Question on getting permision to MD

[greenwenvy]

Hey guys and gals, I've come to a dead end and was hoping someone here might be able to point me in the right direction. Sorry this is so long, just want to give y'all as much background/info as I have.

I happened to come across a school nearby that has been abandoned/not in use. The school looks to be built in the 50's and probably stopped being used in the 80's to mid 90's.

There are no "no trespassing" signs or anything similar on the property. I stopped and walked around a small part of the area, and it is in fact all closed up, with no signs of any recent activity.

Around the property is old/former military housing which is all fenced off and there is no access to (barbed wire fence around area.) My thinking was this school was built for the military kids to go to. The whole base has been bought by a company that's turning it into one of those shopping/open area centers. So at some point it's all going to be bulldozed down.

As I was leaving I saw a city police truck doing security around the old housing (on the other side of the fence). So I parked and hailed the guy to come over. We chatted between the fence and I asked him if he knew what the story was with the old school. A young guy (early 20's, if that) said the whole area was private property and the school district owned it, but the area he was on (across the barbed wire fence) was owned by xyz company, and was private property.

I said yes I could see as such with all the signs and fence, but the school was outside the fenced area, and on a public road. He then said that company xyz owned that land too and the school district was leasing the area for "storage".

The kids story just doesn't add up. He said "if it were up to him" he wouldn't care but the school district might not like it. Well from what I could tell no one has set foot in that school area in months/years (there was what I'm guessing is coyote pooh on the walkways, rabbits by the hundreds, and a HUGH semi-recent dead hawk or similar bird just laying on the side of one of the walkways.

So my question is what is my next step? Should I try and contact the school district and see if they would give permission? Should I try and contact the company that supposedly owns the land and see if they would give permission?

With living in such an urban area, I'm pretty much willing to go one on one with a wild coyote for the chance to finally be able to hunt an actual older area, but I totally don't want to break any rules/laws.

Even though the kid was driving a truck with the local PD on the side, he didn't have a badge or a gun, just a little metal bar nameplate and radio. I'm thinking maybe rent a cop or company security using the truck?

Well anyways thanks for listening to my little story, and hopefully y'all will have some good advise/ideas you can send my way!

Cheers

[mlamp20412]

I would imagine you need to at least get in touch with the school district. If the offices are close by, maybe go in person. It is harder for folks to say "no" to a face as opposed to a voice on the phone or a letter.

Also with leased property the actual owner would have the final say on land use. There may me stipulations in the lease agreement about excavation or mineral rights etc. Should not be an issue for a little coin shooting, but something to keep in mind for other situations.

Best of luck!

[Dyrty]

I also have a very close situation to yours. There is an old closed school that is still owned by the school system. It is right next to a very historic military college that is now a State site and smack dab in the middle of a very old settlement. Thing is with this old school is they DO have "no trespassing" signs on it. LOL So I stay away. I do know the administrator of the schools pretty well and the next time I bump into him I'm gonna bring up the subject.

[PAPPY]

I agree with Chuck.. I have hunted many many places with no signs posted.

The only thing someone can say to you is Leave.
The person you ran into was NOT a police officer...Take my word for it. I am a retired Law Enforcement Officer and there are many others on the forum that are also and active officers here that would tell you......If he were a "POLICE OFFICER" he would have had a badge, weapon and some sort of identification with him. More than likely a RENT A COP.

I don't believe you can get arrested on property that is NOT marked NO TRESPASSING.

Find out who the actual owner is and approach them.

[carolinachief]

Maybe the kid was an Explorer or part of a citizens patrol. I know one city where they use non-sworn personnel to answer civil complaints and non emergency type calls which are of a non-dangerous nature. That might be what you ran into. As for the school, if it isn't posted it was paid for with tax dollars. That makes it public property. Dig it!!