I've got a problem

[OnAFly]

So my family has a farm in NW Minnesota and we pretty much only use it for hunting in the fall and rent out the land to a local farmer. Within the past 5 years a guy bought some land near our place and in this time has somehow determined that he has hunting rights to our land. Apparently the farmer renting the land for farming only as stated in the lease agreement think he has hunting rights on it as well.

We've told both parties not to hunt our land while we aren't there but nothing seems to change. Every year we hear from one or the other about how the other has been taking deer off our land.

We can only make it up to the place about 2X a year, so it becomes very difficult to actually enforce any type of trespassing laws. Where has the respect for other people's land gone? How can anyone expect to actually have a chance at a decent deer when two guys are buying all the tags they can for every member of their family and shooting every deer they see. In the past 4-5 years, we've seen a dramatic decline in the quality and quantity of deer in our area.

What can a guy do about this? I guess my only thought would be to head up there late muzzle loader season when we are not usually there and hope to find pile of poached deer in someones yard.

[Musky Buck]

Find a new farmer to rent it if you can. There are plenty of us in the same boat. They may feel since we live here year round we have the right to the deer and if you're not around so what. I think that's how they justify it, of course they aren't doing the right thing. I know why getting access is more difficult and why there are millions of no trespass signs in our state. When it comes to deer hunting a lot of people turn into a different animal. If you're paying the taxes on it I would say you have the rights to it. Best of luck.

[mrklean]

call the local sheriffs office and explain what is going on you would be suprised the smaller area office might keep an eye on things for you weather its drive by once a week or something like that. But i would call them and explain what is happening for sure they are tresspassing, i would also have a word with the farmer, there are plenty of other farmers willing to lease land, explain to him he doesnt have the right to give permission out, and if he does see tresspasser he should call the cops as well. If he doesnt want to find someone else to lease.

[azsearch]

Is it the guy next to you, right? Not the farmer you rent the land for farming.

I would just ask the guy why he feels he has the right to hunt your land. If he denies hunting on your land, tell your sorry for the confusion and ask him to be on the watch for trespassers and mention that you have spread the word around about a reward for the conviction of anyone caught trespassing on your land. It might make him think twice before crossing over on to your land.

This is what i did with a neighbor, it was a discrete and less confrontational way to let them know, I know something is going on.

[Musky Buck]

Good idea azsearch, play dumb, say I know someone has been going in there and just wanted neighboring bodies to know of it. I would also call a few other neighbors as well, yes some might jump ya like I hope you're not saying it's our guys say no, no but I don't know who it is etc. Ever hear of Chico's place south of Onamia on HWY 169 ? If you travel west of Chico's about 3-4 miles maybe more there are signs that read this area is under constant surveillance using motion activated detection or something to that effect. I often wonder if that is truthful but I doubt they have many willing to chance it.

[Jmnhunter]

I would try to have a civil conversation with both parties, and if you know the farmer that is renting the land from you is hunting too, and as mentioned above, i would try to find another renter and explain to him, i'm sure that will discourage the other people.

[Bear55]

Do you know any locals in the area you can trust? It might be a good idea to let someone hunt the land in exchange for keeping an eye on the area. It is certainly better to have one person you know hunting the land vs a lot of unknowns.

[Code-Man]

Where I deer hunt we have a lot of this going on. I have been "kicked" off many times by land renters and I have permission from the owner. But the same time I have kicked people off of the one property who had permission from the renter and i know they don't have permission from the owner. It's a deal that is touchy cause they are renting the land but they are renting TILLABLE acres only. Land is rare depending on where it is and sometimes it only takes a threat of losing the rented land to get them to wisen up and sometimes it takes a raise in the rental agreement. I would also mention callin the sheriff if it keeps posted. Depending on where it is I wouldn't mind helping make sure no one hunts it...but exchange for me to put a stand lol

[Tom7227]

Seems to me that you need to tighten up the lease. When does it expire? When it does spend some time doing some research on the various options for a lease form or talk to a lawyer who can help you out. Then when it comes time tell the guy that he either signs the form you have or he's out. Be very specific about what rights he has and specify that there is no right to hunt the land or use it for any purpose other than those specified. i would suspect that you also don't have a competetive rate for the use. A local farm agent from the AG service for the county may be able to help you figure that part out. Consider requiring some food plots, buffer strips, things that will improve the habitat. If you know who it is that thinks they have a right to hunt there send them a letter revoking any prior agreements and require that they contact you before entering the land. You may have trouble enforcing it but at least you know where you stand when you do try to get them off. I don't think a phone call is adequate - do it in writing.

[reddog]

Excellent post Tom.

Start from square one with everyone involved, particularly the person holding the agricultural contract.

Make sure the farmer leasing the land knows that it is for agricultural purposes only. No hunting, fishing, recreation of any kind is allowed in the lease.

Also,verify if there is any restricted agricultural activites such as grazing rights.

[s t fanatic]

sell the land and buy closer to home.

[BLACKJACK]

You're going to need to find someone to enforce the No Trespassing, the locals know you're an absentee landowner and the the odds of getting caught are nil. See what the sheriff has to say, my guess is they won't spend much time patrolling. Is the lay of the land conducive to drive by observation/patrolling? If not then even if you get the sheriff or someone else to patrol, they won't see that neighboring trespasser.

After you lay down the rules to the renter and your trespassing neighbor, you need to make more trips out there, make your presence known.

Maybe you can cut a deal with a local hunter, let him hunt at certain times in exchange for watching the place, maybe he could bowhunt until Oct 25 and then you want him out of there for all of the November gun seasons, then he could bowhunt in Dec. - in exchange for watching the place.

Good luck!

[fishinjosh98]

tell a game warden or tell him to bea it or yo will call a game warden

[ozzie]

put out a few game cams in the areas you believe they are hunting and have the pics be sent to your computer and then go to the offenders and tell them you have pics to prove they are tresspassing and if this continues you will turn them into the athorities!!! or just turn it into the athorities and have them pay a visit to the violaters.........

[LindellProStaf]

All of these are good ideas. How frustrating to have to even worry about it. Get signs that say Hunting by written permission only. Then call the local game warden and sheriffs office. Let them know someone is trespassing. If they see anyone there they better have a signed note from you in their pocket or they can be prosecuted. Give the farmer one that says farming only. NO Hunting!!! May want that in the middle of the note so he cannot cut it off the bottom if he is really crooked. Say for one season only and date it so you must give one out each year. I agree it might be best to let someone you know and like hunt there for some security... Might be fun to hide some trail cameras there too. Good luck..

[sdpikehntr]

DO you have any family left in the area?

Is the farmer the problem, or is the new land owner? Or both?

The first thing you need to do is address all the neighbors and make it known that there is an issue, but DO NOT accuse anyone, just let them know that you are aware and plan to press charges on anyone that is cought trespassing. The Second thing is to approach the farmer that is renting the land. He should be the one to watch the land on your behalf when you are not there; if he has an issue,then make it clear that you can find another rentor. There should be no reason that you cannot trust a rentor, if he/she is untrust worthy then find one that is. You could even sweeten the deal for a rentor by knocking a few $$ off rent in exchange for patrol work.

Remember that if you get a rentor in there that is trustworthy and works well with you, that a contract cash rent increase needs to be justified or they will turn on you in most cases.

[Acemac]

why not work with the neighbor is increase the quality of both properties?