Okay you law dogs - private property signage question

[aviator41]

So here's the question: when posting "Private Property: No trespassing" signs.

Despite our best efforts, the basic signs we are posting are being pulled down regularly. We have long distance high voltage lines going through a part of the property with a trail that goes right by it. we have large signs posted on on the wooden posts as well as the barbed wire fence nearby, the posts at the gate, the cattle crossing, a tower, each and every blind etc. . . without fail at least half of them are pulled. without fail the largest one on the highwire post is pulled and tossed into the brush.

so, if we changed the signed to "Private property: no trespassing, active shooting range beyond this point. " or something like that would that make us any more liable that a basic sign? Sure, the destruction of our signs are annoying but truth is, this IS where we shoot. while we do have sufficient earthen backstops which are way out of the way of the trail, we have horseback riders trespassing here and we've seen tracks everywhere. all it would take would be one riding topping the hill at the same time we get a ricochet.

What is the legality here? and whats the best way to handle this?

 

[smcgee10]

You may want to try "Trespassers will be shot! Survivors will be violated!" LOL!

 

[Belthos]

So here's the question: when posting "Private Property: No trespassing" signs.

Despite our best efforts, the basic signs we are posting are being pulled down regularly. We have long distance high voltage lines going through a part of the property with a trail that goes right by it. we have large signs posted on on the wooden posts as well as the barbed wire fence nearby, the posts at the gate, the cattle crossing, a tower, each and every blind etc. . . without fail at least half of them are pulled. without fail the largest one on the highwire post is pulled and tossed into the brush.

so, if we changed the signed to "Private property: no trespassing, active shooting range beyond this point. " or something like that would that make us any more liable that a basic sign? Sure, the destruction of our signs are annoying but truth is, this IS where we shoot. while we do have sufficient earthen backstops which are way out of the way of the trail, we have horseback riders trespassing here and we've seen tracks everywhere. all it would take would be one riding topping the hill at the same time we get a ricochet.

What is the legality here? and whats the best way to handle this?

Set up a sign, live fire range. Put a dozen holes in the sign, litter the area with fired shotgun shells.
10 feet beyond this use an electric eye to detect intrusion on the path, have it trigger two or three shotgun blanks and have a stuffed bird cover one of them so it will burst into feathers when the blank is fired.

 

[Okie4570]

Change nothing yet, get a couple cheap game cams, shouldn't be too hard to figure out who it is with a pic of the rider and the horse.. Track the horses or are they unloaded from a trailer and then trespass?

 

[caojyn]

Horse head on a post

 

[11b1776]

Horse head on a post

Bwahahaha, this one^^^^

 

[toehanus]

Horse head on a post

...or in the bed next to the trespasser.

 

[Fyrtwuck]

The more I read these posts, the more it appears that trespassing is just one of those things in the rural areas. People seem to think that they have a right to tear down signs, destroy gates, shoot animals out of season and generally disrespect the rights of others.

As I understand the trespassing law, a person has to be told to leave or not enter property before they can be charged, hence the signs that are being torn down. The signs are being torn down so that the violator, if caught can say "I didn't see any signs", and all that happens is that they are told to leave. They have the attitude, "how dare them put up signs, I've been through here for the last 30 years and I'm not going to stop now".

Game cameras are a good suggestion. I'd also suggest you invite your local law enforcement come out and take a tour with you. Show them that signs have been posted and where they are. That way, if called, he can testify that he did see the signs and the property was posted. All that has to be proven at that point is who removed the signs and with the back up of the game cameras, that should be all that's needed.

 

[aviator41]

Change nothing yet, get a couple cheap game cams, shouldn't be too hard to figure out who it is with a pic of the rider and the horse.. Track the horses or are they unloaded from a trailer and then trespass?

Yes, they are unloading at a bridge that goes over the river, then using the dry riverbed as a trail - it's both horses and quads. Heck, we'd be fine if they'd just stay on the river bed and enjoy their ride, but no, they have to wander up on the property and tear sheit up. Our main concern is them coming through and spoiling the whitetail hunting this year. We can already see their activity moving the herd and it's really pissing us off. We were stumped turkey hunting this year because some jackass trampled through their nesting area at just the wrong time. we have him on camera, but there's no way to make out markings on the horse or his face.

I'm going out Wednesday to put fertilizer down for the fall/winter food plots and will move a couple of game cameras to see if can't catch these suckers.

BUT: The question still stands, is designating a live fire area on the property automatically make us more liable than we already are?

 

[aviator41]

Set up a sign, live fire range. Put a dozen holes in the sign, litter the area with fired shotgun shells.
10 feet beyond this use an electric eye to detect intrusion on the path, have it trigger two or three shotgun blanks and have a stuffed bird cover one of them so it will burst into feathers when the blank is fired.

Sure! we can call it the Rube-Goldberg warning system. Because, you know, this doesn't sounds intricate or anything.