What do you do with trespassers?

WASNTME

WASNTME

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Dead center of Saskatchewan.
The general rule on my farm is that we post the pasture land and fields which are fenced where our cows occasionally are. We don't post any of our non-fenced crop land.

We let a few select individuals that we know and trust onto some of the posted fields as well. I also hunt them with my friends.

Friday night I get a call from a friend asking if he can go onto a half section which is posted and fenced because he saw a decent mulie buck on it. I tell him to go for it.

Saturday morning I get a call from him telling me that someone else is driving across the field. So I go for a drive. By the time I found the trespassers they had a pretty good mulie buck down. A guy I know, and his dad and nephew. I only know the one guy, the others aren't from here.

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The guy claimed that the gate he came in was not posted, which was true, but the two along the grid road were. He drove a half mile west in my neighbor's field and went in the second quarter, then he proceeded all the way across it, opened a second gate, (unposted), and then drove around in my dad's home section (a fenced in field) and shot one of my tame mule deer. FYI we only got all the cows home a few days ago, and the cows are going back out to swath graze on the easternmost quarter in a few weeks.

He is technically correct that he didn't go through any gates that were posted, but he drove past the front side of the half which was posted, and it's all the same fence. I also take issue with him opening the second gate even if it wasn't posted. Whatever happened to asking for permission?

I asked him if he bothers asking for permission when he hunts. He was apologetic, claiming he didn't know (I suspect he did know and was looking for a loophole).

What do you do when the buck is already down?

A friend is advising me to have him charged as a deterrent to others. I don't really want to do that, and he probably has me in that the gate wasn't posted.

So I ask the wisdom of CGN, what should I do? Report? Take the head (lol)? Let it go? FYI I posted both the unposted gates yesterday.
 
Im dealing with the same problem right now.
I let him keep his deer as a parting gift with the warning that if I catch him anywhere near my land again ill charge hi
with treapassing.
I dont take ignorance of "i didnt know" all other responsible hunters can figure it out why cant you and if people ask me i usually give permission if they dont **** **** up or make a mess.
 
Only you can decide what to do. I would not pay any attention to what others on the inter-net, who are unfamiliar with all the nuances of the case, think about what you should do.
You certainly sound like a responsible person, using good common sense.
So, just make a descission you can live with.
 
Reminds me of a story of a duck hunter and a farmer. :)

I guess it would depend on how much of a point you want to get across or be a #### about it.

Option a)You keep the deer and don't report him for trespassing and such.

Option b)You let him keep the deer but say you will be contacting authorities and pressing charges.

Let him choose.

As others have stated and yourself the "I didn't know" excuse don't fly with me.If you DON'T KNOW you error on the side of caution and stay out, don't proceed in!!!!
 
If you think he's a good guy who made an honest mistake, go easy. If you think he's a jerk trying to take advantage of the situation, tell him to take his deer and that you'll call him if you feel like letting him hunt again in the future. Also maybe mention his name to some fellow landowners, jerks really don't deserve second chances in my book.
 
So you know the guy ? But ur mad because you don't know his dad and nephew and they were with him?

Do you not like this guy ?

Sounds like your mad he shot a good buck. If you told him in the past he could hunt there I guess you could stern remind him now that he must call befor he hunts there or that he is no longer aloud to be there.


If it is some one you don't know and they are trespassing ..... Than they are trespassing. Simple. As a hunter you should know if ur on crown land or not.
 
Rat crap smells just like it is.
If you only allowed him, I don't think he has the right
to bring a crowd with him without your permission.
You are calling the shots on this one, so to speak.
One area rancher that finds a vehicle with no permit
tag posted on their dash usually ends up with four
flat tires. The air gets let out.
 
I'd start by contacting provincial politicians to change your wildlife act so that everyone needs permission to hunt private land, posted or not. With today's GPS technology and municipal maps, everyone should know where they're hunting and it takes away that lame excuse. The onus should be on the hunter to know who's land he's hunting on, not the landowner. It's an outdated socialist law.
 
bearkilr said:
I'd start by contacting provincial politicians to change your wildlife act so that everyone needs permission to hunt private land, posted or not. With today's GPS technology and municipal maps, everyone should know where they're hunting and it takes away that lame excuse. The onus should be on the hunter to know who's land he's hunting on, not the landowner. It's an outdated socialist law.
Click to expand...

http://www.qp.gov.sk.ca/documents/English/Statutes/Statutes/W13-12.pdf

Saskatchewan Wildlife Act

Read page 15.

s.41, subsection 6
 
For what it's worth, I am sure the guy knew exactly what he was doing and was willing to take the chance. I know the deal with posted/unposted land in Sask. I have hunted there before and regardless of what seems to be the norm my friend who lives there asks permission and let's the owners know that a couple of use from Alberta will be out there as well and gets the go ahead for that. I don't think it should be necessary to post a sign on every gate, it's your land, people gotta ask...
 
Tikka6xc said:
So you know the guy ? But ur mad because you don't know his dad and nephew and they were with him?

Do you not like this guy ?

Sounds like your mad he shot a good buck. If you told him in the past he could hunt there I guess you could stern remind him now that he must call befor he hunts there or that he is no longer aloud to be there.


If it is some one you don't know and they are trespassing ..... Than they are trespassing. Simple. As a hunter you should know if ur on crown land or not.
Click to expand...

The guy who shot the deer had no permission to hunt. He has never had permission before either. I do know who he is, but just because I live in a small town and we are similar ages. I am mad he shot a good buck. Maybe I will get drawn next year and the same buck would have been bigger, or someone who I am friends with could have had it.
 
If he had asked, would you have said no?? if not, the buck was gone either way. If your not mad he was on your property, the animal is a moot point.
 
bearkilr said:
There was a lengthy thread about this a short while ago. Regardless of what page 15 of the wildlife act states, it is my understanding that it's still not illegal to hunt private land in SK which isn't posted. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Click to expand...

2012 Saskatchewan Hunters' and Trappers' Guide page 6,

Summary of Saskatchewan's Hunting Regulations

"The following is a summary and as such, the original statutes should be consulted for all purposes of interpretation and application of the law. Complete information is contained in The Wildlife Act and The Wildlife Regulations and may be obtained by writing: Queen's Printer, B19, 3085 Albert Street, Regina, SK S4S 0B1 (306)787-6894 or by accessing the website at www.qp.gov.sk.ca

Well, the 2012 Sask Guide has stated in it to refer to The Wildlife Act in regards to access to private land to hunt.
 
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It seems like every year more people are willing to push the boundries of access. As was said, claiming ignorance is bullshat. All tresspassers in the area I hunt get charged no questions asked. It is the only way some will learn and those that do ask for access won't have hunts ruined. Sad but sometimes it becomes the only option.
 
WASNTME said:
The guy who shot the deer had no permission to hunt. He has never had permission before either. I do know who he is, but just because I live in a small town and we are similar ages. I am mad he shot a good buck. Maybe I will get drawn next year and the same buck would have been bigger, or someone who I am friends with could have had it.
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ahh ya roger that. ya you should have told him never to come back
 
The unfortunate thing that I have seen happen is that you get permission for yourself and maybe a friend to hunt a particular hot spot, next thing you know everybody that has met your buddy is hunting on that land.

I still say be firm, ignorance isn't an excuse.Stay out if you are unsure.
 
Look into your provincial trespass act

In Ontario there is two exceptions to the need to warn someone (verbal, written, or posted sign) They include
- Fully enclosed property (which yours is as its fenced all around)
- Land used to grow vegetation, etc (yours might apply as your farmland, depends what you grow and where)

So that is the Ontario law, but most provincials are modeled similarly. Look for terminology like enclosed property.
 
It is easy to say one would have the guy charged with trespassing.
It is when it goes forward the authorities ask if you are willing to go to court is the proof in the pudding.
Personally I have no time for poachers...
Looking for a consensus on what one should do and doing something about it are two different things.
Tight Groups,
Rob
 
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