[Nathanael_Greene]

I have a friend who lives in a semi-rural area, but within city limits.

Despite posting No Trespassing signs and a law against discharging firearms within city limits, every year my friend faces unethical hunters who hunt on his property.

My friend is a little hesitant about confronting armed people who obviously have no regard for the law, but what are some actions that he could take to stop this illegal hunting?

I've suggested photographing the violators, or notifying the local media to come out and do so--anyone else have some ideas, or some experience dealing with this sort of thing?

It really gives hunting a bad name, and more bad publicity is the last thing that the sport needs.

Why people engage in this behavior is beynod my understanding, but how can it be stopped?

[dakotasin]

i always inform trespassers that they are on private land and ask them to leave.

if your friend doesn't want to do this, call the game warden. they are usually quite responsive to this sort of thing.

my neighbor sends one across the hood of the offending party's truck. i don't reccomend this, but it seems quite effective.

[ARperson]

Calling the authorities is my suggestion. Chances are that if they're violating law (discharging firearm within city limits) and ignoring the no hunting/trespassing signs, they aren't exactly hunting legally in any other way.

[Smoke]

I've had a lot of problems with this in the past. I'm not iwthin city limits though.

I always inform them they are on private property. They usually try to lie their way out. I ask them to leave. They usually do. I attempt to photograph them and or their vehicle. If I see them again sherriff/game warden is called and I am more than willing to file charges on them.

[HankB]

I know a guy who had problems with trespassing poachers on his clearly posted land. The local constabulary were "good 'ol boys" and probably buddies with the locals, and weren't' interested in doing anything. He wasn't too keen on confronting armed men himself who did things like cut locks on his gates and such, so when he found the cars and trucks of trespassers on his property, well, the vehicles ended up in somewhat worse condition than when they arrived.

Another time he buried a length of iron rod in the middle of the road, sticking up up at a 45 degree angle in a tuft of grass. A week later when he went up to his property - where the lock on his gate had been cut yet again - there was ample evidence - tracks, footprints, oil, etc. - that some trespasser had the bottom torn out of his engine.

After about two years of effort, the trespassing ended.

[OH25shooter]

If you live within the city limits call the local PD. No responce call the game warden. I'm sure one or the other would gladly cite the intruders.

[bernie]

This is one of my biggest problems as a landowner. My father and I own adjoining acreage, and he lets me hunt on his and he cuts wood on mine. He was up on mine last week when a guy with a shotgun comes walking past him. Dad asked him what he was doing and he stated "an old man told me I could hunt in here on his place." When my dad stated that his son who owns it is 34, the guy about swallowed his tongue. Why do people think they can lie their way out of this.
When I was younger, I was squirrel hunting on my dad's place and I met a trespasser on his property that was also squirrel hunting. When I told him he did not have permission to be there, he said he was confused and had permission to hunt on the other side of the road. I was then able to tell him that my father owned that as well and that he could not hunt there either.
I am a hunter, so it does not reflect on all of us. But it is a terrible irritant to spend good money to buy your own hunting place, and then have everyone and their brother think that you bought it for them!

[rock jock]

I don't understand why you guys let poachers go with a warning. Would you let a burglar who broke into your house go with a simple warning? I consider poachers theives and would not hesitate to see them thrown in jail.

[Smoke]

rock jock,

I don't understand why you guys let poachers go with a warning

If you accidentally crossed the wrong fence and hadn't shot anything but were on my property...what would you want me to do? Ask you to leave? Or have you arrested?

If they haven't bagged anything, I'll ask them politely to leave. If they don't,t hen the consequences are their own fault.

People can get confused sometimes and think they are on property they have permission to be on. (very tough on my place, but....) I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt once. Common courtesy.

Repeat offenders, the guy with fish on the stringer, birds in the bag, or deer in the truck get to have a chat with the local game warden. No warnings given.

[HankL]

Nathanael_Greene, It is a tough situation. Gamewardens are few and far between and usually have their hands full at any given time. If the city limits your friend lives within has a No Hunting Ordinance they should call the police, the mayor and everyone else that rules and raise a stink.
Out in the middle of no where the triple S is a deterent.
I once met a guy so confused that he was walking 18 miles from where he said he had permission to hunt! It ended up that his truck was only a 1/2 mile away.
Our hunting club had a known poacher charging locals to fish on our property!
The truth, as far as I can tell is that quite a few poacher/trespassers feel that they are entitled, in some way to be taking game when and where they want.
Be careful out there!

[Greybeard]

By all means, call the local authorities and let them "deal". It is a sometimes a very risky situation approaching such individuals.

[SteveS]

I had a neighbor that was bothered by tresspassers and she taped them in the act with a camcorder. The police confronted the person, who tried to deny it, until the cop showed them the tape. The neighbor never had a problem after that.