Options for dealing with trespassers?

Just had an interesting thought as I was out walking the dog (actually did 2 miles without being "forced" to trespass on to anybodys property). Tonight is the hunters moon...how appropriate to this thread.

Wow. I started reading this thread out of genuine interest. We have owned 65 acres for a few years, but did not put a home on it until early this year. In the past few years, we have been told by several neighbors that there are people who have routinely hunted our land every year, because it sat vacant. We are now concerned about these hunters - because we now have a home slap in the middle of the land and don't want to have to be concerned about bullets flying around us on the weekends we are there. We've posted the land, but it's still a concern.

So anyhoo, I started reading this hoping to get some info and advice. I'm a little surprised at the nasty turn it's taken.

All of that aside, I'm happy for the thread. It resulted in me doing something I should have done a while ago - I checked the code in Virginia to see what it says with regard to hunters coming on our land. I learned it's not allowed - UNLESS they are retrieving hunting dogs. But even then, they can not have any firearm or bow on their person - and they can NOT be in/on any vehicle.

As a side note, one thing it does say, that made me think of the earlier posts about people renting, is that anyone coming on privately owned land to hunt must have the written permission of the land owner or "the land owner's agent".

So I guess I came away with this with a couple of thoughts - know the law, and when someone breaks it, do what you need to do to get the "law" involved in solving it. If that does not work, well.... I won't put in print the next steps I'd take. But I would try to do it the "right" (read legal) way to start with, and if that didn't work then I would quietly do it my way.

Penny

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That's classic! I love it!

Actually tinknal, we currently don't. Why you might ask? Because we are not currently in a position to properly look after them. That is called acting responsibly.

And if on the off chance we did have an animal that got loose we would go up and ask permission before going traipsing across other peoples land. Been in that position and behaved accordingly. I hold myself to the same standard regarding other peoples property that I hold others to with regard to mine.

Livestock doesn't generally go running full speed across the countryside for an indefinate amount of time unless they are being chased. And if someone shot an animal of mine because it was on their property.....I might not be happy about it but I would respect their right to do so. I had to explain that issue to my wife with regard to our dog....but she gets it.

If we so little value the life of our dog that we allow it to stray and run free when we know other people don't want strange dogs on their property....then if they choose to shoot it, WE are responsible for the dogs death (by setting in motion the events that culminated in the shooting).

Personally I'm a little more understanding if there is a rare occurance of livestock getting loose and on to my property. The owner (normally) is not intentionally setting them loose and I haven't heard of killer sheep going after fowl. I would expect the owner of the wayward livestock to contact me BEFORE trying to recover them. That is of course unless it is one of the neighbors we HAVE given permission to come on our property without first asking. This is a different circumstance than someone intentionally running dogs full well knowing that there is a likelihood they will end up on someone elses property without permission.

People tend to be just a little more careful when the consequences are a bit more severe. The answer you are stretching for is that it is alright to cut corners when it is in your own interest. You won't find me agreeable to that notion.

I've GOT to remember that one lol.

Hounds run forever and can't be controlled? THEn I guess only law enforcement should use them, and only for manhunts/ finding lost folk etc when trespass laws don't apply. OR those rare folks who have a dogproof fence enclosing their several thousand acres (or permission to hunt such a place) can use them.

Sticklady I feel for you. Good luck. I am fencing in my small yard to ensure I can keep a dog safe when I get some and to keep wandering dogs who frankly leave me in fear for my cats, my children, and my poultry when I get some. No issues with hunters though- I hope- sure sounds like I should be nervous today though but haven't seen the people or had any of the hundreds of shots go near our property- maybe it's just someone doing target practice nearby.

i have to trouble with hunters but if a deer dog ran across our property i dont think that would bother me i dont know deer dogs to bother live stock

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We had two different groups hunting in our area with hounds and collars. One were a pretty professional group that did a pretty good job of keeping track of their dogs, one were a bunch that showed up in the morning half drunk and drank all day and had a habit of letting their hounds off at the side of the road right by my barn (we own both sides of the road). The first group know they're still welcome, they come back around to hunt black bears on us every year. As for the second group, I pointed out that I have the right to kill their dogs if they're chasing my livestock and if they're letting them out near my barn and I shoot them, how are they going to prove they WEREN'T chasing livestock? Haven't seen them for a while.

I can tell you what worked for us. One Jersey Bull!!! The older the better, say about six years old or so. I can tell you for a fact it will put a stop to it quick. Our bull has been gone now for 5 years but people still ask, "Where is that bull."

Wow. I'm surprised about some of the responses to this thread too. Seems like respectful posters exhibiting common sense are being attacked by those that want to use thy neighborh's land as a trampling ground. Why not go out and buy or rent your own land to hunt? Why not hunt public lands? Why not keep track of your dogs? Why not at least make an attempt to contact the owner of the land if you MUST trespass to retrieve a dog or track a wounded animal, etc.?

If I own that land, pay taxes on that land, maintain that land, and have to worry over the safety of my own and those that trespass here, I don't want trespassers.

I had some surveyors come traipsing over my property ILLEGALLY the other day. They just popped up in the middle of my field! I could NOT believe my eyes. I quickly restrained my dogs and then headed over to them. There was ABSOLUTELY no reason they couldn't have come down the driveway and introduce themselves and their purpose before doing their job, if they even needed to be there (all the monuments on my property and the neighbors' around here are in place and were recently verified).

Over the years on two different rural properties we have had trouble with snowmachiners, 4-wheelers, "hunters" and dumpers. We caught some, resolved the issue with others, and tried to prosecute others. We were told that with the dumpers, if we went through the trash and found identifying info. we could turn them in. One day I donned 3 pairs of gloves and picked through three bags of household trash. I found prescription labels and receipts all with one address and two names (same last name). I photographed everything and took it into the authorities. They wouldn't do anything and told me the person that had told me to go through the trash before was "unavailable" and they couldn't prove I hadn't dumped the trash trying to frame someone. PUH-LEASE. We experimented with cameras and had a little progress there.

We get people around here taking pleasure in tearing down NT signs or other postings. It's very sad because it is largely for their own safety on a lot of these plots where livestock & dogs are present and sometimes at liberty but contained within the property boundaries...

I knowi ts not goona fix all But I think a really really good big fence might help!

Dog hunters Are you aware that the mear presnce of your dog running aross apasture can kill animals? So how can you justify allowing that to happen?

I find it interesting that there are people who think trespassing hunting dogs are not a big deal and that people who cross on property to retrieve a wounded animal are not a big deal either if there is a lack of permission for them to access your land. While the particulars may vary from state to state and perhaps even county to county, I can only go from what the Missouri Department of Conservation says on the matter.

In Missouri dogs can only be used for hunting raccoons and no other game animal, especially not deer. Also, while hunters who kill or injure a deer must make a reasonable effort to retrieve and tag it, a hunting permit does not authorize trespass. This information is summarized from the department code book.

As for getting the appropriate law enforcement agency involved, when the conservation agent for my county tells me that they have to be caught in the act to have something done and the sheriff department tells me they won't take a report regardless of what is going on or what happened, then I am left on my own to deal with situations. There are two sets of gates that stay locked after the trout farm closes for the day and during hunting season I keep my driveway gates closed and locked, mostly to protect others from being hit by gunfire as I hunt along my driveway and keep out anyone who has not called me ahead of time.

Those who trespass by coming through the woods during hunting season or trespass using ATVs at any time will have their property confiscated and escorted off the property on foot. Since the Vang incident I do not allow a trespasser to retain their firearm. As for ATVs, they can be used to attempt to run me down and are likewise confiscated. If the owner wants to raise a stink about it, then they can go through the proper legal channels to have them returned after they confess to trespassing, vandalism or armed criminal action.

I'm pretty mellow as long as someone respects my private property rights. I have to watch out for the homestead and the livestock I have so I keep vigilant about trespassing because of meth cooking, vandals, pyromaniacs and other criminals in the area. Asking for permission, though I don't give it to but a few, goes a long way to seeing that the person respects my rights and therefore I can respect them.

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I gotta tell you it sounds like you just dont fit in the neighborhood!
Im serious about a good fence think along thelineof a foot or 2 of concrete above and below ground level and about 8 feet of ostrich fence topped with hot barbedwire

last week, some numbnut landowner shot 3 beagles [the little stubby legged ones, bunny beagles we call them.... harmelss things, all they do is bark and run] in his cornfield at point-blank-range. yes, he stood over them [no doubt they were wagging their tails in joy at meeting a new person... I have one of these beagles, and they just love people] and this IDIOT shot these dogs, in the head. all three.

along comes the owner, knocking on doors, looking for his dogs...
oh.... fudge.

well the IDIOTS excuse was he had heard his neighbors complain about dogs loose, and hunters... so of course he does the right thing and shoots these dogs in the top of the head.
now to do this and have none of them run more than 2 feet means you held them or you are one fast shot.
he said he is sorry, and he didnt know the dogs were "owned by anyone"

the dogs had orange collars and tags.

now, this is why I brow beat yuppie scumbags who move out here.
your an idiot, go back to the city.

anyhow... the dogs, unless they are attacking livestock you should never harm. Ever. it isnt the dogs fault.
you wouldnt shooot someones 4 yr old for wandering into your land... dont shoot their
dogs if all they are doing is runing game or passing thru.

dogs attacvking livestock is a different matter... shoot them. The bite the livestock they wil bite you too.

Bunny beagles do not bite or attack people.... they bay and bark and run. they are big chickens. they are not tree hounds, they are not rotwielers. they are noisey liitle fartbags wwho like to chase moving things.... and they dont usually catch them. it isnt their breed job.

of course a yuppie scumbag doesnt know this. they dont know a cow from a deer. [yup... one shot a cow a few yrs ago... claimed he thought it was a deer. ]

if the neighbors threatened you.... and they were armed... your problem is easy. File charges. lots of them. bother the local cops and sherrif every time a twig is out of place.

tresspassing carries a fine, all you have to do is go press the charges.

and dont shoot the dogs unless they bite you or your livestock.

this shouldnt even be an issue.....

oh.. and when you moved there.... if you didnt go make friends with your new neighbors and its been how many yrs? You are, like it of not, kinda to blame.

Knowing them doesnt make them good neighbors but it sure does take the friction out of meeting them in the field with a gun.

you ask then not to ddo it again... if they get pizzy then you go press charges.

its not that complicated.

bunny beagles killed my lively hood wish Id killed them all on sight

"Hope I can get this posted before this thread is shutdown. It's really a shame that supposedly mature adults cannot have a conversation about this subject that impacts many homesteaders"

AMEN!!!!!!! Some need to grow up and sitck to the topic

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If you are still having trouble post signs that states you have put out pans filled with antifreeze for the dogs if they get thirsty.- Don't really do it but that would get their attention real quick.

Very well put wihh, I agree 100% I myself do not dog hunt, I am a still hunter. Dogs cross my property nearly every day running dear. I have on some occasions Shot the deer the dogs were on, Caught the dogs, called the owners, and gave them a hind Quarter since I shot it in front of there dogs. One thing to remember is The wildlife the dogs are Chaseing belongs to everyone. Personaly I like dogs runing in the area. It keeps the deer moving. I always see more deer at those times. The deer are not even being chased by the dogs they just keep them moving around. Also If you told him rudly to get the hell of your land. I can see why he might have goten a little rude to.
just like wihh I try to get along with everyone we all have different ways of doing things. If you want to fix the problem , Try swallowing your pride and If you know the hunters go by and see them and apologise for the way you have been acting ( whether you were in the right or wrong) and explaine to them you dont want vehicals of any type on your property. But let them come to catch ther dogs only if nessisary. Try being nice and see how it works. Most dog hunters are easy to get along with. If have ran into one of those 1% of the hunting population that is hard to get a long with just take some photes of them. dont confront them though and simply press charges