Went out after work...

[bigbore442001]

The kids were on the computer for a special assignment and soon they were finished. I had told them to go back to the house because I had a few things to do. I took my clothing with me in a canvas bag and intended to dress up in my office. I donned my hunting attire and egressed out the back door to my truck.

Soon I was down the road to a friend's house. A close friend had allowed me to bowhunt for turkey in his field and had asked the neighbor if I could hunt on his property. He gave me permission to hunt both deer and turkey. I figured that it was a nice honey hole in that there was a big keep out sign on the abandoned railroad right of way that crosses his property. The railroad has an interesting history. The Grand Trunk was supposed to link inland Massachusetts with the port of Providence RI at the turn of the century. Unfortunately, the brainchild and main financier of this railroad was in Europe and took a ship back to the US named the Titanic. Needless to say the railroad was never built. But it does provide a nice pathway through the southern Massachusetts woodlands. At the end of this man's property is an old camp which his father used to hunt out of. It is in a nice pine grove and seems to be a hub of whitetail activity. I saw four deer while bow hunting and figured that it would not recieved too much pressure during the shotgun season.

Well. So much for thought. I had parked in my friend's yard and then walked down the old bed to my ladder stand. I climbed up and got ready. I sat very comfortably and checked my watch. It was 3:09 PM with a NNW wind. Just right as they seem to walk from that direction.

Soon I spotted something in the road. It wasn't a deer but a purple pick up truck. A newer Dodge Ram driving down the road to the old camp. Hmm. Maybe it is the landowner? No. He doesn't own that type of truck. Hmm. The landowner works all kinds of oddball hours as a contractor so he isn't home for some time. Hmm. I think someone is hunting here without permission. Sure enough. This person drove down to the old camp behind me and walked around. Then after fifteen minutes he drove back out. I wonder if he ruined my hunt?

Ok. I say further and contemplated life and the nature of things. The birds sang and the fresh air had refreshed my body and soul. It had been a hectic week and I needed some time out.

Then I spotted something else. Another truck. This time a silverish Chevy. Hmm. Is that the landowner? Nope. He doens't own that type either. Sure enough, another road hunter driving down the posted road when the landowner is away at work. Right at 4:00 PM when the time is getting near the golden hour.

Needless to say I wasn't too thrilled. I sat until it was dark and then descended from my perch. I went to the truck and got some gas and two coffees. Mary called and said she had to work a double. One of the kids called in and the other kids didn't want to work an extra shift. No marvel in this day and age. I was contemplating where to go in the morning but I chatted with Mom on the phone. She said that the yard needs to be raked and things taken care of before some snow on Sunday and some cold weather coming down our way. I thought about going out for a couple of hours but maybe I will get some needed rest and do the work that needs to be done.

Maybe this will be a deer-less year. Maybe I will score next week or during the muzzleloader season. Who knows.

[airedaleman]

The Grand Trunk, eh? You wouldn't happen to be located in southern Worcester County in maybe Webster, Dudley, or Southbridge? I lived in Southbridge for 33 years and heard all sorts of tales about the Grand Trunk, all of them fascinating.
Only hunted deer there two seasons in the early 70's. Having an aversion to shooting deer with a shotgun, I never went out again. (Also we had a camp in the Catskills, and I concentrated my hunting efforts there.)

Have you blown the whistle on the trespassers yet?

[AJMD429]

Local deputy chewed me out last weekend just because I borrowed the air out of all four tires of the guy's van which was parked on OUR property the one last day my daughter would have been able to hunt. (He said it was only a misdemeanor vandalism but that if I was armed while doing it [who, me...? ] it could be considered a 'gun crime' - one more reason ALL 'gun control' laws should be repealed...[/rant])

I just told him I wanted to be sure the guy hung around long enough to have a little chat with the game warden, who never showed up - probably too busy with other such types.

I don't know what kind of trouble the guy got in, if any, but he WAS very apologetic ("I didn't see no signs, so I didn't know this place belonged to anybody..." - that makes me want to flip their car over with a backhoe and say "I didn't see no sign on it, so I didn't know it belonged to anybody..." ). As I was 'returning' his air with my portable compressor he said he wouldn't come back, but that didn't recoup my daughter's last chance this year to get her deer. I wish he'd gotten a nice big buck, so I could have 'borrowed' that too...

[Grizz]

that's what tow trucks are for, just have it hauled to the impound place and be done with it..,

[bigbore442001]

So. You know about Sou'Bridge. Interesting place. Hasn't changed much except the AO is out of business.

The whole thing happened so quickly that by the time anyone got to the situation they would be gone. Massachusetts has had a long standing rule if land is unposted you can go on it. Of course there are some towns with exceptions but the town I hunt in is like that. The fact that there was a sign at the entrance was ignored.

It just sort of ruined my afternoon.

[iceman]

Could a chain and padlock be used to block entrance or is the railway right of way public? I know a chain can be cut, but sometimes enough to slow them down. People like that are lazy by nature and probably wouldn't bother to try and work a bit to enter.

[Nath]

Good luck with the M/L Bigbore, sounds like you too are over crowded a bit like over here!

Nath.

[66GTO]

Local deputy chewed me out last weekend just because I borrowed the air out of all four tires of the guy's van which was parked on OUR property the one last day my daughter would have been able to hunt. (He said it was only a misdemeanor vandalism but that if I was armed while doing it [who, me...? ] it could be considered a 'gun crime' - one more reason ALL 'gun control' laws should be repealed...[/rant])

Your response to the deputy should have been that the guy trespassing on your property was armed while committing the crime of trespassing/poaching. What is more serious, and armed man lurking around your private property or you detaining him for law enforcement. As you said, you didn't damage his truck, you just borrowed the air in his tires. Arrest me for that and your (and the High Sheriff's) liability insurance better be paid up or I'll own your house before this over.

[Rusty]

Agreed... here in Fla. armed trespass is serious A lot more serious that letting the air out of someone's tires.

FWIW I'd put up some form of signs for next year though.

[bigbore442001]

The trespass laws in Massachusetts are very weak. Basically you can be arrested if you refuse to leave posted land and I do believe the fine is $50.00 . There are some guys who carry fifty bucks in their wallet in case they are caught.