mind if I jump in with my $.02?
Seems to me the prudent thing to do IS notify the the authorities, confronting someone in the middle of nowhere could go one of two ways...badly or well.

It's better to let the LEO (Law Enforcement Officer) do that, it's what they get paid for.

Besides, if CO is like here...they'd might be required to replace/replant and restore what's taken (unless taken out by fire, sometimes they don't replant and let it go fallow).