Trespassing

Subject: Re: Trespassing Hunters <
Date: 2001-10-14 12:37:40 PST

I'm sorry to hear about your dog. People who do things like that are
a disgrace to the hunting community.

I see that there have been a number of replies already, with some
good advice, some bad.

My two cents:

[1] Find out what the law is in your area. This is critical.
Trespass laws differ from state to state, as do hunting laws and
firearms laws. Here in Minnesota, for example, you don't have to post
(put "no trespassing" signs up) on agricultural land for it to be a
crime to trespass on it. However, if you DO have signs up it makes it
easier to get a gross misdemeanor conviction if you end up going after
somebody. There are specific requirements for where and how the signs
have to be put up. There are firearms laws that specify how far from a
house, livestock, etc hunters have to be before shooting. So know
this stuff.

[2] Hunt the land yourself or get someone you trust to do so, unless
this offends your sensibilities for some reason. The majority of
hunters (sadly, not much more than that) are very conscientious. As
others have pointed out, the presence of other hunters is a deterrent
to trespassers.

[3] Be especially careful during deer season (or elk if they are in
hunted where you are). In our area the firearms deer season is six
days -- two weekends and the following Monday and Tuesday. Find out
when yours is. Stay out of the woods and keep your dog, livestock,
kids, etc out of the woods. We do unless we are actually hunting.
No, none of this should be necessary. Yes, it's your land. Try not
to get mad. Just do it. (Small game hunters don't create nearly as
much trouble).

[4] Post signs. Be sure you meet whatever posting requirements there
are in your jurisdiction. Post signs at likely routes of entry even
if this is not required. Put up new signs every year just before
hunting season. Put up new signs if someone tears down or shoots the
old signs.

[5] If it really matters to you, put up a fence, especially if there
are areas you can't see from your house. Accomplished trespassers
ignore signs if they are confident that their activities are
unobserved. Fences are another matter. Trespassers are big into
plausable denial ("Huh? what sign? I must not have seen the sign").
Most won't go inside a fenced area. Also, law enforcement will take
your complaints much more seriously if the perpetrator is in a fenced
area.

An ordinary barbed wire or HT fence for cattle is enough to discourage
most trespassers. You don't need to put up chain link. Just
something that they have to go to some effort to cross.

Fences are the only thing that really works.

[6] Disregard the advice of others who suggest leaving spikes in the
road or cutting valve stems. It isn't worth it.

[7] If you see trespassers, get your camera, go take pictures of them
and their car, and then call the sheriff. If you've done your
homework that should be enough to get them written up for criminal
trespassing and a nasty fine. Repeat offenders can get their hunting
license revoked - sometimes for several years - and can be required to
pay substantial fines or perform community service.

[8] Don't call the sheriff unless you have a case because they get
these sorts of complaints all the time and can't do anything about
them.

On Sat, 13 Oct 2001 11:18:52 -0500, "Austin" <AustinStone0@lycos.com>
wrote:

>Any ideas on discouraging trespassing hunters. Last Sunday afternoon, they
>killed one of our dogs. The Game Warden & deputy have been here but say
>there is nothing they can do unless I catch the trespassers, take a photo,
>get an ID, license plate, etc. We are trying to think of ways to discourage
>them from coming on the area of the property where deer are likely to be.
>
>A.S.
>
>

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