Hey all need some help!

I have the opportunity to hunt a new farm this fall given that I can get the trespassing cleaned up. The farm has been in the family for years and no one lives around or near it other than the tenant farmer. He says he has not given permission and the landowners were very upset when they found "a" stand on it a few weeks back. Via a friend, I have the opportunity to hunt with permission so that others will stay out.

The problem is that one stand turned into 7 when I walked it today with 6 being in 3 sets like for camera work. All stands are cabled and locked. Three ladders and three hang ons.

How would others handle this tactfully? I am thinking about removing them all and leaving a note on the trees with the land management company that runs the farm, their phone number so they can get the stands back.

Also need to do some posting ASAP as no signs mark the property. I did see nice signs on the next property.

I don't care to share that this farm is in SE Carroll County, IN. If you are trespassing in this county and have at least 7 stands on the farm, I would suggest getting them ASAP !

Interested to hear how others would work this situation!

Get the owner to call the local CO and meet with him at the property. Have the owner tell the CO he does not allow hunting with out permission and the owners of the stands are trespassing. The CO will take it from there. If you know who owns the stands then have the owner tell them to stay off his property in front of the CO. Whatever you do get your local CO involved. h.h.

If you have a formal written hunting lease, some simple signage spaced every 50 yards going around the entire perimeter should take care of it. Make sure the customized signs identify you as the lessee. If you're sure the stand owners don't have permission, take them all down and leave a note so they can call you to retrieve their gear.

OTOH, if you're only working through verbal permission you got from a friend through a tenant farmer, your task could be drastically more difficult. Normally only a landowner or lessee can enforce trespassing violations.

This will be a formal lease with the land management company (who the friend works for) that we will get put together now that i have walked it.

Sounds like you're in good shape then. I'd wait to take action on the stands and trespassers until after you get the lease signed off.

Only as a point of conversation, many situations whereby a land management company or tenant farmer has a relationship with a formal landowners it does not cover any and all activities on the property. If it were me, once you have the deal done, I'd visit the immediate neighbors and politely let them know of the situation in case they are the one's with the stands. If you and the others don't live close and if these are small woodlots, they will know when you are there or aren't and they will use the property accordingly. If you put up cameras, I'd forget the idea of watching for deer and instead place them where you believe they are likely to take pictures of those accessing the property. Once you have pictures of them, it becomes much easier to work with them. I believe your best hope is to find a neighbor that you can work with and can watch the property for you. I wouldn't ask them to intervene but only for a call or text to let you know someone is on the property. Then, you engage the CO if needed.

Thanks Delaney! I think its a neighbor because the tenant lives on the road and never sees a truck and with 4 sets someone is for sure hunting this farm!

I plan to check with the neighbors!

The Tenant Farmer may know more than he is saying also ...IMO

Anyhow you got the ball rolling... Contain your emotions and be firm!!!!

What stick said....

Good luck with this mess....

Call CO.
Post property.
Remove stands with CO and leave sign at tree directing them to the CO in case they come back looking.

You would still be in the right by removing the trespassers property but it can only help to have the CO/law on your side if they want to get crappy.

Watch your back while out hunting. You just never know....

The stand removal and note is the first noble thing to do. But from experience I used to hunt just southeast of Delphi a lot of Amish property the trespassers were horrible mainly gun season and they are usually very irrational (not Amish) a lot of drugs around the area to. Just a forewarning to be careful. On the other hand there are a lot of nice bucks around. Got a 160 in there before all the Amish kids got old enough to hunt so I backed out out of respect. They didn't kick me just to many. Hope you have good luck and safety!

Make a sign using orange paper, type :

Hello tree stand owner. You are on private property that you have no permission to be on.

Remove your stand and do not return by XXX date or it will be removed and turned over to the DNR.

If you are caught on the property you will be charged with trespassing and any other violation you are breaking.

If you would like to discuss this please call me at :

Make this so it fits 2 on a standard page and then have them copied on thick paper , cut in half and then sealed with laminant.

Then punch a hole in one corner and get some zip ties and attach them to the ladders or ladder sticks eye level.

This will help.

Or you can do the same, just leave your name and number and when they call then tell them you will meet them at the stand site and show up with the game warden to arrest them.

Either one works WONDERS, especially if you get one or two arrested, word will spread QUICK