what would you do? (True story of a friend)

N

nra_guns_winner

Moderator
A buddy of mine was out driving his property line checking fence a few weeks before deer gun season, last winter. He saw that a neighbor had put up a tree stand (not a fancy one) almost on the property line. With out a doubt the neighbor had been hunting here or was planing to. So my buddy cut the tree down that day. Well what would you have done?
 
I would have posted a sign saying something like: "Please don't plan on shooting deer on my property or tracking it onto my property, which is in this direction. Thanks!"

Then, I'd keep an eye out during deer season with DNR's phone number handy.

Cutting down a tree is a horrible thing to do for such a silly reason.
 
I dunno.

I'd say it's easier to ask forgiveness than it is to ask permission. Even under threat of civil suit, if the tree is gone, the judge can't issue an injunction protecting the tree.

It seems like your friend nipped it in the bud.
 
We gonna have a little ol' fashioned discussion if anyone cuts a tree down on my land... Whether or not I planned to hunt from it is not my neighbors place to determine. I may have a certain deer in mind that hops the fence FROM your land onto mine...
I may actually cut a dozen of your trees down, dropping them on the fence to make it easier for that deer to come across.
Brent
 
That old coot buddy of yers is nuttier than a butterfinger fer cuttin down someone else's tree and stand on their own property.
 
I faced a situation this year that wasn't too far removed from this one. I posted a polite, but firm note on the stand and road into my property. The offender called me immediately and apologized profusely, offered any number of ways he could make it right and ended up inviting me to a killer dove shoot.

Now I know the guys who own and hunt the land behind me and we can help watch out for each other. I've also been told I'm welcome to hunt any stand I want on their property, any day I want to. They even invited me to join the dove club next year and the offender is going to pay my dues.

Maybe the guy is trying to take advantage, maybe not. All I know is that I chose the diplomatic route and it's already paid dividends with the possibility of many more to follow. If nothing else, I can say I'm keeping my friends close and my enemies closer. :D
 
uuummm - maybe try talking to the guy before the chainsaw come out? If a neighbor cut one of my trees, it would spark a war that neither of us would win.
 
That old coot buddy of yers is nuttier than a butterfinger fer cuttin down someone else's tree and stand on their own property.
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So my buddy cut the tree down that day.
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If I was that property owner, I would sue his butt for damages...at least the replacement cost of a similar-sized tree. Some fully grown trees cost tens of thousands of dollars.
 
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i have a similar situation, my buddy and i were hunting a piece of property surrounded by other known hunted properties. we meet up halfway to the truck from our stands and he was telling me of a guy who came with a climber from another property and setup forty yards from my buddy (still on his own property though). so what does my buddy do but get down, walk right towards the guy, stare him down (the guy wouldnt look at him for some reason so says my buddy), drains his lizard right on the property line, and then dumps out his spit cup. now this is not how i would have handled it, but it doesnt surprise me from my buddy gary, he doesnt let anyone walk by him cuz hes afraid they might try to walk over him. i couldnt believe he did that.
nothing is solved by immature reaction. i havent been back to this property with my buddy because i guess there is a small war going on. i bet now neither hunter will get a deer from that property this season. what a waste.
i wouldnt have cut down the tree.
 
Nuthin'. I wouldn't have done a danged thing. It's his property, right up to the property line, and it's his right to do with it as he pleases.

I like to hunt as much as the next guy. I don't like to be bothered, interupted, or messed with. I don't do those things to others, and I expect the same in return.

Daryl
 
I would have left my name and phone number in his stand, and would have struck a deal once he called.

Opening up some good rep might land you some pretty good favors and maybe even a hunting partner. Never know what could come out of it. I had a friend who knew all bordering neighbors and they have a nice set-up, with allowances for searching for the wounded that got away, for example.

I am always out to make friends.

If the dood is cool, great, if he ain't...set up your own spot on your side of the fence and camp it out.

Cut down my tree and stand?!?...uhh...we gonna have a problem
 
He saw that a neighbor had put up a tree stand (not a fancy one) almost on the property line
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Your buddy sounds like an idiot to have as a neighbor. If the tree stand was not on his property, who gave him the right to cut the tree down?

I've got a tree stand on my land, three neighbors have tree stands on their property as well. NEVER a problem.
 
Your friend broke the law, neighbor didn`t. Your friend trespassed and did intentional ,malicious damage to neighbors property. Didn`t matter if tree was 2ft. or 200ft. on neighbors property,friend had no business cutting tree down. He should man-up and make amends with neighbor. This is the kind of stupidity that makes a landowner turn into a first class #*@%$.:mad:
 
Yea my buddy jumped the fence to cut a neighbors tree. And as far as I know the same neighbor still lives on the property. Some neighbors are pains in the AS?ES. Well that would be my long time friend. He has gotten married within the last year, so maybe that will help keep him under control.
 
I would NOT have even thought about doing what your buddy did. I do understand how he feels though. Around here where I hunt there are many very small parcels that are hunted and it is considered very poor manners/sportsmanship to set up close to the property line. I did it once myself but will plead ignorance. I had been bow hunting and gun hunting my land and for two years I had not seen any sign of anyone hunting the adjacent property. Well guess what? I arrived in the woods opening day of gun season and up the tree I went with my climber. As daylight arrived, much to my surprise, there was a ground blind on the other property not more that 50 yards away! Both of us had crowded the property line. Due to the wind direction that day it totally ruined both our chances to score. No words were exchanged but I backed off the line and I noticed that he moved his tent blind a considerable distance off the line also. :o
 
I do understand how he feels though.
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I don't. I do not understand how a person can feel justified in trespassing and vandalizing, nay...destroying a neighbor's personal property because he feel there might be a possibility that this neighbor MIGHT be illegally hunting on his land.

So..please. Explain.
 
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We are hunting a fence line this year. We okay'd it with the adjacent property owner, and we are deep in a holler so there's little need for the neighbor to worry about stray bullets. I think communicating with neighbors is the way to build better fences, not more strings of wire.
 
Creature

I thought that my post was very clear. Let me spell it out. 1) I stated that I would NOT have responded the way this guy did. 2) Cutting the tree or any other trespass is WRONG. 3) As I stated in my first post, setting up right on the property line is considered poor manners where I hunt. 4) Therefore where I hunt people that do this are few and far between . 5) Finding someone who "crowds" the property line just is asking for trouble, like the example that I gave in my first post. 6) If you can't understand this point of view, so be it. It's not a LEGAL issue, it's just using good manners and being a good "neighbor".
 
Where is setting up on a property line written as poor manners or poor form? I think as long as I do not shoot across a fence, it is often the only spot to set up for a particular animal. Now if 2 guys are both after the same animal they just need to work together or decide a schedule.
Brent
 
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