People messing with game cams, NOT OK!!

[elkrack]

That’s a great message jerry  

Sad that you have to even put that message on there

[salt n sage90]

What do you do if you find a camera placed on your own private land, behind a gate? I friend of mine found one on his logging property where we have a few cameras set up, checked the pictures and found pictures of the guy checking it with a rifle in hand, and bait down in front of it.

Keep in mind this is on private timber land.

[h20hunter]

I'm taking it as it's mine now and reporting the trespasser.

[Oh Mah]

 

[huntnphool]

What do you do if you find a camera placed on your own private land, behind a gate? I friend of mine found one on his logging property where we have a few cameras set up, checked the pictures and found pictures of the guy checking it with a rifle in hand, and bait down in front of it.

Keep in mind this is on private timber land.

 Put a plastic bag over it with a message on it politely asking them to remove it from your private land and never do it again or the camera is gone next time. Then check back for the camera or bag removal, you will be able to tell if they got the message. "Polite" way for you to be cool about it.

I'm taking it as it's mine now and reporting the trespasser.

 Or that.

[h20hunter]

I would feel very strongly about trespassers in that scenario.   

[huntnphool]

I would feel very strongly about trespassers in that scenario.   

 Oh I get it!

 What if they legitimately didn't know it was private land, not likely I know but let's just say? They show back up to find their camera gone. Then they get on huntwa and bitch about some ass that stole their camera.

[salt n sage90]

The option to "take the camera, but leave a note with a phone number saying they can meet you to come get it " was mulled around a bit. But after careful deliberation and seeing the pile was toting a gun in the middle of summer into a bait site, as well as trespassing, it was decided that he would be fined a fee in the amount of the camera.

It was an expensive lesson.

[h20hunter]

I would feel very strongly about trespassers in that scenario.   

 Oh I get it!

 What if they legitimately didn't know it was private land, not likely I know but let's just say? They show back up to find their camera gone. Then they get on huntwa and bitch about some ass that stole their camera.

Valid question. If they were respectful,  admitted fault and apologized I would return it. We as hunters are obligated to know where we are and hunt legally. Mistakes can happen and when they do it xan be handled.


Side note, short story. Many years ago I was hunting public land, got turned way around and realized I needed to cross orivate property to get back to a known road or backtrack more miles than I had time to do. I unloaded my rifle, secured it in my pack, and set out. If confronted my plan was to be honest, offer to show my rounds were put away, and apologize for my presesnce. I did not get confronted as I was quite a ways from any dwelling but I was still trespassing none the less.

[Oh Mah]

I agree with the trespass part but not sure i get the toting a gun in the middle of summer comment.  if i was checking on a cam at a bait sight i would be carrying also.That said  the camera is now the property of the property owner to do as he/she pleases in my opinion. 

[X-Force]

The option to "take the camera, but leave a note with a phone number saying they can meet you to come get it " was mulled around a bit. But after careful deliberation and seeing the pile was toting a gun in the middle of summer into a bait site, as well as trespassing, it was decided that he would be fined a fee in the amount of the camera.

It was an expensive lesson.

I understand going after a trespasser but in general carrying a rifle and baiting for deer and elk is not illegal in Washington 10 gallons or less.

[salt n sage90]

True it isn't illegal, and it IS a good idea to walk into a bait site with a gun. Though the fact that he was blatantly trespassing doesn't exactly speak to his morals, so who knows if he ignores other laws such as hunting seasons...or if he thinks they don't apply to him. There have been problems with certain groups of people trespassing in this specific area before deer hunting in February.

That was more what I was trying to get at.

[X-Force]

True it isn't illegal, and it IS a good idea to walk into a bait site with a gun. Though the fact that he was blatantly trespassing doesn't exactly speak to his morals, so who knows if he ignores other laws such as hunting seasons...or if he thinks they don't apply to him. There have been problems with certain groups of people trespassing in this specific area before deer hunting in February.

That was more what I was trying to get at.

For sure. There are people who bend or don't care about the rules, private property, etc.

I just didnt want people reading the forum to think that either baiting deer or elk or carrying a rifle has something intrinsically wrong with it.

[salt n sage90]

Roger that X

[HighlandLofts]

I know someone who lives in silvana that has 35 acres, they built a house on it and started to put out deer feeders. The first year they had some nice deer at them. Then all they started to see where coyotes at the feeders. Occasionally they would see the deer heading towards the deer feeders, but where intercepted by coyotes and a couple were chased down and killed so the deer feeders now just sit in their garage.

If I put feeders out in the bigger sets of wilderness woods I'd be carrying a decent size gun no matter what time of the year it my be.

As being on private land, I'd stay the hell off and go find a good place on public land.

I have a couple of spots on public land that I took all of our excess apples to and I bought a bunch of one pound packs of salt from Wal-Mart I bought for 54 cents a pound and put out there as well.

When I go check them I carry my 44 magnum Ruger Redhawk just in case of a cougar being close by watching the bait station.

One of these days I might set a cam up on them, but maybe not.