I almost got shot.

[preacherman]

I was hunting on a privately owned 40 acres on Whidbey Island Yesterday when the next door neighbor (of the property) that I have had issues with for the last few years,  came ripping over on his quad and his AR 15. He pulled up and began to yell at me and tell me again that the deer were his because he feed them so I could not shoot them. I told I was sorry that it offended him but that I had permission on the property and he in fact did not.

The AR was in a front tactical position, and at that time he put his hands on the weapon holding it in the ready position, demanding that I leave. As soon as he was finished yelling I as calmly as possible told him that if even hinted at pointing that thing at me I would have to act forcibly, then told him that he needed to leave and he did.

Who does that! That was one of the most tense moments in my life!

Today when I got off work I headed over there, and he came over but left the AR at home, wise move, and asked if I would just not hurt the does. W. I. is an any deer area but I agreed that if I could get a buck before it got too late in the season I would leave the does alone. I am a meat hunter, I just want the heaviest animal, usually gonna be a buck anyways.

[CP]

Sounds like hunter harassment, I’d file charges. 

[Widgeondeke]

Sounds like hunter harassment, I’d file charges.

x2       People won't learn and will continue to act this way until someone is hurt   
I would've called the sheriff 

[BOWHUNTER45]

that does not surprise me man .. those old hippies that live on the Islands are crazy ..I shot a deer years ago on Guemes Island and had permission to do so when some crazy man came running up the hill screaming I WILL SHOOT YOUR ARZ ...I AM A VIETAM VET AND I DO NOT MISS  Only thing I had was a .54 cal smoke pole ..I did yell back at him telling him if you point that damn gun at me you best use it ...I actually left the deer and went and got the owner ..He went over and delt with him ...never ever will go back on those Islands again  Crazy mustards over there ! Not counting I about got shot for a 80 pound 3 pt 

[Gutpile]

Sounds like hunter harassment, I’d file charges.

I would have called the cops immediately

[bearhunter99]

  People like that will probably never learn.  It's almost inbred into em.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I can tell ya another one but it would fill the whole page 

[KillerBeee]

Call the Copsssss!

[dscubame]

On what grounds are you suggesting the cops are called on?  He has the right to be carrying an AR or most any other type of gun for that matter.  And to be protective of his fellow neighbors property is not a bad thing if he does not recognize the owner or permission granted.

[Gutpile]

On what grounds are you suggesting the cops are called on?  He has the right to be carrying an AR or most any other type of gun for that matter.  And to be protective of his fellow neighbors property is not a bad thing if he does not recognize the owner or permission granted.

He was trespassing and hunter harassment is illegal. Those grounds. Let the cops sort it out.

[lokidog]

On what grounds are you suggesting the cops are called on?  He has the right to be carrying an AR or most any other type of gun for that matter.  And to be protective of his fellow neighbors property is not a bad thing if he does not recognize the owner or permission granted.

He was trespassing and hunter harassment is illegal. Those grounds. Let the cops sort it out.

    And brandishing a weapon.  I would probably have talked to the owner of the property I was on to see what their opinion was with the intent of contacting the authorities.  Unless, the property owner indicated that I would not be welcome back if doing so, might have to think twice then.

[dscubame]

I guess.

[EDT]

On what grounds are you suggesting the cops are called on?  He has the right to be carrying an AR or most any other type of gun for that matter.  And to be protective of his fellow neighbors property is not a bad thing if he does not recognize the owner or permission granted.

He was trespassing and hunter harassment is illegal. Those grounds. Let the cops sort it out.

    And brandishing a weapon.  I would probably have talked to the owner of the property I was on to see what their opinion was with the intent of contacting the authorities.  Unless, the property owner indicated that I would not be welcome back if doing so, might have to think twice then.

I agree with lokidog.

[sled]

  You did the right thing, but he's lucky he didnt confront someone who felt their life was in danger!

[CAMPMEAT]

Ya shudda thumped his ass and took his AR as a pre-christmas present. Cops won't do squat about it because they didn't see it. Your word, his word.

[Swannytheswan]

  You did the right thing, but he's lucky he didnt confront someone who felt their life was in danger!

  Just putting his hands on his weapon while telling you to leave is a threat. I would have done the same thing you did and called the cops afterward.

[Atroxus]

I think you handled it better than some would have, I agree with others that you should have called the police though. Dude needs to learn that type of BS is NOT okay.

[Biggerhammer]

Ya shudda thumped his ass and took his AR as a pre-christmas present. Cops won't do squat about it because they didn't see it. Your word, his word.

Hahaha! I like it..

[Gobble Doc]

I don't think the Sheriff would have done anything.  I think you did the right thing by staying calm.  If the guy was on drugs or drunk he may not have been thinking clearly and the last thing you want is to escalate the situation, even if you were completely in the right. 

[coachcw]

You did a good job defuseing the situation . I had a guy come up to me with a axe a few years ago on whidbey he told me I was on his private land and I told him BS and that I knew the property owner , I then told him taking a AXE to a shotgun fight wasn't to bright ! he mumbled and left . I thaught old Hippies where peacefull ? Last weekend  I confronted a guy riding a quad up a clossed road three guys first talked to him and the guy still contunied up the road . when he got to me I said wtf and he put his hand on his barrel wich was on his back , I just looked at him and said that wouldn't be very wise . after giving him my peace of mind and telling him that I didn't hike six miles in the dark to have him come riding in and that there was plenty of place to ride that quad just not there. he decided it was in his best intrest to turn around and head back . he gave me crap about being a vet and I guess thats means he was above the law. I told my son that the first three guys must not have had the right inflection in there voice. we chuckled and carried on .

[jackmaster]

i would have called the cops, then maybe you would have got to see them taze the *censored* out of his grumpy ass, i was on ketron island lookn at some of the biggest blacktails known to man, i wasnt huntn or anything we were over there replacing drainfeilds well anyways this lady (name withheld) came out and was gonna beat me with a stick, it was pretty funny, but she was a complete whackjob........gotta be honest i would have been protecting these bucks for myself to though, wish i had pics of them  fricken absolute monsters.

[boneaddict]

Handled it well.   I would at least have a conversation with the land owner.   Rarely would I mess with the police for stated reasons, but in this case I would so that it was on file.


Nice Coach.   

I am really surprised more people don't end up TU out in the woods.

[Kioti]

coachcw...he gave you crap for being a vet..WTF! 

[Atroxus]

coachcw...he gave you crap for being a vet..WTF!

I think he meant that the guy on the quad was a vet and was trying to use it as an excuse or defense for being an ass.

I have a lot of respect for vets in general, but like any group of people, some of them are jerks.

[hntrspud]

Good job handling this. If you do leave this alone, and others leave these situations as they are, i.e. why bother the cops, then these situations will continue. Guess what, thats what we pay taxes for. As a former police officer, I would have at least cited that man for brandishing a weapon with intent to use, and trespass.....etc You have the right to be there, no need to harrass you for that.

[pianoman9701]

Call the Copsssss!

x2 Yep! Call them now.

[CAMPMEAT]

................my favorite song is, Street Fightin' Man. Used to work great for me in the days when you could beat the begeesus out of someone for pulling a stunt like that. Oh well, that's why these buttwipes get away with it, nothing would happen to 'em except a slap on the wrist.

[KFhunter]

I would not want to get into a firefight holding a bolt action 4 or 5 shot rifle and him holding an AR-15 with probably a 20 round mag and semi-auto.

Had he done that to me I would have taken cover as he was approaching, someone holding an AR with aggresive posture racing towards you on an ATV spells trouble - duh huh?  So ya I'd have been behind the biggest tree/rock I could find before he got off the ATV

Then if he stepped off and started yelling at me he'd have been doing it through my cross hairs and I would have been barking orders to drop the weapon and get on his belly.  He would have complied, or left, or........

Soon as his hands made a move for the weapon - boom! center mass with 30-06

[KFhunter]

hmm

maybe it's time to pick up an AR-10 and hunt with that sucker geesh

[ctwiggs1]

It is actually illegal to defend property with deadly force.  You can only defend human life with deadly force.  He has every right to hold an AR, but no right to claim ownership over the animals or use deadly force to kick you off property that isn't his.

Oh and the law says if you are brandishing your weapon, your intent is to use it.  He was WAY out of line.

Well done on diffusing the situation.  You handled yourself well it sounds like

[KFhunter]

he got lucky is what happened, I don't play the lottery nor do I go to the casino.

someone comes at me with an AR like described here, then he'll be doing so through my crosshairs and I'll be behind the best cover I can reach in the amount of time I have before he's on me.

[Bigtine96]

whats the law on hunter harassment?

[Atroxus]

It is actually illegal to defend property with deadly force.  You can only defend human life with deadly force.  He has every right to hold an AR, but no right to claim ownership over the animals or use deadly force to kick you off property that isn't his.

Oh and the law says if you are brandishing your weapon, your intent is to use it.  He was WAY out of line.

Well done on diffusing the situation.  You handled yourself well it sounds like

I also think he was better served diffusing the situation as he did. However I think you are mistaken about the deadly force part of your post.

Here is the RCW...
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?Cite=9A.16.050

RCW 9A.16.050
Homicide — by other person — when justifiable.

Homicide is also justifiable when committed either:

     (1) In the lawful defense of the slayer, or his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, or sister, or of any other person in his or her presence or company, when there is reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer or to any such person, and there is imminent danger of such design being accomplished; or

     (2) In the actual resistance of an attempt to commit a felony upon the slayer, in his or her presence, or upon or in a dwelling, or other place of abode, in which he or she is.

If he had taken KFhunter's approach and the guy had continued advancing and/or refused to lower the weapon  I would think there would be "reasonable ground to apprehend a design on the part of the person slain to commit a felony or to do some great personal injury to the slayer" 

(Note I am not a lawyer and this is a lay-persons opinion, not intended to be legal advice)

[bassquatch]

  You did the right thing, but he's lucky he didnt confront someone who felt their life was in danger!

  If that AR muzzle would have raised one inch I would have double tapped his stupid worthless ass! 

[ctwiggs1]

Atroxus

I think you might have misunderstood what I typed.

ctwiggs1

[Dustin07]

sounds like you handled it better than I would. my buddy had a somewhat similar situation with an armed harasser this weekend and my buddy walked humbly away, as he wasn't 100% clear of what his rights were in his given situation.  I'm glad it was him and not me. I'd rather not get into a fight over pride, but do not approach me in that way with a gun. 

[boneaddict]

It can either escalate up or down.   One way isn't good for either party

[hornhunter1987]

i like the way you handled it. you let him know you were uncomfortable with the situation and it needed to change.

[arnoldmc1]

I agree with hornhunter!  Good job but should have talked with the game Warden about it.

[preacherman]

I talked to the property owner about it. He said that he would rather not have any drama, as he holds this property for the intent of future development. The AR guy was the previous owner of the property, and was in fact born in the abandoned/colapsed farmhouse that is on the property. His fear is that as he proceeds with developing the property, the AR guy might cause issues. I think he will anyways, after the few run ins I have had with him.

I called the sheriff and explained the dilemma, he  told me that his word against mine it would be hard for him to take any action unless one of us had called and he had arrived during the confrontation. Doubtful he would as AR guy has called the sheriff on me multiple time in the last two years, and last year the sheriff said if he called again to report trespassing on property that was no longer his, he would charge him with false report. So I guess this was him taking it into his own hands. The Sheriff did tell me that if he pulls that stunt again I should level my weapon on him and demand that he puts his in the dirt, the sheriff said if he does not, he has stated intent and I should proceed as "I feel is necessary."

I have taken 160-180 lbs. bucks there two years running and it is 5min. from my house. But I don't like the drama.

As far as handling myself I have dealt with several really hairy situations over the years and usually can stay pretty calm. AR to my 12ga benelli at that range, I believe that I in fact had the advantage. Only one way to find out, but let's not.

[coachcw]

with a handle like yours you got the big guy on your side.

[CAMPMEAT]

I talked to the property owner about it. He said that he would rather not have any drama, as he holds this property for the intent of future development. The AR guy was the previous owner of the property, and was in fact born in the abandoned/colapsed farmhouse that is on the property. His fear is that as he proceeds with developing the property, the AR guy might cause issues. I think he will anyways, after the few run ins I have had with him.

I called the sheriff and explained the dilemma, he  told me that his word against mine it would be hard for him to take any action unless one of us had called and he had arrived during the confrontation. Doubtful he would as AR guy has called the sheriff on me multiple time in the last two years, and last year the sheriff said if he called again to report trespassing on property that was no longer his, he would charge him with false report. So I guess this was him taking it into his own hands. The Sheriff did tell me that if he pulls that stunt again I should level my weapon on him and demand that he puts his in the dirt, the sheriff said if he does not, he has stated intent and I should proceed as "I feel is necessary."

I have taken 160-180 lbs. bucks there two years running and it is 5min. from my house. But I don't like the drama.

As far as handling myself I have dealt with several really hairy situations over the years and usually can stay pretty calm. AR to my 12ga benelli at that range, I believe that I in fact had the advantage. Only one way to find out, but let's not.

Seems like I gave you the best answer................out of all posts on here about it.

[Yelm hunter]

On what grounds are you suggesting the cops are called on?  He has the right to be carrying an AR or most any other type of gun for that matter.  And to be protective of his fellow neighbors property is not a bad thing if he does not recognize the owner or permission granted.

The Neighbor was Tresspassing!! He also probably had a Loaded AR on a motorized Vehicle!! He was Harassing a Hunter which is Illegal!!!

[preacherman]

There is a law against harassing a hunter? What is the RCW on that? that is a tidbit of info that I would like to tuck away!

[lokidog]

There is a law against harassing a hunter? What is the RCW on that? that is a tidbit of info that I would like to tuck away!

I think this is it, quick google search...  RCW 77.15.210

[preacherman]

I printed a copy of that which will be delivered to AR guy today, as well as I will talk to the deputy about it again.

[preacherman]

AR guy called the Sheriff on me AGAIN today! Deputy was great and actually put this all in a file, I guess the previous ones had not? Then AR guy cam over on his quad and accused me of everything but jaywalking, and the deputy calmly not him that he he continued to bother me and my hunting with the quad, he could get fined up to $5,000.

All of this drama has put me behind, I have hardly been able to hunt at all!

[KFhunter]

Be dammed careful next time you go up there preacherman - now that he knows for 100% sure the cops are not on his side he could wig out, his legal options are gone.

As much trouble as he's caused you I do not think he'll simply let this go now, he'll do *something*, if you're determined to hunt there then I'd take precautions.