What is my recourse when I find hunters on my land without permission?

Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 08:06:50 -0500
From: Pat Shipman
Subject: Unwelcome hunters

What is my recourse when I find hunters on my land without permission? If the miscreants themselves are reading this, thanks for being polite but NO THANKS for the lights, running men, shouting, howling dogs & general 3-ring circus that woke us up & frankly scared the heck out of me last week!!!!

I know, I know, one of our dogs bolted after a raccoon. Yeah. Maybe. Not a well-trained dog if it can’t be called back IMHO. And if you really had permission from our neighbors 2 doors up, you should’ve known you were WELL off their land, particularly when you encountered the solar lights on our graveled paths.

I don’t mind you hunting, honestly.  But I have a cat.  If she’d been out, I have no doubt your dogs would have treed her & you, seeing eyes & fur, would’ve shot her. I could not have forgiven that.  That’s one reason she is not out at night.

So what am I supposed to do?  Call the cops and expect you will wait around for them to come?  Only if I’ve got your truck keys, I guess! Or shoot as you & your buddy as armed and dangerous intruders? I don’t want to do that either!

Since I’m a northern transplant– yes I’m one of those pointy-headed people with higher degrees — I’d like some advice from you locals.  WHAT DO I DO?

Pat Shipman