Dogs - Coon hunters

[GSuders]

I have a small farm that has very little woods, but a creek runs thru the middle of it. I've had some issues with coon hunters running their dogs at night chasing coons. Sometimes they park along my driveway, other times they don't. I've spoken with a few of them and told them it's private property and they need permission. Some of the guys are cool and leave, some say well we can't control where our dogs go, blah blah blah. I tried looking up the rules and reg but really didn't find anything. Just wanted to make sure that since they are on my property they need written permission to be able to do so. I understand I really don't necessarily own the creek, but I own the ground on either side.

 

[John from MD]

Post your property, make sure your phone number is on the sign, and notify the State Police and Natural Resource Police (800-628-9944). Make complaint and note of vehicle make, model, color and any details related to the people you see trespassing. You pay your taxes and deserve to get some service in return.

 

[Huckleberry]

Trespassing is Trespassing, doesn't matter if it is man or his hunting dog.

Hunters need to respect private property boundaries. Mark all your property lines with No Hunting and No Trespassing.

 

[THier]

I have a small farm that has very little woods, but a creek runs thru the middle of it. I've had some issues with coon hunters running their dogs at night chasing coons. Sometimes they park along my driveway, other times they don't. I've spoken with a few of them and told them it's private property and they need permission. Some of the guys are cool and leave, some say well we can't control where our dogs go, blah blah blah. I tried looking up the rules and reg but really didn't find anything. Just wanted to make sure that since they are on my property they need written permission to be able to do so. I understand I really don't necessarily own the creek, but I own the ground on either side.

Look at it this way, if your kids ventured onto neighbors property to retrieve a ball,,, should they call cops?

Live and let live.

(100% transparency, in the 80s I ran coon hounds,, we were never a threat to anyone or property, if dogs ventured too close to structures, we'd leash them and lead them back.)

 

[GSuders]

Look at it this way, if your kids ventured onto neighbors property to retrieve a ball,,, should they call cops?

Live and let live.

(100% transparency, in the 80s I ran coon hounds,, we were never a threat to anyone or property, if dogs ventured too close to structures, we'd leash them and lead them back.)

It's not so much if they run coons and they end up on my property I know that could happen I get that. But when they PARK on my property and I have NO idea who they are and they never asked permission they SHOULDN'T be there period. I only have a few acres of woods and in this area if deer are bumped out of an area they usually don't come back until they are pushed back. Early last month I hit a buck, wasn't a horrible shot, but wasn't the best. I left him lay overnight to track in the morning. Had the coon hunters showed up that night they more than likely would've pushed the buck off my property and I would have never found him. It all comes down to RESPECT. If they asked I'd prob would allow them as long as they called me ahead of time to make sure it wouldn't mess up my deer hunting, but just to show up and do it, is BS.

 

[John from MD]

It's not so much if they run coons and they end up on my property I know that could happen I get that. But when they PARK on my property and I have NO idea who they are and they never asked permission they SHOULDN'T be there period. I only have a few acres of woods and in this area if deer are bumped out of an area they usually don't come back until they are pushed back. Early last month I hit a buck, wasn't a horrible shot, but wasn't the best. I left him lay overnight to track in the morning. Had the coon hunters showed up that night they more than likely would've pushed the buck off my property and I would have never found him. It all comes down to RESPECT. If they asked I'd prob would allow them as long as they called me ahead of time to make sure it wouldn't mess up my deer hunting, but just to show up and do it, is BS.

I agree. "Property is the foundation of every right we have, including the right to be free." Quoted from the CATO Institute.

 

[Blacksmith101]

Post your land so you can control who uses it. In Maryland a Blue Paint Stripe on trees or posts is legal posting and the DNR will help you enforce it.
https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Pages/hunt_trap/Deer_Mgmt_Landowners.aspx

How does the landowner handle trespass problems?

Make sure that boundary lines are properly marked and maintained. Signs can be used to mark property boundaries. Signs may read "Hunting by Permission Only", "Posted: No Trespassing", or "Posted: Big Doe Hunting Club".

Maryland law also allows property owners to use bright blue oil base paint on trees to mark property boundaries. The paint mark must be a vertical mark at least 2 inches wide and at least 8 inches in length. The mark must be at least 3 feet from the ground but no more than 6 feet high. An observer should be able to see marks to his left and right when standing between marked trees. Your hunters can assist with boundary maintenance.

Issue a signed "Permission to Hunt" card to each hunter. All deer hunters must have written permission in order to deer hunt. Require hunters to provide you with tag numbers of their vehicles. Become familiar with the local Natural Resources Police Officer and prosecute all hunting and trespass violations. Members of the hunting club will be pleased to help you enforce trespass violations.

The Trespass law:
https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/2017/criminal-law/title-6/subtitle-4/section-6-402/

 

[KRC]

Defend Your Property

This touches a sore spot with me.

Be prepared to either continue to have armed trespassers on your property, or to defend it.

We have 19 acres, most of which is forest with a creek that backs into a one street neighborhood. The total lack of respect for our property and property rights, and the arrogance and utter lack of personal integrity of many of my "neighbors" is something we did not anticipate. I do not trespass, dump or hunt on my neighbors property, and I expect the same for my property. We have adjacent property residents (can't really call them neighbors) that trespass to hunt, dump garbage, used oil, landscaping material and animal carcasses. I've had one spray herbicide an our property and another set up a target frame with no backstop on the perimeter, with bullets going into our property, which we walk on a regular basis. (I don't mind the golf balls.) One had a landscaping crew make a 40 foot long 6 foot high pile of brush debris just over the posted property line, and then said "it's organic" as an excuse. We've had lawn and landscaping ripped up from trucks spinning wheels, and one guy cutting trees down for firewood saying he had permission from an adjacent property owner.

Post your property - both no hunting and no trespassing and trespassers will be prosecuted signs. Install trail cams with security boxes. Call the local law enforcement and make them aware of your situation. (Armed trespassing may constitute a felony offense.) Walk your property armed and with a camera. You might also consider posting "danger- firearms shooting area" and "area under electronic surveillance" signs.

Be prepared to defend your property and property rights.

To THier - Go work hard all your life, then buy some property of your own. And stay the xxxx off ours.

 

[THier]

It's not so much if they run coons and they end up on my property I know that could happen I get that. But when they PARK on my property and I have NO idea who they are and they never asked permission they SHOULDN'T be there period. I only have a few acres of woods and in this area if deer are bumped out of an area they usually don't come back until they are pushed back. Early last month I hit a buck, wasn't a horrible shot, but wasn't the best. I left him lay overnight to track in the morning. Had the coon hunters showed up that night they more than likely would've pushed the buck off my property and I would have never found him. It all comes down to RESPECT. If they asked I'd prob would allow them as long as they called me ahead of time to make sure it wouldn't mess up my deer hunting, but just to show up and do it, is BS.

I get it, I would never park on someone's property without permission!

Want a pucker moment? I'll never forget the night the dogs were out hunting we were slowing walking a hedgerow trying to guess where the dogs were,,, and a couple feet away a pheasant flushed out!! That will make you shoot some matter out of your sphincter no matter how tight its squeezed!

 

[mdunphyjr]

I'll work security for ya for some deer hunting privileges lol. I would definitely post it! As I hunter I could see the dogs running off once and apologising for such... after that it's not a mistake or accident!

 

[mdunphyjr]

And sadly, by the demeanor of your post you sound like someone who may offer them the opportunity had they just asked!

 

[gtodave]

Look at it this way, if your kids ventured onto neighbors property to retrieve a ball,,, should they call cops?

Live and let live.

(100% transparency, in the 80s I ran coon hounds,, we were never a threat to anyone or property, if dogs ventured too close to structures, we'd leash them and lead them back.)

WAY different. Not even remotely close. One's a kid playing, the other is an adult with a gun. Under no circumstances should anyone be shooting on someone else's property without permission. "Being a threat" or not is absolutely a moot point.

Hunters need to control their dogs. If they can't, they shouldn't have them out. OP, you need to report the people who push back against your requests to leave.