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Dealing with Poachers

Does this seem reasonable to anyone else? How have you all handled situations dealing with poachers? http://thethinkingwoodsman.com/2014/11/22/a-trespassing-tax/

Problem is, the trespassers probably stole the tree stand in the first place. That's why they left it there. They didn't care.

You know what I find funny? When you talk to other hunters, especially on the internet, none of them ever trespass or violate game laws. Seems every hunter you meet on the WWW is a perfect law abiding individual. Yet the woods tells a different story. Trespassing is rampant. Ask anyone who owns a piece of private land that has decent hunting and they'll tell you about trespassing problems. And on the subject of violations? Here in my home state of MI we have laws concerning baiting and feeding. The law says, among other things, no more than 2 gallons is allowed on the ground at any time. Yet large bait piles are rampant. In fact I don't believe I have ever come across a bait pile in the woods that was 2 gallons or less. The state tried to ban the practice completely but the rate of non compliance was so great they finally caved in and just made it legal again. Honestly they really weren't accomplishing anything with the ban. People just did it anyway.

Until things like trespassing and game law violations are taken seriously via enforcement, there will always be a problem with them. As it stands right now, a persons chances of getting in trouble for trespassing or other game law violations, at least in my home state of MI, are very slim. Even when they get caught they are let go with a slap on the wrist.

Also people need to become less tolerant towards these sorts of things. If you are aware of someone trespassing, violating laws etc... at the very least you need to make that person know that you think his behavior is un acceptable!

It's really disheartening to find these stands. I've seen/shot fewer deer this year and I think I now know why. Properties I was saving for the rut have been actively hunted while I wasn't there. Who knows what these guys have taken?

The other surprising thing is how many people on other forums want to extend courtesies to these guys by leaving a calling card in the tree asking them to not come back. If you are willingly to knowingly (and the locations of these stands I can confidently use that word) sneak into private property, I doubt a strongly worded memo will make them reconsider.

I would much rather not have these extra stands in exchange for my virgin woods.

Prosecute to the full extent of the law. Then sue civilly for damages. That will wake them up to your serious about protecting your property.

I heard that trespassing in Utah carries a whopping $25 fine?

Like Waterlooboy said, MI is terrible for prosecuting trespassing. Not only hunters tresspassing, but also people "just going for a walk". I have escorted trespassers to the house where I had the police come to arrest them, and because they were juveniles they take them home and told there parents that they were trespassing and it is not safe. Nothing changes. It pisses me off. Two years ago in the spring we found approx. 2 acres burned! When my dad started asking questions we found out the local fire department actual had to put the fire out. They never even contacted us. My dad approached the administration of the trailer park and they said there was nothing they could do. Contacted the police since someone in the trailer park spoke with my dad and told him who started the fire, and the police didn't want to do anything. Very disgusting situation.

From the article: "I doubt there’s anything I can do to completely eliminate the threat of poachers, but redistributing their gear may cause some to think twice about coming back." Tim, first off calling them poachers is a stretch. They are trespassers. It's not like they are driving by at night with a spot light shooting bucks out the window of the truck out of season. That's my impression of poachers. I don't condone it by any means but it is what it is. You have no idea who they are or what the situation is. Could be a teenage kid a mile down the road. However, having said that, redistributing their gear may also cause one of your friends to get his a$$ kicked at the local gas station when he pulls in and one of the locals recognizes his climber in the back of your buddies truck. I just hope you aren't giving these stands to some young kid and setting them up to get the crap beat out of them because the trespasser thinks he stole it. Like I said, obviously these guys are in the wrong but it's not even your land and you are acting as judge and jury. I'm not attacking you I'm just saying maybe a little more research needs to be done on the situation. Everybody wants "virgin" ground but it could just be the neighbor kid who's hunted there his whole life. Good luck. Hope it resolves itself without anybody getting hurt.

Kids or not, if they are hunting there without permission and taking game, they are poachers.

"Prosecute to the full extent of the law. Then sue civilly for damages. That will wake them up to your serious about protecting your property."

This is the statement - I have read here and other boards people complaining about the police not doing much and the fines not being enough.

A civil suit in small claims court is a slam dunk if the person gets even a $25 fine for trespassing. By paying the ticket, they are pleading guilty. Taking them to small claims court is very easy. Believe it or not, it is just like Judge Judy!

Some additional info;

- if you have someone that has trespassed, and will continue to do so, send him a registered letter, outlining the damages. When I bought my property, I had a neighbor that did not stop - he started by telling me it was his property, then progressed to helping himself anyway. I sent a letter, stating that I would be seeking $2500 damages - caught him on camera, called the police and he was ticketed. When he got the court papers - he came over and wanted to 'talk'. On the advice of a lawyer friend, I agreed to withdraw the suit after paid the filing fee ($75) and the serving fee ($125) and signing a notarized document agreeing to pay $2500 if he was caught again on the property. He did and hasn't been seen since.

A friend had the similar experience, but it went to court - he won. The judge awarded him less ($1500), plus the court costs. The guy was pissed but the message got around the area very quickly.

I have had a dozen farmers stop by and ask details of what we did - people really aren't aware of how easy it is to seek damages through small claims court. In one case an area kid was continually driving his ATV on other people's property - often damaging crops. Police were reluctant to do anything because he was a minor and nothing would happen. I told him to send a letter to the parents outlining the damages he would be seeking from them. Loss of crop, extra tillage, etc. If it is a minor, it can be difficult, if it is repeated over and over, and you inform the parents, the suit becomes much easier. In this case, the parents finally intervened and the 4 wheelin' stopped. Believe it or not, I saw this strategy on Judge Judy!

This past weekend I found a stand right next to my property line – except that he had trimmed trees on my property and put cameras on the trail on my property. He could clearly see the cameras and his trimming was on my property (an old fence). I took his camera and left him a note using his camera strap telling him he can pick his camera up. When he gets there we will have a chat and hopefully that’s it. Will let you know…

I have a friend in Nebraska that said once rifle season opens his hunting is over. He spends all his time trying to keep trespassers off his property. He's had them drive right down his driveway and right by his house ignoring signs like they owned the place.

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