Missing Signs

February 11, 2021

Question: I own 80 acres in Mendocino County. My wife and I love to watch wildlife, especially the turkeys and deer, and occasional wild pigs. We don’t hunt, and I’ve posted No Hunting and No Trespassing signs in a dozen locations around my property. Last month I noticed one of the signs was gone. I replaced the sign, and now it’s gone again, which makes me think someone may have taken it intentionally. It’s only a sign, but this would be theft right?

Answer: There’s a law in the California Fish and Game Code (FGC) that applies more to this situation than petty theft. FGC 2018 states, among other things, that it is unlawful for any person to maliciously tear down, mutilate or destroy any sign, signboard or other notice forbidding hunting or trespass on land. Hopefully your situation doesn’t involve a malicious act. However, whether or not you are confident it’s malicious, you may want to think about hiding a trail camera that is pointed at the sign to see if you can catch the perpetrator. If you find suspicious activity, contact your local law enforcement agency.