Bismarck and Mandan area residents heading out for grouse, partridge, deer-bow, and early Canada goose seasons, with duck and pheasant openers on the horizon, should be mindful of land access rules. While some states employ a 'Purple Paint Law' to designate private property and prohibit trespassing, North Dakota does not have such legislation.
The 'Purple Paint Law' is a system where purple paint marks on trees or posts indicate private land where entry is forbidden, making it illegal to proceed past these markings and potentially leading to prosecution for trespassing. This method offers landowners an alternative to traditional 'No Trespassing' signs, which can be expensive, prone to damage from weather, or removed by "slob hunters," as noted by the source material. However, the source material also raises questions about how long purple paint itself would hold up against the elements.
According to Farm and Dairy, states currently using a 'Purple Paint Law' include Louisiana, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina, Florida, Idaho, and Montana. It's important to note that Montana, North Dakota's neighbor, utilizes fluorescent 'Orange' spray paint for the same purpose, rather than purple.
In North Dakota, approximately 93 percent of the land is privately owned, making clear communication about land access crucial for both hunters and landowners in Burleigh and Morton counties. Instead of a paint-based system, North Dakota uses electronic posting. This system, which requires an app for land identification, is widely considered by most to be "working very well," according to the source material. The source material describes the 'purple paint' law concept as "archaic" when compared to North Dakota's digital approach.
As outdoor enthusiasts enjoy the prairie this fall, remembering that a simple greeting and handshake often grants access to private land, it's essential to understand that North Dakota's trespass laws are enforced through different means. Local hunters will not encounter purple paint as a boundary marker in the woods or on the prairie. Property owners across Burleigh and Morton counties, therefore, continue to rely on electronic posting or traditional signage to communicate their land access policies, rather than the paint marking system adopted elsewhere.