I have had written permission to trap 19,000 out of a 23040 block That is 29.68 square miles out of a 36 square mile block, and set very little ROW if any. To me row trapping is bad for trapping. If the land owner did not care you would be on both sides of the fence.

Opinions vary.

While I was never a longliner I don’t see where that would stop anyone who wanted to longline in Michigan. For one, Mark June did years ago before he left the State. I certainly don’t know him but I’d bet he got his permissions inorder. On the other-hand I do know one Michigan longline rat trapper who never asked permission and even wrote a book about it! LOL
Must be too much work, or time spent, or just fear of speaking to people for some to ask permission to trap private property? Also, if you set without permission you really don’t give a rat’s arse if you were stepping on someone else who has permission or some kid who had?

I am sure this varies state to state and possibly even county to county but my Property Deed shows a county "easement" of 33 feet (East side of the road, the property owner on the West side also lost 33 feet). The deed states it is mine and I pay taxes on it, yet the County cuts the timber off it by mowing and I can't build anything on it. The Lakes Association walks the ditches each year picking up trash and I have never considered it trespassing. ATV's are authorized to ride in the ditch, not on the road. I am of the opinion that even though that ROW is MY property, I have no saw on what is done on it or by who.

The one big advantage to trapping private property is having it to yourself, assuming you have sole permission. Usually have to deal with some competition in the ROW, and some occasional theft, but usually not a big deal. Sometimes you have to give someone else some room if they beat you to a spot, but again not usually a big deal. Just move on down the road somewhere.