I'd knock on hos door first. Or even better find his pickup parked at the Dairy Queen or local coffee shop. Wherever the old timers gather in the morning. Stand tall and tell him what he owes. Give him a chance to walk outsid with you. If he declines explain your side in front of God and everybody else.

If that doesn't generate payment warn that you will be going the legal route as described previously.

Check? Nope, cash only. I'll follow you to the bank.

File a M&M lien (material and mechanics)...it is a priority lien superior to a purchase money interest (1st lien) and verbal contracts can be filed on (you must be able to prove a contract existed) as I recall.

fog horn on opening day?

You might also talk to the hunters and tell them what happened to you so as not to trust the guy. Who knows, it probably won't help your cause but may save them some grief. Karma has a way about these things!

If you have stands and feeders in place, go pick them up Saturday morning around 6am.

If the hunters now on the property ask you - tell them very nicely what happened. Tell them you'll be back next weekend to get the rest of your stuff.

If there's complaints, then maybe you can work something out with all properties to share the lease - after all, you're already set-up - and you've already "paid" for the lease. If nothing else, the new lessee's will know what kind of landowner they're dealing with.

If you don't have any feeders, stands, etc. Then just lick your wounds and get on with your life. Not worth the aggravation.

The reason I offer this approach is this. There is little chance you will sway the LO, you have no leverage. The LO, which I assume you've already talked to, could have easily told the new lessee's that the property would be shared - you already had one spot. Instead, he opted for the money. Therefore the money is the only leverage, and those new guys have the leverage. If THEY complain to the LO, he will listen because obviously the money is the important factor. By inserting yourself into their use, you get both them and the LO wanting a resolution.

But if you have no reason to return to the property, then you are - as you said - screwed.

Move on. Not worth the aggravation and cost.

This^^^^^^^^^^^

I have to say, shaming him in front of his 'homies' might just be the ticket.

Sorry to hear that that guy did that to you. Hope you can gain some compensation out of the old farmer. One way or the other you need to make sure you're the last person he does this to.

Can't get blood out of a turnip but you can kick turnips a**.

Maybe you should bill him for services rendered.

Just like a lot of folks think all old folks are "sweet", some think all farmers are "salt of the earth/your word is your bond" kind of men. Like all human walks of life, there's some real SOBs. Not saying you were naïve at all, you just got conned by a deceitful old scum bucket.

Best wishes on eventually finding a good solid place to hunt. This guy will get his in the end.

I've heard and experienced this exact same problem too many times and it's a big part of why I don't lease anymore. These days with the obama economy people are willing to do anything for a dollar and it's not the first time some city slickers have come along and probably offered some stupid amount of money and ended up screwing someone out of their place to hunt. Fortunately I don't have to lease and still get to hunt at least three places all in different counties but all within ten minutes of me at least for now one of those places is owned by the city people in the family and since all the old timers in the family have all passed away they are all going against their parents wishes and trying to sell (ungrateful morons) fortunately the listed very high and with a stupid realtor so it shouldn't ever sell. I do feel bad for you losing your place and it sucks having more city people in the woods screwing everything up for the real hunters.

i'd definitely go get all my stuff. now, if he bought all the stuff and you did the labor, you may be outta luck. But, if that's the case, id definitely bill him for the hours you have in it. I'm sure you have pics of the work done and stuff built. its sad that a mans word is not good anymore.

X2

I don't like the man anymore than anybody else but that excuse is BS in Texas right now and those cattle the OP talked about working with are bringing more money than they ever have.

The landowner is a POS and the OP needs to pursue compensation if for nothing other than teaching the old man a lesson he apparently never learned.

Sell tickets to the rodeo that will occur when you go back out there to yank them ear tags out and put those nuts back in them steers.
There's your monetary compensation!

You're welcome

Last comment is most reasonable. Watch your six and learn an expensive lesson. No doubt it's not his first gruen in his old life. Let it go and move forward...you'll be the better man.

Oops, John Humberts entry.

This!! ^^^

.

I have a service called Legal Shield. Costs me $20/month and covers me if I ever need legal advice or defense. I've only had it for a couple of months, but this sounds just like the kind of situation that I would call them on. They would write a letter to the farmer and threaten legal action if you weren't compensated and then if you wanted to pursue it, they'd help file all the paperwork. To me, it sounds like you have a solid case especially if you can document all the work you did. I would go back and write down what you did and the dates you did it on and the time you spent. He basically took your money and then gave the product you bought to someone else. I'm pretty sure that's illegal. Unfortunately, you might have to hire a lawyer and it may not e worth more than a few thousand bucks. Good luck.

Now that's some funny crap!!

My wife just asked me what the heck I was laughing so hard at.

Turd never had the intention to let you hunt. You were used. You have done enough work to build a case. Don't let the turd just walk away. Evil happens when good people don't take a stand

What's the old mans address?