Hate to post this here, know I’m gonna get kicked in the nutz. I encountered today on my property 2 individuals that trespassed and dispatched an animal on my property. When I seen where the vehicle was parked and the footprints in the snow on my property side of the line marker… I gave them plenty of time to leave but when I went in to investigate, sure enough off of public, on to me at least 100-200yds then back to public. While I was trailing their tracks I heard a shot. When I get snuck up to where I see them, they are on my property walking back towards public. I make my presence known while they were on my property. Their set up was maybe 20yds on public facing my property..
The only reason I didn’t call the warden is because I know one of the fellas had no clue he was in the wrong. I believe he was led to believe he was on public the whole time. I hate faithful church goers, teachers even, make ignorant decisions like that… I made it known that todays meeting was the warning…
So with that being said, all I need to do is put the purple paint up or do I need a sign as well?

Nice meeting you today ridge! 😂

Nah man that sucks…you are better than me especially had it been a buck. I’d prolly do both if it was me to make it known

I know them… well one of them and know of the other. They killed a Coyote but I don’t care what they killed it wasn’t legal.

If you told him not to come back, he probably won't. And if he does, a sign or a little purple paint won't deter him.

I'd just carry on as usual. He knows you're watching.

Do you not have to have the signs or paint to prosecute?

No


Really by law they were hunting with out permission . Trespassing is really a different thing

So, did they just go on your land to shoot a coyote a second time?

I’m probably in the minority here, but If they shot a deer and tracked it over there I’d be more forgiving because I don’t want a trespasser, but I also don’t want wounded game getting lost. Especially if they have no way to contact you to actually get permission.

I’d just make it known you don’t want them on your land and provide them your contact number or address (if house isn’t on property) incase they wound another and need permission.

Over a coyote, I don’t have much sympathy though.

My last deep dive into trespassing law was in Texas, but I think it's generally the same everywhere with some nuance. Criminal trespassing generally occurs when someone is told the leave and does not or comes back or disregards a No Tresspass warning such as purple paint or a sign. Sometimes breaching a barrier like a fence or gate can constitute Criminal trespassing. The problem is proving any of those things happened. Obviously if you have the party's name and address you can send them a letter certified mail. You can also keep a couple of letters on ya and hand deliver them to any future trespassers. Security guards usually keep warning cards on them as a means to hand deliver notice as they kick people off a property. If they return your sworn statement that you delivered a notice should by enough for prosecution. Beyond that they'd have to admit they disregarded the notice or the officer would just have to believe it was probable they saw it and disregarded the warning signs or paint.

Ultimately contact your sheriff dept and ask what the requirements would be for them to file a case
They should be able to tell you exactly what they want to have before they pick up a case.

Shot across the property line. They accessed their seating position by leaving public, on to my property, back on public. Them shot from public onto my property.

No need for signs or paint. All land in Alabama is posted by law. You probably did the right thing in this situation but you might tell the one you know that you have 6 months to file trespassing charges against him and if he has any sense he will pass the word to others that might try the same thing on a deer. With hardly any enforcement of game laws in this state because of the shortage of game officers it’s become more and more up to landowners to prosecute trespassing themselves. It time consuming and they will probably get a slap on the hand from a judge but if it gets serious you can file damage charges to them in civil court. Win or lose they still have to spend money on an attorney. It’s a shame as a property owner you have no other option

I put signs up at all gates and hav on Lines

Mine say private property - trespassers will be persecuted - keep out

it was me in this case where there's no fence id just just paint it . it not being marked and next to public there'll always be this problem . all honest hunters wont pass the marks . nothing gonna stop the some hunters

Huh? This makes no sense. The element of criminal tresspass in AL is that the offender "Knowlingly enter private property and remained there without permission" Signs and paint can be tough to prove (the offender can say I didn't see it) but it would be part of evidence to prove that element. Especially in the case of a repeat offender.

Most officers are reluctant to charge unless it's their second encounter with the person and they have personally warned the person. It's usually an add on charge or something they will charge someone with that is stalking or harassing someone but hasn't quite crosses the line yet.

I agree with the other poster that hunting without permission would probably be easier to prove and get an arrest on. Heck, it's "assumed" I'm hunting from the road if I just have my magazine in the rifle even of my gun is in the trunk.

I believe I read a law from Maine on one crossing others property. The law stated a person could hunt on anothers property, but it would be better to ask. Kind of funny because Maine is kind of small, Alabama is relative large compared to them and has different laws. On one hand I would say good for both parties they dispatched a coyote as those can in numbers hurt all game. On the other hand they trespassed. We all think the game on private is our game. Kind of where I am at now and seeing how we have become fighting over a deer or turkey and how greedy our culture has become, especially after talking in the past to an older fellow how poor folks work more together in the past. The biggest problem is greedy folks on both private and public can both be greedy and shoot all the game. There should be more understanding on both sides. The problem is you want to know who you are dealing with and can't turn just anyone loose on your property. The way some folks like to shoot all the game you will have to make a decision is my time being wasted here and move on or can I take some good deer off the property. Having hunted one private tract in the past that had a road going down the middle and another landowner walking to get to their tract, I realized I may be better off just taking a doe because most bucks of any size won't tolerate constant access or just hunt less. Kind of a decision others I am sure have made in the past.