Set back laws for tree stands

Your giving hunters a lot of credit. I am 95 percent sure most hunters that set up on fencelines will shoot across fence when that certain Buck is seen. I would rather not risk my safety on my neighbors ethics. There needs to be a law in place in my opinion. If you disagree it's probably because your crowding your neighboring property.

I have more than one farm and all of them are surrounded with tree stands on the fence lines. I place my stands at a distance I can safely shoot to my line. That in my opinion is the ethical way to hunt unless agreements are made with a neighbor. Now if you are hunting on the line the probability the animal will cross is great! There goes your neighbors hunt for the day while you retrieve a deer. 3300 acres yet still hunting next to line? Reinforces my thoughts.

I guess I'm in the 5% then. With a firearm or muzzleloader, I typically don't have a problem picking the right spot to place the bullet to drop the deer where it's hit. I consider myself a lazy hunter and don't want to go chasing after a shot deer if I don't have to. They typically run to areas that I hate to drag them out of.........

I feel safer placing the blinds right inside the property lines and shooting towards the center of my property, rather than placing them inside the property lines. But, with my neighbors, we all get along, so I don't have your problems.

Now, if I was having a problem with my neighbors setting up a blind on the property line and facing my property? That would be a different story, but like I said, we all get along. No concerns by any of us on what side of the property line a deer is on, or if it runs to the next property and dies. We aren't that deer crazy.

I pay the property tax on the ground that runs to the fence. There for I can hunt to the fence if I so well please. End of story. We have enough rules and laws now. Anyways how in the world would this ever be enforced? I'm sure there in no game warden that has the time to waste on measuring out where someone has a stand during deer season.
Sounds like you need to work things out with the neighbors.

I could write a book. I usually just leave a note that their stand is being monitored by hidden trail cams on my side of the fence. Also, an across the fence exchange of pleasantries of what will happen to them if I catch them usually works well.

I completely get the frustration with property line hunters...however when one deals with them my first question is always the same "Have you discussed or opened up dialogue with them?"

AND NO, I am not meaning "Hey idiot....why in Sam **** are you hunting the line, I know you are shooting over it."

There are idiots out there that are not hunters, simply killers who hide in the hunting ranks yes...but not all are that, and we should always assume the best and until the worst is confirmed. If you suspect they are hunting the line in order to shoot on to your property share your concerns.

If they are setting on the line FACING your property, than definitely express concern. A great subtle way to break the topic is "Hey just wanted to make sure you know the property line back there as it isn't marked very well...." Express that you do not desire any shooting over the line, and if that occurs the authorities will be called and charges pressed as it is a crime. Great moment to when showing your harsh side, also show your sportsman side. Tell them that if they should shoot an animal on their property and it enters yours that YOU DO NOT WANT THEM to access your property alone, simply call you and you'll come as soon as possible to help with recovery (otherwise trespassing charges will be pressed).

Lot of times dialogue with hunters about such things will show you a lot about the person...if they know you are watching them and keeping a close eye on their actions (tell them your trail cameras are the cell phone kind and send images to you instantly...) they most likely will move on or if they keep hunting ground rules are set and they're most likely going to follow them.

As someone who hunts small acreage parcels (only one exceeds 20 acres of timber) sometimes the best spots to set up are the edges of ones place, and depending on how one designs the habitat of the property sometimes the best and smartest set up is along a line facing into your property or down the line with the best shot chances to your left (bow hunters will understand). Assumptions about a stand I hang along a line would be entirely misguided and could all be resolved if one would simply come talk to me.

**Just a note...the homestead property of my family's I get your frustration. We had a neighbor shoot a 4 pointer a few years back on our place...he's since been "talked" to, but father chose not to press charges but warned any further violations he would. He still set up right on our line. So we hinge cut and labeled that entire border so their is no excuse he can come up with should he trespass or poach. And we set up a camera monitoring the area close to his stand on our property. So I get the frustration.

Exactly. Better off if you really want to not break any laws (remember they haven't broken any by having the stand there) find out the landowners address. Mail a certified letter to them and another one inside for the hunter if they let someone else hunt their property.

I would rather have them in stands then sitting on the ground. We have been forced to start taking a high shoulder shot to drop deer where they stand so they don't cross the property line. Otherwise we will lose the deer. The family farm has ditches and fence rows to set up on. We rely on other hunters to push deer into crossing over onto the agricultural fields we control. We don't bow hunt this property because of the tendency of the deer to run after being shot. So its either set up on the property lines or nothing. Its really hard to let deer walk behind you across the line but that just creates opportunity to hunt another day.

If a neighbor has one he shot and needs to do a recovery on my property I will not only let him but I will help him. I've stopped hunting and helped a next door neighbor do a recovery on his own place. We also trade info on what we are seeing.