Had a nice chat with the county game warden today. Game camera footage & trespassing signs are helpful, though not absolutely necessary to convict poachers. Purple stripes at eye level on trees serve as valid markers of property line, too.
He said that, unlike a criminal case, bad intent need not be proven, just that any reasonable person would understand they were trespassing. Promised to add our property to their patrol, which I appreciate. I'd prefer not to prosecute, just to deter, but if it takes jail and/or hefty fines pour le encourager les autres, so be it. We've invested far too much time, effort, and money to let thieves steal fish!
Unfortunately, if not prosecuted, there is a good chance that you will be looked at as an easy mark, just like a dog that just barks and doesn't bite isn't much of a deterrent, especially if they are barking all the time.
