Tips for stopping trespassers needed!

You present yourself as an ATV expert and you say something like this.Ive seen ATTV ruts that deep and deeper So are you just ignorant of what an ATV can do or just a liar?
As you say ATVs will keep moving side to side wallowing thier way down.

I never actually confronted my atv trespassers. My new lake was completed in 2001. It obliterated an old trail, that was used on intermittently and never with permission. The first time the atv'er's tried to access the old trail, the lake blocked their way... I saw where they were trying to make a trail around the water on the upper end...where there are some pretty steep draws. I got some 5' monofilament fishing line and made about six short wraps ~30' long about belly high. A few weeks later "one" string was broke........ the others were still there... they've since started using the road, which is only 200yards away.

You might want to cut short sections of mono or other small cordage, and put tumbleweed sized balls loose all over the place. My 'sources' tell me that monofilament getting in the tracks of snowgo's is pure murder, and it takes a while to clean out.

My gameplan was to use the light weight mono line up... if the trespassing were to continue, I'd up the weight, finally to spiderwire, and see if they got the message. Sue Me? Go ahead! I can just as easily trespass on your place and injure myself.... and I daresay a grand jury hereabouts wouldn't even spend time on a trespassing damage case.........but if they did, they could handle "two" cases, exactly alike...


Something else that spooks/spooked a lot of folks was some Halloween stuff that my sister left up on my gate. After halloween, the stuff never came down.... and a few days later, an Hispanic mowing crew (that had a right to be on my place) wouldn't cross my cattleguard. My sis had tied a half dozen dolls with rope from the surrounding trees... some were hanging by their feet, neck, or arms... some had their heads pulled off, taped to the dolls hands... some had blindfolds on... with koolaid water stains... The sheriff actually called me in to see if someone was trying to intimidate me... we had a good giggle when I told him the story, and that I was going to leave the voodoo zombie dolls hanging, cause they were intimidating folks I didn't want visiting in the first place.

__________________
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity. Seneca
Learning is not compulsory... neither is survival. W. Edwards Deming

We have found that whenever we put up an obstacle on the trail, they
either move it, cut it, or go around.

We are currently trying to come up with ways to make it costly to the trespassers.

We take lots of photos and keep a log book of the dates and damage they cause. We note every last sapling that they mow down.
We're doing this because the first one we catch is going to be the one we sue to pay for damages.

We smeared black grease on fences so if they try to lift the wires for their
friends to ride under, they get their clothes, gloves, and/or hands full of
nastiness. We had started with just smooth wire fences but are now going to add some strands of barbed wire, so it will be more difficult for them to slip through.

I carry a camera and hot pepper spray with me when I walk out there now. The spray has a chemical in it that leaves an invisible stain that can be seen under black light. This is so Law enforcement will be able to identify the riders after the fact. (When I first started capturing them in pics, they're faces were covered by helmets and the cops said they couldn't identify the person on the machine. That's why we try to spray them now.
We are currently considering using a paintball gun. We have been having trouble locating paintballs that have permanent ink or a tendency to stain.
(Please join us in writing to some paintball manufacturers, we want to encourage them that there is a market for these)


Sorry we don't have much better to offer. It's a difficult battle.
We won't win until folks like REdneckPete are fined or otherwise pained/inconvenienced for their behavior.

__________________
Hut on the Hill Farm
http://www.hutonthehill.org

WARNING: I, the property OWNER, have scattered roofing nails all over this trail. By passing this point, you are agreeing that you have read and understand this warning and are entering at your own risk.

__________________
...'o shame on the mothers of mortals, who have not stopped to teach; of the sorrow that lies in dear, dumb eyes; the sorrow that has no speech... from -'Voice of the Voicless', Ella Wheeler Wilcox

What a bunch of baloney!

I can take you to ruts that deep or deeper. The riders don't quit they just move over and start making a new one. Then the rain takes over and turns them into gullies. There seems to be an inability for ATV riders to empathize. Whenever there is a conflict it's always the fault of the other person. Don't like ruts. Your problem not mine. Don't like the noise. Your problem because I don't mind the noise.

Carrying pepper spray when patrolling your property is a good idea. Spray them and take the keys.

Do these rider show up at any consistent schedule? Such as Saturday morning week after week? Might be a good time to invite your friends over for a bit of target practice. The repeated gun fire might send a message.

__________________
If you can read this - thank a teacher. If you can read this in English - thank a veteran.

Never mistake kindness for weakness.

I guess the ATVs around your place are special. They come equipped with four to six foot high tires that enable them to operate in two to three foot deep ruts without getting the axles hung up. Please post pictures of these ATVs as well as the ruts they cause. This I got to see!


Pete

The only problem I've had was with neighborhood teens, but one levelheaded talk with one parent solved that problem. Perhaps if you know the riders, talk to them, or their parents if teens. I've never understood parents that buy atvs with no land to ride on and if one gets hurt on your land you are liable, But a talk if possible will let each party know where the other stands. That talk should also get you the info you need if they dont stop, if you know what I mean.

You will get only what you tolerate! I have had lots of trespassing problems in the past but no more. Take a position and stick to it. Give fair warning then take steps within the law but remain rigid. Take photos and record license plate numbers (if the ATVs are trucked in). Post for No Trespass and record that with the authorities. Prosecute and create a reputation that trespassing will not be tolerate. They will go elsewhere.

__________________
Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

Please do not lay down nails. If you choose to raise livestock later on, the cost and mortality rate will be phenomenal and I would also think that deer might be prone to hardware disease as well and you certainly don't want to see animals die for the cause. I would contact fish and wildlife and the police to see what your rights are and if they would be interested in monitoring the trail for a while with ticket book in hand.

Exactly! After a few encounters that involved me taking license plate numbers and calling the sheriff's dept. out we no longer have any trouble with trespassers.

__________________
I'm running so far behind I thought I was first!

http://hickahala.blogspot.com/

It would seem simple to require the tires or tracks have a number branded into them that would Id them

LOL only a bigoted close minded ignoramus would say this especially AFTER it was just explained to him how it is done.
OR could it be that you think if you just keep denying the problem enough others will believe you?

Pictures please.

Pete

If you have cattle, call the RCMP and have the trespassers arrested for attempted cattle rustleling.
Will

p.s. Pete, it only took me 2 seconds to do a Google search for roads rutted by ATVS, I'd show the pics, but have a feeling that you wouldn't be able to see them.

Here are some.

http://www.angelfire.com/mn3/dnrdocuments/HayCreek.html

As you can see the erosion continued to a depth far greater than what you said is possible.

Like my new tires?

It's amazing how many people are available to help those of us who own land to just use it up. We pay the taxes, repair the damages and often work 2 jobs to get the land and then some person comes along on their multi thousand dollar toys to destroy at will and litter with all kinds of trash, beer cans and so on. It is really amazing that some don't understand. Perhaps if some would put some toil and sweat into the land they might just get "it".

http://www.ncrs.info/pictures.html[IMG]

__________________
Agmantoo
If they can do it,
you know you can!

You might gain some respect for private property if you just shell out some cash and buy some of your own. This might help you to grow up :baby04: