GREENVILLE – Allowing public access to private lands is rarely, if ever, a benefit to Maine landowners, yet they have freely done so over the years, Piscataquis County Economic Development Council members were told Monday.

Hunting, fishing and snowmobiling have been traditional uses on private lands, but they should not be taken for granted, according to Tom Doak, executive director of Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine. The organization collectively represents about 500,000 acres of private land in the state.

Landowners have willingly worked with snowmobile clubs to provide a network of trails, the use of which pumps millions of dollars into the economy throughout the state.

It’s a relationship that Doak praised.

“Snowmobilers have done a fabulous job working with landowners,” he told the council on Monday.

If that relationship existed with all users of the property, there would be few problems and the traditional use would likely continue for years to come, according to Doak.

Unfortunately, SWOAM members have found that not everyone respects the use of privately-owned property.

In a survey on public access conducted of SWOAM’s 3,000 members, the misuse of land by vehicles, specifically all-terrain vehicles and pickup trucks were the No. 1 problem, the council learned.

Woodlot owners say tourism businesses should work with them to plan ahead in the event something goes wrong on private land, and they insist that greater attention be placed on the issues of public use of private lands.

Patrick Strauch, executive director of the Maine Forest Products Council, which represents a broad spectrum of industry, said public access to private land is a privilege not a right.

Strauch, who also was a presenter at Monday’s meeting, said private landowners in Maine have long allowed the tradition of multiuse.

“It’s a very unique situation we have in Maine, and it’s a strong tradition,” Strauch said.