Camera theft in GMU 328

[hoover9_7]

Just got back from an elk trip in GMU 328, Eastern Wa. with bad news.  My camera was stolen from a very remote location that only hunters would go to.  On Oct. 22 my twin 10 yr. old boys and I had taken a trip over to Ellensburg to do a little deer hunting and show them where I hunt elk.  We hiked deep into the wilderness to set up my new Browning Strike Force Pro 18MP camera.  They were so excited to see what kind of animals were going to be on it.  I had fastened it to a tree with a Master Lock Python several feet off the trail.  When I got home from elk hunting I told them the bad news.  They could not believe someone would steal something like that so far out in the woods and were pretty upset about not seeing elk.  We as hunters need to not steal from each other!  Theft is theft no matter if it's on public or private land.  Just keep your hands off other peoples belongings!!! 

[Doublelunger]

That sucks and I hate to say it but welcome to the club. I've lost count of how many I've had stolen, I think I'm up to 5 or 6.

[Taco280AI]

I hate thieves

[WapitiTalk1]

Fricking dirtbag!!!!  Nothing worse than a thief 

[Crunchy]

That really bites but will happen to you at some point.  Ive been lucky as this was/is the first year of hanging cams.  I still have one out that I will pull during late modern deer.  Hope it is still there.

[Buckhunter82]

"My camera was stolen from a very remote location that only hunters would go to." So the only people that can or would access this spot are hunters and your 10 year old children?

[fastdam]

Yeah it's happened to a lot of people. Hide better. It's on you toakw sure no one sees it. You cannot rely on the general public doing the right thing.

[hoover9_7]

Buckhunter82,

All I'm saying is that the camera was set up on Oct. 22nd, about a week before elk season and it was gone when I checked opening day Oct. 27th.  Don't think there were too many anti hunters/hikers in that area that far into the canyon during that week.  It was more than likely a hunter scouting for elk and stealing cameras.

[Buckhunter82]

It could very well be a hunter. I usually pull cameras before season just to avoid the possibility. I just disagree with the idea that it was obviously a hunter. Sorry about your camera. Ive had one disappear but I think it was a bear. The bears aint getting them now lol

[teanawayslayer]

It could very well be a hunter. I usually pull cameras before season just to avoid the possibility. I just disagree with the idea that it was obviously a hunter. Sorry about your camera. Ive had one disappear but I think it was a bear. The bears aint getting them now lol

we went to check a cam last year. Hiked in and it wasn’t there. Cable and lock were still wrapped around the tree. Got looking around a little bit and somone Else has one set up two trees away. I was pissed. My first thought was they took ours down. But I thought to myself that they would have to be pretty *censored* to steal ours and putvtheres up. I came to the conclusion a bear must have ripped it off the tree and broke the plastic that the cable went through. Was your cable and lock still on the tree?

[BreezyBear]

Sorry man, I had 2 stolen out of GMU 328 also last month.  Mine were both in lock boxes, which were cut off the tree.  Some real dirtbags out there!

[Buckhunter82]

I didnt have a cable and lock on the camera. That cam was actually on private and just strapped to a tree. A bear had spun it around the tree a few times. I know that from the pics. One day it was gone. I have also had bears rip 2 cams down but leave them next to the tree. Now they all get steel boxes to stop the bears and deter the people.

[bornhunter]

 

[JohnD]

This is a few years old but I like the idea of getting it up high.

[trophyhunt]

I completly agree that it’s hunters, also, those python locks are a joke for thieves.

[Timberstalker]

What’s pathetic to begin with is that we to have lock these damn cameras.

[Naches Sportsman]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

[NOCK NOCK]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

[Skyvalhunter]

I guess some people's way out could be different than others

[Twispriver]

My hunting partners and I hung cameras in the 340 a couple of years ago and went to retrieve them after we set up camp a couple of days before the muzzle loader opener. My buddy came back from his hike and told us that his camera was stolen and he was really disappointed as they had been up since the July 4th holiday and should have had some good pictures. A few days later he was hunting up in that area and low and behold there was his camera right on the tree where he hung it - he looked in the wrong tree. I wonder how many of the reports of stolen cameras on this board are really just lost like my friends?

[optic2]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

[Turner89]

I guess some people's way out could be different than others

I've never had a camera stolen or have I had a pic of a human ......that I can think of anyhow.

[Naches Sportsman]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

The two that I had taken were legally placed and labeled to say so. Used to help run quite a few that are a half a days walk just to get to them. Full day to get to them on skis.

I knew where all of them were as all the setups are well documented.

[LongBomb]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

Cameras aren't allowed in Wilderness Areas?

[optic2]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

Cameras aren't allowed in Wilderness Areas?

Not in federally designated wilderness areas like Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks, etc.

[millerwheeler]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

Cameras aren't allowed in Wilderness Areas?

Not in federally designated wilderness areas like Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks,

Guess I'm a super law breaker  never heard of that

[Skyvalhunter]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

Cameras aren't allowed in Wilderness Areas?

Not in federally designated wilderness areas like Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks, etc.

Where did you get that idea from?

[Timberstalker]

I can't see spending more than $40 on a trail camera or spending additional money to lock them up as a person will take them if they really want them.

Had two $20 cams walk off last year that were the farthest from the road, yet I had a camera in a tree 3' off a main road last 3 winters and it was still there all 3 springs when I went to get it.

This is what I don't get, Seems like most cams stolen are always "way back in deep" or on private. 
Makes me go hmmmmmmm??

I feel like the way back deep are two things. If they are in a wilderness area then it isn't legal to place them there. Or if it isn't in a wilderness area then another hunter who thinks it's "his spot" doesn't really want you there.

Cameras aren't allowed in Wilderness Areas?

Not in federally designated wilderness areas like Alpine Lakes, Goat Rocks, etc.

Please provide a law or source for this information.
@optic2

[92xj]

He is correct.
No personal belongings can be left for over 48 hours.( I believe is the time limit)
This also includes a small salt block as I had a very long conversation 4 miles in a wilderness with a forest service officer.
They're are aTON of hunters breaking the law/rule on this.

[Timberstalker]

He is correct.
No personal belongings can be left for over 48 hours.( I believe is the time limit)
This also includes a small salt block as I had a very long conversation 4 miles in a wilderness with a forest service officer.
They're are aTON of hunters breaking the law/rule on this.

Looks like you can’t camp in there for more than 48 hours then.

[92xj]

He is correct.
No personal belongings can be left for over 48 hours.( I believe is the time limit)
This also includes a small salt block as I had a very long conversation 4 miles in a wilderness with a forest service officer.
They're are aTON of hunters breaking the law/rule on this.

Looks like you can’t camp in there for more than 48 hours then.

His wording was you can camp and do whatever you want, bur once you leave the wilderness all your belongings that you brought in with you have to also leave the wilderness within 48 hours.  This was 5 years ago though, so something could have changed

[92xj]

He is correct.
No personal belongings can be left for over 48 hours.( I believe is the time limit)
This also includes a small salt block as I had a very long conversation 4 miles in a wilderness with a forest service officer.
They're are aTON of hunters breaking the law/rule on this.

Looks like you can’t camp in there for more than 48 hours then.

I also guess I should have said personal belongings can't be left unattended for over 48 hours.

[92xj]

After I had that conversation and went home I was able to find the legal wording, or maybe I read it on the board at the trailhead.  I just spent a few minutes googling but turned up nothing. But I lack the effort to continue as I don't really care, just posting up a personal experience. No fines or tickets happened to me, just a simple conversation.
Things could be different now or that guy could have been being a jerk. Doesn't matter to me either way.

[Timberstalker]

Good information.

[92xj]

Good information.

Yeah, it was something I had no idea about and didn't even think was an issue.

[92xj]

dang it timberstalker, I caved and kept looking.
This is the wording the forest service guy must have been referring to when he had his little chat with me. 

"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."

I guess salt blocks and trail cameras are considered "caching" when dealing with the wilderness and forest service law folks.

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

[CAMPMEAT]

So, only hunters will go where you hang a camera. I bet it was some offload bicyclist, eating a granola bar having a carrot or two for lunch.

[Timberstalker]

I’d argue the intent of that “caching” CFR you mention, @92xj
I’d say that is for people leaving camps and supplies in a wilderness.

Regardless, it’s not specific so I may lose that’s argument.

Solid information. Thanks for sharing.