Attempted theft of trail camera

[elkman54]

I  often leave my lock boxes locked with the camera removed over the winter to prevent water damage. Some of my cameras are 6-7 miles in, never had others on cam so I see no need to pack it in and out yearly.

[Dan-o]

Again, not trying to start an argument....  so if you feel the need to freak out and bang your head on the wall do it elsewhere.  Public ground cars etc is good example, but cars on public streets need to be moved in given period or they are impounded, camps on national forest are time limited.  There is a nice camera box, w/o camera ever, bolted to a tree for last 5 years.  Should it be considered abandoned, can I use it, does someone own that tree now....  I know any number of guys who leave/neglect cams in the woods over the winter.  Really just curious if the law at some point looks at things like the as abandoned at some point?

    So I'm at a Christmas party last week and we're doing introductions.  Afterword a guy at the table asked an East Indian what his name meant in English 

He didn't get what was wrong with that either.

It was a pretty simple, honest, question out of curiosity.  If I could figure out away to ask it using crayons and pictures so you could understand it I would.

Troll

So laffin'

How dare you ask a question while trying not to start an argument?     

[huntingfool7]

LOL    When is it OK to take other peoples stuff? 

If it's not on your privately owned property, leave other peoples crap alone. 

[huntingfool7]

I'd have figure the law would not protect personal property left on public ground?

You fail reading comprehension. His question was how does the law look at this on public land vs private land

Comprehension?  His quote says that if it's on public property he figures it's not protected (theft).

[jtrammell]

The law doesnt care if it's on private or public lands. The law cares that they both vandalized, broke and shot my equipment. Many people have said anything left in the woods is abandoned property. I did some research on that and I wouldnt find ANY law that stated anything like that.

[Jonathan_S]

LOL    When is it OK to take other peoples stuff? 

If it's not on your privately owned property, leave other peoples crap alone.

who is saying that people should do otherwise?

[Jonathan_S]

The law doesnt care if it's on private or public lands. The law cares that they both vandalized, broke and shot my equipment. Many people have said anything left in the woods is abandoned property. I did some research on that and I wouldnt find ANY law that stated anything like that.

I am thinking that rule is specific to wilderness areas. Obviously not private property or necessarily all public land. I can't find it in RCWs.

I think you guys might be figuring that 5x5's question is pointed at your situation. In truth, I think he is genuinely curious about how that law would have applied in a different but similar situation.

Again, glad that justice was served. You did the right thing.

[Taco280AI]

If it isn't yours, don't take it. Simple. If you see a trail cam up on a tree, it belongs to someone. If you drive past a parked car, it belongs to someone. If you come across a hunting camp, all that gear belongs to someone. Just leave it alone, it isn't yours. If you think something has been abandoned, call the FS and let them handle it. If you disagree with any of this, please pack your truck with your best hunting gear and valuables, park it on public land, then walk away - but don't complain when I.... I mean someone, takes it. And a heads up of when/where/and an itemized inventory would be appreciated. TIA 

[Lefthook]

I remember finding really nice hunting cabins in the middle of no where. We would stay in them and while there, act like temporary care takers. We would leave them just like we found them. For the first five or so years it was nice to stay at them, there was three spread out over 20+ miles. Finally, one after another was vandalized. None exist today.

Really sad to see what has become of the places we took for granted as a great escape, thinking others felt the same. Now knowing differently.

[bigtex]

The law doesnt care if it's on private or public lands. The law cares that they both vandalized, broke and shot my equipment. Many people have said anything left in the woods is abandoned property. I did some research on that and I wouldnt find ANY law that stated anything like that.

I am thinking that rule is specific to wilderness areas. Obviously not private property or necessarily all public land. I can't find it in RCWs.

It's a federal public land regulation and isn't found in the RCWs but rather the CFRs to the appropriate federal land management agency.

On one federal agency's land any property that hasn't been moved/touched in 72 hours is considered abandoned. The regulation authorizes the agency to seize the property and cite the offender.

[Lefthook]

I didn't say the cabins were legal, I was impressed by how respectful people were initially. It wasn't Fed land if that makes a difference.

[huntingfool7]

I remember finding really nice hunting cabins in the middle of no where. We would stay in them and while there, act like temporary care takers. We would leave them just like we found them. For the first five or so years it was nice to stay at them, there was three spread out over 20+ miles. Finally, one after another was vandalized. None exist today.

Really sad to see what has become of the places we took for granted as a great escape, thinking others felt the same. Now knowing differently.

Good memories and good people are where you find them.  Here's to caretakers

[huntingfool7]

Middle of No Where.  @Lefthook

[Lefthook]

That is a great pic huntingfool7! That is paradise right there! That was a serious straight forward set up, really appreciated it.

I killed a bull in a new clear cut that had an eery familiarity to it. It wasn't until after that I realized the new clearcut was once that stand of timber the cabin was built in.

[fish vacuum]

I was also curious how the law would view cameras on public ground because I've heard different things about how agencies define abandoned property. Nobody is saying it's ok to steal anyone else's property.
I put cameras out too and haven't researched what the rules are for the agency in charge of the land.