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Poachers on my land

Tonsofguns

Tonsofguns

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 24, 2017
817
255
Northern Va
My brother and I own a 150 acre farm in West Virginia. One of the houses on that property is rented out.
Over the years we’ve had poachers come on our property, usually on the edges and away from the main house. however last week they shot a deer less 100 yards from the main house while the tenant was there. She found the deers warm guts in the morning.
Our property lines are clear and a lot of it fenced so zero excuse that these poachers didn’t know they were on private property.
In any case, it’s time to do something about this.
My first though it to put warning signs around the farm and call the game warden.
Anyone have experience dealing with poachers and how did you handle it?
 
Invest in a few discrete trail cameras put in locations folks are likely to park and try to capture vehicle description or plate number. I have clear facial photos of folks poaching turkey on my farm using this method.

This provides evidence for GW, I’m not one to call the cops, but I am one to confront a neighbor.
 
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Game cameras on nearby roads, on the approaches. Lic Tags are the way these people are caught and the vehicle is an eleent of the crime and can be seazed upon arrest. In FLA "armed trespass" need not be charged with poaching, you may have something close.
 
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Step #1 is to make sure your property is properly posted

Also I don't know how far on your property they got, but it is entirely possible the deer was shot off property and was tracked onto your land

But Ide get some game cameras up asap and try to get eyes on them
 
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mcameron said:
Step #1 is to make sure your property is properly posted

Also I don't know how far on your property they got, but it is entirely possible the deer was shot off property and was tracked onto your land

But Ide get some game cameras up asap and try to get eyes on them
Click to expand...


Just for clarification, make sure your land is LEGALLY POSTED.
For example were I own property if you put up posted signs and they do not have the owners name and address on the sign
the lands are not legally posted and the Sheriff cant do shit.
 
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If you use game cameras, I suggest some "obvious" ones and others that are well hidden. Dipshits tend to focus on the obvious. I put some in steel boxes and fix to tree, whatever....here they will pull the chip and leave the camera if they see it.
 
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All good advice. I’ll go out Monday and put some cameras up and purchase some signs, and call the game warden.
Great idea on the obvious ones, I’ll purchase some fake cameras as well to throw these varmint off.

But yeah this is what happens when you don’t take action early, they get bolder and bolder until they are basically shooting at your doorsteps with you being home.

The only possibility that it was shot on another property would be if one of my neighbors was hunting and the deer jumped cattle fencing after being shot. I will get in contact with that neighbor as well.

I’ll keep this thread updated if I make any progress catching these guys.
 
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Another option is use a rake or old box spring and drive the surrounding roads (if applicable) that way they’ll create a boot print and from there you can put up your cameras. It will also work if you create natural lines of drift and do the same.

A boot print and a facial picture and a picture of the vehicle will aid GW and law enforcement to take action.

150 acres can be like finding a needle in a hay stack.
 
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Local game warden. They are very effective. Helped me a lot with field shooters. Mechanical deer and word got out about a couple arrests and my fields got off the rogue rotation.
 
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As noted, posting your property and calling your game warden are the first steps. See if your state adopted purple paint laws. Many states have purple paint laws that carry the same power or more as posted no trespassing signs and it is much easier to apply some spray paint than nail up a bunch of signs (and doesn't damage timber). Plus it marks the boundary of your property. I use it in conjunction with boundary paint. You can buy the paint from a forestry supply company. If a wounded animal crosses onto your property, the hunter should contact you before tracking.
 
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As others mentioned check in with your local game warden, they may be able to double check tag's (if they filled a tag legally & locally ) , and they may also be able to bring a dog out to find the bullet casing to determine where the shot took place. We have had the same issue and our land is properly posted. Short of catching them in the act they can't/won't do much about it most of the time, we were told to put up cameras and to call if we see anybody on or near our land hunting but that all they have to say is they shot it on legal ground and crossed onto your property to harvest it (*laws vary by state). If your lucky and they aren't busy they may set up a mechanical deer but I wouldn't hold your breath, around here they typically only use those for road side stings. Poachers suck and give other hunters a bad rap and then wonder why people post their land. Also shooting that close to a dwelling may be of more concern to them than the deer itself ( again state laws vary)
 
..... there is also the claymore mine concept. I'm just sayin'
...... mechanical deer/3D target filled with tannerite.

(yes, for those looking over my shoulder, that WAS a joke....)

I too have enough family with ranches, and know about the issues and court-cases. A lot of time, expense, and traveling after a lot of damages.
 
The man that lets me hunt on his ranch in Victor MT has a trail-cam system set up so it's damn near impossible to access the land without having your picture taken. The man deals with the Sheriff of the county instead of the Game Wardens due to it being way easier to get a sheriff out quickly if needed. The wardens are almost always out of range for any real help. The cameras are set up to get vehicles and plates and others are set up for pictures of the tress passers. Regrettably, the man has a very good record of catching and prosecuting the tress passer and poachers. I get to snare a few too.
 
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mtwarych said:
The man that lets me hunt on his ranch in Victor MT has a trail-cam system set up so it's damn near impossible to access the land without having your picture taken. The man deals with the Sheriff of the county instead of the Game Wardens due to it being way easier to get a sheriff out quickly if needed. The wardens are almost always out of range for any real help. The cameras are set up to get vehicles and plates and others are set up for pictures of the tress passers. Regrettably, the man has a very good record of catching and prosecuting the tress passer and poachers. I get to snare a few too.
Click to expand...
I'm truly glad his system works, and very unhappy that he needs the system to begin with. Every single crowd needs to have an asshole, eh?
 
Poachers/trespassers are honorless bastards. How can you poach an animal, eat it, mount it on your wall, and have any similence of satisfaction whatsoever?

OP I would spray fence post purple, hang plenty of cellular trail cams, talk with your neighbors and absolutely call your Warden.

Unfortunately now that they have shot a deer they’re likely gone for the season and have moved onto the next property.
 
You may have missed an opportunity but here’s something I’ve done as a landowner. Leash your dog and use their nose to track where they took the deer. You’ll figure out their access point, access road to get that point, foot to atv to vehicle traffic. Now you’ll know where to mount cameras. Adjacent landowners, btw, are your best cameras. Good luck!
 
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Reqirements for posting property varies from state to state. Your local game warden can tell you what is required. Asking for legal advice on the Internet is not really the way to go.
 
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This was my first initial thought, but then you need some dudes with a backhoe, some dudes to disappear their vehicle, etc.
 
Pbgt said:
I bet you can find a couple of scary dudes on this forum who have night vision and wanna have some fun..
Click to expand...
This was my first thought, but then you need the dudes with a backhoe, then dudes to disappear the vehicle, etc.
 
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CraigG1 said:
This was my first thought, but then you need the dudes with a backhoe, then dudes to disappear the vehicle, etc.
Click to expand...


You assume scary dudes need help with this? :)

Then I heard:

"Claymores and punji sticks and landmines! Oh my!"

I was all excited till I realized this was all hypothetical comments. Well, my ears were burning' anyhoo.
 
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Here in NY game wardens are very effective against sport hunters or farm kids who violate any rule. But the majority of the commercial poachers come from two religions ( M and A) that they will not touch no matter what the evidence presented to them.
 
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When I started thermal hunting at night all poaching stopped...on my place and my neighbors to the east and west.

I put videos up on YouTube and shared them with local friends and church members. It helps to show landowners that I'm safe killing pigs around their cattle, but I guess it also shows that I can sneak up on things pretty well at night.

My land is posted according to state law, and I do have a good relationship with my local warden...both sound pieces of advice listed above.
 
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Rlandry said:
Reqirements for posting property varies from state to state. Your local game warden can tell you what is required. Asking for legal advice on the Internet is not really the way to go.
Click to expand...


This.

In ND we would hunt geese in any field we caught them in. If it was posted legally they had their phone number and we'd call. If it had no phone number or name we'd just walk in (harvested fields) and never had an issue. Most if the time the fields that were posted without a name were people trying to keep others out of their honey hole, not the landowners.

In MT you can just paint your posts orange, no actual signage needed. We do have game recovery laws so I can legally retrieve one that's jumped a fence so long as I leave my weapons on the side I shot from. Sometimes this requires the game warden to ask the landowner if they need a wanton waste ticket or let us retrieve it. Some of the hippie fucks will take the ticket and loss of hunting and fishing rights for 10 years before letting you drag a deer 20 feet across a fence.




So, talk to your local game warden and maybe a judge or two. See what can be done, how it's prosecuted, and if you can just shoot back!
 
Most_Dangerous_Game_poster.jpg
 
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In Texas, if it's fenced it's posted and I'm not really sure fences are required. Fence posts painted purple also indicates it, but there is no law requiring a land owner to do so.
 
If you don’t hunt on it yourself, one of the best ways of keeping trespassers off of property is to allow a responsible hunter on your property. Many times they know who the local scoundrels are and can help get word to them to stay away. My best friend has a 150 acre farm here and I have run several trespassers off of his property. He also had a few arrested and it really stopped things.
 
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Whatever you do it's important to nip it in the bud as soon as you can.

Somehow folks think "precedence" is justification for doing what they want.

I caught hunters and other trespassers on my farm when I first bought it almost 15 years ago. I made it very clear to them that they weren't welcome without my permission no matter who let who do what in the past.

Several people were kicked off the farm in the first year, but problems have been minimal since then.

Honestly the biggest pain in the ass now is the tax assessor, but let's not get started on that...
 
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Sorry to hear you're dealing with poachers, they truly ruin it for all the true Sportsmen out there. Even worse people cannot have basic respect to stay off someone else's property without permission.
 
I have been involved with this for 40+ years on lands I own and being the agent of the landowner who entrusted me to make sure things were done right.
Be the badass boss who comes out of the truck with shotgun or SKS with the first round loading before the truck door is fully open, and the word gets around.
All land is clearly posted with NO HUNTING / without permission-- signs.
I let most on when they ask first. I have refused a few if it didn't feel right, but most go. Just ask so I know who is who and where they are.
Don't let me catch you if you don't have my permission or the Sheriff may get involved and it will suck for you.

Over the years I have had very few problems but have run off more than a few, usually as soon as they start to walk in so they know I am on top of it or I drove the truck in to where they were and I made it an experience they won't forget. No repeat offenders.

Where I live is very rural so I have no idea how bad it is for others in more populated areas.

I have no problem with calling or stopping by somebody's house to ask first before I go and can go anyplace I want in my area other than a very few, and they have their reasons. If they say no I don't go.

I would rather do that than have a pissed off old farmer with a gun after my ass.
 
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@Foul Mike

I know a fella who lost his gun rights over going too far on being the holler police; dumped some ammo into the ground front of someone he shouldn’t and caught a terrorist threatening conviction.

With that said I agree with the rest, most everyone in my area has right of way into one another property, the problems arose with leased hunting land, and out of town folks who refuse to play by local rules.
 
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I have never shot at anybody I didn't intend to kill. No warning or scaring shots as to running people off, they just know I am ready, just as ready as they are with their rifles loaded while hunting.

I always ask first. Why can't they?
 
purchased signs with name and address saying no trespassers, will put them up shortly.
contacted the local game warden and waiting to have the conversation.
my brother runs a local law firm in the area, so we can easily and inexpensively prosecute the trespassers.
 
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Tonsofguns said:
purchased signs with name and address saying no trespassers, will put them up shortly.
contacted the local game warden and waiting to have the conversation.
my brother runs a local law firm in the area, so we can easily and inexpensively prosecute the trespassers.
Click to expand...
Prosecution is done by the state/county. No out of pocket expenses for you (except for lost time while at court) and no need for representation in regards to a criminal prosecution.
 
whatsupdoc said:
Just for clarification, make sure your land is LEGALLY POSTED.
For example were I own property if you put up posted signs and they do not have the owners name and address on the sign
the lands are not legally posted and the Sheriff cant do shit.
Click to expand...
Not in Missouri....Doesn’t have to be posted at all to be ticketed for trespassing
 
fdkay said:
Prosecution is done by the state/county. No out of pocket expenses for you (except for lost time while at court) and no need for representation in regards to a criminal prosecution.
Click to expand...


yeah, we'd probably go after the criminal side, and the civil side to teach them a lesson.
 
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