Leaving the front gate open or closed?

[mooch]

This is kind of a dumb question, but I wanted to poll other's opinions.

When you are at the ranch or deer lease overnight do you leave the front gate open or closed?

I've always left our’s open to allow emergency vehicles entry in the event we had to call 911. I also like would be trespassers to see that someone is "home” as a deterrent.

I've had others ask why we don’t lock up the gate every night to keep people out. Our cabin / camp is several hundred yards from the road and not visible from the gate.

We typically always close our gates unless we'll only be in there for an hour or so.

This might just be me, but only leaving it open to show that somebody is home would also be a good indicator that if the gate is closed there's a good chance nobody is there.

Example: gate open = people home. gate closed = nobody home.

[mooch]

Always closed. Leaving it open when you're there will let local theives pattern you.

We're on the same page

[SwampRabbit]

We typically always close our gates unless we'll only be in there for an hour or so.

This might just be me, but only leaving it open to show that somebody is home would also be a good indicator that if the gate is closed there's a good chance nobody is there.

Example: gate open = people home. gate closed = nobody home.

We actually do the same thing at our house. Always been a priority to be able to park both cars in the garage. The oustide light is always on. I also never answer the doors to marketing folks. I just ignore them as well as folks who call.

I don't think anybody would be able to tell if we are home or not just by trying to pattern what our house looks like or what happens when somebody knocks on the door.

[DoubleGProstaff]

Closed and locked, but my place is high fence so I don't need my exotics making a run for it out the front gate.

[Boomer57]

Every lease I've been on its closed and locked.

[glocker]

closed and locked, isn't that what a gate is for?

[SmTx]

We typically always close our gates unless we'll only be in there for an hour or so.

This might just be me, but only leaving it open to show that somebody is home would also be a good indicator that if the gate is closed there's a good chance nobody is there.

Example: gate open = people home. gate closed = nobody home.

If I do leave a gate open I shut the lock. Had someone ride up on a 4 wheeler and steal my lock before.

[M16]

I lock my gate. I also lock out the electric company while at the ranch. Game wardens usually have keys to electric company locks. If the game warden wants to come check he can walk or call to be let in.

[dustoffer]

We always left ours open for convenience as the only way to go from the gate was by the camp. Then the landowner's main squeeze got sick and he wanted it left open for EMS access just in case. I would have preferred it closed. Twice I was napping in my chair mid-day when the BP once, and GW once came for a visit. No issues, just a "visit" but interrupted my nap.

[lmartin5]

Always closed

[LarryP_1989]

It's an electric gate so it closes itself.

[tpack]

closed locked and double checked

This

[Texifornia]

Here is how I look at it. If you are leaving it open when you are there as a deterrent then won't it help unwanted guest better know when you are not there?
I keep ours closed whether I'm there or not that way people up to no good haven't a clue.

[RogueSamurai]

Closed and locked, closed for the cows, locked because locks make good neighbors.

A lock keeps an honest man, for instance someone coming to tell you that you have a fire on your property or a cow missing, out. A thief isn't going to care.

Leave the gate like you found it, but a chained/locked gate, most especially with the lock on the outside just tells someone you aren't there.

[BradBryant1000]

closed locked and double checked

Same here.