I feel I need to correct a few misconceptions here:
Originally Posted by wareagle69
there are many folks who live on crown land and national forest land, i did many times myself, staying in the cocconino and kiahbab national forest(which incedentaly is owned by the tax paying people) now if i work for 10 yrs and pay taxes and then want to spend a few months living in the forests it is my constitutional right to do so, i pay my taxes.
op, the best places is in the westCrown land is a term applicable in Canada. There is no Crown land in the USA. In the USA there are national forests, BLM lands, etc, but even BLM lands are subject to a number of regulations. The fact that something is owned by tax-payers doesn't entitle one to just move in and live on it, least of all if one isn't a citizen or resident of that country. Just as you may not build your home in a municipal park, so you may not do so in a National Forest either. To say that something is owned by tax-payers is to say it's owned by all of them, which specifically prohibits anyone using it as if it were his or her own private property or using it in a way that would interfere with others making use of it for its intended purposes.
Similarly, in Canada, one can lease Crown land to live on from the province or territory in question, but it is illlegal to simply make a camp and live on general-use Crown lands without having applied for and obtained formal permission. I have been a Crown land camper for much of my adult life in Ontario and even camping on Crown lands is subject to a number or regulations specifically created to prevent squatting.
For instance, when camping on any Crown lands in Ontario, one may not stay in one spot for more than 21 days. After 21 days one must break camp and relocate. One needn't move far (just 100 meters or more), but this precludes building and living in a cabin. Further, it is expressly forbidden to build any permanent structures, which would includes cabins. Now, there are all sorts of legal exceptions; for instance, one could apply for and purchase a lease for some specific purpose and duration, one could be a licensed trapper with a trap line that includes the right to build a trapping cabin, or one could have obtained mining rights and be working a mineral claim, etc. Nevertheless, the idea that one could just hike into the bush and take up permanent residence on Crown lands and do so legally is far from correct. Moreover, you may not hunt, fish, or trap except in season and then only with the necessary permits and in conformity with all applicable regulations and limit restrictions. And as for planting a food garden...any sort of agriculture on Crown lands is forbidden. We have helicopters that are on the lookout for grow-ops in our woods, and these spotters are pretty good at recognizing signs of human activity, even on small scales.
I have made a number of instructional videos about Crown land camping in Canada and those who have viewed them already know that I actively encourage any who want to give Crown land camping a try to get out there and do so. Our Crown lands are there to be enjoyed for low-impact recreational pursuits such as hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing, backpacking, canoe-tripping, dog-sledding, hunting and angling, etc, but one simply may not live out there without running afoul of scores of laws, which include include penalties such as fines, reparation costs for any damages done to the local environment, seizure of possessions, and even incarceration.
Lastly, Crown lands can be used for free (as described above) by Canadian residents, but non-residents have to obtain a permit from the MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources) and must pay even just to camp on Crown lands. In Ontario, the fees are 10$ per person per day. One can avoid having to get a permit and paying the camping fees by simply renting a tent or other temporary shelter from a local outfitter.
Here's a link to a video series I made on the subject of Crown land camping for any who might be interested:
Hope this helps,
- Martin
Originally Posted by wareagle69