How would you handle this?

[FAL-SHOOTER]

A few weeks ago I decided to get away for the weekend. So I decided to take some guns and my dog up to Centre County to my families hunting camp. I arrived late friday night built myself a nice fire and fell asleep reading some old shooting times magazines. It had snowed during the night so after breakfast I decided to go clean the snow off my truck. While outside A truck pulled up to the top of the lane. I said hello to the two guys inside and they just stared at me not saying anything. I thought maybe they didn't hear me so I repeated myself. The passenger looks at me and says * You better make sure that dog doesn't come near me or it's dead* I assured them my dog doesn't bite. The man doesn't respond just looks at the driver and they pull away. Needless to say it left me with a pretty eery feeling. The whole situation was bugging me the rest of the day. I starting looking at my surroundings. Here I am 14 miles back in the woods at a hunting camp on a old logging road with no name.The nearest camp is about a half mile away. No cell-phone signal just me and my dog. I realized this was the first time I have ever been at camp without a brother my dad or a buddy. I finally just decided those guys were just a couple idiots and I shouldn't let them distract me from enjoying myself. So I make myself some dinner and fall asleep next to the woodstove. At around 2 in the morning I get waken up by my dog growling. I jump up out of the chair and look out the window. I see a guy with a flashlight in his mouth trying to jimmy open the side door of the cabin!! I yelled FREEZE M*****F*****. Grabbed my pump and racked it. Next thing I see is the flashlight hit the ground and the man go running back towards the road. I look out the front window and see more flashlights shining into my truck!! I put the shotgun down throw my boots on grab my ar-15 put a mag in grab another and put it in my back pocket and go running out the backdoor. I take up a position behind a wood pile where I have a clear view of my truck thats parked about 30 yards away. For some reason these guys haven't sped off yet they are still trying to break into my truck. I yell *GET AWAY FROM MY TRUCK I AM ARMED*. By this point I can clearly see 3 men. They back away from the truck and turn there flashlights at me. I yell *GET GOING OR YOU WILL BE SHOT* but they proceed to walk towards me anyway. After about 10 steps I decided enough is enough I ask the lords forgiveness and switch on my barrel mounted laser sight. THANK GOD FOR LASERS!! I never seen 3 grown men pile into a truck so fast in my life! I sat there crouched behind the woodpile until I was sure they were long gone. I walked up to check the damage to my truck. Not bad a broken cap handle from where they tried getting into my truckbed. I shined the flashlight around some more and thats when I seen it. A loaded ruger 9mm mag laying next to my truck. I don't own a ruger pistol. Either they had ejected it by accident pulling the weapon out or it was a spare that fell out of there pocket. Either way it reminded me of how serious a situation I was just involved in. I would like hear everyones input on anything I should have done differently. This was the first and hopefully last time anything like this ever happens to me.

[HiredGoon]

A tip for you, please separate your post into paragraphs...it is very hard to read

[cigarmanpa]

you would have had every reason to shoot, and I may in fact have.

[FAL-SHOOTER]

I had it separated into paragraphs for some reason it came out like this. I don't know why sorry.

[Kaos]

That's fine, hopefully you informed the authorities.

[mikepro8]

I may have handled it by first pooping in my pants a little. That may be the only thing I would have changed in your situation.

[Brown-Bear]

Well, you're alive right? So you did ok by me. Did you call the police? Stay any longer in camp? I mean what happened next?

[Alchemist77]

Good thing you were armed, or things might not have turned out so well for you. They must have been very dangerous, very stupid, or on something to keep coming after you told them you were armed. Sounds like it was very close to someone getting shot.

I'd definitely report it to the local authorities. You may not have much chance of them getting caught this time, but you'd be in a better position if the incident is on the record in case it happens again and things don't turn out so friendly. Be careful when you're up there again, especially if alone (probably not the best idea, given the circumstances). They might shoot first next time....

Definitely something to be said for having the dog along as an early-warning device. Probably good idea to put up no-trespassing signs also.

For the laser.... remember that if there is any fog, smoke, etc. it points back to your location and might draw fire....

Be careful out there.

Alchemist77

[smithwessn]

Did you hear the sound of Dueling Banjos in the background?

Honestly, this story sounds a little far fetched. I'm not accusing you of lying, just saying... you know. Anyway, it probably wasn't a good idea for you to go outside. You didn't know how many guys were out there, or where they were. There could have been guys on the other side of the cabin that could have flanked you and caught you off guard.

No shots were fired, no one was hurt. It worked out in the end. I would have called the Sheriff to report the incident.

[ChamberedRound]

Sounds like you handled yourself very well given the circumstances. Your threat escalation (racking slide, vocal commands, laser) made the difference between you being safe, and being safe by having to cause harm to someone. Good job.

Do your family members visit the property often? After reading your description, it would concern me that these guys have been squatting or at least trespassing, and in the process misusing your property, the cabin, possessions, or a combination of all three.