Dealing with trespassers

[hunterstoots34]

Hi, everyone I know I should probably be posting this in the land management section but figured I’d get more responses here. I’m currently having a big problem with trespassers on my newly acquired hunting property. I’ve installed a gate at the main entrance and monitor that with a cellular camera and people seem to respect the gate. On the opposite side of the property however it’s a different story. I’ve put several logs over the trail coming in and put very noticeable no trespassing signs on the trees on either side of the trail. I also have a cell cam here and I’ve caught people moving the logs and paying no attention to the signs and riding right past them on their ATVs. I have another camera there as well that has a pretty decent picture of their faces. As I stated before it’s a newly acquired property and I’m not super familiar with the locals other than the adjacent neighbors so I don’t think I’d even be able to get names of the people in the pic. I know everybody and their brother rides ATVs on the neighboring property because the landowner does not care at all. They previously probably rode all over my property as well and seem to think as if they still have the right to do this despite the signs and cameras. So how would you guys go about stopping this? Is there anything I can do with the photo without names? I’m planning on putting another gate at that end but it drives me nuts they can’t respect the signs. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Hunter

[Boogieman1]

Judging by the story I take it u don’t live in the immediate area which makes thing harder. If u want a close up of the trespassers face lay a $5 bill in the trail with a cam mounted high pointed at it. In my area posted signs don’t mean as much as painted trunks of trees. Purple trunks every 100 feet will get authorities involved.

If vigilante justice is what your after cover a sheet of plywood with nails every 1/2 inch with dirt in the trail and run a some strands of wire about 4wheeler head high across it. 20 yards off the trail back in the brush attach a sign that says “caution wire, Not responsible for accidents.” That’s how I roll anyway.

[NBK438]

A good place to start is contacting the authorities and handing over the pictures. They might know the people and put a stop to it.

[NBK438]

Put a gate on that other side too

[Moose]

Trespassers are the worst! Bury some spikes for the atvs lol. I like the $5 bill idea. Could you stretch a stand or two of barbwire for now? I would call the authorities unfortunately. I ran into a trespasser first season turkey hunting. Let us know how it turns out.

[Hawthorne]

I’ve owned or been part owner of 3 different hunting properties. At the beginning I always had some trespassing issues. You get the word out you don’t want anyone on it, post it, and put out some gates it usually works. If after a year your still having problems, then prosecute. Then they are probably hardened criminals and need it anyway.

[Hawthorne]

To add to my post above a couple years ago I saw two guys walking thru my woods one October morning. I was in my stand and got down to talk with them. They had a blood trail from the night before. I asked where they were hunting and he gave me the farmers name and where he lived. I ended up helping them for a few hours to look for their deer. Never recovered it.Got to talking with him what bucks were in the area and I’ve been to his house a couple times to talk since. The farmer that let him hunt let’s us blood trail on his property so I wasn’t gonna get mad about it. Sometimes it’s give and take

[Horizontal Hunter]

Hard to believe that this was 7 years ago now.

Bob

https://youtu.be/D7pCILPInb4


An elderly deer hunter who was sprayed with paint while trespassing on a neighbor’s property on opening morning of the 2013 Pennsylvania deer season has had the charges stayed by the State. The charges will most likely be dropped in early August if he does not have further complaints filed against him. In another twist, the landowner who set the paint bomb was also ticketed in the incident — on charges of criminal mischief and criminal harassment for allegedly rigging up a trip wire that was attached to an explosive device that discharged a paint bomb on opening day of Pennsylvania’s 2013 gun-deer season.

Read the rest:
https://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/content/articles/deer-news/painted-deer-hunter-to-have-trespassing-ticket-dismissed-landowner-also-charged

[Boogieman1]

Guess I just live in a diff world. I have a pit bull in my back yard trained to rip the leg off of any crook who jumps my fence. If it happened there would be absolutely no guilt on my part. As far as I’m concerned they got what they deserved. And I would rather a trespasser jump my fence than come strolling in front of my tree come prime time. If it were me I would call a defense attorney and see what I can do and what tips to keep me out of trouble. Waiting years, buying high dollar gates and leaving out milk an cookies just doesn’t leave a good taste in my mouth.

[1STRANGEWILDERNESS]

sounds like kids.. might not stop till they grow out of atv’s

I’d start with the gate and some LARGE downed trees or logs blocking any chance of going around the gate.

Or Maybe get some of those signs that say if you can read this you’re in range. Or this land is protected by smith and Wesson or whatever. Then hide and wait for em to come. Fire off some rounds from close by and they’ll run like heck and start the rumors you’re crazy and you’ll shoot people.

[Trout]

I think the suggestions you've got are good. It's a shame some people cant respect other people's property. I'd try the nice route first, bigger logs or maybe even big boulders, but if that didnt work, bring in the spikes and trip wire. I would guess if you make it harder than it's worth to ride your property, they will give up fairly quick and trespass elsewhere.

[Swedishbowhunter]

This is what I have done in one instance that might help you. Go to the local watering hole on a weeknight. Get real chatty with either one of the locals or bartender. Talk all about how you have been having problems with trespassers and that you have had the sherrifs dept out there all day helping you set up hidden cameras. Then tell them a story about how the last time you came home from the bar the game warden had his truck hidden behind your house, and when you talked to him he said he has been sitting there sporadically for the past few weeks looking for poachers that have been reported in the area on 4 wheelers!!! In a small rural town chances are the guy your talking to or someone listening in will know exactly who is causing your problem and will either tell you who it is, or play dumb by you and will inform the 4 wheelin bandits the gossip he heard at the bar!!! Also, I really think a gate on the access will also solve your problem.

[justdirtyfun]

A loose strand or two of barbed wire laying around could have come from anywhere. Hardly noticeable until it ends up wrapped up in an ATV tire or axle.
I hate that you are dealing with this. People should show more respect.

[treeroot]

Plant a few saplings on their trail. If you get them on camera running them over, you now can get them for trespassing and destruction of property.

[Grizzlyadam]

Whatever you do, don't set up any type of booby traps like wire across the trail or something stupid like that. That's a great way to seriously hurt or kill someone and you will get yourself into much more trouble than you would ever want to live with.

I'd recommend putting up a gate and/or some creative signs. Something like this area is monitored by video cameras, or maybe put up some private shooting preserve signs. Hopefully you don't need to take it any farther than that.