Trespassers- Any real way to prevent it ?

[brent]

Great question.
I am three hours away from the property- That was the account from a neighbor.
He took the cams to the OPP and they said- exactly what you thought- Call as soon as you see them.
This was definitely a missed chance.

Absentee landowner is a tough go.

I think for the most part, after being confronted a few times, most guys get the hint and stop. But being 3 hours away makes it pretty much impossible.

I may have missed it, but where is your land?

[welsh]

Right now unless there is a complaint, private property permission is never really enquired about or followed up. If a CO checks a guy on private property and the guy says he has permission, that's the end of story.

So essentially you're talking about enforcement in the absence of a complaint, then?

This would mean that any person hunting on his own private property would be presumed to be trespassing unless he could prove he was the owner of said property. It would mean he would have to give his brother-in-law & his buddy written permission to hunt his land.

I can't see the average rural landowner liking this proposal much. The effect would likely be a whole bunch of properties closed to hunting because landowners don't want to face the hassle. A lot of guys would let you on with a handshake but they'll balk if you want them to sign something. The second you say, sign here, they'll start thinking of liability and whether there's something they don't know waiting to trip them up if they sign that paper. As well they should.

[brent]

I see your points but I guess there are 2 sides to every coin.

I believe Manitoulin Island requires written permission. It would be interesting to hear how things are there if my belief is correct.

[welsh]

I think it might make sense to require written permission in specific WMUs where there is a particular problem. It would certainly give the CO a way of dealing with it.

[Brampton Mike]

Was talking to one of the farmers that allow me to hunt there land this evening...he actually went out of his way to come out to see me as I was getting back to my truck...wanted to know if I had lost some items along the edge of one of his fields...about 4-5 hundred in optics...nope not mine ...lol... some unlucky trespasser has lost a decent pair of binoculars and a very nice bushnall range finder...hope I catch him trying to find them...lol

Ummmmmmmmmmm can you send me some pics....they might be mine....just kidding...sounds like you go ta good haul...one property I had permission to hunt had 2 ladder stands on it...one I told the land owner he jumped into his truck and told me to take him to them...he pulled them both down and through them in the back of his truck...when we got back to the house he said drop in the following weekend and if no one claimed them they were mine! Used them both before I sold them....

[patvetzal]

If you live three hours away and don't even want your neighbor on your land then I don't see any solution.....the whole township will probably be hunting there..

[trimmer21]

If you live three hours away and don't even want your neighbor on your land then I don't see any solution.....the whole township will probably be hunting there..

There is one possible solution. Attend your property with an arm load of No Trespassing signs and make sure you post all gates,fenceline gaps and perimeter fencing every 100',so,there's absolutely no doubt where your property lines are and don't miss any. Then,give your neighbor permission to hunt the property,exclusively. In exchange,appoint him as your agent. That way,he has a vested interest in due dilligence. Short of that,if you can't watch your property yourself,you don't have a hope.

[seedoc]

I experienced numerous trespassers several years ago when I purchased my property. I posted the perimeter and added photo surveillance warning signs that included trail cams. I also made access difficult particularly for ATVs with gates and brush fences. Initially trespassers broke the fences and gates but I continued to repair them making them more secure each time. Eventually most of the trespassers gave up breaking the gate and this year I saw no one on the cameras. Frequent presence on the land also helps. I wouldn't recommend retaliation.

Persistence should create results. However you will never eliminate trespassing entirely.