, I can literally open my window and stare into the trees, which go forever. Since I live in Florida, I am unsure where to find any forests like this, and the only time I have ever found one that huge was when me and my friend were "exploring" his backyard. What a surprise :D. So any ways, as it is a Preserve, it says no trespassing, but I really want to go in there... What do you think? I don't get to explore like this ever, and it would be awesome to go and see all the wildlife. I am unsure if they monitor it somehow? I posted this here because I like to stay withing this general area where I kind of know people, and seeing as this is Randall Adventure Training, and it is an extremely active forum, maybe I could get some opinions? Oh, and if you ask, I am not going in there until I have my trusty RC-4! Or at least I hope it is trusty? :D

RAT Pack #335
 
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I would go in there but that is just me ,I dont advise tresspassing but like the old saying says "do as I say not as I do" :D
 
That sounds awesome. I live out near the bush as well, but it isn't as fancy as a preserve. Just a lot of dry grass, mosquitoes:mad:, weeds and bush turkeys that dig up my garden.
 
Lol, there is actually like 4 signs going across peoples yards. "I didn't see any of em'?"

RAT Pack #335
 
I wouldn't worry about it. As long as you're not starting fires or carrying a firearm or fishing pole, you should be good to go. Unless of course you get some powertripping butthole forest ranger that wants to let you know how much authority he's got. That's always a possibility. Very unlikely though.
 
Trespassing is trespassing whether it is a sign or a fence or a locked door. if you aren't wanted back there, you shouldn't go. They have their reasons and you should respect them.

"Violators will be persecuted to the fullest extent of my imagination!"
 
hlee said:
Trespassing is trespassing whether it is a sign or a fence or a locked door. if you aren't wanted back there, you shouldn't go. They have their reasons and you should respect them.

"Violators will be persecuted to the fullest extent of my imagination!"
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I understand but it's not like someone has something delicate in there, or something I would damage. I don't want to throw wrappers or kill animals or destroy the plants I just want to enjoy the woods. That's all. I never get to experience that.

RAT Pack #335
 
I say, get some good camo and learn to move with stealth. But don't damage the property. Have fun. Get some good high % DEET. Watch out for snakes and alligators. Get a compass and learn how to use it. Find out who owns the preserve and what it takes to go in there.
 
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Find out who is managing the property and talk with them. There's a good chance you could work something out. Ask them if there is something you could do to help/provide service. Then, you could get in there with their full approval and support!
 
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I'm not sure what kind of preserve? Maybe I should talk to the community center, ask them who is involved with the preserve.
 
If they are trying to keep out tour groups who would cut trails and garbage the area, that's one thing. If it's the home of a rapidly growing protected species like a Florida cougar ... well, you should find that out anyway!

We had a small wooded area off limits, No Trespassing, and fishermen going in all the time anyway. But you'd never know it, looking around, they were neat.
 
There is a place not to far from me that is surrounded with chain link fence and is a marshland/swamp area looking thing and white signs with Red print .. Warning stay out. Alligators and posionus snakes habitat.... I have pics of the sign somewhere.... I'd go in just to look around but it is in a bad part of the 'hood and my truck may not be where I left it. :D
 
I'd say if you have access to property contiguous to this, that gives you more rights than, say, someone not from the area. I would be vigilant in obtaining permission (written letter from owner or manager goes a long way when confronted by law or DNR) if you can. We run into this a lot in MI as deer hunting season approaches. And maybe explain you are more interested in photography than "exploring." For some reason, people don't like you "exploring," but a camera has opened many a door that wouldn't open before, at least from my experience, Good luck.
 
As someone else said, find out who exactly owns that land. Is it a state park of some kind that has an "official" entry point somewhere else?
 
I agree with the above post, try to get permission.

Perhaps start by try to open up communication with who ever the care taker or ranger is.

Once they know that you live there and are not a "poacher", perhaps they will give you limited access to do a few "wilderness things".

Most places like that DON'T like any type of fire starting though.

But perhaps they will allow exploring.
 
I actually do a lot of photography and would have brought the camera anyways. Maybe if they see my experience they will let me go in and take pictures to bring back for them to use somehow?
 
seanuhthin said:
I understand but it's not like someone has something delicate in there, or something I would damage. I don't want to throw wrappers or kill animals or destroy the plants I just want to enjoy the woods. That's all. I never get to experience that.

RAT Pack #335
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You don't know this. All you know is that there are signs that say stay out. Would you be so flippant about someone saying "I'm not going to do any damage, I just want to enjoy your living room?"

My property is my property and your property is your property. As the owners, we each have the right to make the rules of trespass and designate who does and who does not have the right to trespass on our respective properties. You don't have to like my rules or even understand the reasoning behind my rules. But the rules are the rules. I come from a part of the country where one has a reasonable expectation of being shot for failing to notice a NO TRESPASSING sign.

"Good fences make for good neighbors."

If you really want to enjoy the woods, find the owners and ask for permission.

You can experience the woods in any state park, state forest, federal park, federal forest, federal grassland, BLM land, etc (PUBLIC access land). Private land is just that, PRIVATE.

I'm glad that you live in a different part of the country than I.
 
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