Well, I figured it would happen sooner or later. Trespassers.
Now, before we get too carried away, there are a handful of possibilities going on here.
Im fairly confident these aren’t the surveyors I hired. Not that late in the day. This could be some people who are lost. They could have mistook this parcel for a different one. It could be one of my ‘neighbors’ who is curious to see if the piece of land that has sat empty and unvisited for the last several years has had some activity (which, yes, is still trespassing.) It could even be a concerned neighbor who saw recent tire tracks there and decided to investigate. So, probably nothing nefarious, but a) I need to keep an eye open for this SxS to determine who it belongs to and b) I need to get the very politely worded no trespassing signs up.
No doubt someone is going to ask about closing off the driveway somehow…chain across it, etc. All the roads up there are easements to allow people to be able to access their properties. This is why when I was looking for properties I made sure to avoid ones that had roads cutting them in half. My piece has a tiny bit of a corner of the property that bumps up against a road. Thats it. My ‘driveway’ is a road (and thats a super generous description) that dead ends in the middle of my property…meaning there is no reason for anyone to be on that road since it goes literally nowhere except to a dead end on my property.
I don’t want to do anything flagrantly unfriendly or un-neighborly. I don’t want the people who do reside up there full time to think the ‘newcomer’ has an attitude and adopt an ‘us vs him’ mentality. But, of course, at the same time, I didn’t drop all that money to not have privacy.
So, next trip up there gets a ‘Please do not trespass” sign on a stake hammered into the middle of my driveway so there’s no mistakes about “I didnt see your sign”.
I notice in the picture, the windshield has a reflection or glare that interferes with seeing the trespassers face.
Possibly add a additional camera to get a picture of them from a different angle?
It’s likely just a neighbor seeing what’s “going on” with the property. You might be in the same mindset some day. A tough natural environment like your land means that your neighbors are definitely not Liberals.
What’s even better than a No Trespassing sign is a Property Under Video Surveillance sign. It keeps ’em guessing , and cautious about being too nosy.
Agreed, but I very much dont want to come across as agressive or confrontational. “Please dont trespass” signs sound less in-your-face and challenging as “No trespassing” signs.
Next time you’re up there, go visiting. Getting to know the folks up there is the single-most important thing you can do.
Please do not sounds like someone who could be pushed around . Metal “NO TRESPASSING” signs mean business.
Use Of Deadly Force Is Authorized Beyond This Point
or if you want a smaller sign:
FAFO
Montana isn’t a low-trust shithole. Having that attitude out here towards your neighbors doesn’t help a guy at all.
It appears to be a woman? Long grey hair pony tail? Or just an unkempt male? Shame there’s a glare on the windscreen. Honda SxS, they’re not poor peepo looking to steal, that’d be my guess.
Maybe leave a contact means with the no-tresspassing sign?
It sounds to me that if they encounter your “please no trespass” sign, they would in fact have to be trespassing? Maybe leave a phone number or eMail addy for them to contact you (“Hi I’m the new owner, please contact me, you’re on camera.”)? As I would advise you to, I also have less-polite no-trespass signs throughout the perimeter of my property. In my state that is a requirement if you are going to have an issue with trespasser – property boundaries clearly marked at regular distances. No ambiguity allowed, which is understandable.
Im *guessing* its an elderly couple. Poppa driving, momma in the passenger seat.
Now that it has warmed up, it’ll be interesting to see how often you have this problem. Figure out who it is, put the polite no trespass up.
I bet the neighbor you’ve already interacted with knows who they are.
You can mark the trees along your property line with orange paint according to Montana trespassing laws.
https://modernsurvivalonline.com/montana-state-trespassing-laws/
Good chance that it’s a neighbour that’s noticed activity and stopped by to check it out. Just like you don’t like trespassers, us country folk don’t like no-goods messing around in our locale. If it is a neighbour that’s noticed, they are probably somebody to make friends with, because they’ll keep an eye out when you’re not up there.
That is a great point. My neighbors are part time and I keep an eye on their places. Call them if I see something concerning. Chase off (very politely) people that don’t belong (trespassers are usually fishing in the local waters). Full time neighbors are the best neighbors when you don’t live on your property.
Multiple cameras… on either side of the road. Preferably aimed so that if someone stops to mess with one camera, they get their photo taken by another. To that end, make one “bloody obvious” and make the second one discrete.
Do like my brother did. Pulled a 8 foot log to the entrance and jimmied it to cross the road.
His property is in Idaho about 30 miles dues west of Yellowstone Park and about 20 mile south of the Montana line. Targhee national forest is around him.
Nice place but had an arrogant neighbor the liked to park stuff on his place.
I like the idea of the “PRIVATE PROPERTY, NO TRESPASSING PLEASE” sign. You may also want to add one that states “PRIVATE ROAD, NO OUTLET.” That sign will remove any excuse someone may otherwise have about taking the shortcut to somewhere they belong.
If you wanted to be fun, you could put a tight grouping of 0.3 inch holes in the lower corner.
Yes, I agree with the additional sign, ‘dead end- no outlet’ or something along that line. I would put that up nearest the open road, put the ‘please no trespassing’ further in, around the bend. I agree with the multiple cameras (also like the hidden apple tags to put on items, I remember one rural video, where the owner and the Deputy Sheriff followed the apple tag to the neighbor who had stolen his property (and his cameras).
As other poster noted a sign ‘video surveillance in use ‘ ; with MT law that allows pics you capture to be used in court if u have the misfortune to need to do so…
Also always good to share with your neighbors that u appreciate them keeping an eye out for you ( bring em some flathead cherries or something ?)
If these folks live nearby, they are more likely to be future allies than adversaries. Old folks who’ve been around the area for some time can be great sources of intelligence and just general info. They are probably just curious.
I’d make contact, say something like, “Hey, I saw your driving up on my property Wednesday, so thought I would stop by and say hello.” Nothing adversarial, just polite. That also lets them wonder how you saw them, and whatever surveillance they imagine will probably be more than you have.
In my experience, when you give people the benefit of the doubt, those that don’t deserve it reveal their true colors pretty quickly.
Had nearby property owners go joy riding onto other properties near theirs, including onto mine. I politely but firmly told them the were trespassing if they did not have explicit permission from the property owners. Their response floored me. They said, “there aren’t any fences so it’s ok”… I said that they need to stay on their own property and not to come on mine, period.
I don’t know about Montana’s traditional norms, but in Texas you don’t go on another’s land without permission.
I’m not a fan of “please” in no trespassing signs. Please implies squishiness.
I agree with others that getting to know you neighbors is imperative, but setting boundaries and expectations is also important.
The orange paint suggestion is good. Obviously intentionally marked, but neutral in emotion. Here it’s actually purple, and everyone knows what it means and respects it (generally).
The “no trespassing” sign that gave me the most concern ever was a simple folding chair set up in the middle of a deep backwoods road I was exploring. I saw that and something told me to turn around, which I did.
Zero,
All of the posts above have valid points. When we bought our place nearly 30 years ago it had been basically abandoned for 15-20 years. It is bordered on three sides by US Forest Service property. Locals just hunted it like they did the government land and we had a real problem with trespassers. The ones that finally forced us to put up a gate were the ones that would drive 2000′ back into our wooded place and when met they would say they just wanted to see what we were doing. We were flabbergasted at that attitude. We made it a point to get to know all the neighbors. When ice storms or other “issues” happened we checked on them. We always made it clear we were willing to help if they ever needed it and I applied my skills to helping some of them. It took a few years, but after awhile we developed a local reputation as helpful and never asking for anything…and very private. We did put up no trespassing signs and we put a sign on the gate that said we used a gate to keep trespassers out, but that neighbors were always welcome and to call ahead and we would open the gate for them. And we reiterated that in conversations with them. They were good with that. A fence and a gate are just a necessity. Painting the trees is hideous, but since it is apparently legal it would give you recourse if someone trespassed, particularly if you had previously made contact. Oh, I got a guy cited by the Game Warden. He was trespassing, having climbed over our fence, saw a game camera and made a feeble effort to steal it. I had a top-watch camera watching it and got good pictures of his nefarious efforts. The GW played me a recording of their phone conversation. It was hilarious. “Who would put a camera up watching a camera? Oh, I guess someone wary of a dumbass like me. What do you think he wants?” GW “I think he intends for you to catch a charge.” LOL Best of luck.
Phillip
I totally agree with the fences, signs & locked gates that Phillip mentioned, that is what we do. Not sure how that would work out there in the Montana wilderness. The old Vietnam vet we bought the farm from, did not have a gate, but a series of signs (we have a 300 yard driveway), Beware of Dogs, by the road, further down, and lastly Beware of Dogs- You have been Warned! with a Doberman pictured on the sign. This guy had two of the most aggressive Dobermans I have ever encountered, absolutely would not let you out of the truck. He would just sit on the deck watching and laughing, finally calling them off. We just decided a locked gate with a little friendlier dogs was good for us!
Another sign to consider: “You’re In Range”…
(Just kidding)
LOL, I found the perfect way for you to get your message across 🙂
https://x.com/ClownWorld/status/2061410206798561494