Trespassers/Poachers

[Curmudgeon]

You may want to follow up with ECO Card in a few days. I have had some experience with him. A second call/inquiry might be helpful moving this up on his priority list.They are busy and the squeaky wheel..................

[soileauj]

I would say its never wise to walk into the woods with out some kind of firearm as protection unless in archery season. Did they seem to understand what you were saying or did you get the feeling they were blowing you off?

 I think they got it. Seemed a bit nervous and apologized for being on the property. They acknowledged that it wasn't leased last year and now that they know I'm leasing and hunting they wouldn't cross again. Interestingly, they seemed to know about some of the animals I've captured at night on the cam, such as a very large fischer.

 

Time will tell how this turns out as I'll be spending time up there.

Thanks

[beachpeaz]

GREAT JOB reporting that!  As I said in my post, if EVERYONE took the time and effort to stop tresspassing, poaching, etc, we would have a much safer and more enjoyable outdoors.

 

Things are getting out of hand now days with all the people in the woods....and more so the amount of untrained people who were not brought up in a hunting family.  Sit in a class, given the freedom to hunt........scares the crap out of me quite frankly.

 

Take back the woods!

[Curmudgeon]

Interesting sub-topic on whether or not to carry a firearm whenever in the woods. I never carrying a firearm unless I plan to kill something. I have confronted armed trespassers on several occasions, choosing to go unarmed. I doubt any rational person would commit murder or manslaughter over being confronted about trespassing.

 

The only time I did armed myself with a firearm was when the dog was barking at someone just out of sight of the house during deer season. The hunter had to have been within 150' of the house but hidden in dense hemlocks. I was calling the dog - who would not stop barking and come to me - when I heard his shotgun go off. The dog came running home with an 1/8" deep crease along her nose. He tried to kill my dog. I put on boots, grabbed my shotgun and went out. By the time I got to the area he was gone. I saw someone driving out on the dead end road that bordered my back line but had no way to stop him except to jump in front of his car, and no evidence.

[ATbuckhunter]

I see what your saying curm, but the problem is you don't know if they guy your talking too is alright up there.

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[soileauj]

Curm, I guess I have 2 thoughts on carrying some sort of weapon.

 

1-As others have said, bear are a bit of a concern & I know that there is at least one that has crossed the property,

2-I think that just having something in your hands when approached by wrongdoer's makes a different statement than you just standing there empty handed.

 

As I mentioned, I was uncomfortable faced with 2 indivduals that were armed and ready to hunt.

 

I do agree the likeyhood of an individuals going to the extreme of a criminal act is not very likely to happen but stranger things have happened.

[catskillkid]

Why don't you post the picture of them on this thread? It may embarrass them enough to stay off your land if they are members of HuntingNY.

 

I hate trespassers too. My buddy and I hunted our lease in Ohio this past weekend and found boot prints around the proven turkey roosting area. Very hard to keep them off when we are 8 hours away.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Interesting sub-topic on whether or not to carry a firearm whenever in the woods. I never carrying a firearm unless I plan to kill something. I have confronted armed trespassers on several occasions, choosing to go unarmed. I doubt any rational person would commit murder or manslaughter over being confronted about trespassing.

 

I think that is the key right there. Confronting a person with a violation, misdemeanor or even a felony could get out of control, I guess, I wouldn't think a person would shoot a cop for getting pulled over for a violation either. In any of these situations you just never really know the type of person you are dealing with.

[bkln]

#1  trespassing- if posted properly?

#2  hunting out of season- k (can I have a gun on me while walking in the woods a week before deer season?) I wear my old camo up at camp for work clothes all the time and seem to always have a gun on me. Am I braking a law?  I am not excusing them but looking at it from an enforcement side.

 

What is #3?

 

#1 Yes, If it's not your or public land you are trespassing. It is your obligation to know land boundaries.

#2 I'm talking here about shotguns/rifles for hunting, not side arm for protection, it was clear there were hunting with decoys and stuff, as long as you have valid pistol permit no ECO will give you grief, other than that you will have some splainin' to do.

#3 Destroying/stealing (or attempting) private property, the cam in this case.

 

Good job OP for following through

[Culvercreek hunt club]

#1 Yes, If it's not your or public land you are trespassing. It is your obligation to know land boundaries.

#2 I'm talking here about shotguns/rifles for hunting, not side arm for protection, it was clear there were hunting with decoys and stuff, as long as you have valid pistol permit no ECO will give you grief, other than that you will have some splainin' to do.

#3 Destroying/stealing (or attempting) private property, the cam in this case.

 

Good job OP for following through

I am just trying to make a point so no one is disillusioned when an arrest isn't made for trespass on unposted, unimproved property. I agree with everything you said. however no ticket will be issued unless it is posted properly or you have given them proper notification of a previous trespass.

 

on the gun comment. I carried a rifle or a shotgun before I had my permit. being in the woods with a long gun isn't a crime in itself. (Felons excluded)I think everyone here can agree that these two were hunting prior to the OP seeing them. Again though. walking through the woods even carrying a decoy, I don't think is an easy slam dunk for a conviction.

[jjb4900]

regardless of whether or not they were apologetic, didn't realize the property was newly leased out...etc,etc.... the fact that they were out with guns and decoys a full week before the season and tried to remove the card from the camera, says all you need to know about your new neighbors.

Edited April 27, 2015 by jjb4900

[soileauj]

The property is completely posted and marked. The company I am leassing from is very good about maintaining the property and the forester has not only spray painted every other tree along the entire perimeter but also set posted signs as required as by code and I have done my share as well, especially where these gentlemen entered. So in regards to properly poseted we can put that one to rest

 

I specifically asked Officer Card about carrying my rifle for protection and he said that it is recommended due to the unusual possibility of an aggressive bear. In the event I did have to use it, he stated it would be reviewed.

 

Other than having the ability to hunt property I have paid for in a lease agreement to avoid being around individuals that may or may not possess the proper hunting ethicate, is the concern of someone else hunting or not knowign that I am hunting and shooting in an unsafe direction.

 

I want to enjoy hunting safely.

 

[ATbuckhunter]

There's no doubt in my mind that these guys knew the property was vein leased or at least maintained but they probably didn't expect to see anyone. It seems to me that they have probably been hunting there for years and planed on continuing that. Hopefully they will stay clear now that they have seen an actual presence there.

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[thphm]

I have a side arm on me most of the time when I an out in the woods ( Boonies ) where I live and I have my dog with me most of the time. There are a few furbearers runining around with the Mange , I see them they are down.If you are turkey hunting with a Bow , No firearms are allowed.( do not agree with that ) but that is the way it is.

Hope every thing turns out OK and you get one of the 10" bearded ones.

[soileauj]

share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=2AaNm7Ro0csnlw

 

Hoping for one of these on opening day. Have several others but these are the most recent.

Thanks and Good Luck to us all this Friday!

[MountainHunter]

A gun for protection against rabid animals and perhaps a bear I have no issue with. Thinking you would become confrontational with another human being over something hunting related would be an incredibly ill advised decision. No way something like that is worth dying or killing another human being for.

[Curmudgeon]

I think that is the key right there. Confronting a person with a violation, misdemeanor or even a felony could get out of control, I guess, I wouldn't think a person would shoot a cop for getting pulled over for a violation either. In any of these situations you just never really know the type of person you are dealing with.

 

When I was young, I always assumed the combination of self righteousness and anger made me bullet-proof. Some of my family tell stories about me. Whether or not I had good judgement in my twenties, as the song says, "I'm still here".

 

[LI OUTDOORSMAN]

This is such an obvious case of locals helping themselves to your game before the season opens. Unfortunately this happens all the time..Game is heard or spotted on your property and someone feels the need to get them before the season opens and the rightful owner has a chance at it .As far as posted signs go although its the law you definitely know when your off your land and on someone else's!! I hope you get these guys.

Decoys,calls and guns at 6am?...come on..poaching plain and simple

Edited April 28, 2015 by LI OUTDOORSMAN

[coonhunter]

I live in Oneonta and have lived within 20 miles my whole life. I can assure you there is no shortage of game hogs around here, whether it be deer, turkey, or fish. If you can get the DEC to follow up on charges, I encourage you to press them. And keep pressing charges if you want to enjoy this land. Money out of their pocket is the only thing these people understand. It may not stop them from trespassing, but it will get the word out to stay off your land.

 

 

[soileauj]

Thanks Coon. I've submitted the pictures to Officer Card yesterday and will be following up with a visit to the office on Friday afternoon. Thanks to NY Bowhunter for providing the location of the office.

 

The more I thnik about to more agravating it is. I mean my name and number are on the posted signs and they could have just called. More than likely I would have allowed them to do some hunting on the property after opening weekend but I think they is just their MO.

 

Oh well I'll just have to wait and see what the next steps are here.

Thanks guys for the encouragement and direction.

[growalot]

I have to ask ...do you bow hunt...if not...get to the lease as much as possible during bow season to make your presence know...many camp gun hunters loose their biggest deer before they ever get a chance to hunt them ...Sorry but that is a fact...when locals especially.... know out of town /area hunters routines, they move in on easy hunting lands...

[GreeneHunter]

I have to ask ...do you bow hunt...if not...get to the lease as much as possible during bow season to make your presence know...many camp gun hunters loose their biggest deer before they ever get a chance to hunt them ...Sorry but that is a fact...when locals especially.... know out of town /area hunters routines, they move in on easy hunting lands...

Very True .... Nothing worse than opening day of gun season and finding a gut pile near your stand from a bow hunter you didn't know was there !

[soileauj]

I have to ask ...do you bow hunt...if not...get to the lease as much as possible during bow season to make your presence know...many camp gun hunters loose their biggest deer before they ever get a chance to hunt them ...Sorry but that is a fact...when locals especially.... know out of town /area hunters routines, they move in on easy hunting lands...

I planned on this being my very first bow season. And I do agree with you on making a presence. I'm coming from Westchester but will be up more regularly from now on for lots of different reasons. And from what I gathered in the brief conversation with these 2 guys is that they harvested several deer last year, and now I tke it to be on this property. Hopefully they will be discouraged form continuing to trespass depending on how this all plays out. Haven't heard from Officer Card but will be checking in with him by weeks end.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

I would encourage everyone to go take a look at these two new bills and write letters and send emails to you Representatives in support. They are bills to stiffen poaching laws, something NY is very behind on.  

 

 

Senate Bill Number S4727
Assembly Bill Number A7171

[soileauj]

Thanks Culver & good luck tomorrow!