Public Land Thieves

[MTGomer]

People lock game cameras and people pry them off trees or smash them with rocks anyway. Just like people smash and grab things from vehicles, or just take the whole vehicle.

I do agree with you that most people would steal if given the chance. Considering the almost non existent punishment for ‘petty theft’ conviction it is no surprise why.

We should be able to expect more out of a fellow sportsman that took an entire day of bushwhacking to get to a spot just to take something that isn’t theirs, than We would expect out of the drug addict that would steal the speakers from your truck to pawn them, but it doesn’t seem to be the case as often as it should.

That said, I have a cheap camera on a water hole only 2 miles from the road. It’s been there, unlocked for 10 months and currently there are 3 other unlocked cameras on it. Good group of guys there.
For now

 

[kmott]

People lock game cameras and people pry them off trees or smash them with rocks anyway. Just like people smash and grab things from vehicles, or just take the whole vehicle.

I do agree with you that most people would steal if given the chance. Considering the almost non existent punishment for ‘petty theft’ conviction it is no surprise why.

We should be able to expect more out of a fellow sportsman that took an entire day of bushwhacking to get to a spot just to take something that isn’t theirs, than We would expect out of the drug addict that would steal the speakers from your truck to pawn them, but it doesn’t seem to be the case as often as it should.

That said, I have a cheap camera on a water hole only 2 miles from the road. It’s been there, unlocked for 10 months and currently there are 3 other unlocked cameras on it. Good group of guys there.
For now

un fortunately ,this is the world we must live in. there is NOTHING , one can do to ensure total security . this is a concept our population simply can not seem to grasp. there are however things one can do to help mitigate the chances, of such things happening.

hopefully you have no issues. but at least you are aware you might.

 

[Bigjay73]

I had a buddy in az that would put his cameras in metal boxes and stencil them AZGFD. He never lost one as far as I know.

 

[tzone]

My wife’s trying to make me feel better by saying it’s probably a really good spot and the person doesn’t want me to know how good it is lol

Well she's probably right.

A few years back, someone took the SD cards out of 2 of my cameras. Annoying...but Im glad that's all they took.

 

[npaden]

I had a buddy in az that would put his cameras in metal boxes and stencil them AZGFD. He never lost one as far as I know.

I bought some trail cameras off another hunting site used and when I got them they had AZGFD stenciled on them very plainly. I had felt really good about the transaction and was surprised that they were stolen cameras. Turns out it was an anti-theft attempt and evidently it had worked since he still had the cameras to sell me.

I've only lost one trail camera to theft and that was taken off my private property. I lost several to a fire though on the same place. Got some good pictures out of it though.

 

[TheBenHoyle]

The company that makes dye packs for banks should get into the business of making dye packs for trail cameras. You steal a game camera, you get blasted with blue dye. Seems fair, especially on private land.

 

[westbranch]

This year was the first time putting cameras out on public land for me. None stolen yet, but I know it will eventually happen. I don't use boxes or cables. Just a cheap stealth cam, but with 8AAs and a SD card it ends up being $50+ each. Not looking forward to losing some. I did lose some in MN to bears, and definitely a lot of those around here too.

Just moved 2 cameras to some small wallows yesterday, surprised I did not see any cameras there already. But might not have been looking hard enough. I have thought checking the SD cards of cameras I have found and then just putting the card back in. But I haven't even done that because it feels a bit dirty.

 

[TM0218]

Yeah I kinda wondered what the thought is on checking others SD cards, but kinda like you it just sounds wrong. I feel like if it isn’t yours, don’t touch it

 

[MTGomer]

I had a buddy in az that would put his cameras in metal boxes and stencil them AZGFD. He never lost one as far as I know.

Maybe your buddy and I frequent the same area.