jeg3455

Ok I have to explain the situation in order to ask the question. We have hunted the same lease for a while now. This year a clearing was made and an existing fence was pulled up and a new one was put in. We did not think nothing of it, thought they put in a pipe line of some sort. We investigated it only to find out that the new fence put up took about a 150 acres from us, still not that big of a deal not many deer traveled that particular area plus we lease over 5000 acres. All of the sudden a feeder was put up right on the new fence line less than 20 yards away. Our lease states that we cannot hunt less than two hundred yards from the fence line on surrounding properties just out of respect for surrounding hunters. This is our rule not everyones. Since we live 6 hrs from the lease we only get to make trips about once a month to check on everything. It seems that this last time we went one of our feeders was tampered with. The cover was unscrewed and the wiring and the timer was pulled out. First thought was a racoon. After looking things over a little bit we seem to think that it was vandalized, (not a normal problem where we hunt).

My question is this since I know he has the right to hunt the fence, I do not want to vandalize anything. What should we do? We have discussed the problem with the rancher and the other land owner which seems to be a jerk. I was thinking along the lines of putting some kind of repellant scent along the fence line but not sure what to use. Maybe this is just as bad as vandalizing that is why I am asking for opinions.

huntnma

i just dont know.........it isnt as bad as vandalizing......just adding scent to things......now i dont know if it's the right thing to do or not though......i'd try to get them in the act.....boobie trap the hell out of that area, try to get a camera too, i'd make it my lifes mission to bust em.....that is if they are the ones doing it.......i cant stand jerks.....good luck to you

TexasHunter1

You might consider a couple of trail-cameras to find out what/who is tampering with your feeders. If it is in fact a raccoon and you already accosted your neighbors, it will make for terse relations. I myself always want a good relationship with adjoining landowners to keep an eye on each others properties, etc. If your camera reveals the neighbors junking your feeders, then you have ammunition to confront the landowner/authorities.
Secondly, you might consider giving the fenceline situation a hunting season or so... that feeder may be gone and the situation may take care of itself if there aren't many deer going to the feeder. Unfortunately, there are no laws (at least in my state) concerning fence line hunting, so they are probably within their rights.
I don't understand, however, how their new fence took 150 acres from your property. Was the property recently surveyed, and they found the boundary fence was installed in the wrong place?
I dislike property boundary fenceline hunting as much as anyone, but I also understand that it is legal in my area. If the neighbors are in fact trespassing and vandalizing private property, they are criminals and should be treated as such. If they are only guilty of fenceline hunting, take stock of the importance of the relationship you do/don't have with your neighbor. It may be that the landowner has leased the property and is unaware of the fenceline feeder altogether. There are a lot of factors to consider.
Good luck!

James B

The camera seem like a good idea unless they steal it.

cardeer

With 5000 acres to hunt i dont think it is worth making a fuss. How wold you like to have nothing but 5 acre plots to hunt like up here.Be happy with what you have.

messenger516

Better left alone. There are alot of crazy's out there.

Hunter_59

If you want to use a repellant scent, try Irish Spring soap hung on a string and tied to a tree branch every 100 yards or so depending on how strong you want the scent. I've heard of farmers keeping deer out of their apple orchards with this and they say it works. Good luck.

ShootStuff88

human hair also works well, stuff some pantyhose or socks with hair (im sure any barber shop would love to give you some) and hang them on branches.

good for awhile but will lose effect after rains and such.

Mat

Gobbling Buck

I can understand your annoyance with the situation. I also know that if you have such a long drive, the game cameras will probably not work due to battery life, film / memory, and the frequency you'll have to check on them. I'd still try to find out exactly who or what is vandelizing the feeder though.

I take it that your concern is mostly someone else hunting the fence line that you and your club have decided against. As long as the person isn't shooting deer on your side of the fence or retrieving deer without permission (tresspassing) I wouldn't have a problem with where they hunt. If you do find out that it was someone that vandelized the feeder, why not turn them in?

BTW...Moth balls are great for keeping deer out of an area.

Deerslayer_37

mothballs work great...i know my cousin poured gasoline around one of the neighbors stands that was in a tree that the line fence had grown into. i can't stand people who hunt on the line, because you know they'll shoot something off your side if given the oppertunity. neighbors gotta be respectful of each other. i mean, at our land we got behind our house, all the neighbors are friendly, i can bowhunt on 3 different properties, and they all let me cross their land to get to my stands. just great people, all of them. can't say the same for our neighbors across the Mississippi..

slayer