[abruzzi]

this is very common in the west. Its one of several ways to "own" more property than you paid for. If your property completely encloses 1000 acres of public land, that land is as good as yours (with the exception of building things, but many of the property owners in these cases are taking people hunting on the land, so no permanant structures would be built anyway.) Another common thing is land leases. I don't know how many ranches I've seen for sale around here (NM) that state something like 1000 acres, but when you look closer, its 200 acres, with a BLM lease on the other 800 acres. That doesn't grant them exclusive use of the land (to the best of my knowledge), but they frequently act like it does--placing "no tresspassing" signs, confronting people, arguing its their land. (and while you are paying for those leases, it is CHEAP. something like $2 per acre per year.

[Wildgameeater06]

I personally think this is the case in most remote areas bordered by private land as the land owners selll sub leases to big hunting companies and the hunting companies make profit off of public land as it is like a lot of areas here in Oregon

[luckylion]

If it doesn't grant them exclusive rights, and they can't e.g. put up "no trespassing" signs, wouldn't that be a crime because they are claiming ownership, and thereby claiming that the state does not have ownership? Have you ever reported one of them to see what happens?

[phpisthebest]

It is only a crime if police and prosecutors are willing to enforce it.

Sadly today too much of the law is political, both left and right, with police and prosecutors choosing what laws they want to enforce, when, and on who (i.e picking people or groups they dislike)

[standardUser]

Not uncommon for large landowners to be on friendly terms with local politicians and law enforcement.

[GavinMcG]

What crime would it be? It might be dishonest and antisocial but those things usually aren’t criminal on their own.