How do you handle trespassers?

[hitman]

I was hunting on my cousins property with permission and when I came back to my vehicle all 4 of my tires were flat, no valve cores in them. Come to find out I was too close to someone's marijuana patch. It was spring turkey season.

[BAK]

Get a letter from the landowner authorizing you to control access.

[Sam McMichael]

Don't confront them or have any contact of any kind. It could have bad consequences. Simply call the owner and law enforcement.

[Matty]

Originally posted by hitman:
I was hunting on my cousins property with permission and when I came back to my vehicle all 4 of my tires were flat, no valve cores in them. Come to find out I was too close to someone's marijuana patch. It was spring turkey season.

Either that or it was Woodchucker!!!
           

[Charlie3]

If its a hunter you know darn well they ain't lost. Personally I'm not going to handle it very diplomatically, no reason to be nice to someone when you are not trying to get something from them.

[Sharp Stick]

Let the Game Wardens handle it.  They deal with this all the time.  They get paid to take care of this kind of thing, you do not.

[Charlie Lamb]

Only the landowner can prosecute. If you call the officials and the landowner won't prosecute when they get there they won't be eager to help in the future.
Prosecution is the only effective and legal way to stop a trespassing problem. Burn one and the word gets out.

[eflanders]

Originally posted by Charlie Lamb:
Only the landowner can prosecute. If you call the officials and the landowner won't prosecute when they get there they won't be eager to help in the future.
Prosecution is the only effective and legal way to stop a trespassing problem. Burn one and the word gets out.

This is an ugly issue to say the least.  In WI, Charlie is absolutely correct. Most legal agencies do not care to even address trespass issues and unfortunately the lawbreakers know it.  Please realize that confronting the lawbreakers can also cause issues for the landowner later. (In my area, neighbors are actually the biggest abusers.)  Confronting the trespasser yourself is not recommended at all by any legal entity as it can lead to many problems.  IMO It is best to just leave a note on their vehicle that you have notified the "proper authorities" (if you can) and then notify the landowner accordingly.  If the landowner pursues the matter, good for you!  But do not be surprised if they are unwilling to do so.  Try and get as much hunting or drivers license information as you can without confronting them directly.  It will be needed IF the authorities are willing to discuss the matter with the offender.

[JR Chambers]

Nothing you can do about it. I have seen trespassers pay their fine and go right back hunting. I had one tell me it was cheaper than leasing land. I once ran a trespasser off of land I had permission to hunt years ago and later that night I received a phone call threatening my famil and threatening to burn my house down. Now I don't say word. Not much you can do. I just hunt and kill my deer and let them have at it.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Trespassing Law in Oregon:

There are both criminal and civil TRESPASS laws. Criminal trespass law is enforced by police, sheriffs, or park rangers. Civil trespass requires that the landowner initiate a private enforcement action in court to collect any damages for which the trespasser may be responsible, regardless of whether a crime has been committed. Traditionally, for either type of trespass, some level of intent is required. Thus, the trespasser must not simply unwittingly traverse another's land but must knowingly go onto the property without permission. Knowledge may be inferred when the owner tells the trespasser not to go on the land, when the land is fenced, or when a "no trespassing" sign in posted. A trespasser would probably not be prosecuted if the land was open, the trespasser's conduct did not substantially interfere with the owner's use of the property, and the trespasser left immediately on request.


TRESPASSING LAW IN OREGON: No person shall hunt upon the cultivated or enclosed land of another without first obtaining permission from the owner or lawful occupant thereof, or the agent of such owner or occupant. The boundaries of enclosed land may be indicated by wire, ditch, hedge, fence, water or by any visible or distinctive lines that indicate a separation from the surrounding or contiguous territory.


If you do not have written permission on you to hunt private land and are stopped by a game officer or police officer . They can prosecute you for criminal trespassing without the owners of the land even being involved.....

[Bowwild]

In some states the landowner can "assign" the authority to prosecute to another person, such as the hunter.

By year's end I hope to own the property I've been hunting for the past 12 years. When I do I will make an appointment with the local game warden to ask what I should do if I observe a trespasser. I have not seen a trespasser since I've been hunting the property...but just in case I want to be well prepared.

Definitely be respectful of the law enforcement officer. Also, the wardens don't want to be your "run em off security".  They want you to agree to prosecute because that word gets out. If the warden spends his time (paid by the sportsman) dealing with a trespasser and no prosecution occurs he will be less interested in responding the next time.

[Dorado]

I was hunting a few years ago on private land. I was the only one allowed to be there much less hunt. I had set up just under a ridge at the base of a cedar, had a commanding view of the valley below me. I had set up just before first light and was there for about an hour when a bunch of drunks came charging through there in trucks and jeeps driving game and shooting anything that moved. Didn't pick up a single animal. The landowner and I spent the next 3 days picking up dead deer, hog, coyotes, everything including beer cans and other trash. They shot up 6 of his beef head. Shot one at least 30 times. I reported them to the game wardens and sheriff. Nothing happened. Turns out they were from the neighboring high fence ranch and they were trying to drive everything onto their ranch. Couldn't prove a damn thing when the sheriff confronted them.

[Petrichor]

Call law enforcement. No reason to possibly escalate when they could be better armed or worse how unpredictable they are. Being a cop I always have firearms, badge, and cuffs on me. Never had a problem.

[Pointer]

Let the owner handle it...you are a guest. My brother's place is posted heavily and when he revoked the only local guy's permission to hunt..he happens to be a state trooper..he made him aware that he will prosecute anyone trespassing on the property.

[swamper]

We give no warnings except someone tracking into our land on a blood trail.You give them a warning they will be back. Once word gets out you will not have many more problems.We escort off property while calling fish and game and local police.

[Todweelz]

I walk up calmly and as peaceful as possible while talking to them, then take there pic w my phone ask them to leave and let them know next time I see them I will call DNR and sheriff  to charge with trespassing. I let there actions dictate what will happen next !

[The Whittler]

Our laws and court system is a joke. The law breakers get slapped on the wrist and walk away laughing.