about 8 pm last nite 2 pick-up trucks came up the lane [lane is 1 1/2 mile long] past house and barns never stopping going back to farm #2 [1 mile lane] wife and I got dressed and went back on the gator with a cab on it, cold and wendy, 38 pistol and 30-06 rifle, about 15 mins behind the trucks and runnin with no lights on found the trucks in a 20 ac field next to a creek throwing mud everywhere, only there is six trucks and two of them were stuck, 2 trucks trying to pull one out. we hide in a thicket about 50 yrds away with gator. watched for about 15 mins then shot the front tire out of the trucks that wernt stuck now kids are running round throughing beer cans and whisky bottles down in the creek, they hollered and said we are calling the law and they know the land owner I never said a word waited till they started trucks agin then we started the gator and shut the gates at twp rd and went home shutting the gate at back barn and letting the dogs out....went to do chores this morn about 6 am, 5 trucks stillthere 1 gone, didn't see anybody around so I called the sherriff was there over a hour doing chores nobody shoed up went home will deal with it later.....commin through barn lot [home farm] seen I had a calf, whata surprise about a month early....good way to start a new year
- Thread starter stonerock
- Start date
greenmech
Well-known Member
- Location
- Lakeville MN
Shoulda called the sheriff first. Ron Mn
I don?t agree with what they were doing on your land, but firing a gun towards poeople or possessions for any reason other than clear need of immediate self defense is not a good thing to do. I?m afraid you might need a good attorney before this all ends. Why didn?t you call the law as soon as they drove down your driveway and continued on without stopping? Maybe we are lucky, but in my county of MN, I know we would have had a deputy respond within 15-30 minutes or so. Much better to let the law deal with this kind of stuff.
tn terry t
Well-known Member
I bet those fools think hard and long before they come out and mess around your place again !!!!!
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
In the county where I live. Calling the law means they may show up in an hour. Good officers that are faced with a rough job. But some days they are overloaded.Not enough of them in the county and no money to hire more.
john in la
Well-known Member
Sad as it may be criminals have rights also.
It is not OK in this day in age to take the law into your own hands and defend your property.
It is only OK to use force when your life is in danger.
So you my friend are now guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and damage of others property.
Let me tell you a true story.
My son; as a teen went with friends to a party.
Long story short they went to the wrong house.
The owner of the house found them in his yard and held them at gun point till the police arrived.
When I went to pick my son up at the police station the police ask me if I wanted to press charges.
I ask for what as no shots were fired and no one was hurt.
The home owner was just protecting his property.
The fact that a gun was involved made it assault.
I agreed not to press charges but this could have been a nightmare for the home owner if I had took that path.
It is not OK in this day in age to take the law into your own hands and defend your property.
It is only OK to use force when your life is in danger.
So you my friend are now guilty of assault with a deadly weapon and damage of others property.
Let me tell you a true story.
My son; as a teen went with friends to a party.
Long story short they went to the wrong house.
The owner of the house found them in his yard and held them at gun point till the police arrived.
When I went to pick my son up at the police station the police ask me if I wanted to press charges.
I ask for what as no shots were fired and no one was hurt.
The home owner was just protecting his property.
The fact that a gun was involved made it assault.
I agreed not to press charges but this could have been a nightmare for the home owner if I had took that path.
Hate to tell ya,but in the socialist state of NJ you would be arrested and they would throw the key in a desk drawer till your court hearing. They would also throw the red flag crap at you. Every firearm would disappear most likely forever. The laws suck anymore and this country really needs a revolution.
Some times it's hard to think when you are upset, but if you brought a camera and taken pictures you would have had a better chance of pressing charges and collecting for damages. As it is now you may be better off not getting the police involved, trespassing is bad, but shooting at people in the dark is bad too if not worse.
Do you recognize the vehicles or write down the license plate numbers? There is a good chance the kids are local and you know some of their parents. They may not be willing to help you much after you shot at their kids.
Do you recognize the vehicles or write down the license plate numbers? There is a good chance the kids are local and you know some of their parents. They may not be willing to help you much after you shot at their kids.
You say your property and I trust you are right on that. You say you saw the one come in and when you got back there was 5 trucks so my questions (not that it makes a lot of difference) is their other access to your field? I just hope all comes out well for you but firing the gun may not be in you favor. I sure would try and keep a record of the call to the law even though you make it after you fired the weapon. I would think a call as soon as you drove in the field would have been a better choice of action.. PLEAS keep us informed regardless of how it plays out. Like are they going to come thru you property to get the other trucks or as I say do they have another entrance?
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Shooting like you did is dumb but posting about it on the internet is even dumber now if you deny it to the cops you can be charged with a felony for lying in
addition to everything else.It ain't 1940 anymore BTW.
addition to everything else.It ain't 1940 anymore BTW.
Not the best course of action, last night and posting here ! One sage bit of advice, use care and lots of tact when dealing with jerks like this on your land. They want it turned around into their favor and they know the laws are weak and police don't usually catch up to them, unless you positively ID them. Don't play into that by any means, ever !
Gary Mitchell
Well-known Member
I hope I never get so self important that I think it's ok for me to shoot at knucklehead kids for being knucklehead kids. gm
dr sportster
Well-known Member
How many laws did they break and how many laws did you break?
Stonerock I can see many on here do not have to deal with trespassers on a regular basis. I had trouble for years on one farm because the county put a walking trail/park/public hunting ground behind it. Cut fences, shot cattle, cattle gates left open, and etc. Deer season was the worst time of the year as it got all the city idiots for hundreds of miles away coming to it. They thought it was great idea to hunt our ground even though it was posted for no hunting or trespassing. shot at a few of the morons over the 20 years I had to "deal with it". Best thing every when the county got tight on money and closed it about five years ago. Sold it just last year. Couple of fellows from the Quad Cities bought it together. Built a nice hunting cabin. They came and got written permission from all the adjoining land owners to hunt. Pay a little money to each of us. They keep the riffraff out.
I will say that the three SSS rule would be better than posting on here about it.
I will say that the three SSS rule would be better than posting on here about it.
I'd never implicate my wife in something like that. And I can't imagine purposely shooting in the dark toward anyone. Hope it works out ok after publishing the story on the internet.
A guy I worked with lost a son-in-law in a goofy incident. Some kids were partying and he thought he'd shoot in the dark and scare them off. Someone shot back and dropped him dead as a doornail. An unlucky shot for everyone. He was around 26 years old, with children. If I remember right, they never did pin down who pulled the trigger.
A guy I worked with lost a son-in-law in a goofy incident. Some kids were partying and he thought he'd shoot in the dark and scare them off. Someone shot back and dropped him dead as a doornail. An unlucky shot for everyone. He was around 26 years old, with children. If I remember right, they never did pin down who pulled the trigger.
Crazy Horse
Well-known Member
As frustrating as it can be, shooting is a bit over the line I would say. Even simple road rage incidents up here sometimes end up with someone getting knifed in a parking lot or on a street. It doesn't take a gun to get one up on the other guy, regardless of who is at fault. You'd be surprised how many carry a knife these days and it's not for sharpening pencils.
I have to agree with the others. Not a good idea to shoot and definitely not a good idea to post here about doing that. Is there a need for the lane in this day and age? I know that the idea of bending to suit the situation creates a lot of anger as you feel you are losing control of your property but something needs to change. I tore up a lane that was between two ditches that had become a problem as when I gave it further thought we were not renting the neighboring field anymore that made that laneway practical to have. Another driveway I put up a tube gate complete with posted sign and reflectors. My dad howled that we were looking weak for doing this but I had to remind him that it was not 1950 anymore. I have not had a problem since I did that.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
JDS, you bring to this a whole slew of new variables!
The kids in question were out tearing up dirt....presumably with no crops, as he didn't mention any. When you start having more physical damage that costs you money/equipment/safety, then you enter a whole new level.
In my youth, I likely would have done the same as Stonerock. Even 10 years ago, that likely would have been my response. I simply didn't have the means or the understanding that in the modern world, other folks can (and often do) have more rights on your land than you do.
I have since learned about video, and the power of it. You get something on video and NOBODY can doubt your word!! Being at night, that makes it harder. Being that the only "damage" was to soil.....yep, not looking real good, I'm afraid.
Nowdays, I would first have called Sheriff's Dept, especially since it can take over an hour for someone to show up. We're VERY rural, and they're often on a call at the far side of the county. So I now have my video cameras (yes, [b:a49d8838b3]PLURAL!![/b:a49d8838b3]), and I'll take as much video as possible. Sheriff's Dept now knows that I have video going 24/7 around here, and even in the vehicle we take to town. If they had started shooting, I (now days) would have returned fire ONLY if I thought they were shooting at us or someone else, and I would document that on video before ever choosing to return fire. It simply isn't worth the legal headaches in this crazy, mixed-up world. ...Then again, I also have to admit that this crazy mixed-up world has helped this crazy mixed-up hot-head find a way to cool his temper.....a LOT! And I gotta say, my stress levels are WAY down now because of it.
The kids in question were out tearing up dirt....presumably with no crops, as he didn't mention any. When you start having more physical damage that costs you money/equipment/safety, then you enter a whole new level.
In my youth, I likely would have done the same as Stonerock. Even 10 years ago, that likely would have been my response. I simply didn't have the means or the understanding that in the modern world, other folks can (and often do) have more rights on your land than you do.
I have since learned about video, and the power of it. You get something on video and NOBODY can doubt your word!! Being at night, that makes it harder. Being that the only "damage" was to soil.....yep, not looking real good, I'm afraid.
Nowdays, I would first have called Sheriff's Dept, especially since it can take over an hour for someone to show up. We're VERY rural, and they're often on a call at the far side of the county. So I now have my video cameras (yes, [b:a49d8838b3]PLURAL!![/b:a49d8838b3]), and I'll take as much video as possible. Sheriff's Dept now knows that I have video going 24/7 around here, and even in the vehicle we take to town. If they had started shooting, I (now days) would have returned fire ONLY if I thought they were shooting at us or someone else, and I would document that on video before ever choosing to return fire. It simply isn't worth the legal headaches in this crazy, mixed-up world. ...Then again, I also have to admit that this crazy mixed-up world has helped this crazy mixed-up hot-head find a way to cool his temper.....a LOT! And I gotta say, my stress levels are WAY down now because of it.
The camera has lost a fair amount of effectiveness in dealing with offenders. The lawyers want clear cut ID which can be hard to do if the guilty party is facing away or
wearing layered clothing. Disputes have come up in terms of stated location of camera versus actual location. I'm lucky that our sheriff dept co-ops with the state police so
a call is answered within 10-15 minutes typically. The lawman catches them with property line markers present eliminates the dispute of when and where an incident has
taken place.
wearing layered clothing. Disputes have come up in terms of stated location of camera versus actual location. I'm lucky that our sheriff dept co-ops with the state police so
a call is answered within 10-15 minutes typically. The lawman catches them with property line markers present eliminates the dispute of when and where an incident has
taken place.
Kansasredneck
Member
A number of years back a vehicle passed my house late at night and shined a spot light. I was up yet and stepped out to see what it was about. The vehicle continued past. Several minutes later a bunch of shots rang out. One passed close enough to me I heard the whift of the bullet. At that point I called the law. I then armed myself and got close to the road hoping to get a license number. When they left though their tag was obscured. When the deputy finally arrived, they determined the only violation was shining a spot light on an occupied dwelling since there was no proof they'd fired shots at deer. If they fired at coyotes, coons, or just random, it was legal since neither property where they shot was posted and they remained on the road. Crazy, but it is what it is. The road past my house is a dead end. Three people lived past me at the time. There is a housing division close to where they shot, but not accessible from our road. The Sheriff's department got over twenty calls about those knuckleheads. They were shooting an M-1 and loosed off three clips of 30-06.
kcm.MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- NW Minnesota
It's illegal to shoot from a roadway in Minnesota. Even moreso if shooting from a vehicle on the roadway, and MORESO if the vehicle is moving.
How much is it enforced? ...I haven't a clue. Probably depends on a lot of things.
How much is it enforced? ...I haven't a clue. Probably depends on a lot of things.
You've got the right approach given the age we live in. Being a Yosemite Sam is not tolerated anymore no matter how raw your feelings are at the moment. The best you can do is be pre-emptive in terms of signs, gates, and fences. Once the offenders breach your property then get pictures if safe and possible then call law enforcement.
Video cameras that will record in the dark are cheap now days. I don't know where you are from or what the trespass laws are. Here in Ohio you do not have to post you property. If someone is on your property without permission they are trespassing and can be arrested. Video proof would get them arrested and the word getting out would be better than had the trespassers get armed to shoot back.
We had problems with trespassers in deer season for years and the game warden would ticket them when he could catch them. I solved the problem by giving the local game warden permission to hunt my property. Any time anyone would ask I would say no and Tom has exclusive rights to hunt.
We had problems with trespassers in deer season for years and the game warden would ticket them when he could catch them. I solved the problem by giving the local game warden permission to hunt my property. Any time anyone would ask I would say no and Tom has exclusive rights to hunt.
morepower02
Member
Any update or are you in jail yet?
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Pretty similar story too as well as I recall.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
OFF TOPIC!
But if you call the law, claim you discovered some stuck trucks in the back forty.
And you been in bed since darkthirty yesterday.
But if you call the law, claim you discovered some stuck trucks in the back forty.
And you been in bed since darkthirty yesterday.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
Does your county jail have wi-fi?
Vicinalvictor
Well-known Member
I had trespassers on my property this past week. Juveniles on quad runners tearing up the fields and dirt road. When I called the police, they actually caught them in the act, however didn't do anything because the juveniles were nephews of a police officer that lived in the area.....
I believe shooting a motor vehicle is actually a felony (occupied or not). Shooting towards a group of kids in the dark with a high powered rifle = dumbazz. Hopefully you were just exaggerating to make a better story.
With that said, if I drove into someone’s field and was out there tearing it up..I’d kind of expect to get shot at if the owner came home. It’s part of what discourages people from doing those sorts of things.
First, you are lucky they didn't start shooting back. 2nd, you were WRONG in every conceivable way I can think of for shooting in the first place. 3rd, you left yourself open to losing everything you own by shooting. 4th, people like you that think a gun is a toy to use when they are mad are the people that will cost the rest of us our gun rights. 5th, YOU INVOLVED YOUR WIFE IN THIS?!!!!!!!!!!!
It's true, half the people you run into are below average intelligence!
Reckless discharge of a firearm..so many possible charges.
Around here you would lose the ability to own a firearm for life at the min.
Hopefully it wasn’t mentioned by anybody and the kids take their medicine like a man. You will be VERY lucky if this is what happens.
Give us an update would ya?
dr sportster
Well-known Member
I did some google research .For one you have felony discharge of a firearm.
Ok I guess that’s enough.
We should probably take this for what it really is...the guy had some trespassers last night, he snuck up on them in the gator..probably did bring a gun, but added the part about shooting all the tires out to make the story good (and that’s what he felt like doing).
No harm no foul in my opinion.
Takes a special type of person to spin a good yarn.
I enjoy a good yarn most times.
DoubleO7
Well-known Member
- Location
- Crystal River, FL
I agree, I think he was just being a New Years Eve troll.
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