What can be done with poachers on game cams??

[BLASERMAN]

Last few years in Delaware on our Farm we have had a few problems with Trespassers. We are in a pocket surrounded by State Forest. People can't read the No hunting or Trespassing signs
We have them on trail camera and last year we caught 2 in our high blind with no license and firearms in the wrong season. We prosecuted them
The former owner had the property 50 + years
Didn't care. Area has the good old boy mentality.
Here is what We say JUST ASK and you will recieve

 

[bubbaonpc]

Have you been following me on my private property ? HA ! One advantage of having an Uncle that was in Naum...
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Lets face it, Poachers are pure SCUM... 1/100th of an inch above a Pedophile. Neither are man enough to get what they want....so they take advantage of "something" that can't defend itself... a defenseless child, a piece of property or a helpless animal. They don't hunt...they KILL. Ever notice in pictures/videos of these scumbags...they ALL look kin ? Poacher in California looks and acts just like poacher in deep South...and up in Maine.
Your Warden will probably already know the poacher. Show the picture and notify LEO's. Is the guy poaching...or is he setting up to ambush you...or your wife...children ? Defend yourself at all times. Nice guys don't walk around, trespassing, with firearms. These lowlifes have no respect for themselves, much less human life or property. Be Safe

 

[epoletna]

Not sure what your specific situation is, but I bought property in rural Ohio, probably not far from you in WV. I was an outsider, while the neighbors were all locals and "good ol' boys." They knew who was hunting on other peoples' land, but they wouldn't tell ME that. After living there for 30 years and raising 3 kids there, I was accepted as a "local", and I began to hear who was poaching on my land. But if you are an absentee owner, it will take a very long time for you to be accepted. Until that happens, you need to cross all your Ts and dot all your Is so you don't get crosswise with the locals.

 

[arch408]

Check your state laws. In my state, you must have permission from the land owner to hunt or fish. You can face criminal penalties and forfeit game licences for a number of years.

 

[Bobcape]

I assume trespass laws must be different by state. Here in South Dakota, for the most part, private land does not have to be posted for the land owner to claim trespass. It's different in the Black Hills. It sounds like you have already talked to the trespasser and to your game warden. I wouldn't confront the trespasser again. Nothing he says to you is going to be useful for charging him. He can just deny it.
I run several Moultrie cellular cameras. They work great! You can turn off the service anytime you want to and then turn it on again next spring, etc. Get a few of them and you'll get pictures sent to you instead of having to travel to the cameras. Keep in touch with your game warden. Don't let it slide or it will never stop. Good luck.

Bob

 

[Mike Matteson]

Game Warden generally has the power to go onto a person property to inspect for game animals. I am wonder why it's take so long to get on the move to call the Game Warden? My love of hunting is great, but the taking of animals illegally is another thing. Game Warden in a lot of states can take samples of remains of animals for DNA, that can be matched to animal in the freezer. So gut pile to freezer.

 

[Savage 22-243 AI]

Hi all,

So if you followed any of my recent posts, you know that we're trying to start buck management on our property of 600 acres in central WV. Well one of the main issues is that we have poachers moving onto our property and killing bucks while we aren't there (property is around 1.5 hrs from where I reside). Well over the past few nights we have pictures of some guy at 3:55 am on our property with a rifle and a night vision scope. We know exactly who it is, confronted him, and he claims he was "hunting coyotes". My question is: is there anything that can be done? Is a picture from a game cam enough to give to a game warden?
Thanks!

We had trespass problem on our land with a lake. We called local Game Warden. Game Warden has more authority than the Highway Patrol in our state. Warden keep a eye on property for us with patrolling and trail cams. Man was caught in the act, ticketed then arrested and taken away. Later Warden told us he had a record and this time he got Jail time and lost some possession's.

 

[Gater]

Hi all,

So if you followed any of my recent posts, you know that we're trying to start buck management on our property of 600 acres in central WV. Well one of the main issues is that we have poachers moving onto our property and killing bucks while we aren't there (property is around 1.5 hrs from where I reside). Well over the past few nights we have pictures of some guy at 3:55 am on our property with a rifle and a night vision scope. We know exactly who it is, confronted him, and he claims he was "hunting coyotes". My question is: is there anything that can be done? Is a picture from a game cam enough to give to a game warden?
Thanks!

Ask the game warden or contact fish and game in your area

 

[wapitiaddict]

Not sure how things work out your way, but I couldn't use them when I had a issue with by cabin and the two legged type of wildlife decided to help themselves. I was told I couldn't use it because I didn't let them know that I had trail cams in the area or that they were being photographed. Hope you have better luck.

Just curious, did you go through police or fish and game? I'm most states it's much easier to get convictions or citations through the fish and game than local police. Fish and game don't have to go through a lot of the red tape police do. Of course, the felon has to be in the act of hunting (which can include scouting) for them to have jurisdiction.

 

[Mike Matteson]

We had trespass problem on our land with a lake. We called local Game Warden. Game Warden has more authority than the Highway Patrol in our state. Warden keep a eye on property for us with patrolling and trail cams. Man was caught in the act, ticketed then arrested and taken away. Later Warden told us he had a record and this time he got Jail time and lost some possession's.

As in most states!

 

[Alibiiv]

Hi all,

So if you followed any of my recent posts, you know that we're trying to start buck management on our property of 600 acres in central WV. Well one of the main issues is that we have poachers moving onto our property and killing bucks while we aren't there (property is around 1.5 hrs from where I reside). Well over the past few nights we have pictures of some guy at 3:55 am on our property with a rifle and a night vision scope. We know exactly who it is, confronted him, and he claims he was "hunting coyotes". My question is: is there anything that can be done? Is a picture from a game cam enough to give to a game warden?
Thanks!

From what I read of the West Virginia law, the man is definitely hunting on our property; the document/law speaks for itself. I guarantee you that you have enough with that game cam photo, especially if you can identify him, to get him arrested. Also where I live if the local law enforcement issues a verbal "no contact/trespass warning", if that person is caught on your property that person is arrested for violation of a verbal order for no contact/trespassing; a misdemeanor. Also if this guy knows that the game wardens are on to him he will be a lot more cautious and stay away from your property. I definitely would recommend contacting the local law enforcement or game wardens to let them know.

 

[Texas Speed Bump]

I didn't read every response so this may have already been suggested. What you should do is 1) contact the Game Warden and inform him of the issue. Make sure you have his cell number or a way to contact him after hours if he's amenable to that and make sure he has access (gate combo, etc.) to the property. Then 2) install one or more of the new cell phone game cameras in the areas where this guy is poaching. The cell camera will notify you in real time when he's on the property and you can notify the Game Warden. That would be my approach. Plan B...punji sticks.

 

[Will Gray]

Many years ago where I grew up such behavior would cause his barn to catch fire: no law needed...

 

[BillO]

In many states it is clearly illegal to hunt on any property you don't own, without written permission to hunt on that land. That includes hunting coyotes or hogs at night. I would call you state warden or state and ask for a clarification. One very strong deterrent in some states is that being on someones land with out written permission with a firearm can be charged as "armed criminal trespass". In many states it's a felony with a mandatory prison term and loss of firearm rights. If you find out that that is the case in your state and you let the hunter know that with any further trespasses you'll ask the prosecutor to make that charge he'll likely hunt some were else. FYI with that level of confrontation you may find masked people vandalizing you property, so place some cameras near likely parking areas aiming at plates and people.