How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I was just wondering what you would do if you went to call the warden/county police on a trespasser and they took off. Is there anything a landowner can do to keep them there while the warden/police show up?

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I would not try to keep a trespasser on your property, as you never know how they will reacte, such as violently or weapon?

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

The best thing for you to do is get a description and a license plate number if you can't hold them there.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

That was what I was kind of afraid of is how they would react. Will the warden/police track them down if I am able to give them enough information?

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I always have a digital camera or a video camera with me. I just walk up and take a picture first thing and then call the warden. Or if I am walking in and see a truck or vehicle, I take a pic of the vehicle and the license plate. Hard to argue with that kind of evidence.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

** Go up to them.. talk to them.. get the license number, date , place , time and name.. and PROSECUTE.. only way they will never come back...

** my other half has been through this several times.. He took the "nice" route first.. and they all snuck back in ...

So, the next time he did it the "law" way.

First year at the property he took 17 poeple off...

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

If they are driving onto your property, you could wait until they leave the truck and take out their valve stems on their tires with a valve stem wrench. That would give local authority time to arrive and possibly impound the truck. That way you don't damage their property and they cannot deny trespassing.

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Act like a mad man fire your 45 up in the air like 5 times start screaming at them and tell them they dont want to move or it could get ugly! Then if they have the balls to move well try to get there license plate if you did not already. Or tell them you already got it and if they run it will be worse.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

And then take cover because when you start shooting into the air they may very well start shooting at you. Live to hunt another day, let the authorities deal with them. Remember what happened in WI. a couple of years ago regarding a trespasser.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

The issue I run into is that they deliberately tear down the posted signs, leave trash in the woods, and will take any shot available -- I find a lot of deer two or three weeks dead - obviously wounded.

The sheriff has trouble getting to my land, since the only road in is through the national park (you have to park in the park and walk in). Poachers come in from a different way.

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man, i would just get the plate number and be happy that you can hunt another day. most of the time in the woods (especially during season) any old yahoo could have some kind of weapon, it's just not worth it. let the warden handle it that's what he's paid to do.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

To your original question..........is the trespasser on your land by accident or knowingly trespassing? I am assuming he or they may be trespassing knowing full well its your land.

If by accident, let them know they are on the wrong land unless they are leaving trash, etc. It can happen and has happened to me before, because of miscommunication. If they have previously been told they do not have permission to be there then by all means call the authorities. The reason I say this.....a plat book could be wrong or perhaps another landowner gave them wrong information.

I am a co-owner of land in Indiana and my siblings and I always at least tell the guys they do not have permission.

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I hate tresspassers and *******s that shoot at anything that moves, whether its a good shot or not, and dont track their deer very well. It gives us all a bad image.

I hunt a little property near subdivisions. People always tresspass. Kids play back there and people constantly walk their dogs and do who knows what. But Its almost OK because the deer are almost conditioned to people and at least are a little less weary of human scent.

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Here is what happened to me one year during turley season. I had permission to cross 2 people to get to some federal land. There was a field entrace (3 property owners came together at the fence corner), I pulled into there, did not block the gate. When I got back, there wasa note saying I was tresspassing and the game warden was going to be calling me. He in deeed call, said there was nothing he could do to me since he did not see me personally tresspass.

It still burns my @ss that this guy called the warden on me. All I did was pull off the road, pulled far enough over that I did not block the gate. Heck, I have a pretty good feeling that I was actually on county right of way.

Either way, get a descrition and call the proper athorities.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

This is a very dumb thing to do to tresspassers. Dude, you must not want to live another day or something, you must be one of those edited for skirting profanity filter that owns land and think you are the almighty god of the land. Somebody need to teach you a lesson or 2 to get to your head straight, 2 wrongs don't make it right.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I've said it many times and I'll say it again. Paintball land mines. If you know who the trespassers are, the proof will be there when the officer shows up at their house. Plus its a lot of fun scaring the hell out of someone like that who deserves it for being a tool and intentionally trespassing. And if they weren't, intentionally trespassing, hey, they won't make that mistake again.:D

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Dude....he said it 'tongue in cheek' ......which means IT WAS A JOKE!
Lighten up a bit.

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Um, also, I think he was exagerating over the 45 idea. And I don't agree with threatening people or doing anything that could get yourself killed, but I also don't think anyone is an edited for skirting profanity filter for wantint to protect their property rights. You own the land, you can dictate what goes on on it as long as the activities are legal. Its called the law and people who don't respect it are criminals. Try getting a lot of trespassers on your land over the years - road hunters, guys who "accidentally wandered" onto it, etc. - and see how you feel. It's a smug comment to make that someone trying to protect their own little corner of hunting paradise they worked so hard to buy and maintain for quality considers himself "god of the land." Perhaps I'm a little testy tonight but comments like that are downright ignorant.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I know where most of you are coming from. People today aren't the same as people of yesteryear......including some landowners!

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

It was meant as a joke! settle down a bit there wolfman. I indeed have land and i run into this all the time and i am only nice the 1st time second time. I just take the authorities with me and they do the dirty work. I do carry my .45 though when i ask them to leave. I only ever had 1 person not run before i got to them though. Anyways sorry for joking your right 2 wrongs dont make a right. Stickum to the tree with an arrow....joking

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

We just let the dogs out! It works.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Wolf651 wrote:you must be one of those a**hole that owns land and think you are the almighty god of the land.
I am sure the other guy was joking but I'm not. Hate to burst your bubble but as a landowner we are the "god" (your word)of our land! We scrimp and save and go without so we can purchase our own land. The land belongs tothe person that bought it not someone who wants to not purchase their own and "steal" the land. Yes, if someone trespasses they are in essence stealing the right to utilize land without purchasing it themselves.Buy your own land!

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

that is what i was going to say!!

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

My best recommendation is to have the local Sheriff or Game Wardon on your cell phone before that situation comes up. Now when it does, before
you approach them, call one of them and get them on thier way. Wait as long as you can to approach them. If you know the Sheriff is on his way and they seem to be leaving just walk up and start a conversation. This will give the Sheriff time to get there. Let the law handle the situation. Don't get caught in a gun fight your not ready to finish.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

So are you saying that being the owner of a piece of land means you have the right to shoot somebody or threating to shoot them because they are stealing your land. I don't get why people are going out of control when someone accidently goes into your land. I do get it when they tresspass there more then once but when you have only seen them once and had to get all hyped up about someone stepping on your land. I think we as land owner need to realize that if we treat them(tresspassers) like edited for skirting profanity filter, don't expect them to just back down and walk away.I own over 100 acres of lands and never once feel like the mighty god of the land and treat people like sh*t when they step on my land. Like my father always said "you treatothers like edited for skirting profanity filter, they will treat you like one too".

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

wolf he was just joking and wasn/t serious but if some one intentionly walks onto your land youdon't just sit there and let them shoot everything
do you? i didn't think so i'm sure that you tell them to get off your land and to not come back or thewarden/sheriff will be called right and yes as a matter of fact we are the "almighty god of the land" that piece of paper called a deed gives us that power and we also get the right to weild it.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Well said wolf. I have 28 acres that borders the kootenia national forest thats about 3 miles up a forestry road from pavement and 75 miles fromthe nearesttraffic light. My property is not fenced,but if someone were to hunt out of one of my corner treestands with out me knowing it, I would confront him. I wouldn't mind him hunting it, but as long as he had the respect to ask me for permission. It would take forever for law enforcement to show up so I would just confront the individual. Things are just different here than where your are, but here its not that big of a problem wherewe are,.....or not yet.

Bobby

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Blookcreek....I will be trespassing on you this year while you are at work. haha

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Im a Deputy Sheriff in the state of Missouri and deal with this issue constantly. If you feel comfortable, approach the person and explain that they are trespassing. If you dont feel comfortable, get a vehicle description and license plate number and call the police. In my state, your property needs to be marked properly to show your lines either with private property signs or purple paint on the trees. If your property is marked properly, the offense is a misdemeanor. If your property is not marked, it is an infraction. Research your state laws to see what you need to do. (Ourprosecutors usually dont file charges on trespassing infractions) Just remember that the more meat you have to pursue charges, the easier it will be for the police and the prosecutor.If charges are repeatedly filed and nothing is being done to the suspects, contact the prosecutor and ask them why they are not helping you. If the prosecutor is an elected offficial,one complaint may be allit takesto get the help you need.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I would like to think that no one here would shoot at anyone else - been there / done that for Uncle Sam and it isn't something worth bringing back home.

I can understand people accidently crossing onto the land (though my land is VERY clearly posted), and I have no problem with folks tracking a wounded animal onto my land (in VA, you are supposed to have permission even to track a wounded animal).

That being said, here are the most common trespassers I have to deal with:

1. Those who are hunting on the national park an cross on to my land. Of course, hunting on the national park is illegal in and of itself - so these guys obviously don't care about "legalities". They don't wear orange since they are knowingly engaging in illegal activity. (I have the law enforcement division of the park service on speed dial on my cell phone).

2. Those that "walk the river". One boundry on my land is a river. The deed grants me ownership to the far bank, but people will park at one bridge about two miles upstream and walk the river bank to the downstream bridge about 5 miles away. The bank on my side is flood plain - the other side is bluff. Generally, I've never had a problem with these guys. I have posted signs along the river bank, but I also have them along the edge of the flood plain where the ground rises. Most of these folks pass right through, only on the flood plain.

3. Those that think that it is down right wrong for me to post this land. They come in through the river and tear down the posted signs, leave trash, and generally empty the magazine when they see a deer (seven shots in rapid succession during muzzleloader season?!?!).

4. Those that aren't deer hunting. This land borders on a Civil War battlefield - so relic poachers are unfortunately common. My favorites are the guys with the metal detectors who are decked out in full camo in the middle of deer season. Especially the one jerk who had a white disk on his metal detector.

I post with signs and paint (as allowed in VA) - I do both since some of these guys like to try and "remove the evidence". Again, we're far enough from the roads that it is tough to get the sheriff there in time - and even tougher for me to tie a certain individual to a specific vehicle. This year, however, we're repositioning some of the game trail cameras.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Thanks for all the input. I don't plan on shooting at anybody. I hunt two pieces of wooded land about 35 acres each, one is fenced and the other is not, neither of them have posted signs on them, but my understanding of trespassing laws in wv is that if you don't have premission to hunt it you are tresspassing, although it says it is harder to prosecute tresspassers on not fenced land (understandable). But my plan for this year was to go up to any hunter I see (most live in the area and know the family) and tell them not to come back, take down infoand explain the property line, then call the warden/police if they come back (unless they get all whatever then I'll call right then and there). I really didn't have much problem during bow season, but had someone walk up on me everytime I went out during rifle. The thing that top it off to putting an end to this was that I found a dead doe on our property last year. Ticked me off big time.
Thanks again for all the input.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

I think you should post heavily if you can. It keeps the honest people honest and the others, well, there's not much you can do other than talk to them if you have the chance and call the conservation officer, which in a majority of cases won't help if you don't know who they are. You could also post signs near prime spots warning that trail cams are active and trespassers will be prosecuted, even if you don't have any trail cams. Other than that, it's working with the neighbors to watch out for one another's land.

Good luck!

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i dont own land, but i think for a 1st time the warden shouldnt be called. like someone else said, they might be unknowingly trespassing, and to shoot at them, scare them or even call the warden is a bit extremely IMO. i would walk directly up to them, armed but concealed (just in casE), and let them know whose land it is. they will probably agree and apoligize and leave, never to return. i would take their info and remember their face, and if it ever happens again, then call the warden. i would really hate to get someone in trouble over a miscommunication, or even them being dumb for a 1st time offence and hunting where they thought "maybe its noones land, or public" even if it sounds dumb. i understand protecting the land, but i also understand that sometimes the law isnt fair and will prosecute them even if it was a mistake, which will make their life completely changed with court costs, criminal record and all that. even if they say it was a mistake, but you dont believe them, i would give them a warning first. thats just my opinion, again i dont own land so im not sure maybe i would act differently in a real saituation, but i doubt i would call the man on them off the bat. now if they start acting dumb when u confront them, saying to screw off or anything, then do what you got to do.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Years ago landowners had no problem allowing hunters to hunt their land. Trespassers take a large risk nowadays. Things have changed! Most landowners aroundme are fed up.Nowlandowners have to deal with
trespassers,thiefs, people dumping on their property, being suedand yes the 8 landowners shot by a trespasser 2 yrsago up north with 7 of them dying. Ihave had property stolen from my land and tires dumped on my land and someone cut down and stole a bunch of trees. I have a cabin on my property with valuables which I paid for by fighting overseas and I will protect it. My property is completely fenced in now and posted every 100 ft. There would be no doubt if a personcrossed the fence that theywere indeed trespassing.If someonetrespasses on me and they have a weapon. It is criminal trespass.I have been in the military for 30 yrs, been to Iraq and afghanstan and going back again this spring. I'm very proficient with a weapon and although I am not proud of it and it bothers me everyday, I have taken many human lives. Many veterans that are lucky enough to have made it back home, just want to be left alone. I too am fed up and just want my piece of heaven and to be left alone.If the property is properly posted or fencedthere could be someone like me on the other side,stay out!

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Bury them where no one can find them.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

timbercreek - so you would shoot someone if they were hunting in your treestand? is that the drift i am getting?

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Sounds like you don't treat human lives very important. Just because you are a veteran doesn't mean youstart shooting people when they step on your land. I have people that's beenin war too and consider them veterans too. They would never shoot at anybody for stepping on our land. Just because you have killed in a war doesn't mean you have to kill your people inyour native land too. YOU NEED HELP...... AND NEED TO FIGHT IN A REAL WAR SO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LIVES ARE.

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

i agree with wolf. and i dont know what state your in, but if you do that here in MD, you would be charged with murder 1 just the same as if you tried to rob someone and shot them to death. i would think most states feel the same way. u cant just kill someone because they are on ur land, u need to feel like ur life is in danger. unless you just lie and say they were never there, which is a totally differnet story. yea just cuz u had to kill there, doesnt mean you will be looked upon favorably here for killing them. i dont know if you understand what it means to kill, just because you have killed over seas, where it was you or them, doesnt mean you would be alright morally with killing someone because they were sitting in ur treestand. either way, you would be in jail for rest of ur life. i would hate to be the person trespassing on ur land, thats a hard lesson for not such a hard crime. just my opinion, kill who u want lol

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

Geterdun2: "so you would shoot someone if they were hunting in your treestand? is that the drift i am getting?"

Where did I say that?

Wolf Wrote:They would never shoot at anybody for stepping on our land. Just because you have killed in a war doesn't mean you have to kill your people inyour native land too. YOU NEED HELP...... AND NEED TO FIGHT IN A REAL WAR SO YOU KNOW HOW IMPORTANT LIVES ARE.

WOW! Where in my post did I say I was going to kill someone? and you post"need to fight in a real war". That warrents no reply from me! The other half a million americans that have fought or are fighting right now can reply to you on that one!

I'm done!

RE: How to Handle Trespassers?
 

OK so are you saying that the Iraq war isn't a real war?, cause if thats the case then why don't you explain that to the thousands of family's that no longer have their loved ones with them.