I got on a lease last year in Junction Tx. I didn't have much contact with the owner just the lease boss. Well, things went south with lease boss and owner and lease boss got off the lease. I made several attempts to lease the place for next year but the best answer I got from the owner was that he wanted to think about it. I asked him January 1st if I needed to come and get my stuff off and he said no just wait until he desided what he wanted to do. Today I found out that the owner and ex-lease boss got in a heated argument over a BBQ grill that was taken. Now I'm worried that the issues between lease boss and the owner might cost me everything I have out there.I have a flat bed trailer, a nice deer blind, feeder pen and 2 nice feeders still there and I can't get the owner to answer calls or return messages. If the owner desides to keep my stuff there's nothing I can do is there? If the owner won't answer my calls by this weekend I'm going down to try and recover my gear. I'm worried I'll make a 5 1/2 hour drive only to show up to a locked gate. Any advice would help at this point. Thanks

Call the local law to go with you.

Bad situation, sorry you have to go through that. Keep us informed on what happens. Hopefully your stuff will be there and you can just leave. I like the idea above have some law go with you because LO could pull the private property on you and how you stole from him. Either way good luck

Best Wishes

Gotta agree. Call the law. I'd probably start with the Game Warden.

When is your current lease up? If it is still yours for a little while then I would go get my stuff.

you got a contract? even some thing hand written? if so carry COPY with you when there I would start by calling lo and saying you just going to come get your stuff and would he be avail to be there then. if he pulls the just wait, i say your done and would like to just get your stuff and leave with no issues, call the warden and sheriff and go explain and go get your stuff.

I would just drive out there and get my property and find a new place to hunt. If you see the landowner tell him what you are doing and go on about your business. Why does everyone on this forum think you need to get the law involved in every situation.

I am like you on this. The less you get the law involved the better off you are. Especially when it comes to local landowners in a county.

Ive never had problems like this. But on the leases I have been on the land owners opinion word etc. weather its right wrong or somewhere in the middle is law. If you take a sheriff with you, then you got a little law on your side

You already seem to be dealing with a landowner who is not, may not, or doesn't seem to be on the "up and up". since possession is 9/10's of the law I say you go ahead and take law to a law fight.

By contacting the law, you are pretty much saying that you have nothing to hide and you just want to get your stuff. I would call the law and tell them the situation and meet them out there. Some of those people in Junction are great people and some of them are sort of back woodsy.

Inquire with the Game Warden then the Police or Sheriff. Then if you have to, have them assist you. It is just plain dumb not to. used to be you could just handle things. This day and age I would inquire with "the law" at the least, first. Then try with the landowner and if you get blocked then go to the next step. That is your property and it has value to you.

You may have trouble proving ownership on the stands etc. but if that flatbed trailer is legally titled to you he will be in deep stuff if he tries to keep it/steal it.

This is the right course of action...Hopefully you have a copy of your lease agreement? Please don't tell me you don't have anything in writing. Otherwise it's your word against his and will probably have to be settled in court with a signed affidavit from your ranch ramrod. I've had to call the Sheriff before on a neighbor kid that was destroying my stuff. Best thing I ever did. Once the law gets involved the LO will see that you're not a pushover. He's probably been eyeing that trailer for a while.

I’m going to suggest something that most people won’t want to do… talk to an Attorney. Preferably one based in the County where the lease was, and/or one that deals with lease agreements like this. If you, or the Lease Boss, have a copy of the agreement let the Attorney review it.
It appears there are mainly civil issues here but how you deal with it might cross into criminal territory. Could be the best money you’ll spend.

you can also file a claim in small claims and place a lien on property for the vaule of your stuff. Had a similiar situation in Abilene and we did that, worked out great as he was wanting to sell and when offer came in there was the lien. We all got the option then for money or property based on value and court ruling.

Civil Issue, Local Law might assist in mediation just to keep the peace!

fued is between land owner & lease boss. usualy its lease boss that has contract, & rules made as members for year. Land owner may be busy with other things reason for not getting back. If your getting off lease, fall let him know your just getting your stuff. Most land owners have no problem again Best Wishes

Call the sheriff... make sure you got the title to your trailer.

In my experience the best person to talk to is the local Justice of the Peace. He's the one that would issue the warrant for the landowners arrest. Appropriation of another's property is theft and a criminal matter. A call from the JP explaining this to the landowner should be all that's needed. The incident I was involved in was a long time ago but I doubt that the process has changed a lot.

X 2 on this.

Shoot, I would go buy the best BBQ grill I could afford and take it out the LO and make a gift of it, no strings attached. I would tell him I am very sorry that he and ramrod got into it over a BBQ grill. I would tell him I consider being to hunt on his land a privilege, and I enjoyed it, and wanted to do anything I could to keep him happy.

Then say if he didn't want ME on his land, then that is his decision and I brought a trailer to take my stuff and wanted to part on good terms.

Bet that would work ....

X2, if it's a good lease, honey catches more flies than chit (and keep the receipt for the grill, if he turns out to be the 'jerk', you can always return the grill), otherwise, go the law/legal route.

Possession is 9/10th of the law! I know that's not actually the law... but in reality the land owner could tell a LEO those are my feeders and blinds, trailer etc... unless you have proof they are yours with receipts and trailer registration in hand with you I believe a LEO would side with the land owner. I would avoid the law initially and just simply have a "man to man" "face to face" "gentleman's" talk with the owner and I would be surprised if he doesn't let you get your property back. Just my 2¢. Good luck. Hope you get your items back.

Only problem with that is he has already stated the LO will no longer answer his calls and it is 5.5 hours away. 11 hours is a long way to drive to find a locked gate and entering without permission and no current lease agreement is illegal.