Narrative:

I am a backcountry pilot and enjoy using my aircraft to access public land for the purposes of hunting. I have discussed this matter with the chief of law enforcement for the game and fish and he advised me that this was perfectly legal. I have also discussed it with the [state] land board and they confirmed that it was fine so long as I land on at least a 2-track road when landing on state lands. Two weeks before the date in question; I had landed there and went hunting. The ranch manager who managed the lands around the section of public land felt that my plane should not be on that section of public land and that since they had a grazing lease; I could not hunt there. He called the sheriff's office and reported that there was a 'plane down.' he also called game and fish. I agreed to wait for the game and fish officer; but the sheriff declined to investigate after he found that there was no accident. The game and fish officer finally arrived; confirmed that I was using my aircraft in a legal manner and told the ranch manager and staff to leave me alone. We flew home. On the night before the day in question; as per my agreement with the land owner surrounding the public land; I texted him that we were going hunting in the morning. Several hours later; he texted back that they would be installing snow fence on public lands and it would be unsafe to fly in. I told them exactly when I'd be coming and that as long as the snow fence does not block the road; it should be no factor. Incidentally; installing snow-fence across the road on public land is not legal. We arrived on site. I did my usual canyon overflight to confirm the runway was clear. It was; but there was a truck stopped about 100 yards away from the runway. I dropped into the canyon and started my approach up canyon to the one-way strip. The truck suddenly advanced on the landing area and turned to face the plane with high beams on. Another ranch staff member on an atv I had not seen turned on a spotlight and shined it at the plane. I had to do a low altitude canyon turn with the stall horn on the entire turn and made it out of the canyon just off the ground. I saw staff filming the incident. A few minutes later; I came back and tried a low approach; but they had strung a fence across the road and positioned trucks all over the field. They again were taking photographs and video of my plane. I went home. I called the state land board; sheriff's office; and game and fish. The G&F officer asked me to fly back out and take photographs which I did 6 hours later. My concern is that these vindictive people will try to file a complaint for flying within 500 feet of people and vehicles (I was trying to land; but was unable). Game and fish has subsequently investigated. The ranch staff admitted that they drove the truck on the 'runway' to intentionally block my ability to land. They apparently did not consider that it could have cost me and my passenger our lives.they were cited by game and fish; and the state land board is also investigating their actions.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: General aviation aircraft pilot engaged in a dispute concerning landing rights in a back country environment.

Narrative: I am a backcountry pilot and enjoy using my aircraft to access public land for the purposes of hunting. I have discussed this matter with the chief of Law Enforcement for the Game and Fish and he advised me that this was perfectly legal. I have also discussed it with the [State] Land Board and they confirmed that it was fine so long as I land on at least a 2-track road when landing on State lands. Two weeks before the date in question; I had landed there and went hunting. The ranch manager who managed the lands around the section of public land felt that my plane should not be on that section of public land and that since they had a grazing lease; I could not hunt there. He called the sheriff's office and reported that there was a 'plane down.' He also called Game and Fish. I agreed to wait for the Game and Fish officer; but the sheriff declined to investigate after he found that there was no accident. The Game and Fish officer finally arrived; confirmed that I was using my aircraft in a legal manner and told the ranch manager and staff to leave me alone. We flew home. On the night before the day in question; as per my agreement with the land owner surrounding the public land; I texted him that we were going hunting in the morning. Several hours later; he texted back that they would be installing snow fence on public lands and it would be unsafe to fly in. I told them exactly when I'd be coming and that as long as the snow fence does not block the road; it should be no factor. Incidentally; installing snow-fence across the road on public land is not legal. We arrived on site. I did my usual canyon overflight to confirm the runway was clear. It was; but there was a truck stopped about 100 yards away from the runway. I dropped into the canyon and started my approach up canyon to the one-way strip. The truck suddenly advanced on the landing area and turned to face the plane with high beams on. Another ranch staff member on an ATV I had not seen turned on a spotlight and shined it at the plane. I had to do a low altitude canyon turn with the stall horn on the entire turn and made it out of the canyon just off the ground. I saw staff filming the incident. A few minutes later; I came back and tried a low approach; but they had strung a fence across the road and positioned trucks all over the field. They again were taking photographs and video of my plane. I went home. I called the State Land Board; Sheriff's office; and Game and Fish. The G&F officer asked me to fly back out and take photographs which I did 6 hours later. My concern is that these vindictive people will try to file a complaint for flying within 500 feet of people and vehicles (I was trying to land; but was unable). Game and Fish has subsequently investigated. The ranch staff admitted that they drove the truck on the 'runway' to intentionally block my ability to land. They apparently did not consider that it could have cost me and my passenger our lives.They were cited by Game and Fish; and the State Land Board is also investigating their actions.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.