what do i do if there is a stand set up thats not supposed to be there?

[UplandObsession]

So there has been a deer stand on some relatives property that I cant find the owner to. I have gone to all the nieghbors asking and I ahve evenzip tied a note made of a piece of cardboard written with perminant marker on the stand leaving my number and asking for them to call me so i know who it is and asking to move the stand if they have not had the written permission to hunt on the property.  2 weeks after that I went to the stand and it had been moved off the property about 30ft on the other side of the fence. On the second weekend of the 2010 deer season it was back on the property. Do I have the right to take it down and keep it? (I dont want to do that, being tipods arent exactly the cheepest.) It has been a constant battle and Im to the point where either im gonna take it down and keep it or sell it... What do some of you guys suggest?

[HD]

Call a CO, and get it removed.

[bonecollecter82]

I would take the stand and put a note there telling them how to get a hold of you

[DDSBYDAY]

Call a CO, and get it removed.

     I agree.  This way the offending party, should he come looking for his stand, will be warned about trespassing,   and will not be able to play the I didn't know game next year.

[mncowboy]

if it was my property and the stand was on m y property i would take it and leave a note that he was warned before and he would have to pay to get it back! and where i was to get it back. police would be called as well

[deadeye]

Being you haven't spoken to the offender, I would make every effort to contact him.  If it was moved to the adjacent property, does that landowner know him, or is it the landowner?  At some point you need a face to face with the guy to see where he is coming from.  Maybe he has a good explanation (at least in his mind).  Anyway before starting something big, it would be nice to discuss it face to face so you both are on the same page.  I realize this could be difficult unless you can find the right guy but it's better than just removing it. 

[Fawkinnae]

I like hunter's idea of getting the CO involved. Then you have a third party also.

[beeker]

 I'm thinking the CO is the best option, I would also take it down and pile it up. as much as I would want to take it or chop it to pieces. I would hate to have some angry douche running all over my place over a stand

[kenhuntin]

Take care of it yourself. If trash blows in on your property I would assume you pick it up. If it is hazardous like a meth lab disposal call in those trained in hazard abatement. Abandoned items on your property unfortunately you are liable for. In the worst case scenario a kid would climb to reach the stand which could be classified as an attractive nuisance and incur a terrible injury from a fall. As long as you knew the stand was in place or it could be proved you did not manage your property you will be paying alot of legal fees in the future. Either remove it or destroy it. Since this individual moved it without contacting you as you requested and then trespassed again he must figure you for a patsy that will not do anything.

[MTCOMMER]

If the relatives dont know whos it is - take it down and get rid of it.  As Ken said, they would be liable is something happened.  Just take care of it and dont worry about it.... It the owners fault they were careless with their things.  Maybe just take it down and lay it near the house, or a building on the property (if there is one).  If there isnt one, get the relatives permission to make it your own.
GOOD LUCK!

[UplandObsession]

hey thanks for the insite and helping me decide weather to take it down... how much can i get for a used tripod stand?

[Go Big Red!]

Take the stand down and call the CO.  Explain your situation and let the CO take care of the rest including have him take the deer stand with him.  Then the stand owner has to take it up with the DNR for his stand.

[HD]

Call the CO first, he or she will either come out and take it down, or they will give you direction on what to do. If you take it down without consulting them first, you open up a can of worms.

[lentz]

you gave them your warning last year and they received it pretty fast to move it within 2 weeks i would put a sign on there and a trail cam in a tree there obviously neighbors just which one this is so you can talk to them face to face.

and if they put another stand out there you know whos it is then go talk to him with the CO officer

[UplandObsession]

Being you haven't spoken to the offender, I would make every effort to contact him.  If it was moved to the adjacent property, does that landowner know him, or is it the landowner?  At some point you need a face to face with the guy to see where he is coming from.  Maybe he has a good explanation (at least in his mind).  Anyway before starting something big, it would be nice to discuss it face to face so you both are on the same page.  I realize this could be difficult unless you can find the right guy but it's better than just removing it. 

It would be nice to get it figured out face to face, I have gone aropund to the nieghboring farms and no one can tell me exactly who owns the piece of property. My guess is its someones summer/cabin property.  The stand is also at a point on the land where someone has clipped the barb wire... I know you guys said call for a CO to come out but I dont like getting law enforcement invoved.  Call me a bonehead if you want but I just cant deal with them... Every time I have called the police to help with a dispute I always get in trouble for something else... Soooo I dont trust them.

[whiteoakbuck]

I would take it down and wait for the owner to come looking for it by leaving it up you risk the chance of the owner climbing in it and getting injured better to take it down and sell it or wait for him/her to claim the stand good luck hope you get it all figured out

[lentz]

take the tree stand down and say only way you can get it back is by calling me and leave your number that does 2 things

1. you know who it is for future

2. you could get a free stand if he dosent contact you

[stevejedlenski]

if you do take it down make sure to leave a note and hold on to it for a reasonable period of time i would say 3 months (what landlords and most people leagaly have to hold "abandoned" property). after that it is pretty much yours to do what u wish. however if you take it and sell it the next day it could be considered theft and you probably would be charged. especially since its not your property.

make every attempt to get him/ her to contact you so you can inform them they are trespassing. we had the same thing and we asked a co. he told us just to take it down. we did find the owner who had been talked to in the past and after a long talk he agreed to stay off the property. we will see if he does.

[UplandObsession]

thanks steve, I was wondering how long I had to hold it for before it is legally considered abandoned. I accually talked to my dads cousin that owns the property and he told me do whatever I need to do since there has only been 3 people with written authorization to hunt that property and all 3 guys do not know whos stand it is.  If I called the county would they be able to tell me who owns the property that butts up to my families property?

[stevejedlenski]

yes the county should have a record of the owner. and make sure they actually look it up other than in a plat book as they can be very outdated.

[beeker]

I know aitken county you can look up owner information on line.. right down to what the property is valued at and if there is deliquent taxes.

[naturalistmn]

Well, you know the person has read your note you left him.   So, the person knows he/she should not be there.   Take the stand down and leave it there.   Here's the catch, hang a trail camera to get a pic.   Trail cam pics are used more than you would think in these cases.   Once you have a pic not only do you have an ID you also have proof of trespassing for your local CO.   If an adjacent landowner is doing this, they are not going to be honest and tell you it's them.   You have to take care of this or it could turn into a season ruinner.   We all bust our tails for our hunting grounds, trespassing is unacceptable.