Best ways to stop trespassers when the LEO is indifferent

[newbury]

Well I read two threads:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/127544-trespassing-issue.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/215433-trespassing-theft-issue.html

Here's the situation:
I'm an absentee landlord of about 35 acres of 30 yr+ forest in NE Mississippi on a paved road.
Old "logging road" runs thru part, leads to nowhere off my land from the main road so no reason for anyone else to go on it except to trespass.
Used to be ATV's playing around in there which PO'd me but my wife always said it was to much problem to stop. She's a lawyer and told me the local law was not going to do anything even if I posted it.
Now recently it seems 4 wheel drive trucks (based on track width and rut depth) are getting in there and just digging mudholes. Holes so deep it'll be a problem getting my tractor back there. Plus there's sleeping bags, tents and trash left strewn around.

I'm planning on posting it and trying to get a hunting club to rent it but I'm also thinking of dropping some 18" DBH oaks across the road.

Any other legal suggestions?

 

[dusty3030]

Hunting lease it cheap to some wildlife officers or a group of sheriff's deputies. Problem solved.:thumbsup:

 

[jonyyuma]

Suggest you Post it as being a" members only hunting club"?

 

[dusty3030]

Have a big nice sign made at the entrance:
"Welcome to the North Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Senior Adult Nudist and Obesity Camp"

 

[MossflowerWoods]

Have a big nice sign made at the entrance:
"Welcome to the North Mississippi Gay and Lesbian Senior Adult Nudist and Obesity Camp"

:laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing::laughing:!!!!!

That sign is a WINNER!

I'm SKEERT! Bubba, Lets giddouttahere!!!!!

David

 

[dodge man]

I'd try and figure out how to fence off the entrance to the road and make it almost impossible to get down the road. Depending on the lay of the land, this may or may not be tough.

 

[Mousefield]

They are very tough to stop. We had lots of issues with dirt bikes and ATV's trespassing on our land before we moved here. It's at the end of the road with creek and meadow. A nice place for them to wreck while they are having fun :confused2: :confused2: . I didn't give in to them and just kept making it harder for them to have access. Still have problems with them coming down our private road and chewing it up. I would, if possible, try to stop them at or near your properly line. Not knowing the lay of the land only you can figure out how best to stop them. They may think it's a public playground :licking: so I would start by posting the land.

 

[MarkV]

I was kind of wondering about the entrance. Do you have a gate? Being an absentee owner is always a problem. I would post it just to help cover myself from liabilities. Of course your wife would know more about that than I.

MarkV

 

[calvincoolidge]

We just purchased 130 acres in NE MS. I am hoping that we don't have the same problem. Luckily I have some neighbors that are watching after the place a little. Legally speaking, I believe you can pretty much lay whatever you want in your roads or mudholes to really mess up tires. Its your land. You just better remember where you laid it down. Im from central MS and if we call the game and fish, they usually come pretty quick.

 

[stravis]

It's hard enough when you live on it. The two best cases I can come up with would first be neighbors. See if your neighbors will help watch the property for you. Give on permission to ride the place on their four wheeler regularly and run folks off. Second, trail cameras. They make them now that take excellent pictures and don't need a flash. My Bushnell has no flash during the day and is totally silent. They might be able to see the infrared glow at night, but that might have the ability to be turned off. Mount them high enough in the tree that it's not accessible, lock them up and point it where you can get a license plate.

After the land is posted and you are able to bring photographic evidence as well as some neighbors confirming your story, the police should get involved. It's difficult for them to actually do anything other than patrol, but if you do the detective work for them, they are typically very happy to do the rest.

Good news is that it's likely a small group of people and they probably know each other. While it will be difficult to catch them initially, if you are able to get a conviction, the others will quickly hear about it and it will likely cease very soon.

Good luck and sorry you're having this problem. Folks have no respect for property rights any more.