Camera thiefs

[rasbo]

Consider your going to have it stolen,then if not your happy. Your leaving things in public. I just put them out and enjoy.

[gaddy]

WoW. Iv'e seen several cameras over the years. Had one spot picked out during scouting one year. Found an area totally dug up by elk. Called my brother over, Hey look at this. We need to be here on opening day. While we looked around we saw a camera, not locked or boxed or anything. We waved, said to ourselves, If this guy isn't here opening morning, we need to be.
Never had a thought of taking his cam, OR, looking at the card. Not mine to mess with.

Just don't want to be grouped with the other hunters that are considered D-Bag theive's. Once it is gone, you will never know.

Wave and say hello, you might meet up some time and have a laugh or become friends.

[NOCK NOCK]

 

Seems like you have an axe to grind with the hunting community.  Have you lost a lot of cameras? just trying to understand why you feel this way.  Should I be more worried than I am?

I have seen a few but never messed with them, also never had mine taken and never seen people on mine either.

Here is what I don't get. This is a cam I came across, pretty close to a road, very popular area, 4' high, and just webbing strap around a tree. This is just asking for a critter to tear it down, or, to be stolen.
My guess is that the majority of "stolen" cams were set up like this one. In fact, I would be willing to bet that this particular one will end up as described above.


PS; I hope it does not get jacked cause I left a pretty funny pic/vid for the guy. 

Ok, to further proof my point, secured or not, it still maybe stolen. But even if it's just strapped to tree, why steal it? Just because it's not bolted to tree it's free to steal? That my point.  I think there are more hunters that will just grab it and run then we think. And bolted to a tree don't stop a thief either. So, do you gamble on losing a trail cam, or a trail cam with box and lock......

How does this prove your point 
My advice for you would be not to gamble, lock it and place it well.  Of course it may still be stolen.....but to think it always mainly hunters is naïve.
I run 12-14 cams a year, all in a metal box and locked to a tree, and out of reach from the ground. I have never had a cam stolen, and have had only 4-5 people on my cams......ALL but 1 were non hunters.

From my picture above, what chance does that cam have against a curious bear? ….. Zero

[smithkl42]

I've had folks spot my camera five different times. Two of them looked it over and then left it, but the other three left their numbers on the camera and ask me to give 'em a call. Had a great chat with all of them, and one of them has become my go-to hunting buddy. YMMV :-).

[buglebrush]

I've had my share of stolen cameras.  Even ones in metal boxes locked to trees, but I've also had many hunters see my cameras and have them left alone

[eastfork]

4 miles in wilderness. No where near trail. Been on a active elk wallow for over 5 years. Lock box and lagged to tree. Phone number and note on outside of box. D bags pryed cam box from tree....with what dont know and dont Carr. Point is, these weren't your mushroom pickers, or greenies. Boot tracks were there. Same exact boot track as kenetreks.
These are you so called hard core d bags. The bottom of the barrel absolute losers. They would of took it no matter what. Lock box or not. So why must I ask, why would a so called hard core back country hunter do this......absolute losers.

[ljsommer]

I've had folks spot my camera five different times. Two of them looked it over and then left it, but the other three left their numbers on the camera and ask me to give 'em a call. Had a great chat with all of them, and one of them has become my go-to hunting buddy. YMMV :-).

That's a really neat story! My hunting buddy was another newbie in hunter safety class.
As for cameras, I've only been hanging for a year but it's been a LOT of camera time in one year, with 6 cams in rotation. So far, so good.

Which is nice, since 1.) it's incredibly fun and 2.) it may be the closest I get to an animal for a long, long time!

[NOCK NOCK]

4 miles in wilderness. No where near trail. Been on a active elk wallow for over 5 years. Lock box and lagged to tree. Phone number and note on outside of box. D bags pryed cam box from tree....with what dont know and dont Carr. Point is, these weren't your mushroom pickers, or greenies. Boot tracks were there. Same exact boot track as kenetreks.
These are you so called hard core d bags. The bottom of the barrel absolute losers. They would of took it no matter what. Lock box or not. So why must I ask, why would a so called hard core back country hunter do this......absolute losers.

Sooooo what youre saying is that ONLY hunters wear Kenetreks, and because boot tracks were there, it HAD to be a hunter that stole it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm right there with you, thieves are scum bags, but to put all of the blame on a hunter when in reality you have NO idea who, or what may have removed your camera is very short sighted.

Could have been; a bear, an elk, FS employee, bunny hugger, hiker, tweaker, shroomer, a drug grower, heck maybe it was biggie. The point is, you are bashing hunters with zero proof. Gives all hunters a bad name IMO


Again, lock it up in a box with a cable, camo it, and put it up high. Majority never see it, the ones who do will need a ladder or chainsaw to steal it.

[Jonathan_S]

I thought trail cameras left in wilderness was a no no?

[Taco280AI]

It's most likely hunters/poachers. The minority ruins it for everyone else. Who trespasses on private land to hunt? H/P. Who puts up treestands on private land, that isn't theirs? H/P. Who takes game out of season or exceeds bag limits? H/P. It's nice to think hunters wouldn't steal from their own, but some do.

[flyfishWA]

I'm not sure who it is but I hate them. I had one stole and I am still pissed 2 years later

[Dan-o]

I wonder how many members that troll on here have snuck a camera out of the woods.......would be interesting to know.....

I've seen lots.

I've taken none.

I expect the same from anyone I hunt with.   But there are dirtbags in every crowd.

[Dan-o]

I think I've had 3 stolen in the last 5 years.     

It really is frustrating/depressing to show up to find your camera missing.

Mine hang in well used areas.........

I used to "Hang and Hope."   that worked for a few years, but it caught up with me.   Had 3 stolen in 2 years.

I still don't buy lock boxes or cables.    I buy really cheap camera and then I camoflage them as well as I can.     I actually glue bark/branches, to them......    :-)     :-)

And I try to hide them better.

Haven't had one taken in a couple years........

But I can't afford to lose good cameras.    I hang a lot of $30 specials.   Pics aren't always great, but they do tell you what's in the neighborhood.

And to the OP:    Hunter or not, a thief is a thief.    I hope you find the dirtbag. 

[huntnnw]

About a week ago i came across a camo bushnell cam strapped to a tree at waist level in ferry county.  Wasnt secured at all, just the strap it came with.  Kinda asking to be stolen, set up like that.    Down low, zero security measures, on a major game trail.  Curious to see if i get a pic of me waving at the cam posted in the people on cam thread here.

asking to be stolen? how about leave your hands off peoples crap! It doesn't matter if they are locked up or not. I have a buddy who runs a ton of cams in ferry and has had chains, cables and steel boxes axed!

[huntnnw]

I thought trail cameras left in wilderness was a no no?

never heard of that.. many place trail cams in wilderness units all across the west