Trespasser.....what would you do?

[Richard]

I wish that people would read a thread before making comments. Try doing that sometime. I've addressed the unlikelihood of that many times in this and other threads.

This cuts both ways.

I clearly stated that "I" have never set foot on this land.... (though I have now, I had not for the 30 years I've been with my wife as it's a piece of woodland)

Note that nowhere did I state that NOBODY (in the family) hadn't been there.....I know some have....just not which nor when they might have been there. That isn't relevant anyway. That said, my wife and 4 siblings grew up playing on this land (flying kites and riding their horses kind of thing)

I was speaking very exact to say that "I" had not set foot on that land. Yet me being clear that "I" had not set foot on that land, has morphed into the land being abandoned for 30 years.

 

[dodge man]

There is a lenders title insurance policy and a owners title policy. There are usually exclusions, such as unrecorded easements and things a current boundary survey would disclose. For example your neighbors garage is over the line when you buy but you don’t get it surveyed, title insurance won’t cover that.

 

[MossRoad]

What's kinda sad is that when we were kids on the early 60's and 70's, we were told if you find a gate open, leave it open, if you find a gate closed, open it, go through it, and close it behind you. It was completely acceptable to roam through farmland without asking permission. It was also a known thing that if you wanted to hunt or fish on the property, you had to ask permission. But just walking through, you just walked through.

 

[ponytug]

What's kinda sad is that when we were kids on the early 60's and 70's, we were told if you find a gate open, leave it open, if you find a gate closed, open it, go through it, and close it behind you. It was completely acceptable to roam through farmland without asking permission. It was also a known thing that if you wanted to hunt or fish on the property, you had to ask permission. But just walking through, you just walked through.

Yes, I agree. A few bad apples do spoil the whole bunch.

 

[Jstpssng]

This cuts both ways.

I clearly stated that "I" have never set foot on this land.... (though I have now, I had not for the 30 years I've been with my wife as it's a piece of woodland)

Note that nowhere did I state that NOBODY (in the family) hadn't been there.....I know some have....just not which nor when they might have been there. That isn't relevant anyway. That said, my wife and 4 siblings grew up playing on this land (flying kites and riding their horses kind of thing)

I was speaking very exact to say that "I" had not set foot on that land. Yet me being clear that "I" had not set foot on that land, has morphed into the land being abandoned for 30 years.

I did read your post, and you clearly stated that you've known since the land was cut that people have been using it. 10 years ago you were told you had a problem... and just now decided to do something about it. It doesn't seem like it's been a big priority... so I ask yet again what harm was caused.

 

[K5lwq]

What am I missing? If a person owns some property and does not want someone on to hunt, walk or do anything else on it, that is their right.

If someone wants to use land that does not belong to them, go to the courthouse and find out who owns it and get permission or stay off of it.

I guess in some peoples mind anyone could just come borrow my tractor as long as I am not using it. Makes about as much sense.

Causing harm is not the point. Even if the trespasser was making vast improvements to the property, it is not theirs and they should stay off.

I also venture to say if these type of people owned land and found someone hunting it without permission they would call the authorities immediately.

 

[Torvy]

Another point @K5lwq reminded me about. If you actively ignore some people trespassing, you could get into legal trouble for addressing others.

You don't know who has 'harm' on their mind until it is too late.

Public land makes up nearly 40% of the US. If people want to walk around in nature, they should either buy and maintain their own land or visit some of the public land.

 

[Joe Batt]

And... what harm am I doing?

If you haven't asked the owner, then you don't know.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

If someone wants to use land that does not belong to them, go to the courthouse and find out who owns it and get permission or stay off of it.

Your county surveyor may have the whole county on their GIS system, showing approximate property lines. Log on to your county surveyor's web site and see what they have available. You may be able to get owner info with a mouse click.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Not sure about Oregon, but my experience in other states is that it is the lender who requires title insurance, not a real estate broker.

My current property would not pass a lender inspection, so the previous owner offered a trust deed and note. No banks at all, but I still had to buy title insurance. I don't know about people saying it is expensive. It was a few hundred bucks, which I considered trivial at the time.

 

[Jstpssng]

If you haven't asked the owner, then you don't know.

I’ve been asking him ever since he started this thread...

 

[Fuddy1952]

What am I missing? If a person owns some property and does not want someone on to hunt, walk or do anything else on it, that is their right.

If someone wants to use land that does not belong to them, go to the courthouse and find out who owns it and get permission or stay off of it.

I guess in some peoples mind anyone could just come borrow my tractor as long as I am not using it. Makes about as much sense.

Causing harm is not the point. Even if the trespasser was making vast improvements to the property, it is not theirs and they should stay off.

I also venture to say if these type of people owned land and found someone hunting it without permission they would call the authorities immediately.

That was my point about the trespassing idiot who got paint sprayed. All he had to do was ask permission. I can go through a gate I installed here and ride my horse through miles of trails, but we have permission to do so from all of the property owners.
Trespassers getting paint, tetanus, broken bones, etc. I have no sympathy for any more than borrowing your tractor without permission.

 

[davedj1]

I would have left them a note with my contact info on it and had them come claim their stands, then I would advise them they would be trespassing if they should go back on your land.
Then I would be sure it was posted properly (not that it should matter) to prevent further intrusion.

 

[kenmbz]

I just left it on the ground. Does not look recently used.
It's in an area where it would not be seen by me or my neighbor and could be accessed from the main road.
Had a cable lock, which I cut, attached to tree.

 

[MossRoad]

I just left it on the ground. Does not look recently used.
It's in an area where it would not be seen by me or my neighbor and could be accessed from the main road.
Had a cable lock, which I cut, attached to tree.

View attachment 721862

Kinda ironic that they'd put a lock on a tree stand so that no one would steal it while they themselves are committing a crime (a minor crime, but a crime nonetheless).

 

[Richard]

I did read your post, and you clearly stated that you've known since the land was cut that people have been using it. 10 years ago you were told you had a problem... and just now decided to do something about it. It doesn't seem like it's been a big priority... so I ask yet again what harm was caused.

Actually, I was only recently told by my wife's cousin about the hunters that 'challenged' the timber dudes. Be that as it may....some people "get it" and some "don't".

I also venture to say if these type of people owned land and found someone hunting it without permission they would call the authorities immediately.

This made me smile.

Seems 40 years ago or so....there was (GASP, an abandoned) shed on this land where we now live. Nobody lived on this land at that time, it was their hobby farm with horses.

Turns out my sister & law and her boyfriend came out to the farm. I guess they were going to duck & hide in this abandoned shed, shack (I never saw it so don't know exactly what it was)

As the two of them giggled and walked in.... imagine their surprise when they were confronted by some trespassing hunters, asking her what "the heck" she thought she was doing.

As I understand the old story, they (sister in law & boyfriend) left. So here you have some trespassers actually confronting the family of the land owners.

I personally have confronted some trespassers when I've found them.... and once, one of them said (in my best East Tennessee "hick" accent)

"Whyyyyyy....I've been hunting this ground for the last 50 years".....

To which I made the comment (in my native Ohio accent) "Well, then you've been TRESPASSING for the last 50 years and it's time to go or we'll let the Sheriff and/or Wildlife confirm to us who is right"

 

[TheMan419]

My current property would not pass a lender inspection, so the previous owner offered a trust deed and note. No banks at all, but I still had to buy title insurance. I don't know about people saying it is expensive. It was a few hundred bucks, which I considered trivial at the time.

We just closed on a refinance. Bank, of course, insisted on title insurance. Cost for both lenders and my policy was less than a grand.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Kinda ironic that they'd put a lock on a tree stand so that no one would steal it while they themselves are committing a crime (a minor crime, but a crime nonetheless).

That reminds me that I don't own a cable cutter. I probably won't bother getting one. In the past, I just used a hacksaw.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Hacksaw is what I thought of, hacksawing the seat support post halfway through

 

[Jstpssng]

That reminds me that I don't own a cable cutter. I probably won't bother getting one. In the past, I just used a hacksaw.

Just don't use your good axe, unless you want to spend a lot of time filing it.

Don't ask me how I know that...