bigfellascott wrote:You should have asked for their details and then rang the police in front of em and asked them to wait until they arrived! I'll be they f*** off real quick.
Archie wrote:Re your hypothetical - hate to say it, sounds stupid, especially on your own land, but if someone nicks your rifle because you put it down and walked a hundred metres away, you’re probably screwed. Take it with you. Or, in a locked box affixed to the vehicle. But not unsecured when you are too far away to rush over and grab it.
straightshooter wrote:The only way to protect yourself was / is to report those people to the police asap for 4wd'ing on your property without permission, trespass, refusal to leave your property when asked to do so, threatening / aggressive behaviour and self endangerment while you were lawfully going about your business ie; sighting in your rifle.
Above all else you need to get in first to the police with your version of events.
I hope you have details such as rego numbers and descriptions etc.
TassieTiger wrote:straightshooter wrote:The only way to protect yourself was / is to report those people to the police asap for 4wd'ing on your property without permission, trespass, refusal to leave your property when asked to do so, threatening / aggressive behaviour and self endangerment while you were lawfully going about your business ie; sighting in your rifle.
Above all else you need to get in first to the police with your version of events.
I hope you have details such as rego numbers and descriptions etc.
No Rego on the 4 wheelers.
Because I was 150m away from my vehicle measuring a grouping - apparently, hypothetically stupid - I didn’t have my phone or anything to take pics...only had a tape measure.
TassieTiger wrote:straightshooter wrote:The only way to protect yourself was / is to report those people to the police asap for 4wd'ing on your property without permission, trespass, refusal to leave your property when asked to do so, threatening / aggressive behaviour and self endangerment while you were lawfully going about your business ie; sighting in your rifle.
Above all else you need to get in first to the police with your version of events.
I hope you have details such as rego numbers and descriptions etc.
No Rego on the 4 wheelers.
Because I was 150m away from my vehicle measuring a grouping - apparently, hypothetically stupid - I didn’t have my phone or anything to take pics...only had a tape measure.
Archie wrote:TassieTiger wrote:straightshooter wrote:The only way to protect yourself was / is to report those people to the police asap for 4wd'ing on your property without permission, trespass, refusal to leave your property when asked to do so, threatening / aggressive behaviour and self endangerment while you were lawfully going about your business ie; sighting in your rifle.
Above all else you need to get in first to the police with your version of events.
I hope you have details such as rego numbers and descriptions etc.
No Rego on the 4 wheelers.
Because I was 150m away from my vehicle measuring a grouping - apparently, hypothetically stupid - I didn’t have my phone or anything to take pics...only had a tape measure.
To be clear, when I said "sounds stupid", what I meant was, the advice I'm about to give sounds stupid - because it's so ridiculous and over the top. Not that you were being stupid, I usually do the same on my land. But unfortunately, being over the top about security seems to be the only legal defence for firearms owners these days.
straightshooter wrote:TassieTiger wrote:straightshooter wrote:The only way to protect yourself was / is to report those people to the police asap for 4wd'ing on your property without permission, trespass, refusal to leave your property when asked to do so, threatening / aggressive behaviour and self endangerment while you were lawfully going about your business ie; sighting in your rifle.
Above all else you need to get in first to the police with your version of events.
I hope you have details such as rego numbers and descriptions etc.
No Rego on the 4 wheelers.
Because I was 150m away from my vehicle measuring a grouping - apparently, hypothetically stupid - I didn’t have my phone or anything to take pics...only had a tape measure.
No matter.
Go to the police with whatever description you have.
The important thing is to be the first to report to the police.
Also important is the exact way you you tell the truth, for example rewording your statement above:
Because I was 150m away from my vehicle alone on my isolated 300 ha property measuring a grouping etc.
That way the police will be investigating them (if they can be bothered).
The other way the police will investigate you.
Which would you prefer.
Gaznazdiak wrote:I know it sounds anal Tas, because I'm pretty isolated here, but except when I'm shooting from or around the house, even when I'm several kms into the property, I operate on range type rules.
Bolt only goes in once I'm positioned, ammo only goes in when I've ID'd a target, bolt out first as soon it's time to move and I carry the 6.5kg beasty with me and never leave it alone, the only time any are left unattended is when they're in the safe.
You're quite entitled to feel you were in the right, because you were, but mate, people are cvnts, look away for 2 seconds they'll have the kidneys out of you.
My advice, if your interested, is this.
You were in the right.
You were on your property.
You went straight to the police.
They were on unregistered vehicles, knowingly and willfully trespassing on land bearing signage warning them off and they endangered themselves by their trespassing, the fact that they then threatened you makes it, unless I'm mistaken( perhaps we have an ambulance chaser in our ranks who could clarify) aggravated criminal trespass.
Perhaps, and it's ridiculous that you should need to do so, but perhaps, some new signage stating that the area is seeded with infrared trailcams and any trespassers will be prosecuted might help.
One thing though, if the land is enclosed by a fence and locked gate, how did they get the bikes in? Did they damage any infrastructure like the fence or the gate?
If so, pictures and back to the cops.
TassieTiger wrote:So here's the situation;
I own 300 hectares of bush that is dissected by forestry road that is locked by a boom gate.
The only way to get a key to the boom gate is if you own property, have a valid reason or need.
The edge of my property, borders state forest - and there are tracks everywhere. There are little to no fences.
So, I'm sighting in my rifle at my property and come across 3 older gents on 4 wheelers.
They advise me that I should not be shooting in state forests and take photos of my car, face, etc.
I advise them that I own the property, that i have installed signage every 200 metre's on the property, that they are on private property and they need to leave immediately.
Things then get a little heated verbally and they state they've been going to this area for 30 years and I'm wrong and im doing illegal things and then the bomb shell, one of them declares - "how dare I point a gun at them...."Obviously - I did not point a gun at them.
What had transpired is that I had left a rifle, pointed at my sighting in targets, without the bolt in, with no ammo present, kicked off to one side, whilst I walked to the target to measure a group - when the men came down the dirt path toward me, they drove their 4 wheelers toward the bench rest I had set up and they then noticed a rifle in a rest, pointing in their general direction...they did not know the bolt was out, etc. They traveled down this dirt road, despite signage being erected advising of possible shooting in the area and that it was private property....hmmmm.....The three men advised they would be calling the police and lodging a formal complaint.
My concern now - these 3 clowns call up the police and say, this guy(me) pointed a loaded weapon at them and (insert bulldust story here)....
I actually called the police and advised them what happened, they advised they would wait and see if the 3 clowns would make a complaint.
Is this how easy it is to lose your firearms licence - or am I protected by right of private property laws ? What's to stop these 3 clowns making up some bulldust story and sticking together ??
TT.
Gaznazdiak wrote:Mate, if you're unfenced, that's a bugger, and fencing is not only a mongrel bastard of a job, but expensive.
I don't envy your quandry Tas, I get shirty if I can here traffic, I would go truly postal in your situation, good luck with it.
Did the police show any lingering interest or have any suggestions for future interactions?
TassieTiger wrote:Gaznazdiak wrote:Mate, if you're unfenced, that's a bugger, and fencing is not only a mongrel bastard of a job, but expensive.
I don't envy your quandry Tas, I get shirty if I can here traffic, I would go truly postal in your situation, good luck with it.
Did the police show any lingering interest or have any suggestions for future interactions?
The police said that, if everything I had said was true - it would be unlikely they'd hear anything from them - due to the fact they were trespassing, etc.
Because they did not have rego or any other identifying mark that I could realistically give the police - if they come forward now, they are effectively dropping themselves into the poo...potentially.
Gaznazdiak wrote:I know it sounds anal Tas, because I'm pretty isolated here, but except when I'm shooting from or around the house, even when I'm several kms into the property, I operate on range type rules.
Bolt only goes in once I'm positioned, ammo only goes in when I've ID'd a target, bolt out first as soon it's time to move and I carry the 6.5kg beasty with me and never leave it alone, the only time any are left unattended is when they're in the safe.
You're quite entitled to feel you were in the right, because you were, but mate, people are cvnts, look away for 2 seconds they'll have the kidneys out of you.
My advice, if your interested, is this.
You were in the right.
You were on your property.
You went straight to the police.
They were on unregistered vehicles, knowingly and willfully trespassing on land bearing signage warning them off and they endangered themselves by their trespassing, the fact that they then threatened you makes it, unless I'm mistaken( perhaps we have an ambulance chaser in our ranks who could clarify) aggravated criminal trespass.
Perhaps, and it's ridiculous that you should need to do so, but perhaps, some new signage stating that the area is seeded with infrared trailcams and any trespassers will be prosecuted might help.
One thing though, if the land is enclosed by a fence and locked gate, how did they get the bikes in? Did they damage any infrastructure like the fence or the gate?
If so, pictures and back to the cops.
southeast varmiter wrote:Rule number one when seeing others is do not interact until you have stored your firearm.
We had an encounter with those c*nts of the forest folk a while back. Looking deliberately to get into an argument with hunters with firearms.
We saw them approach. Walked away and secured firearms in vehicle to which they showed great annoyance.