Post by tynimiller on Oct 17, 2012 13:48:42 GMT -5
Okay I'm going to attempt to be clear and concise...but in order to be clear it may take a few lines so please forgive me.
We have permission to access this small gem of a swamp/hardwood lot about 3 acres in size. We have had permission to hunt it for years now..believe almost 10 years now and we've always promised the lady who owns the property to keep an eye out for her property from trespassers, trash or anything else. Last year we had an incident where a neighboring landowner (to the north of my father's 10 acres), who thinks his 2 acre chunk of woods is big enough for 4 bow hunters and 3 gun hunters had a hunter who shot and killed a deer over our property line (by minimum 20 or so yards), proceeded to never notify us of any wrong doing...but they were unaware my father was hunting and watched the whole thing. My father not wanting to cause any problems just let it slide, partly out of fear of a war of words and we do have quite a productive stand on that little 2 acres ourselves (were the very first allowed to hunt it).
So fast forward to this spring and we decided we were going to post our northern border with BRIGHT yellow no trespassing signs to CLEARLY label the already known boundaries (discussions have occurred and they knew they don't have permission to shoot onto or be on my father's property without permission).
The lady with the 3 acre chunk of ground I shared earlier shares her Eastern border with the "problem" neighboring hunters and said she'd love to have the signs posted on hers as well when we offered.
Now we went and hung up at minimum 5 of these signs, we believe it was more like 8. I even video'd a portion of the posted line back in April just to prove we'd posted it and share it with my blog/site's subscribers. The video can be found here www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pDSylmVoH8 and it is just the beginning portion that shows them.
Well now fast forward to yesterday (the 16th) and my father discovers that all save one sign have been removed or ripped down (one he said still has shreds of the signs at all four nailed corners). While we got quite angry immediately we did think to call the landowner just to be safe and ask if she or anyone she knows removed them....Nope. We are almost 100% it is more trouble with the same guys who shot the deer on my father's property (there have been other problems but don't want to get longer than I already am)....and are hoping to go talk to the northern landowner laying out all the facts and concerns we have.
My questions about the situation are as follows:
-To what degree of illegal is it if at all to remove the "No Trespassing" signs on a property you have no permission to be on?
-The landowner said she's willing to do anything to rectify the situation, if the suspected landowner with the "bad seeds" doesn't take care of it who would she reach out to the police or the dnr?
-Would charges need to be pressed or could she simply request they pay the landowner a visit?
-Do you have any further advice on this or any state laws or statutes that could be helpful when confronting the landowner?
We are attempting to go about this the proper way for the landowner without her having to worry about it, she's over 60 and doesn't nor should have to worry about this if she doesn't have to (we realize she may have to be involved especially if any legal action is taken). We and her just want all the shady/illegal activity to stop, it ruins the great sport of hunting for all area hunters and encroaches on the right to own property which should be respected by area landowners as well.
Thanks for any assistance in this you can provide!
If for any reason you have a pdf or document that would help my email is tylanmiller (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!
We have permission to access this small gem of a swamp/hardwood lot about 3 acres in size. We have had permission to hunt it for years now..believe almost 10 years now and we've always promised the lady who owns the property to keep an eye out for her property from trespassers, trash or anything else. Last year we had an incident where a neighboring landowner (to the north of my father's 10 acres), who thinks his 2 acre chunk of woods is big enough for 4 bow hunters and 3 gun hunters had a hunter who shot and killed a deer over our property line (by minimum 20 or so yards), proceeded to never notify us of any wrong doing...but they were unaware my father was hunting and watched the whole thing. My father not wanting to cause any problems just let it slide, partly out of fear of a war of words and we do have quite a productive stand on that little 2 acres ourselves (were the very first allowed to hunt it).
So fast forward to this spring and we decided we were going to post our northern border with BRIGHT yellow no trespassing signs to CLEARLY label the already known boundaries (discussions have occurred and they knew they don't have permission to shoot onto or be on my father's property without permission).
The lady with the 3 acre chunk of ground I shared earlier shares her Eastern border with the "problem" neighboring hunters and said she'd love to have the signs posted on hers as well when we offered.
Now we went and hung up at minimum 5 of these signs, we believe it was more like 8. I even video'd a portion of the posted line back in April just to prove we'd posted it and share it with my blog/site's subscribers. The video can be found here www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pDSylmVoH8 and it is just the beginning portion that shows them.
Well now fast forward to yesterday (the 16th) and my father discovers that all save one sign have been removed or ripped down (one he said still has shreds of the signs at all four nailed corners). While we got quite angry immediately we did think to call the landowner just to be safe and ask if she or anyone she knows removed them....Nope. We are almost 100% it is more trouble with the same guys who shot the deer on my father's property (there have been other problems but don't want to get longer than I already am)....and are hoping to go talk to the northern landowner laying out all the facts and concerns we have.
My questions about the situation are as follows:
-To what degree of illegal is it if at all to remove the "No Trespassing" signs on a property you have no permission to be on?
-The landowner said she's willing to do anything to rectify the situation, if the suspected landowner with the "bad seeds" doesn't take care of it who would she reach out to the police or the dnr?
-Would charges need to be pressed or could she simply request they pay the landowner a visit?
-Do you have any further advice on this or any state laws or statutes that could be helpful when confronting the landowner?
We are attempting to go about this the proper way for the landowner without her having to worry about it, she's over 60 and doesn't nor should have to worry about this if she doesn't have to (we realize she may have to be involved especially if any legal action is taken). We and her just want all the shady/illegal activity to stop, it ruins the great sport of hunting for all area hunters and encroaches on the right to own property which should be respected by area landowners as well.
Thanks for any assistance in this you can provide!
If for any reason you have a pdf or document that would help my email is tylanmiller (at) gmail (dot) com
Thanks!
