Snowmobile Trespass

Myself and many neighbors got hit multiple times last week. No one can ID who they are, despite an ongoing effort. 3 of us caught them on cams, and I got them on at least 3 cams of my own. All 5 sleds are Yamaha. Is that a registration number on the lower front end of the black one? Do any of you guys possess any computer skills that make the number more clear?

To me it looks like 44509, just by messing with it a little in photoshop.

Not sure if this is clear enough.

Do you have snowmobile clubs in the area and snow mobile trails across private properties?

If so, approach the club and tell them about this issue. Find all your neighbors who allow clubs to have access on their trails.

You start putting pressure on the clubs to close their trail access unless they help out the tresspassers carries a lot of weight with them.

There are other things to do to ruin their day, but lets keep it clean to start with.

Thanks guys. No clubs around here as far as I know. Most definitely no trails on anyone's farms. I've already been in contact with the CPO. Sounds like he can't do anything to help until an ID and then he stated he likes talking to them first. Guess a 10 year sentence is out of the question.

I can see that # being a 44509. I'll see if the warden wants to run it.

Well, CPO said that's not even a registration #. Back to hoping someone can eventually recognize the Yamahas. Sounds like they're not real common around here.

A camera trap aimed at slowing them down and funneling them in front of your camera for a clearer closeup would be fun. Just hinge cutting a couple of trees across the trail and leaving/cutting a small twisty opening could work.

I got wire wrapped around the driveshaft of a truck once. Was a real pain to cut it out. Wonder if chicken wire would wrap around one of those studded belts real tight and be a a pain to cut out?

Was he driving on your trails, where was the access point? Cameras, gates, temporary fence, all options?

We have fence along the road, and posted gates. These guys found the weak links along neighbors fields where fence broke down. On ours and others, they drove anywhere was mowed. I'd almost say they're not totally local, except for the fact they really seemed to know their way around. Seems there's not much for good snow in WI right now, so guys are upset there isn't good sledding. We happened to have a good amount of snow for a couple weeks now.

Mortenson said:

We have fence along the road, and posted gates. These guys found the weak links along neighbors fields where fence broke down. On ours and others, they drove anywhere was mowed. I'd almost say they're not totally local, except for the fact they really seemed to know their way around. Seems there's not much for good snow in WI right now, so guys are upset there isn't good sledding. We happened to have a good amount of snow for a couple weeks now.

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All you have to have is an OnX app and you have a detailed property map.

Catscratch said:

I got wire wrapped around the driveshaft of a truck once. Was a real pain to cut it out. Wonder if chicken wire would wrap around one of those studded belts real tight and be a a pain to cut out?

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Sounds like a good way to go to prison ....

Are your trails down there even open... We have to run north to find anything to ride. If that is the case they are locals and you could back track the trails ... a little road running would lead you back to their drop point/house or go to the nearest bar and show the pics . Usually if they know the gate openings their locals - they know where their going and how to cut cross country . 5 guys on sleds looks like trail riding - takes a bit of planning. If you dont have a local open trail network there is only so much ditch banging you can do and on x wont show you downed fences and unlocked gates. If they were circling fields - their lost or just punting. If they are jumping properties to hook a trail they will be back as they have found a way. They dont look like hard core riders (250 mile a day riders) but who knows my guess is either locals or short loopers 65 miles and 5 bars. There is a reason why they were there - if there are no trails anywhere near by or trails are not open - 5 out of state'ers are not just going to randomly drop trail on a township road and rip up properties, Im a bit surprised you didnt get pics of them coming back through later that would have said local for sure.
I've ridden enough to know $#!? happens especially way up north where trails and roads can be poorly marked, especially in unpopulated areas. Ag land and off trailing are a bit different ... its quick to realize you are off trail and to keep being off trail you need to know where your going or you can end up dead ending at the back of someone's property and coming back out on the same trail can lead to confrontation . Either by accident or on purpose confrontation isnt a good thing.

It was the 9th, sat. mid day... hopefully they just flattened some snow and didnt crush down a food plot or steal anything ... there are worse things in life to happen ... I have a trail running through mine - when they do go off trail they tend to be stopped by trees. Nothing like having a hundred blinking red/blue/white lights on your property and a med vac bird circling above.

Catscratch said:

I got wire wrapped around the driveshaft of a truck once. Was a real pain to cut it out. Wonder if chicken wire would wrap around one of those studded belts real tight and be a a pain to cut out?

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Mortenson said:

We have fence along the road, and posted gates. These guys found the weak links along neighbors fields where fence broke down.

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Exactly! Or even 8' - 12' of fence wire loosely coiled on the ground at the fence openings?

I would also look to take some old ag equipment (long disks, plows, etc.) from the bone yard and lay in those fence openings.

If you are passive, and don't give them a reason to leave, they won't

Tree Spud said:

Exactly! Or even 8' - 12' of fence wire loosely coiled on the ground at the fence openings?

I would also look to take some old ag equipment (long disks, plows, etc.) from the bone yard and lay in those fence openings.

If you are passive, and don't give them a reason to leave, they won't

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You injure or kill some kid riding a sled and his/her family will own your land. Boobytrapping your land even if your only intent is to just damage something is willfully and egregiously criminal and will cost you everything you own and some jail time if someone is maimed by your purposeful actions. It all sounds nice and brilliant till your handcuffed, broke, then behind bars. Sign it, fence it, gate it, patrol it, legally nail them, even camp out on it... but taking the time to lay in traps sounds like you might need another kind of help. I own land and we do what we can to prevent this from happening but tend to draw a line before going overboard. Persistent damage causing intrusions are one thing - a random someone crossed my land is maybe another thing.... Best advise I got when I bought my first chunk of ground was don't lose your $#!^ every time someone drags a tippy toe across your land - it will drive you nuts. On that note even unflagged cable gates are a no no option don't be dumber than the idiots that went across your property.

cavey said:

You injure or kill some kid riding a sled and his/her family will own your land. Boobytrapping your land even if your only intent is to just damage something is willfully and egregiously criminal and will cost you everything you own and some jail time if someone is maimed by your purposeful actions. It all sounds nice and brilliant till your handcuffed, broke, then behind bars. Sign it, fence it, gate it, patrol it, legally nail them, even camp out on it... but taking the time to lay in traps sounds like you might need another kind of help. I own land and we do what we can to prevent this from happening but tend to draw a line before going overboard. Persistent damage causing intrusions are one thing - a random someone crossed my land is maybe another thing.... Best advise I got when I bought my first chunk of ground was don't lose your $#!^ every time someone drags a tippy toe across your land - it will drive you nuts. On that note even unflagged cable gates are a no no option don't be dumber than the idiots that went across your property.

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You know how you won’t get injuried or your equipment destroyed...stay the hell off of land you know good and damn well you don’t belong. While you are probably right by the legally definition the way it should be does not protect the landowner. In my perfect world anything would go to keep people off your land. It’s so maddening that trespassers get the protection and the landowner gets screwed. Not coming after you personally, just frustrated with the realities.

Howboutthemdawgs said:

You know how you won’t get injuried or your equipment destroyed...stay the hell off of land you know good and damn well you don’t belong. While you are probably right by the legally definition the way it should be does not protect the landowner. In my perfect world anything would go to keep people off your land. It’s so maddening that trespassers get the protection and the landowner gets screwed. Not coming after you personally, just frustrated with the realities.

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I hear you and I agree, just saying keep a cool head about what you do ... I have a personal opinion on what to do with problem people trespassing and Im sure its inline with what your thinking I just dont post how to kill them on the web. There are rare incidents of accidental trespass and even more common ones like your kids buddies running through ones land without Dad knowing and taking one of their heads off with strung wire is kind of a bad thing.

cavey said:

I hear you and I agree, just saying keep a cool head about what you do ... I have a personal opinion on what to do with problem people trespassing and Im sure its inline with what your thinking I just dont post how to kill them on the web. There are rare incidents of accidental trespass and even more common ones like your kids buddies running through ones land without Dad knowing and taking one of their heads off with strung wire is kind of a bad thing.

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I agree with everything you've said, and just to be clear I have never (and will probably never) set any sort of trap for a trespasser. What I suggested was some sort of netting that would possibly bind up the belt those things run on. I've never seen a snowmobile let alone know how they work or what would be dangerous on one. I can only relate it to someone on my land with 4 wheelers and possibly throwing out nails on the path they've taken to give them flats. Never intended my comment to be interpreted to hurt someone, and certainly not to take someone's head off.

cavey said:

I hear you and I agree, just saying keep a cool head about what you do ... I have a personal opinion on what to do with problem people trespassing and Im sure its inline with what your thinking I just dont post how to kill them on the web. There are rare incidents of accidental trespass and even more common ones like your kids buddies running through ones land without Dad knowing and taking one of their heads off with strung wire is kind of a bad thing.

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Who is posting anything about killing them?

Don't be such a Kevin ...

I've seen what wire and or getting tossed from a sled can do to a human being riding a snowmobile - and they were all as dead as dead can be or messed up . You lay in wire at a foot off the ground and snag a ski, if hooped up wire gets pulled into a moving track at speed especially barb wire who knows what will happen. What you think is going to happen and what will are two different things.... Its not about being a Kevin there Karen its about not being an idiot and doing something you think your justly empowered to do only to be proved wrong later. I get and hope no one here would intentionally harm someone but there is no difference if the end result is the same.

Check some od the shops around I bet they know what that sticker is for or can identify the machines