I was in the pond bottom rotenoning the last pools when up ride 6 ATVs with 16 total people. They came 5 miles over a pipeline . . .
. . . the perps were out of state visitors with priors and warrants and the sheriff picked them up.
We've faced similar happenings quite a number of times over the years. Usually, I confront them with my "mongo" bat and a smile. Sometimes I greet them with my 12-guage.
A few years back, a family from Baltimore bought 5 acres adjacent to our property. They have a huge 5th-wheel trailer that holds a heck of a lot of ATVs. Their friends bring additional trailers loaded with ATVs. They come out here to ride.
They seemed to think that the powerline right-of-way on my property was public land. We've had more than a few confrontations.
As "mature" as I am, it was only a few years ago when I first shot a 12-guage shotgun at dusk, or in dark conditions. Wow! What a great orange display.
A couple of 4-wheelers from the group, discussed above, were on my dam. Maybe it was out of respect when they heard me. Just before I pulled the trigger they both gave me a respectful middle-finger salute. After the shot, they rode back onto their property, into the sunset.
I don't know if it was these same crazies, but a few years back, a number of horses in a neighbor's field across from their property were "paint balled" hundreds of times by people on a number 4-wheelers before being chased off. Nobody was ever caught or indicted. It took a lot of cleaning to get the horses back to their normal colors.
I'd still not rather shoot anyone, but . . .
