I also deliver in a very rural area. More and more people putting up gates. If I had to open and close every gate I deliver to, I would never get done. Couple of years ago I quit opening gates............... period. People want to live behind a gate, more power to em. They get their packages in a dr bag tied to their gate. Never had a complaint. Had a few asked me to bring to their house and I politely refuse. I tell them that if they want to leave their gate open when they have a package coming I will be happy to bring it to their house.