Poachers

[WindSongAcres]

We found evidence tonight that someone has been fishing in our pond during the night. Our inside dog has been barking the last 2 nights at 1:15am, but she's a goof and barks at critters all the time. Now we found an empty package of treble hooks and bricks set up to hold the poles on the bank of our pond. The pond is in front of the house about 100 yards with the dam directly across from the house. This pond is stocked with some big catfish and it's really irking me that someone could wipe us out while we're sleeping. Any suggestions on how to catch them? We're going to install a security camera on the driveway post (have to enter the drive to get to the pond). There's no way to sneak up on them - they'd see us long before we got there.

[Raptor]

Originally Posted by WindSongAcres

We found evidence tonight that someone has been fishing in our pond during the night. Our inside dog has been barking the last 2 nights at 1:15am, but she's a goof and barks at critters all the time. Now we found an empty package of treble hooks and bricks set up to hold the poles on the bank of our pond. The pond is in front of the house about 100 yards with the dam directly across from the house. This pond is stocked with some big catfish and it's really irking me that someone could wipe us out while we're sleeping. Any suggestions on how to catch them? We're going to install a security camera on the driveway post (have to enter the drive to get to the pond). There's no way to sneak up on them - they'd see us long before we got there.

I'd make sure I had some no trespassing,hunting or fishing signs posted (I do) then I'd set up on the other side of that pond with the 12 gauge and catch me some trespassers and thiefs. Then I'd call the sheriff.

[WindSongAcres]

That's what hubby says - shotgun will make them listen. Just the sound of chambering the shell would make me run and never ever come back!

[edcopp]

Originally Posted by WindSongAcres

We found evidence tonight that someone has been fishing in our pond during the night. Our inside dog has been barking the last 2 nights at 1:15am, but she's a goof and barks at critters all the time. Now we found an empty package of treble hooks and bricks set up to hold the poles on the bank of our pond. The pond is in front of the house about 100 yards with the dam directly across from the house. This pond is stocked with some big catfish and it's really irking me that someone could wipe us out while we're sleeping. Any suggestions on how to catch them? We're going to install a security camera on the driveway post (have to enter the drive to get to the pond). There's no way to sneak up on them - they'd see us long before we got there.

When the dog barks stick a 12 GA. shotgun out the door and fire a couple of rounds in the general direction of the pond. With a little practice you could learn to pepper the pond with buckshot at 100 yards, or at least cure someone of the habit of fishing there. If you cant sneak up on them then don't, just reload as you approach and keep on shooting. This should solve the problem fairly quickly.

[Hillbillybob]

For God's sake don't go after them with a shotgun. The laws didn't change that much here in Missouri and you can be held for armed criminal intent even though they are poaching.
Post your land and don't try to catch them at the pond. Take your vehicle and block them in on your property. Have your wife call the sheriff while you block them in.
Hillbillybob

[DrippingSprings]

a simple million candlepower spotlight shining in their direction will usually be enough.

I had a stocked pond a few years ago and someone was doing the same thing, They would actually stand about twenty yards off the back side of the dam and cast up and over the dam and then drag the fish over the dam so they could stay out of sight.

I got some good leghold traps and set up some all around the pond spaced out good and it wasnt long before I found one tripped with some liver laying close by and a stringer and they never came back that I know of.

The traps wasnt big enough to do serious damage but would be similar to having someone smack your toes with a hammer

[kasilofhome]

Get some crime scene yellow tape and mark the area.

[comfortablynumb]

slingshot
ball berings
black ninja suit

[country_wife]

Originally Posted by Hillbillybob

For God's sake don't go after them with a shotgun. The laws didn't change that much here in Missouri and you can be held for armed criminal intent even though they are poaching.
Post your land and don't try to catch them at the pond. Take your vehicle and block them in on your property. Have your wife call the sheriff while you block them in.
Hillbillybob

I agree with Hillbillybob! Even if someone is trespassing and they get hurt, you are liable (in most states).

I wouldn't even try to sneak up on them. I'd come out pell-mell, bellowing my head off to get the *(&&%$&* off my property! Or, if I managed to be calm enough, I'd just call the sheriff and let him deal with it.

[fantasymaker]

Originally Posted by DrippingSprings

a simple million candlepower spotlight shining in their direction will usually be enough.

And a good vidio camera.
Be sure to advertize fishing memberships for $5000 in your local paper so when you catch them there is a basis for what they are stealing!

[kasilofhome]

Get some crime scene yellow tape and mark the area.

[naturelover]

I'd post a couple of professional looking signs signs printed out by a local business printer "These premises monitored by video surveillance."

Some hidden tripwires around the pond, attached to tin cans that will make a lot of noise when the wire gets tripped.

Motion detecting lights and sprinkler system around the pond (like what you can get as deer deterrents).

And I'd call the sherriff and let him know what time those poachers have been coming around so that he can catch them when they arrive rather than having to maybe come a long distance after being phoned late at night.

And last but not least, as soon as I heard those tin cans rattling and the sprinkler going on, I'd fire the shotgun out the door.

[Michael W. Smith]

Originally Posted by WindSongAcres

There's no way to sneak up on them - they'd see us long before we got there.

Not if you are out by the pond waiting on them!!!!! They have wonderful 1 million candle power rechargeable spotlights that last for almost 1/2 with a full charge.

I'd be awful tempted to go down near the pond about 2 hours before you expect the poachers to set up. Find a nice spot where you can sit and see(without being seen) fairly near to the pond and stay in wait. Once your poacher gets there, allow them to set up all of their gear and then blast them with the spotlight. Find out who they are, what they are doing - "nothing" -, and why they think your PRIVATE pond is open to anyone.

Once you know who they are, you can then determine if you can just leave them off with a warning, or if you want to ruin their early morning fishing by calling the police and having the police come out to get the trespassers. (Have your cell phone with you so you can call.) Of course, it might be good to have a gun with you just in case.

If you don't like the direct approach, stake out where you can't be seen but you can see the pond and have your cell phone with you. Once the poachers are there, dial your home phone number and have some kind of signal (like tapping the phone with your finger) as a signal that the poachers are on site, and the person in the house can call the police. (Just remember when calling to keep the light from your cell phone out of the poachers sight.)

Or, if you just want to scare them that they never come back - do your stake out and once they are set up, start shooting your gun into the air again and again. Chances are they will run like the wind, and trip over several things on the way to their car. As a bonus, you get to keep what they left behind!

[boonieman]

A good street light can do wonders. Such as....
1) Attracts insects for bats, and some will end up in the water for the fish.
2) Illuminate the pond so you and the dog can see what's going on.
3) Most folks will avoid coming into a well lit area at nighttime if they're somwhere they don't belong.
4) With light in their eyes, it will be tougher to see you coming

Could be kids. I sure hope so. It's nice to think that there are a few that enjoy something other than video games, drugs, etc. If it's kids, have you thought about letting them fish with catch and release rules? Just a thought. I fished all kinds of ponds when I was young, some people wanted the fish thinned out, some wanted us to put them back. We followed their wishes. At any rate, as a kid I never found a pond we couldn't fish, posted or not, dogs or not, guns or not. We were well aware of our juvenile status, and were pretty innovative, and I'm sure kids still are. Just another side of it, good luck!

[daytrader]

Take pictures of what you have found.

Also buy you one of those flashless night time deer cams. This will give you eveidance to press charges. They take pics on motion. They are not expensive for a few hundred bucks you can get 3 digitale modles that will down load to your computer. These things are great. You can put them anywere anytime.

Make your land to your local law for no trespassing. MANY times it takes more then having a sign up. Many times you have to register with the State or County. Just having a sing up means nothing. It has to be registered. Any Jo Shmo can put up a posting on some trees.

I would post the land with what is required in your local laws. I would also post a "NOTICE" land is protected with dissilience and land owner holds no liability for injury cause from holding for trespassing. This would be done Via a sign and a posting in the local papers. You insurance company can and knows how to do this. JUST DO NOT BRING THEM IN unless you can not do it the right way. They will investigate then and get law involved. YOU DO NOT WANT THIS YET. As most folks are not legal.

Do what you have to do to be in State and county/city compliance. THEN start to protect your land.

NO ONE should have to go into having to do this. Yet, you have to at times.

I had to fly home. Get a ride into town at 4 am. Walk dressed like I was hunting to sneak into my own field.

We had folks planting pot on our creek banks. I sure as hell was not going to let the medium level law get involved. I was to put a end to it. So I thought.

I camped out in corn filming my wood stand and creek side. ON A DIFFERANT PERSON land. 30 hours latter I sent a text message to the wife. The county officers showed up in about 20-25 mins as my wife informed them I was armed and so were the folks I was getting ready to confront.

The wife already knew were to tell them to go. The gates were opened as they did this to gain access to the field roads.

Only two cars showed up. When they did the folks ran at me in the field. Not knowing I was there. I fired 3 shots. All to miss. I would have fired more but the Fire arm had not been oiled and maintained in years and jammed up.
Two of the folks got on the ground and 2 came at me. The 3 county. 2 full time and 1 in training swarmed on the down folks and treated them right. I lost a tooth in the mayla I had and took a mini ball bat to a guy. When the sheriffs came running after they had all their stuff done. They tackled the 3rd guy.

The forth guy and me. I did not fair so well. He messed up my face (surgery was needed) and I used the mini bat. While the hired law enforcement did their job. I looked for relief. I needed it. They were busy with a method out want to be dope grower.

I started to quit protecting my land and started to protect my land. I took head shots with that bat.

Then the county officers put me down. All of them took me down. They were not gentle. Yet, once down and NEVER ONCE was I asked we did just fine. I was cuffed and arrested for Trespassing and criminal battery.

NEVER went to jail, but had to be booked and the like. IT IS NOT the Sheriffs job to say who is in the rite or wrong. I do not blame them one bit and under stood just fine.

I NEVER wanted to get the law involved. Just once I had what I needed all on tape. I knew for a fact I was not going to be able to handle it. I thought it was just local kids.

I would TRY to not get the law involved and catch them your self. Its more fun that way.

[stonykill]

Originally Posted by edcopp

When the dog barks stick a 12 GA. shotgun out the door and fire a couple of rounds in the general direction of the pond. With a little practice you could learn to pepper the pond with buckshot at 100 yards, or at least cure someone of the habit of fishing there. If you cant sneak up on them then don't, just reload as you approach and keep on shooting. This should solve the problem fairly quickly.

well I'm not sure about the laws where you are, but here that will get you jail time. You will be in much more trouble than they are. If they report you, its attemted murder, menacing, and most likely a round of other charges. You will lose your guns, your house will be tossed, you will go to jail. The police will believe the people shot at, not you, and they won't care that the people were fishing on your property, as you shot at them . You will have shot at them whether you did or not. As long as they say you did, you did. DON'T DO IT.

[tamatik]

actually "Be sure to advertize fishing memberships for $5000 in your local paper so when you catch them there is a basis for what they are stealing!
__________________"
this is a good idea.
You could post the same thing around your pond.or "permit required for fishing /land use..$xxx per day..permits available at house"
If you catch them there without a permit(or there at all) they can be charged and fined and be forced to buy the permit.

[charliesbugs]

Forget the guns and shooting. If they can sneak to your pond you should be able to sneak down to their car or truck and just loosen the valve stems a little so when they go to leave they have 4 flats.

[Windy in Kansas]

Don't bother calling the sheriff it really isn't his jurisdiction except for trespassing.

Instead call your wildlife conservation officer whether it be Wildlife and Parks, Natural Resources, Fish and Game or whatever title they use in your state.

They love to catch people that aren't respecting the laws.

[CGUARDSMAN]

Originally Posted by Hillbillybob

For God's sake don't go after them with a shotgun. The laws didn't change that much here in Missouri and you can be held for armed criminal intent even though they are poaching.
Post your land and don't try to catch them at the pond. Take your vehicle and block them in on your property. Have your wife call the sheriff while you block them in.
Hillbillybob

I don't disagree with what Bob says however if you are going to block them in you better be armed! A shotgun would be appropriate for the situation.