CountryByNet.com Forums :: Hunting Season

No problem. Glad you found the info helpful.

Yea, poaching has always been illegal in Texas, but until '99 it didn't carry a felony charge. Now a first time conviction carries 2 years/$10,000 while a second conviction carries heavier penalties. Not stuff people should mess with for sure. If you do a little searching on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department’s web site you can find some examples of convictions.

Anyway, back to your problem... Did you recently purchase the property? Did you change the locks when you purchased it? The reason I ask is it is possible that the previous landowner had given permission for someone to hunt it and they may be unaware of the change in ownership. If so, I'd call up the previous owner and inquire about it.

I'd also call up the other landowners that are adjacent to your property and ask if they have anyone that has been putting up blinds/feeders as you have found some recently placed on your property. Your neighbors should have a good idea what property is yours and what is theirs, but if they lease property out, the lessee may not. People unfamiliar with the area can become confused pretty easily - especially if larger places with multiple fenced off sections are around your place. Are there any unlocked gates between you and your neighbors?

As for the feeder in the trees, without really knowing the area, I'm not sure if I'd come to the same conclusion you did. I know I have one of my feeders placed in a pretty heavily wooded area that isn't easily accessed - but the reason is not to be covert from people but because that's where the deer are.

Again, not saying that is the case with that particular feeder on your place, just that it may be the case.

I guess the "good" side of it is that from the setup you describe, my knee-jerk reaction is that this is most likely a mistake instead of an overt poacher in action. Around here poachers rarely set up equipment like you describe as it is (1) expensive, and (2) easily found making their presence known - which is the last thing they want. However the bad side of it is that if these are indeed true poachers and not just confused hunters, you unfortunately have already had "war" declared upon you. Not only will they be willfully be committing a felony if they take a deer this season, they will make it dangerous for you to be on YOUR own property during the season. Being mistaken for being "bucky" this fall could really ruin your day.

Any way you look at it - having "uninvited guests" hunting your property is a very bad situation. Talking to the previous owner and surrounding landowners is the first place to start. From there, I’d call up your local game warden and get his advise as to "next steps" as he will have dealt with this type of situation in the past and may have some good advise as to what you should or should not do. Hopefully, it will be easily resolved with a simple phone call. If not, unfortunately it looks like you will be in for a long and difficult season.

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