PRB, I dont see where anyone is saying be billy BA and assault the guy, cuss him or be rude. If the warden cant get there in time and I can work the situation to put the odds squarley in my favor, I'd rather address it myself and let the guy know that I know he was there rather than take a chance on the guy coming back regularly on my property and accidently shooting me or one of my teenage sons going to or from a stand in the dark. That's why I pay to hunt private rather than public land. Safety. I've dealt with poachers on 3 occasions and on a couple other occasions elected not to. One got a little ugly because 1 person actually turned out to be 3 but the sheriff was on the way and I had the advantage of having a gun on them before they did me. The other two were very coridal once I confronted them. I got their drivers license info and we reached an understanding through calm conversation. Trox, you need to be very careful about going "crazy redneck". The 1 turning out to be 3 situation above would have turned out very different had I done that and I realized it after it was over and catalogued it in my memory. The first guy wasnt much and i could definitely have handled him but had I put my pistol down and jumped on him (which I really wanted to do at the time), it would have been a different situation when his two large hunting buddies walked out of the woods about 20 seconds later. I was in my mid 20's and the good Lord was looking out for my stupid self. It is always best to let LEO's handle this sort of stuff when possible. That being said, the most important thing to do in poaching situations is evaluate the situation for what it is and what your options are. If you do decide that addressing the poacher yourself is the only or best option, remain calm, be as respectful as possible when addressing the perp, and be 100% in control of your emotions. Let those three things go along with your temper and bad stuff starts happening quick. "Crazy redneck", guns and poachers can quickly become a deadly combination that's not good for anyone involved. If your personality is such that you have a hard time controlling your temper/emotions or remaining calm, you dont ever need to address a poacher in the field. In the end, you have to weigh out the situation at hand. You did what you thought was your best option at the time. Nobody can fault you for that. There have been times when I elected not to deal with a poacher because of the situation, (kids with me, terrain was not to my advantage, didnt know exactly where he was etc.) Each situation it totally different and only you can make the call. Calling the GW first was definitely the correct thing to do. How you handled it after that was, is and always will be 100% a personal decision that is neither right nor wrong.

Trox,
"pow..right in the nose..now go get your husband" Now that is the funniest thing I've read in a long long time.

No doubt

I see what you all are saying and I appreciate all the info.I just really didn't know how to handle the situation.It all happened pretty quick and I just wanted his ass off my property.I know one thing was for damn sure...Once I realized he was a young guy I was not confronting him.Yungins these days are smartasses and I'm not very tolerate of a smartass.I think that was a good choice seeing that after I made my presence known he still wandered around looking for deer for a minute.Boy definately was a few bananas short of a banana split.I'll just see how it goes..I'm the type to let things slide and give people the benefit of the doubt...Maybe that was his first time on my property..Maybe he's never killed a deer and just wanted so bad to shoot one but has nowhere to do so..Just really got me when the little phuker gimme the finger.I don't wanna put nobody in a bind having to pay fines for trespassing..times are hard enough...but if I see him again on my property I'll make sure the game wardens there before the boy knows it.

Hook a brother up with some mapquest directions. We can also dress him up like a goat and tie him to Tchunter.

Dress him up like a goat we won't have to tie TC to him...

Is this your own personal property, leased land or simply property you and your brother have permission to hunt?

Good question

If you are providing the free beer, I'll jump a ride with Josh!

He said "my clearcut" and only he and he brother can be on it. I was under the impression that he or his family owns it.

Great uncles land we have permission to hunt.

By the actions of your intruder, I would make SURE that you 2 are the only one's with permission......

AND, that you have not only the Right to prosecute, but legal proof of permission on you at all times while hunting there also.

The best route would be to have him fill out something transferring the Hunting Rights to you.

x2

I really do not think a grown man protecting his property from poachers is being a billy badass. Hell I would much rather me deal with the guy than one of my kids. What is the difference in me confronting a poacher or having a LEO do if for me ?

Most people would rather type on the internet about what they would do than actually do it!

X2

I would suggest you talk to a law enforcement officer about the situation before you have another altercation with said poacher. I caught a guy turkey hunting on our club several years back and blocked him in where he couldn't leave. I heard the shots and knew nobody else was on the club so I hauled arse around there to see who it was. I had an idea it was a young guy who worked the oil wells that are on our club and I was right. I followed his tracks down the dead end road and found his truck. I backed up to a narrow place in the road so he couldn't drive around me and called the GW. He started out before the GW got there and we had some heated words until the GW showed up. I wanted his sorry ass arrested but the GW said he couldn't if I didn't actually see him outside his truck with a gun. I was fuming mad as he had the turkey in the bed of his truck but after I calmed down I saw the GW's side of the argument. The GW told me that I had to let him leave as you CANNOT hold someone against their will unless the property is yours or you have explicit rights to the property. A lease will not cut it. If you read most leases, you'll be surprised how many rights you actually have on the property. I did have him fired from the company that took care of the oilwells but he got away with the game violation that time. I hate a poacher worse than a thief and learned a lesson that day.

You saying I wouldn't have tornado back twist kicked him in the face while shimmying out of my tree?

Only after you threw your signature-edition, steel-spiked, long-reach Face Hitting Stick and knocked him senseless.......

And then you would go to his house and drag his parents AND grandparents out and whup the piss out of em!!!!

As for those who are writing to hold the trespasser until a LEO shows up, I would caution you on this. A warden recently told me
(last month) I could not hold someone against his/her will, even if they are on my property, as I could be sued in court, and possibly lose, despite trespassing/poaching of person.

I'm not sure of the law as I have heard/read conflicting things.

Maybe someone else will chime in.


God Bless,
David B.