I LIVE IN THE BIG THICKET, A NATIONAL PRESERVE IN TEXAS.  THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE, ALL SORTS OF CRITTERS THAT ARE PROTECTED, AND GIVEN FULL RANGE, NO FENCES, NO HUNTING.  BUT LIVING HERE DOES PRESENT SOME PROBLEMS, IT IS A MUST TO HAVE DOGS AS PROTECTERS OF PERSONAL DOMESTIC ANIMALS,  I HAVE SEEN PUMAS IN MY BACK PASTURE, AND AM VERY GRATEFUL FOR MY PITBULL, AND MY BRAVE YELLOW LAB, THE HUGE CAT WAS NOT ALLOWED TO COME ANY CLOSER TO MY HORSES. THERE WAS NOT ANY CONTACT AND THE EVENT WAS OVER ALMOST BEFORE IT BEGAN.  HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN PRESENTED WITH A HUMAN PROBLEM, WE HAVE SOME CITY DWELLERS THAT HAVE DECIDED TO EXPERIENCE THE WILDERNESS, THEY HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS SYSTEM WORKS,  THEY HAVE THREATENED TO SHOOT MY DOGS  AS WELL AS THE OTHER DOGS OUT HERE. THEY DO NOT LIKE MY HORSES IN THE FRONT PASTURE, THE LIST GOES ON. THERE IS NO TALKING TO THESE PEOPLE. HOW DO I SAVE MYSELF FROM JAIL, AS I WILL DEFEND THE ONES THAT DEFEND ME?  BONNIE

Please excuse the fact that I'm a newby on this site, I just joinned and saw this post which has simply infuriated me enormously.

Firts point, yes you are on your property, so they are trespassing the moment they walk on your homestead uninvited.

But.

The Big Thicket, as you mentioned is a National Preserve and if I remember correctly,  only some areas are designated as hunting grounds. As any other private property you as the landowner can refuse the right to anybody to hunt on your property. Ask any proper hunter.

If  you are not in a hunting area, you should run to the park Ranger, or any other Government Officer and report these city dwellers. They do not, I repeat, "they do not have the right to bare arms in a National Preserve with the intent of using them ."

Tecknicalities set aside, you are in your rights to protect your property.

I would strongly suggest, that you visite the Park Rangers and talk to them about this situation.

I hope this helps.

You may have this or not...

Here is a link to GOVERMENT maps, where hunting is permited in The Big Thicket.  http://www.nps.gov/bith/parknews/hunting-and-trapping-maps.htm

tuffenough

Is there an outcome to this post or was this simply venting?

I THINK I WAS JUST VENTING AS THERE IS REALLY NOTHING I CAN SAY OR DO THAT WOULD HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THESE FOLKS. I JUST HAVE PROBLEMS DEALING WITH FOLKS THAT ENTER INTO A WORLD AND THEN WANT TO REMAKE IT INTO THE WORLD THEY JUST LEFT. THIS PLACE IS SO PRIMATIVE AND WILD THAT ONE MUST REALIZE THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT NOT CHANGE IT. WE THAT LIVE WITHIN THIS AREA KNOW THIS.  DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS PLACE?   THE CLOSEST GROCERY STORE IS A 50 MILE ROUND TRIP. JUST GETTING TO MY HOUSE FROM THE NEAREST HIGHWAY IS A 10 MILE RIDE INTO ANOTHER TIME AND PLACE. DIRT ROADS THAT CAN FLOOD WASH OUT, ETC. THE WILDLIFE HERE CONSIST OF WOLVES, WILDCATS, BEARS, DEER, FOX, THE LIST GOES ON. SOME PARTS OF THIS PLACE ARE AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING.  THE PARK SERVICE IS ALWAYS FINDING PLANTS, INSECTS ETC THAT HAVE NOT BEEN STUDIED, NOR NAMED. IT IS TRULY A WONDERFUL PLACE.  NOTHING IS MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN DRINKING COFFEE IN THE MORNING WATCHING DEER , FOXES, ETC GOING ACROSS MY BACK PASTURE, OR LISTENING TO THE HOWL OF WOLVES AT EVENING.   SO YES MTBLOBBYIST I AM JUST VENTING. THANKS FOR ASKING.  BONNIE