Abandoned game cams

[KFhunter]

Interesting thread, been hunting mule deer for over 55 years, when I started the only camera you saw in the woods was being held by someone,,,,, after reading all these threads I guess that's the way I think it should be. Don't like to think I'm being watched by anyone. I hike into Pasayten Wilderness, Chewuch, Sinlahekin and Pearrygin, haven't seen a camera, but then again they don't look too much like a mule deer. I wouldn't mess with anyone's camera, but don't think they should be in in the woods forever.
Just my thoughts
John G

I think you have a good argument about wilderness, wouldn't mind seeing what everyone else thinks about trail camera's in the wilderness.

[92xj]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = caching

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

[The scout]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

[92xj]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

Beats me.
I was just stating the wording. Not saying I agree or disagree about the law.
I have my personal opinion about the issue but am leaving that out for now.

[Naches Sportsman]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

Yup. Outfitters have special use permits issued by the the land agency permit administrator.

[The scout]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

Beats me.
I was just stating the wording. Not saying I agree or disagree about the law.
I have my personal opinion about the issue but am leaving that out for now.

fair enough

[The scout]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

Yup. Outfitters have special use permits issued by the the land agency permit administrator.

good to know. I always wondered that.

[KFhunter]

I have my personal opinion about the issue but am leaving that out for now.

I'll go ahead and jump in both feet with my personal opinion....


If I'm in the wilderness I want that feeling as if I'm the first dude to step foot in this particular spot since the beginning of time, I want to be stupefied with the enormity of it all, I want to feel small and insignificant, slightly afraid and awed with grandeur of it all.  I could just sit there all day taking it in...

but that's hard to do if you're stumbling into old beer cans, trash cache'd and dug up by animals, and yes even a trail camera hung to a freaking tree taking your picture 

So I'm against trail cameras in the wilderness.  Anywhere else I'm good with them. 

[Atroxus]

According to their definition of caching. They are illegal in the wilderness if left longer than 48 hours.
Sure people will say it's arguable and disagree, but their vague wording makes it pretty dumbed down and easy to interpret.
But arguable in court.


"Caching or storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited (36 CFR 261.57(f)). Caching is defined to mean leaving equipment unattended for more than 48 hours."

Trail cam = personal property = equipment = cachin

See the 8th bullet
https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=stelprdb5137394

so is a trail camera in the wilderness different then a outfitter leaving camps setup for months at a time? they do it every year here. atleast to me a trail cam seems pretty trivial comparatively

In my opinion both should be treated the same, however in practice I think it is unlikely that those regulations are enforced with any consistency.

[jackelope]

I have a camera in the Gifford Pinchot I haven’t seen since I think 2015. I’m assuming it’s still there. It’s in a really secure lockbox. I’m also assuming it’s probably ruined because the batteries leaked or something. I would not appreciate someone checking my pics and batteries, even though they won’t get in my lock box. You didn’t do the work to put it there. You didn’t pay for it. You should just leave it alone.

With all due respect, you should consider cleaning up your junk. 

With all due respect, it's a trail camera hanging off of a tree. There are probably 10's of thousands of them out there.

[jackelope]

I have a camera in the Gifford Pinchot I haven’t seen since I think 2015. I’m assuming it’s still there. It’s in a really secure lockbox. I’m also assuming it’s probably ruined because the batteries leaked or something. I would not appreciate someone checking my pics and batteries, even though they won’t get in my lock box. You didn’t do the work to put it there. You didn’t pay for it. You should just leave it alone.

So you have a camera, presumably strapped to a tree somewhere, which you haven't checked on for 3+ years, that may or may not be leaking it's battery contents, and you still consider it your property?  Personally I think that sounds more like littering. What is the point of even having it out there if you aren't using it or checking on it? 

I just haven't had a chance to go get it yet. Aside from that, it's not unlike any other trail camera. The case of the camera is watertight so it's not leaking battery acid anywhere.

[donsk16]

I have a camera in the Gifford Pinchot I haven’t seen since I think 2015. I’m assuming it’s still there. It’s in a really secure lockbox. I’m also assuming it’s probably ruined because the batteries leaked or something. I would not appreciate someone checking my pics and batteries, even though they won’t get in my lock box. You didn’t do the work to put it there. You didn’t pay for it. You should just leave it alone.

With all due respect, you should consider cleaning up your junk. 

With all due respect, it's a trail camera hanging off of a tree. There are probably 10's of thousands of them out there.

There are also thousands of beer cans on public land...if someone picks up a beer can they walked by for 2 years, even though it has recycling value that the original owner could collect whenever they want, is that ok with you?  We all need to help keep the woods clean, using the attitude that your camera you left for over 3 years is only one of thousands is same attitude people who litter use - oh, this area already has trash, it’s ok for me to add to the problem.  We should all do our part in keeping the woods pristine with no excuses that it is okay because others do it.  As a parent, I would never teach my kids it’s okay to do something because a ton of others did it and I am surprised by that attitude on this site.  Hunters should keep the woods clean for the next person, regardless what user group it is.



As an aside, I have used game cams and would never post a person online. I feel when you are in the woods 5 miles in, regardless of the legality of sharing images, that you should have an expectation of privacy.

[Dan-o]

All this drama and not one mention of the best reason to leave your trail cams out..............

[flyfishWA]

All this drama and not one mention of the best reason to leave your trail cams out..............

just an idea....MAYBE TO GET PICTURES? like this....

[Seahawk12]

Holy cow.
Reading some of these replies.......
A thief is a thief. Try to justify it however you want, taking someones property is stealing.
Thieves are garbage.