Pictures Soon II Segue:

DAP · Jan 14, 2004

I'm starting this thread as a natural segue to Richard's horendous clamity.

We often used the cliche "...one can spoil it for the others". The inherent problem with this is that the 'others', who either may or may not belong to 'the group', often ACTUALLY do little about the 'one'.

That being said ... the heart of this post is this. I have been facing the possibility of living Richard's nightmare for 3 winters now. No ... make that 3 hunting seasons. I KNOW the laws, and I KNOW individuals with guns are tresspassing on private property and I KNOW they are discharging their weapons (whether they are harvesting is NOT known). I have a percheron mare, a canadian mare, 2 greyhounds, 2 pygmy goats and a historical homestead - ALL RESCUED. My 6.5 acres is surrounded on 3 sides by 180 acres of privately held land. I know the identification of the owner and they have posted signs but are unresponsive.

Now I have personally confronted individuals on or within earshot of my property (let alone the legal buffer required from my buildings) and they offered sheepish excuses and mosied along on their way.

One day, perhaps just one day, something terrible may happen.

For those of you who may not quite understand, trying to convince my wife ( or me for that matter ) that a pygmy goat or a 1200 pound pasture oranment is something OTHER than a human member of our family is not a good idea.

As such ... how can I EFFECTIVELY PREvent living Richard's nightmare?
/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

and Richard ... I'm so very sorry.

Docsknotinn · Jan 14, 2004

I guess I do not understand the problem. If I read correctly the others are not on your property. When some one has been too close and you asked them to move they have. The owners of the land are apparently not concerned about the hunters on their land. It seems a bit odd to be contemplating what some one else might be doing on 180 acres that your six is surrounded by. Post your land. Be pleasant, ask those that get to close to move. By being friendly and just saying something like you really are a little to close to my buildings but good luck etc you will get a long way. If you get ugly with others hunting legally on land that you dont even own you may well be the creator of your own future difficulties. Theese people may well have permission to be there. Dave

RobertN · Jan 14, 2004

I like to hunt, respect others land, the wildlife I pursue, and the proper management of a wildlife system.

It is sad, but on a few of my hunting trips to Wyoming, I have been out in search of deer or antelope, and found instead a dead cow that someone obviously shot. I find this to be infuriating, that someone would do such a thing, or to have them labeled as a hunter.

There is not much you could do except mark your property, and prosecute those that do not respect your property. Given what has happened in some area's, you might also think about blaze orange halters or blankets for the horses?

MossRoad · Jan 14, 2004

<font color="blue"> how can I EFFECTIVELY PREvent </font>

You can't prevent it... but you can do some things to make it more inconvenient for people to come on or near your property. We are thinking about building on our property in a year or two. This is what I plan to do...

The first thing I'd do is post the property all the way around the perimeter. I'd also consider fencing it off 10' in so that I could mow on the outside of the fence, keeping a clear lane open all the way around. Put the posted signs right on the property line so that there is no mistake where the property line is. Now, people still might use your lane to walk around your property, but at least they will likely stay on the other side of the fence and realize that they are tresspassing.

Call the Police every time you find someone on your property. Don't confront them, just call the police.

Attempt to prosecute tresspassers and follow through with it(I've heard it can be difficult).

Contact the owner of the property next to yours by registered mail and ask them to contact you regarding people hunting on their land and tresspassing on your property from their property. Ask them if it would be OK to call the Police when you see someone on their property. There are several property owners around ours and we all watch out for each other's property and call each other and/or the Police when something is not right. It builds good relationships, too. It is very nice.

Keep your dogs confined to a fenced area near your house unlesss you are outside with them. Can't help you with the other animals as we don't have any livestock... yet. I'd like to get a steer and a pig or two to raise for meat for our extended family, so this is a concern of mine.

For what it's worth, the problem is not confined to Rural areas. When we bought our first house, there was a bullet hole in the outside east wall and two more in the attached garage wall that faced east. When we sold it, I decided to put a new roof on it. I found 3 more in the south roof! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif It was nothing to hear gunfire a few blocks away in the evening. Actually, it wasn't nothing, it was something, and that's why we moved. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif At our current location we only have one person in the neighborhood that appears to be a reckless gun owner. We've called the police, but they almost have to catch her in the act before they can do anything. One of the neighbors had a talk with her and it stopped last fall. If it starts back up again, I'll video her and provide it to the police. Hope it doesn't come to that.

Good luck with your animals.

MossRoad · Jan 14, 2004

Doc,
That's' a very good point that people might have permission to hunt there.

shvl73 · Jan 14, 2004

I believe I understand the problem. It was stated the 180 acres is posted, yet hunters continue to trespass. Here in NH hunters have the legal right to trespass on your property unless posted. They can be asked to leave and must do so if asked, if not otherwise posted. The problem seems to be a lack of consideration and most certainly a complete lack of any shred of intelligence. If people want to hunt and want to enjoy hunting in the future it is crucial that some respect be shown to those that pay the property tax on the property you want to hunt. if the land is posted, go elswhere. if not, scout the land beforehand, know where you are and the surrounding area. Never hunt around any building, residential or otherwise, it might be occupied. Those that ignore basic common sense are clueless as to why more land is being posted. Most land is privately owned and those that use it are guests, why don't a large number of people get it?

Docsknotinn · Jan 14, 2004

My property is posted as well. That does not mean others do not have permission to hunt there. We have to assume they do have permission as the land owner has been non responsive. That is just my view and the way I would handle it. It does not seem like much of a problem if every one is polite. They have 180 acres so I doubt they intenionaly want to be on the other fellows six acres. I think Moss Road has a good idea though. Dave

DAP · Jan 15, 2004

Perhaps I haven't made myself clear. Not only is it POSSIBLE, but it HAS occurred, where hunters have broken the law while still outside of my property lines.

The notion that I should ASSUME that they are there legally FROM the outset is ludicrous. On the occassions when I asked these individuals to provide some proof of their purported 'permission', they provided nothing but lip service.

My goal is to AVOID living Richard's nightmare, not wait for it to arrive and hope for something serendipitous to happen after the fact.

Look, let's be smart about this. Let's say I'm a hunter. I've decided to address a piece of land to harvest some white tail or turkey, etc. Whether I have permission or not is moot. I see a residential neighborhood at a wood line. As a smart sporting man, I clear away from that area, preserving my hunting experiences in the future on this plot, not to mention being conciencious, responsible, and a good sportsman.

The culprits in Richard's horror were neither of these.

If I owned land and let people harvest on it, I **** well would make doubly sure they knew where the lines were and where the hell to stay away from.

The "One bad apple ... " cliche has now reared it's ugly head for Richard and his family.

You're response of asking anyone to assume that everything is on the up and up and that personal politeness will solve the problem is laughable.

These polite folks have built a tree blind 80 yards from my barn. I'm going to "modify" that structure somewhat.

DAP · Jan 15, 2004

Thanks Moss ... those are some good suggestions, most of which I'm on top of.

I would LOATHE to become litigious about this, but it is an acceptable recourse considering what's at stake.

Docsknotinn · Jan 15, 2004

I see. so your plan is to break the law, tresspass, destroy anothers property based on the ASSumption that something might be improperly done in the future. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif If you think politemess and courtesy is laughable then no doubt you will have many problems in the future with your neighbors. In Mi the distance from a structure is defined by law so the proper thing to do is call the DNR and let them send an officer. Takeing the law into your own hands will resolve little. I think I see your point though. you have six acres and you want to be able to fully control what others do on their 180 acres. I would be carefull about YOUR illigal activities lest you be the creator of your own problems. Dave