How do you approach tespassers?

63DH8 · May 8, 2005

If your state does not permit hunting while using bait, bait the heck outta your property. When you have trespasser hunting, call the game department and tell them someone is hunting a baited area.

The other thing you can do is call 911 and whisper with a sense of urgency, "There's a couple of guys wandering around here with GUNS!!! PLEASE send someone NOW!!!!"

edski · May 8, 2005

( Cops come out to someone trespassing? Wow you folks live where there are lots of cops, to be able to do that. )

Just one, but he lives less than a mile down the ridge. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Most everyone on the ridge carries, and looks out for oneanother. My house is unlocked, as is my shed and barn, my keys are prolly in the truck, and I've never had any probs (knock on wood). The saying is true..."An armed society is a polite society."

caddison · May 8, 2005

We had a hunting club leasing some adjoining land to my father-in-laws for a couple of years. On one occasion one of the city boys tried to run off a person that had permission to hunt on my father-in-laws place. The club member wasn't quite awre of what a fence was for.....him and the rest of the members did after I explained it to them and I reiterated that if they didn't understand my definition that the game warden and the local sheriff had a much more detailed explanation that they would share with them at the court house.....they got the jest of my meaning and I got a tree stand that they had placed in a walnut tree on our side of the fence. Oh they lost their lease after I had a chat with the land owner too. Hate it when that happens. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Boone · May 8, 2005

When I bought my place in '82, on opening day of pheasant season the town chairman and treasurer came in the yard to introduce themselves. Shook hands and then pellets started slaming into the buildings, their brand new pickup truck and my new car.

They ducked behind the truck and I walked out into the pasture about a hundred feet away. Confronted a line of hunters politely, your in my yard stop shooting.

One guy 10 feet away points his 12 guage straight at me, demands to know who I am. Noticed that his cap had a Sportsman club pin on it. He told me they were going to drive the birds through my yard to the river that borders.

After that for years (and the next day when the pheasant hunters came back,) I used a pump shotgun, the sound of it racking really carries nicely.

After the killing of the deerhunters last season, I'm leaning on calling the sheriff for any future problems.

Back of my shed still has the holes from being shot that day.

cowpie1 · May 8, 2005

Thru experience, having a loaded M1A in view makes an effective deterent. It is a rather intimidating weapon. Have loved that model of rifle since my Army days. It is my personal choice along with a good Remington Pump shotgun. I recommend the shotgun to any other. Most of these situations are close range anyway. Most people's naval will pucker when they hear the sound of a pump shotgun chambering a round. Unless you have extensive experience in these situations, the shotgun is quite effective and equal.

The best approach is to not try and start a ruckus or argument, but try a subtle approach. I usually just bring along my mug of coffee and light a smoke. If they will not leave or remove their dogs (big problem with coyote hunters in my area), Then casually return to the vehicle and get the weapon if you feel comfortable going to that level. Prior to brandishing a weapon, a cell call if posible to your local sheriffs dept would not be a bad idea. Advise them of situation and that you are preparing to confront the person(s).

Remember, don't ever show a weapon unless you are prepared to use it. No flinching here. If you cannot zero a round between another human's horns, then leave this type of work to law enforcement. Once you bring a weapon out, you escalate the situation. You must be ready to use it. Most times you won't have to.

hitekcountry · May 8, 2005

One guy 10 feet away points his 12 guage straight at me, demands to know who I am. Noticed that his cap had a Sportsman club pin on it. 

Boone

This trespasser points a gun at you on your property and there are no consequences? I find this to be incredible!! A guy I worked with years ago who owned property way back in the mountains, came across a group of guys 4 wheeling on his property, a bunch of them and he was alone but he had his gun. He told them to leave and at some point he pointed his gun at them. They reported this to the sheriff and he was arrested. I don’t remember the outcome but I thought that was odd at the time.

But in Wisconsin you can trespass on someone's property and on top of that point a gun at the property owner, shoot up a couple new vehicles and that’s OK? Or am I missing something?

DannyD · May 8, 2005

After my post I thought of the baiting thing. It is illegal within 300 feet of bait. I dont have enough ground that this would be effective, but the new police station is right down the road

anthonyk · May 8, 2005

This thread reminds me of an old joke...
A hotshot attorney from up northeast decides to go duckhunting while visiting down south. He shoots a duck, but it falls on the neighboring land, about 30 feet beyond the fence.
As he's climbing over to get the duck he's approached by a farmer on his old John Deere, who of course tells him he's trespassing. The attorney states that he wants his duck, and if the farmer won't let him get it, he tells him "I'm one of the most powerful successful lawyers in NY and if you don't let me get my duck, I'll sue you, your farm, and your family."
The farmer tells him, "Well down here, we don't do much lawyerin'. Down here we use the old 3 kick system"
Lawyer says "hows that work?" Farmer says "well..I kick you 3 times, you kick me 3 times till one of us gives up"
The lawyer looks at the old man and figures, "no problem! I can take him". He tells him ''you're on!"
Well, the farmer slowly climbs off his tractor, walks up and kicks him in the groin, then as he's doubled over he kicks him in the ribs, and as he's falling, he kicks the lawyer in the butt.
The lawyer, who can now barely breath struggles to his feet and says "okay, now it's my turn".
The farmer just smiles and says "Nah, you win. You can get the duck....." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Hope this at least brings a grin!

Anthony

MossRoad · May 9, 2005

I give them one chance buy telling them, "Hi. This is private property and I'd appreciate it if you would leave. Thanks." Then I walk away. Most leave and don't come back. The ones that stay or return get a visit with the county police. We are fortunate enough to have many county police officers and they respond usually within minutes. Good bunch of folks.

Boone · May 9, 2005

Incredible is sometimes true. You need a picture of the back of my shed to believe?

At the time Wisconsin law on trespassing required land to be posted at each corner and in between. This is what the sheriffs department told me when I called them right afterwards. I had just bought the place and the idea of posting the property had never entered my mind, so the land was unposted.

If you don't believe me about this you probably wouldn't believe my nieghbor being shot at by a murder for hire man in his store, but I'm sure the Oconto county DA office can confirm.

The people that hired the attempting killer were angry at my nieghbor because one of his customers at his horse stables had hit and killed their wolf (which ran out onto the road,) with a car.

Almost forgot, the people the hired assasin said put him up to it, were never prosecuted.