Trespassers

[Jstpssng]

Just curious, the stand was 100 yards away, but where is the property line?

I found a tree stand in "my" woods. I wasn't sure of my exact property line, but it was place such that the only shot was into my my property. I put NO HUNTING signs up on my property in direct view of the stand. The stand did go away.

Doug in SW IA

I often see the exact opposite. I will be working a property line which is dotted with no trespassing signs. Then I'll come across a tree stand just off the line; looking out over our client's land. That takes a certain amount of brass, in my opinion.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I’m in process of buying land. I fully expect to have this problem.

 

[dmccarty]

Many years back, I put up a tree stand on my property around 100 yds in from a well posted property line. I showed up early on opening day of buck season only to find another hunter in my stand!

He claimed the stand was his and he had permission to hunt there. I told him it was my stand on my land and I had not given anyone permission to hunt. "Prove it" was all he said as he raised his rifle!

I saw no sense in arguing with someone with a loaded gun. I turned and walked away saying "we'll let the police sort it out". I watched from a distance as he left in a hurry.

It never ceases to amaze me the nerve some people have!

Had something similar to me.

Two idiots were walking our property line hunting tree rats. The were shooting into our trees and in a direction where rounds might hit nearby houses. I first heard them when I was running the chainsaw. The first round or two I questioned what I was hearing because of the hearing protection and the sound of the chain saw. Then I saw the two idiots and they had been firing over my head with a .22 and a 12 gauge. No way could they not know I was there. I was wearing an orange chainsaw helmet and chaps. Not to mention the freaking sound of the chainsaw.

I was not happy.

So I put up the chain saw, got some different safety equipment, and went to talk to these idiots. Standing right next to a No Trespass/No Hunting sign, they lied to my face with the "We have permission to hunt here." and "My daddy and I have always hunted this place." They walked by at least 4-8 posted signs.

I was firm with them, but polite, that they were on my land, they most certainly did not have permission to hunt, I had never given anyone permission to hunt, and they needed to leave. Then I lectured them on how they were giving hunting a bad name by trespassing and shooting in the direction of houses. Never saw them again.

I don't recommend people do what I did, but I have the training, experience, and equipment for this sort of thing. If I had had the time, I would have called 911 and let deputies handle these lying fools, but these idiots were actively shooting near my house and directly at others. They could see our house ,but the near by houses are not viewable from where they were shooting, but rounds easily could have impacted in other peoples yards or homes.

Later,
Dan

 

[cqaigy2]

In Washington state, hunters must have permission from the land owner to be on private property. If they are there without permission the legislation defines it as "poaching". Same as hunting out of season.
Since this law went into effect we have not had any hunters trespass.

I believe the property has to be posted.

 

[TimberHole]

I’m in process of buying land. I fully expect to have this problem.

In my experience you often have trouble the first year or two after buying the ground. Your purchase often upsets someone’s Apple cart.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I believe the property has to be posted.

Posting is not required for property that is fenced.

RCW 77.15.435: Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another—Defense—Penalty—Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.

apps.leg.wa.gov

RCW 16.08.050: Entrance on private property, when lawful.

app.leg.wa.gov

Edit: I did not know that if it was not fenced, then it must be posted.
Sheriff was my next door neighbor and enforced the "needs permission". His property and mine are fenced. Learn something new everyday!

 

[cqaigy2]

Posting is not required for property that is fenced.

RCW 77.15.435: Unlawful hunting on, retrieving hunted wildlife from, or collecting wildlife parts from the property of another—Defense—Penalty—Forfeiture and disposition of wildlife.

apps.leg.wa.gov

RCW 16.08.050: Entrance on private property, when lawful.

app.leg.wa.gov

Edit: I did not know that if it was not fenced, then it must be posted.
Sheriff was my next door neighbor and enforced the "needs permission". His property and mine are fenced. Learn something new everyday!

I learned something too!

That said consent shall not be presumed when the property of the owner is fenced or reasonably posted.


On the east side of the state, where i grew up, I vaguely remember when it was common to go hunting on fenced areas. You always closed gates, didn't hunt around livestock etc. I was gone from the state for a bit and when i came back, a buddy of mine contacted me to go hunting. It was a very different experience as everything was posted no trespassing, i asked him what was going on, and the story he told me was that a rancher had tried to get some people off his property, owner thought they were abusing their stay. Rancher got sued for something and from then on, everybody put signs up.

 

[Jstpssng]

the story he told me was that a rancher had tried to get some people off his property, owner thought they were abusing their stay. Rancher got sued for something and from then on, everybody put signs up.

What caused a lot of signs here was this; a farmer didn't like the people who were hunting on his land, apparently because of previous interactions. He took a stick and jammed it into the steering wheel of the car, causing it to blare until they came out of the woods. He then went home.
They visited him and kicked the living daylights out of him, sending him to the hospital; there was so much blood that when his wife came home she thought he'd gotten a deer.

 

[Joel/ak]

I deal with trespassers all the time. Got a new one where someone cut an ATV trail onto our property to use our road. He cut the trail right next to a " no trespassing sign" crap gets old

 

[Jstpssng]

I deal with trespassers all the time. Got a new one where someone cut an ATV trail onto our property to use our road. He cut the trail right next to a " no trespassing sign" crap gets old

I don't even have to mess with them. One call to the warden service and it's no longer my problem. That's one advantage of our permissive land use policy; the powers-that-be know what a privilege it is to be allowed access so they nip problems in the bud.