I think the main reason people get nervous about "the public" roaming their land is the liability and the personal injury lawsuit industry in the USA. If I let someone cross my land and he trips on a tree root and breaks his leg, now I'm possibly facing a lawsuit.
Also, what are they allowed to do? Simply crossing the land is one thing. Around here many private landowners are dealing with homeless encampments that are not only a liability but a sanitary issue, as they tend to be full of litter, needles, food waste, and human waste and end up attracting vermin.
Also, what are they allowed to do? Simply crossing the land is one thing. Around here many private landowners are dealing with homeless encampments that are not only a liability but a sanitary issue, as they tend to be full of litter, needles, food waste, and human waste and end up attracting vermin.