What to do?

[MemorEsto]

I'm putting this in this section to get the hunters perspective.

Yesterday EJP had a trail ride on my property. Once again, someone had trashed our cabin, threw everything outside and just trashed all of our camping utensils and gear and what not.

Mind you, this is all cheap stuff, for this reason, but it's the point.

Inside the cabin I found a brand new propane tank, with single tank top heater attached.

Through out the day various members found 3 portable tree stands spread out across the property, as well as a top of the line trail cam.



All of EJP members agreed with my idea, but I would like some feedback on people that don't know me that well.

My plan is to go out tonight and see if any hunters are in the stands. Confront them, and ask who gave them permission. If no one is any of them, I am taking them and leaving a note stating: You are trespassing, please contact the Land Owner @ XXX-XXX-XXXX..


Too dickish? Or right on course?

BTW, I don't hunt this property, I hunt other property not even close to this.

[OverkillZJ]

I'd file a complaint before anything - just to get it on record should an incident happen. Paper trails can be your friend. Beyond that - it is your land. I'd be extremely pissed.

[MemorEsto]

I might have a "legality" problem as far as: Most of the No Trespassing or Posted signs have come down, or "disappeared". Maybe I'll ask my parents neighbor who is a State Trooper what my rights are as a land owner.

I'm sure that it's not the hunters trashing the cabin, even though there are beer cans around the archery stands, but sometimes one person ruins it for everyone.

[joshs1ofakindxj]

Wow, that would really floor me. I'm not even going to type what I would be doing.

[tjblair]

Go take a dump in the stands

[Wrecker]

Easier to piss around the tree stands to leave your scent.

[PatF10]

Post the property first. Get new signs and post everything good so that there is no mistake that it is private property. Their argument is going to be that with no signs they didnt know it was private land. Then take down their stands and leave a note and offer to give them back. I would be serious with them but make sure you explain that they are not to come back onto the property or you will notify the proper authorities. You don't want them to become angry and possibly do more damage to your property.

[muddeprived]

set up deer cameras and capture them trespassing.....

[hyperbuzzin]

I'm not positive, but the no "No Hunting" signs may not be all that much of a problem.
Just 'cause it's not posted, doesn't mean any Joe Schmo can hunt there just 'cause they want to.

[RockHound]

Post the property first. Get new signs and post everything good so that there is no mistake that it is private property. Their argument is going to be that with no signs they didnt know it was private land. Then take down their stands and leave a note and offer to give them back. I would be serious with them but make sure you explain that they are not to come back onto the property or you will notify the proper authorities. You don't want them to become angry and possibly do more damage to your property.

I can't agree with this more. As a hunter, when I'm scouting for land to hunt on, if there's no signs I assume its public land. There's a lot of places around here that are public hunting that don't post any signs so it can be easy to confuse public and private land.

As for the trashing of your cabin.... thats bull. Setup a trailcam to monitor the camp I guess.

EDIT: If you do have signs posted and they still trespass, contact the game commission.

[Wrecker]

I disagree with the idea if it isnt posted, its fair game. I learned in Kindergarden to ask permission before using something that belonged to someone else.

[oros35]

I disagree with the idea if it isnt posted, its fair game. I learned in Kindergarden to ask permission before using something that belonged to someone else.
That's how I learned it too.

It amazes me that when I go into town, it's no big deal to walk through someone elses yard. I live in the country. You do that out here and you WILL get confronted by the land owner and he is prepared to defend his property.

In town I will not stray from the sidewalk, it's just not polite. Just as I would not go hunting on someones property without asking permisson first. A posted sign just means you are going to be a dick about me asking permisson (most likely).


First thing I would do is remove the tree stands. Since they are left on your property without your permisson, you have the right to remove them. Next I would secure the cabin better. Make sure your insurance is up to date and adequate. Next time something is disturbed, get the police involved and your insurance. Would be nice to have camera's installed too so you can prove when and how it was done. Use that fancy camera that someone left on your property!!! They even left you a way to catch them tearing up your place.

What would you do if this was your home you lived in everyday? Do the same thing you would in that situation.

[MemorEsto]

What exactly is public land? Everything is owned by somebody.

The only public land that I know of is called "Gamelands" and that's owned by the Game Commission and marked very well.

Does your front yard have No Trespassing signs? Is it cool if I come throw some party's on your front lawn?

[MemorEsto]

Yeah, my "new" trail cam will be going in by the cabin, about 20' high to avoid theft.

[SirFuego]

I learned in Kindergarden to ask permission before using something that belonged to someone else.
I think most responsible people did, too. But not everyone is responsible.

I was talking to a member here a few years ago who said that he got out of a trespassing ticket/citation/whatever because the property he was on wasn't posted and that it wasn't "obvious" that it was privately owned. Then again, IIRC, the property he was on bordered public property, so that's a bit different if it could have been an honest mistake.

How well do you know the neighbors? Perhaps they granted permission for hunters to hunt back there but didn't adequately define the property lines for them? Is there any public land that borders or is somewhat close to the property? Regardless, the vandalism is just unacceptable, but at the same time, you don't really know whether it was the hunters or just some rowdy teenagers -- so I would probably treat them as two "separate" problems for the time being until you get more details.

Reposting the area is a good start and the trail cameras are obviously a good idea. Just keep in mind that some people are dicks, so they may just tear down the signs -- so maybe you can set up the cameras by the signs, too, to see if they are ripping them down :-)

[oros35]

If the hunters want their equipment back, they will find out who's property they were on and find a way to contact you. That stuff is not cheap.

Probably 2 seperate groups of people, but once word gets out that your piece of property is "free for the taking" word of mouth travels fast. Need to close the door before it gets worse.

Citation or not, they still had to go through the agravation of fighting it in court. That would be satisfaction enough for me. Now I think a civil case for destruction of property would be a different outcome.

[Super Scout]

I hate the mindset of if its not posted its fair game, that is bullshit plain and simple. I would post the property asap, take the tree stands and not leave your number screw them why should you be bothered to find the owner if they can't be bothered to find you.. Its up to the hunter to find the property owner. Set up a trail cam on your cabin so when they burn it down you can find them. Than sell the treestands and rebuild. This is why I hate hunting season, not because I am anti hunting but because of all the ass clowns. I get to spend my weekend posting 100 acres of woods around my uncles farm because of the ignorant. Which they mostly ignore anyway.

[MemorEsto]

I went and talked to the surrounding land owners that day, just to make sure they weren't there's, or possibly gave permission. Like I said, I wouldn't care if people hunted it, because I have other property I hunt. It's just the courtesy / respect aspect of it that burns me.


Picking up No Trespassing signs today, it's really nice out, so I'm hoping someones in there stand after work. Might just take down the bottom couple of ladder attachments for now, and the camera... LOL

[jackb1]

I try to give someone the benefit once... I'd post it and leave notes on the tree stands that the land has been posted and they need to be removed and your number for any questions. Saves you the hassle of taking them down and keeps you on the high road. Who knows what someone thought... on the wrong land, told it was ok to hunt by the wrong person, etc. If your old posted signs are down, someone could have wandered in and had nothing to do with the damage or removal of the signs. It doesn't make it right, but we've all made honest mistakes before.

As for the camp, that just sucks. Even a trail cam that catches someone probably won't be much help unless you can see their plates in the picture.

[tjblair]

I can't agree with this more. As an irresponsible hunter, when I'm scouting for land to hunt on, if there's no signs I assume its public land. There's a lot of places around here that are public hunting that don't post any signs so it can be easy to confuse public and private land.

As for the trashing of your cabin.... thats bull. Setup a trailcam to monitor the camp I guess.

EDIT: If you do have signs posted and they still trespass, contact the game commission.
fixed:)

Come on just because it is not posted does not mean that it is fair game.

[MemorEsto]

I try to give someone the benefit once... I'd post it and leave notes on the tree stands that the land has been posted and they need to be removed and your number for any questions. Saves you the hassle of taking them down and keeps you on the high road. Who knows what someone thought... on the wrong land, told it was ok to hunt by the wrong person, etc. If your old posted signs are down, someone could have wandered in and had nothing to do with the damage or removal of the signs. It doesn't make it right, but we've all made honest mistakes before.

As for the camp, that just sucks. Even a trail cam that catches someone probably won't be much help unless you can see their plates in the picture.


This is probably what I'm going to do. My father in law did this before, but the stands just disappear and you never find out who was on your property. When your $300 stand and $200 camera are gone, you might be more prone to calling and getting them back. Also, what if someone trespassing got hurt, could I be held responsible for medical bills cause he fell out of his tree stand on my land?

I'm almost positive the cabin is teenagers or tweens on wheelers trashing the cabin. The access road to get back to the property is owned by another land owner who lives close, he said he's gonna start watching out for 4 wheelers a lot closer.

[SirFuego]

Also, what if someone trespassing got hurt, could I be held responsible for medical bills cause he fell out of his tree stand on my land?
I don't know about PA, but in the People's Republic of Socialist New York, surprisingly the landowner doesn't have any liability unless he charged the injured person to use the land. Granted, that's not to say the person couldn't sue the landowner, but it's doubtful that the lawsuit would hold up in any NY court.

That said, the tables are probably turned if you (in)directly CAUSED the injury (such as falling out of the tree while trying to climb it because you took down the steps to get up there).

[MemorEsto]

Well tonight I went out and put up. "No Trespassing, No Hunting, No Trapping, Violators will be prosecuted" signs

I also took the bottom 2 ladder attachments off of all three tree stands, took the propane heater and Cuddeback Trail Cam. I put the letters with my number in ziplock bags and stapled them to the trees.


( Someones gonna be pissed at about 6am when they can't get in their tree stand )

[JeepGeneral]

You definitely took the high road, I would take the stands and staple a POSTED sign on the tree you took the stand out of. Then I would ride my ATV throughout the property every evening just to verify they're not still there.

[MemorEsto]

The one tree stand was 20' from a Posted sign that was still up. And I did put Posted signs within 10' of all the stands, as well as the "You are Trespassing" on the tree the stands are on.

I'm not looking to be a dick, just have some courtesy. My mother in law didn't want me to have any mercy, she wants me to sell them and give her the money to help pay land taxes :082:

[Ragnorox]

Wow, that would really floor me. I'm not even going to type what I would be doing.

I know Josh, I am thinking the same thing

[SirFuego]

Then I would ride my ATV throughout the property every evening just to verify they're not still there.

I was going to suggest for him to cut off the muffler from his TJ, wait until the first day of rifle season then drive around the trails in 4LO 1st gear with his foot to the floor all day :-)

[YZEATER]

I can't agree with this more. As a hunter, when I'm scouting for land to hunt on, if there's no signs I assume its public land. There's a lot of places around here that are public hunting that don't post any signs so it can be easy to confuse public and private land.

As for the trashing of your cabin.... thats bull. Setup a trailcam to monitor the camp I guess.

EDIT: If you do have signs posted and they still trespass, contact the game commission.


DOH!!! so much misinformation in this thread.... the game commission has nothing to do with trespassing, unless it involves a game code violation. contact the police for trespassing.

[Wrecker]

DOH!!! so much misinformation in this thread.... the game commission has nothing to do with trespassing, unless it involves a game code violation. contact the police for trespassing.

I beg to differ. No misinformation. I did go to Kindergarden. I did learn to ask first. And also learned that I was never going to be a good student. They had lots of girls there. I was never going pay attention with some old bag going on about stupid stuff. Untill I got to 3rd grade and the teacher was a fox(this was awhile ago. Before the became hot, they were fox's) And I also learned that if i gave paste to Kevin, he would eat it.