Trouble in Paradise

[ncboman]

I hate this situation and will tell the story and then you tell me.

Several years ago I left a hanging stand laying on the ground under an oak on my property. That same day I saw the neighbor that owns the adjacent property walking around his property. The next day I went back to hang the stand and it was gone.



The indian came out in me and I quietly eased up my line toward the road and snaked my way over to where I could glass this guy's back yard. There, plain as day, was my stand attached to a tree about waist high.

I thought about settin the house on fire and shooting everything that came out but after consideration, I figured the Lord wouldn't think much of that idea.

What I did do was walk back out to my truck and drive around there and ask for my stand back, which he readily gave up, saying he saw it and took it, not knowing it was mine ... and it was on his land. I corrected him on whose land it was on and we agreed to get along. We always wave at each other in passing.

In the years since then I have lost more stands up on the property, but this summer I lost two in quick succession; one nice steelframed hanger I built on my own special patten ... ... and a metal storebought ladder stand I had altered and customized at a local welding shop just for tradhunting.

Today Israel and I went up there prepping hunts and hanging stands and we walked out to the honeyhole field. There, up the very same tree I hunted from with my climber last week, stood MY ladder stand. It is right on the property line of this same neighbor and the sisters that own the honeyhole field and a sizable chunk of woods there. I've had written permission from the sisters for years.

My wife wants me to get the law involved but that's a waste of time imo. ... and I'm not into sicking the law on my neighbors anyway.

I'm good friends with some sportsmen in the local dog club and know this guy is a member. I'm considering speaking to them if I see him up that stand.

I'm also considering something the Lord put on my heart, once again, if I see him up it.

Going to walmart and buying a brand new ladder stand and taking it to this guy at his house, give it to him, and ask if it's ok to have my old stand back so my son isn't disappointed again.

[Buckfever]

I think you should listen to your wife. If nothing else from a liability stand point I'd want a report filed. This guy doesn't sound right.

[1YLAB]

I would post the line if they that hasn't been done. Also, I would mark all of your stands with your name or some way of identifying it. That way you can call the sheriff the next time one of your stands is his backyard. Maybe a chain and lock on your stands would help.

[ncboman]

Another friend has advised me to contact the warden about it also. I was told to be careful of this guy.

Most of my stands are marked.

I detest woods littered with posted signs and have never put one on my property. With the exception of this guy, we've all managed to get along well back there.

[BillCartwright]

If he doesn't have permission himself to hunt the land you might talk to the game warden, but I would approach the guy myself and ask if he moved the stand. Are you locking the stands? If not, I would start. Otherwise, the next time they might leave the woods altogether. At least someone might have to work a little bit to get it.

[eshoremd]

i would do what EVERYONE so far has stated. the guys obviously an a-hole so who cares what he thinks about you calling the law on him. its your stuff and HES in the wrong and more than likely knows it. f him!!!! you tried to be nice and it got you no where. JUST SHOOT HIM! he looked like a deer from where i am! thats a joke, dont really shoot him. well.............no dont do that.

[freedomrules3]

I would definitely contact the warden, simply to get things on record if nothing else. I would also move the stand that is yours that he thinks is his and lock it up. maybe just remove it all together and take it back home. Talking to some of the other property members might help straighten him out , I don't know. without knowing exactly who I am dealing with its kinda hard to give any good info. some people hold grudges lots longer than others(and are far more dangerous) and you have to decide if its worth it

[BillCartwright]

You could always staple a nice posted sign to the tree it is on with a nice message about trespassing and poachers.

Maybe even fib a bit and state, "While you were moving my deer stand you missed the trail camera that took several nice pictures that clearly identify who you are while stealing my property." My next step will be to turn the pictures over to the local CO and Sheriff considering you are committing theft."

[ncboman]

I'm just going to get the stand and take it back to my land. I've got a good spot for it and I'll lock it this time. I'm almost sure he has permission to hunt the honeyhole field property since he lives 200yds from it, in fact I think the tree the stand is against is a line tree to his land.

I've got too much going on to worry about it a whole lot and dog season opens Sat. He's got a pack of em and will be off lookin them hopefully.

[jirvin]

Sounds like you have it figured out but I would want the CO to know and start some paperwork on this guy.Shoot, he might already have a book on this guy if he belongs to a hunting group.

[Buckfever]

bowman,
It's interesting. I moved into the neighborhood where I live 2 years ago. Lady next door is divorced has 2 young boys, she's going to law school smart woman, but very tentative. Last year I bought my kids a basketball net and have it out by the street for anyone to use. Someone took our basketball, I bought another. This year I found it(We had written our name on it) in the neighbors front yard and I took it. Every once in a while I talk to her and will take her son to school when he misses the bus. I mean hell I drive my daughter there anyway. The boys will come and talk to me from time to time out of the blue, just want to talk. They really like it that I hunt. Today when I pulled up one of them was shooting hoops with a piece of schit basketball that I had found in the street last night and placed by our basketball net. The damn ball doesn't have enough air in it to bounce it and the first thing I thought was to go to the garage and give him back the basketball that he had taken last year.

And then I thought of you and the idea you had of buying that guy a ladder stand.

And I thought about the advise I'd given you on the matter and I thought what kind of life is this? Are we that far gone that we can't do what's in our heart?

I think that's what you were talking about and regardless what I said before, I'd might of done just as you were thinking.

[ncboman]

I'm still undecided on how to handle this situation but leaning hard on just taking my stand back without words.

I'd like my neighbors to be friends and certainly not enemies. Giving him a new stand might be the ultimate insult, buying resent over anything else. I don't want that either.

[Buckfever]

Yeah you'd have to finesse it. But genuine kindness is seldom resented.

You have to make the judgement and I'm sure you'll figure it out, but sometimes it's just a grown up kid, whose daddy wasn't around to put air in his ball.