Mechdoc and I went Shed Hunting today with my Pooch Mya. We found nothing but a Golf ball and three kids trying to climb up and mess with one of my tree stands. Kicker is that Doc heard them and snuck up on them and heard one ask the other if they should do it since they were trespassing. When Doc walked up he asked if they were lost and realized they were on private property, of course they said no and the kid that was halfway up scurried down just as Mya and I showed up. Luckily all my stands are chained to the trees, we found one of the other guys stands missing and likely these little punks took it.
I would have called the cops. Not to press charges but to issue a warning. That way you also have contact information should it happen again. By just letting them go they will learn nothing other then they can get away with it. And it will most likely happen again! Glad you still have all your stands! Any sheds?
I agree should grabbed their name at least & inform them that if anything was missing, they would be suspects.
Why does everyone believe that calling the cops is always the necessary punishment. I wonder if these are the same peeps who complain about the cops all the time when they get pulled over. I think you did the right thing and handled it the right way Race... I would have verbally abused them.. maybe had them take me back to there homes.. but cops.. never. I like to think that the police of the world have other things better to do then handle my minor inconvenience with a couple minors. Be careful who you cross today.. they may seek revenge tomorrow.
I never said that calling the cops is always the thing to do. I also said that I clearly wouldn't press charges just have a warning issued. I am willing to bet that they are joking with friends about being caught and if they did actually steel the other stand they are bragging about how they got away with it. I don't think that any lesson was learned from this and chances are they will be right back at it next time they have a chance. And what does a few trespassers have anything to do with getting pulled over?
I take my camera with me just about every time I go in the woods. I would have made them line up for a nice photo op. After getting a good pic of each kid I'd let them know that if anything on the property gets damaged or is missing the police get the pics.
Mechdoc pretty much put the scare into them, they were taking off when I walked up so the credit goes to him. In the end I look back at when I was a kid and honestly I wasn't singing in the Choir. Karma has paid more than one visit to me in my day and this is another case of someone messing with me and reminding me I was a kid myself once. Now if they get a saw and cut off my locks then I might start hunting season a little early
I'd took their wallet and their phone number where I could reach the parents. DNR could also step in I suppose.
I would have jabbed them in the eye with a antler. At least they know that you know they were there. I would have probably made up some story to scare them.
Back when I was a kid, I would have gotten my ass whipped by the land owner AND by my father for giving someone else a reason to whip me!!
i was yelled at this past weekend for trespassing on a neighbor's land while shed hunting, that wasnt posted... i calmly informed the guy that this was the first time anybody has said anything to me about this being private land. i said that i was extremly sorry and that it will never happen again, but did ask the guy what his plan was if i had gotten angry right back at him?????? now i would NEVER let it get to that, and only defend myself if it did come to blows but it sparked a surprisingly nice conversation and although his wife doesnt allow hunters, if she changes her mind i am invited as long as he owns the land. this was two adults talking and i promise i would have been pissed Race if a stand was taken from my land by some kids! i hope they learned their lesson and never come back!!!!
Well, here on my land it is posted that you must have written permission on your person to hunt or trespass. I spoke to a police officer about what to do when I have trespassers. He told me not to confront them personally during hunting season. You know they are armed. What he suggested was, and this is the truth, that my aim should be a little off when shooting at game near their vehicle. Or, I could always, and I like this better, call the local towing company and have their vehicle towed. I would never, NEVER, shoot someones vehicle but, I would have it towed and let them explain to the police why they were trespassing. I have someone right now that has a stand on another property without permission. I have left a note saying they need to get written permission but, I haven't heard from them yet. I would never tear it down but, you can bet if it is there this fall that I will use it.
One of the guys that I hunt on told me that during qail season many years back he had some guys coming onto his land unpermitted. He said that he went and let the air out of all four tires on their pickup. He told me that when evening came around there was a knock on his door and there were some guys asking for an air tank. LOL he told them that he didnt seen to have one around and asked where their vehicle was. When they lied and told him it was up the road a ways he went ahead and told them that he had done the damadge and then he called the authorities. He can be a bit cranky when it comes to tresspassing.
I don't believe calling the police was needed. However, if they were kids, I would have gotten their parents information and gave them a called. The parents would have been told that their kids have warned and if it happens again you be required to take the next step, which would have involved law enforcement.
