Poachers

Yes, but femurs are difficult to break up and might bind up the chipper (anthropology major and CSI fan here...all theoretical knowledge).

Besides, the intent is to give advice that would be the least confrontational to the OPer in dealing with the problem visitors. Disabling a vehicle or spreading a rumor sends a message that encourages the ceasing of the unwanted activity with the least amount of undesired attention. Also, catfish don't eat too many bones...they upset their tummies.

Now, I would grant that some random fireworks set off in the vicinity of the pond would make for some surprising results especially if they are a few gross (144 count packs) of bottle rockets launched out of an improvised launcher angled at approximately 45 degrees. Think overhead airbursts of popping that startles the dickens out of a group of someones. Though I don't know where one would find fireworks this time of year outside of a few rare fireworks megastores I have seen or heard of in Missouri.

A word to the wise.....NEVER shoot a gun into the air. Always know where the bullet is going before shooting.

Here in AZ we have a law against that as a child was killed by the decending bullet!

Interesting thread...

I'd probably put the trespassers/poachers on notice by firing my .22. Why waste shotgun shells? Then I'd ask the parties that have an $ interest in the pond to help you build a long fence (even a field fence & t-posts) between the road & the pond to empede access.

Call DNR and go from there- a game trail cam for proof and some property owner activity in the area my be all you need to scare them off.
Night time catfisherman are likely to be much less violent than drug lords planting pot on your property line!!

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Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. :baby04:

That said, I should fess up to placing an old harrow piece points up in a large very deep mudhole that the local kids used for mudding after we had discussed the problem with their parents and law enforcement, and gating was not an option.
Very big liability if it had been intentional, but it must have fallen off the wagon while we were hauling off junk................

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Of course that's just my opinion, I could be wrong. :baby04:

I don't see how location makes a difference.

No it isn't! I understand your point, but you are overstating your case. There are degrees to trespass, if not legally at least morally. If your neighbor reached across the property line to pick an especially red apple on your side of the fence, would that be the same as him walking into your kitchen with muddy boots and removing your thanksgiving turkey from your oven just as it was ready to eat??!! I think not.

I'm not endorsing fishing out someone elses pond, but lets stay grounded in reality.

Pete

Legally and technically, someone stealing food from your pond IS the same as them walking into an unlocked house and taking food. Actually though, in Ohio poaching is a bigger crime than trespassing and petty theft. And yes, your neighbor reaching across the fence and stealing your apples is still theft and is prosecuted as such. They can take apples that overhang public property such as the road but they cannot legally reach over the property line. That is considered theft and malicious trespassing and can land you in jail. Legally though (in Ohio at least) poaching which is what fishing in someone else's pond is can result in the loss of your vehicle and everything you have with you including the clothes on your back.

Here's Vote #2 for the deer/wildlife camera. That's the smart way to go. You can get one for $99 or less. And some of the shots will actually be wildlife out there, which could be cool, too. The value of the fish will quickly exceed $99 is they are running trot lines, which it sounds like they are.

I have 2 ponds, and I have actually caught folks fishing them...sigh...so ya run 'em off, and then they come back later...

Pictures, on the other hand, will tell the sheriff a lot. Be sure to liberally sprinkle the pond area with No Tresspassing signs, so one can be caught in the shot as well.

The worst part is, my insurance man tells me I can be liable, and can be sued, by a pond-fishing trespasser if he or she gets hurt while on my property. Whatta country, huh???

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Jim Steele
Sweetpea Farms
"To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing." -- Robert Gates

About 2/3 of the "advice" posted on this thread so far would result in the OP being in considerably more legal trouble than the poachers.

Me, I'm more for the 'do no harm but scare the crap out of them' type approach, followed by an'I know who you are' statement. Around here at least, embarassment and fear of being identified work.

Can you figure out a way that somehow these intruders would experience and electric fence type of electric shock while at the same time experiencing a brilliant flash of light? Then you start the rumour with the neighbourhood gossips that you got the most absolutely funniest video tape ever of someone attempting to steal fish from your pond, and you're sending it in to AFV.

Can you figure out where they are coming in? Is there a specific fence or wall or anything that they seem to be coming over or using? Any way you can smear (or even use a sprayer) to cover an area that they have to walk through with liquid manure, dog doo, or something else that's just not going to make their efforts worthwhile?

Using a gun puts you in the wrong. Something nasty and embarassing, yet harmless, gets the message across. Can you picture anyone complaining "the jerk smeared the gate with dog crap and wet paint (pink of coures) and I ruined my new cammo clothes trying to get onto his property to steal his fish"?

I know, might be near to impossible to achieve, but wouldn't it be some satisfying to just have them stop stealing your fish, and watch in town for who is trying to hide pink paint?

Good point Danaus. In fact, anything used in the act of poaching can be confiscated (vehicle, weapons or fishing pole, etc)

Mike

Yep, anything used in the process of poaching can be confiscated. Says so right in the Fishing Regulations. And if you check the Ohio revised code, theft of something out of your home is only a minor misdemeanor while poaching is a 4th degree misdemeanor punishable by a $250 fine, property confiscation (public nuisance) and 30 days in jail.

its a very long wait for catfish to grow to eating size. After waiting 2 years for them to grow and then have someone steal them, Id be very mad if someone was poaching off our pond. If they are fishing for long periods thats alot of meat. Have you priced catfish? I wouldnt compare it to an apple being picked jmo

Do you think that these people might actually "need" food and and feel like the only way to get it is to steal it? Once you tactfully, safely find out who
they are, let them know you are not their "supplier". Have a fish-fry and invite them to bring all that they got from your pond.
We work hard for what we have and do not want trespassers stealing from us.

I confronted three trespassers on my property and fired a round into the ground (nowhere near them) and was later charged with aggravated assault.
Two choices when you use a firearm, #1 don't, #2 SSS.

Ya know, around here, we're apt to fire off a few 12 gauge rounds, just for the fun of it. Middle of the night, early morning, late at night. Foreigners usually get the message.

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Rudeness is a small man's imitation of power.

HEY you must live just down the road from me! Any chance when you are done with it that harrow could fall off the truck at my mudhole?

A REALY GOOD FENCE!
Im thinking 8 foot with barbed wire of course Id put a good gate in that end with a remote control lock, after they were in and just as I turned on the vidio camera hit the spot lights and launched the fireworks, turned on the manure lagoon water sprinkler ...
ID LOCK IT!

I was thinking the same thing!

Target shooting by moonlight is fun!

Then my friend, the law is an ass. If I lived near you, I'd stop fishing your pond and start robbing your home. It SEEMS that would be a step in the right direction.

Pete