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Ran one off today!

If a person is know for trepassing I say burn them, but remember if you get know as a prick you yourself won't get another chance the next time you happen to be on a piece ground accidently. I have been hunting with other people and have ended up on the wrong piece of ground by accident(fence was gone). Luckly I didn't shoot anything and my friend got me out of there before I got to far in. Just remember there are some good people who end up in the wrong place at the wrong time.
 
Had camera, no gun, cell has CO number in it, wasn't sure where his "friend" was at the time. I always consider that I have ~$25,000 worth of equipment down there to vandalize & I'd be powerless to stop that. Tractor is locked in the trailer but a match would fix that.

He didn't have any sheds (I back walked his path in case he set them down when he saw me) and he didn't run off when I spotted him.

Should have been thinking about this because of previous run-ins and sign that people have been there, had I already planned on it, I'd have been covered this better. I guess there is always next time the way it looks.

Should you call sheriff's office or 911 on this type of report?
 
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Prosecute on first offense? Is that even possible?

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You bet it is. From the last time I caught someone, the sherriff issues the citation. Then, I had to go up to the sheriff's office to sign papers for them to continue prosecution. So you have up until this point to back down.

Think about someone entering your house. Do they get a freebie? Trespassing is trespassing, irregardless of how many times you catch someone.

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Is this on posted land only?
 
Pharmer,
You probably did the right thing since you have equipment there. Though just getting his name and reporting it to the sheriff "for the record" would have been a good step.

Shortly after I pressed tresspassing charges, we had a molitov cocktail ( I found the bottle with the rag stuffed in it) tossed into our CRP of switch grass. I got it put out that time, but there was another incident where a neighbor noticed one of our fields on fire during the night and called the fire department. The switch grass came within 100 feet of our house and could have potentially started it on fire. After that event, we created more of a fire break around the buildings.

Amazing, some people will take the step from a misdemeanor to felony arson.
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Should you call sheriff's office or 911 on this type of report?

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I've done both pharmer, just didn't have the sheriffs # the first time, I think it all rings into the dispatcher.
Had you called you could still have chosen to "let the guy off", but his name and info would have been on record and he would have had a formal record. What happens if next week someone torches your equipment...you have nothing but a face. I know it's easy for all of us to give advice...we weren't there and you end up having to make up your mind in a few quick moments.
I know people who have locked the gate on guys that drove their truck into their field and then called the law. I found out BTW you will most likely have a quicker response from the Sheriff's office since the CO isn't always on duty.
It's extremely unusual in southern Iowa to not have some kind of line fence, albeit old, along property lines and locals know exactly where they are. Those that are not from the area usually have a plat book...I'm like Jrbronc, I've put up with this crap for so many years, I've drawn my own personal line in the sand so I don't take excuses for an answer anymore.
I will mention something I have seen happen to another property owner...the trespasser calls the law and says he was assualted...and the landowner was arrested, taken to jail, ended up on probation...all because the other guy called first. No actual assault took place, just one guys word against the other and the trespasser figured he would "fix" the landowner for telling him to stay the heck off his property!
That's why I always call...I don't want a deputy on my doorstep with handcuffs for something I didn't do!
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Sounds to me like you guys derive from some pretty hostile areas. I like to believe that on the first offense odds are better to trust the guy. A little kindness can go a long ways, and a reputation as a jerk will only cause you trouble. If you give him a 'get out of jail free card' the first time he will know that the next time you won't be so nice. And you know it might just save some vandalism along the way wouldn't that be nice.
 
Convicting one of these is a royal pain in the rear. Proving that he was trespassing and that he was trespassing on your property is not easy. I think you will find that to not be worth your time and effort. In Iowa, the word trespassing alone has some issues too such as needing to prove “intent” or other things that are not easy to prove. At least, that is how I understand it.
 
150 Class- I respectfully disagree. Trespass is not necessarily hard to prove and I have done it. Clear boundaries and signs help alot in that area to remove excuses. If anyone is interested in the actual wording I added a post about the definition of trespass.
The attitude that prosecuting trespass is a pain in the rear and not worth a landowners effort is exactly what a trespasser counts on. As much work as we all put into hunting, I cant see how someone can say its not worth the bother to prevent someone else from screwing it all up for you.
Trespass is rampant because people know getting caught is unlikely and prosecution is even less likely because the landowner wont bother. A little butt-chewing is worth the risk. However, few want to face their name in the paper, loss of money, and the potential loss of hunting priviliges. If you want to see less trespassers, see more of them in court.
Sorry this topic riles me up.
 
pharmer,
I myself am in this position every year on my farm.I know of this place in illinois that has signs posted...no words just this! a skull painted on a sign with a bullet hole in the forehead dripping blood! no words needed here..we call that place the skulls.If that dont send a msg nothing will.
I have caught..
a guy with an m16
a housewife on openingday of gun season..she was a runner
12 rednecks which the law took care of.
a CIA agents friends from florida..[censored] cheney eats dinner in that house all the time? I wonder if it was him? better get my vest on around him.
supposed trash picker uppers
3 times to my neighbors from behind..they retailated by shooting my bush hog...man you should see the hole.
the list goes on...
I for one am nice about it..until they do it or I just get fed up..I do look for them as much as I can.
pharmer you have to be a pricx otherwise they will run all over you.
doug
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