If You See Purple on Fence Post, Tree in NH, MA, ME, Stay Away

Maybe you're out hiking in New Hampshire or hunting in Maine. No matter what you're doing, if you see a fence post painted purple, here's why you need to turn around and walk away.

According to Wide Open Spaces, the purple paint is not about adding a little flair or fun, but is rather a 'no trespassing' warning.

While signs are still around as well, they can easily fall, so this is the legal way for landowners to get their point across. But there's more to those purple posts than just a simple warning to stay off someone's property. According to Pennsylvania State University, purple stripes painted on trees count as well, and if you ignore them, you could be arrested for criminal trespassing.

According to the World Population Reviews website, 20 states have passed what's called the Purple Paint Laws, including Maine and New Hampshire. Even landowners who live in states without the law (like Massachusetts) may still use the paint to add to their 'no trespassing' warnings.

It's all so we can be made aware that it's illegal to trespass on the property, and it's aimed mostly at hunters. This alerts them that hunting is prohibited in that area, whether that's because hunting is illegal, or the land is privately owned.

World Population Review

Even though any color of purple paint means no trespassing is allowed, there is actually a purple paint color called 'No Hunting Purple', according to Wide Open Spaces. The post doesn't have to be completely painted for New Hampshire and Maine's Purple Paint Law, but it must definitely be noticeable.

According to Wide Open Spaces, Arkansas passed the first Purple Paint Law, and since then, another 19 states have slowly enacted it themselves.