Good luck trying to find the answer to your question. I have been told by game officers in different counties opposing answers to this question. I do know that this has even been fought out in court rooms. Sorry I can't give you an answer, or insight to your question. This is part of the reason I stopped hunting rivers, all the legal bulls!*$. It's really a shame too, because those were some of the best hunts we had.

 

Where are you looking at the property lines? If you are looking at the county auditor GIS, don't count on the property lines being correct. They can be off a ways.

 

It was the auditors site (I have a lot of browsing time with a third shift desk job) . Seems like there is a lot of room for interpretation and grey area in this subject. Thank you for the replies

 

The auditors site is a good reference, but it's not exact.

More often than not, the property line goes to the middle of the riverbed, unless they own both sides. The best bet is to talk to the property owner that touches the bank you want to hunt, or stick to floating.

 

I won't tell anyone what they should do but if I have permission on one side of a river I'm Hunting until there is a problem.
I was once told by a GW --- hunt were you have been Hunting until someone ask you to move or there is a problem.
No problems yet !
Good luck and Good Hunting !

 

The one side said it was owned by the united States of America so who do I talk to lol

 

TRUMP

 

Thanks for the info guys

 

Sounds like you're hunting around some federal ground. Could be a refuge or power plant. Either way, might want to double check before hunting. Those types of places don't mess around with trespassers.

 

I think I'll stick with plan b. I've never hunted the area. Just kayaked through. I don't wasn't any issues. Not worth a ticket for a duck.

 

I have always wondered if a land owner technically owns to the middle of a river do they pay taxes on that land?

 

Yes. They pay taxes on whatever the deed says they own. If the creek or river dried up, their land would still be there.