Banning trail cameras in Arizona

[grundy53]

How's that song go, if you mind your own business then you wont be minding mine. I hate how so many threads turn sportsman against sportsman, Cameras, range finders, 209 primers, camps, lighted nocks, mechanical broad heads, ebikes, 4wheelers the list goes on and on.

Well said

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[bornhunter]

What personal property should be allowed to be left on public land indefinitely?

You make a lot of assumptions that people are leaving them there indefinitely.  What is your definition of indefinitely anyway? 

Before I had private property I had some cams in the Chihuahua unit.  I would check them monthly and take them down for the winter.  Depending on the area I would move them year to year. 

Your camping footprint (assuming you camp on public land when you hunt) leaves a bigger footprint than my camera hanging in a tree.  Should people rehab their camp spots to wipe out any trace of human activity or should we just ban all recreation on public lands.  You ever crapped in the woods and left a pile of toilet paper or paper towels?  That could take a year to biodegrade....is that indefinite based on your definition?  Just curious because it sounds like people are just hanging cameras, walking away and never coming back to get them.   

Just asking a question.

I'll be more specific, let's say two months.  What personal property is it ok to leave for two months unattended on public property?  Is it just cameras, or anything as long as you come back at some point to check on it?

Cameras would fit that description.  Toilet paper is another that comes to mind.  People leave flagging behind often (not 100% in agreeance but not willing to says no flagging ever allowed again on public land).  Tree stands (non permanent) are left up for months at a time.  Ground blinds, natural and otherwise are often put up for longer periods of time.  Memorials are another that comes to mind and I personally don't have a problem with those.  Arrows that are not recovered after being shot.  Bullets that lodge in trees and hillsides.  Shotgun hulls or bullet casings after being ejected.  Geocaching boxes are another, though not hunting related. 

I'm sure if I think a little harder I can come up with more. 

Some of these are biproducts of people recreating, some are tools that will be recovered.  Some could be construed as litter and others not so much.  I have yet to know a person that puts a trail camera up and just walks away to never come back.   I find it to be a stretch to say that people leave them indefinitely.  I also find it a stretch to say people that use trail cameras are littering. 

I started this topic just to get opinions of some of us Wa folks. I spotted 3 different cameras this year while hunting public ground. It just seems like there are so many cameras out there the pure hunting experience is being lost.    Not criticizing those who use them but wondering if its time to put a little control on them at least on public ground?

Can you elaborate on the "pure hunting experience" and being "lost".  What would you suggest for regulating them? 

In most cases cameras extend my season and allow me to recreate all year long.  It allows me to see how the animals are doing and what kind of predators I have that I would otherwise not see.  An example would be the 5+ cougars and 16 bears I had on one camera last year.  I would say we have a predator problem.   Three years ago I saw very few bucks on my cameras.   After a few years of pressuring the bear, planting food plots and choosing not to hunt deer in that area, we now have decent bucks running around.  Some of this would never have been know without cameras.  I adjusted my hunting based on the intel my cameras provided and now we have some huntable bucks.  I also know that the amount of bear in that area need to be thinned down so family members have free rein during bear season.  Unfortunately we have only been able to connect on a couple.....but the pressure is pushing them further out and my cams are getting fewer bear pics.  My cams also have caught trespassers and protect my property.

Not sure I can really answer that question. What I consider a pure hunting experience is going to be very different than say a 25 year old who has been hunting for 15 years. Those hunters who use all the new stuff that I  didnt have when I started hunting I'm sure have as much fun now as I did without them back then. For me probably an age thing and longing for the good old days. And lets keep this civil with some good discussion on this topic. I am sure regulation on trail cameras will be here before long.

[NOCK NOCK]

You arrive at a camp site on public land. Another group is already camped there. Is it Ok to just set up your camp amongst theirs? Its public land, 1st campers do not OWN it. Better yet, just leave all your stuff in your rig, heck easier to just use all theirs.

I don't think anyone on this thread suggested stealing stuff?

Nor am I.  Its public land, I want to camp/use the spot there too.  Granted the "use their stuff" was used in jest FYI

[bornhunter]

All my cams are for bigfoot research...

 

[NOCK NOCK]

How's that song go, if you mind your own business then you wont be minding mine. I hate how so many threads turn sportsman against sportsman, Cameras, range finders, 209 primers, camps, lighted nocks, mechanical broad heads, ebikes, 4wheelers the list goes on and on.

Well said

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  X1000

[Bob33]

So anything goes? It's not ok to discuss whether new technologies should be restricted?

[jrebel]

So anything goes? It's not ok to discuss whether new technologies should be restricted?

?  Who said it's not OK to discuss it ?  It appears there is open dialogue going on right now and for the most part it appears civil.  Why would you even post this question? 

[Bob33]

So anything goes? It's not ok to discuss whether new technologies should be restricted?

?  Who said it's not OK to discuss it ?  It appears there is open dialogue going on right now and for the most part it appears civil.  Why would you even post this question?

"I hate how so many threads turn sportsman against sportsman, Cameras, range finders, 209 primers, camps, lighted nocks, mechanical broad heads, ebikes, 4wheelers the list goes on and on."

[Oh Mah]

WOW ANOTHER BASH ON OTHER USER GROUPS THREAD.

They don't hurt anything why can't outdoorsman mind their own and quit whining about how someone else does it?

[vandeman17]

It amazes me how people in the political threads will complain all day long that their voices are never heard but yet in a thread like this one, they want zero discussion. Having an open discussion about the pro's and con's of different types of trail cameras DOES NOT pit hunters against hunters. Good grief

[bornhunter]

It amazes me how people in the political threads will complain all day long that their voices are never heard but yet in a thread like this one, they want zero discussion. Having an open discussion about the pro's and con's of different types of trail cameras DOES NOT pit hunters against hunters. Good grief

 

[justyhntr]

So how do cell cameras give a hunter an advantage? We currently are running 2 , they are 1 hour and 45 minutes from my front door between drive and hike so it would take 2 hours to get to then when I'm notified that an animal has come through. Lets be real no animal is going to stay in that spot for 2 hours. Now I have heard of a couple instances where a private property owner has put out a 1600lbs. square bail of alfalfa and a cell camera on it and when he gets notified that an elk is there he or family just head out back and shoot it, yes, I see this hole scenario as a problem but I don't see how seeing a couple cameras is detrimental to the hunting experience. For the wife and I running trail cameras is a big part of the hunting experience. We are out in the woods at least once a week year around, I always carry a camera in my pack. Whether we are hiking through big timber or some thick swamp if we cut cougar sign we put a camera on it. 2 weeks later when we check our camera and we have video of the cat, yeah we get pretty excited, for us it's a hunting experience that we love, maybe not the same as calling one in but it's still a win for us and a huge part of our hunting experience. I would also hate loosing the opportunity to run cameras during the rut, it's the one time of the year that you can really get to see quality bucks in an area, with blacktail that is the best time to have cameras out.

[bornhunter]

This is not another bash on other user groups! This is about another state banning a tool (on public land) for hunting that many of us in this state also use. I was curious about what folks think?

[Sandberm]

This is not another bash on other user groups! This is about another state banning a tool (on public land) for hunting that many of us in this state also use. I was curious about what folks think?

See what you did? Its all your fault 

What is your next topic started going to be? Corner crossing? Dummy Camps?   

[jrebel]

I've yet to hear a reason for banning trail cameras (at any time of the year) other than "I don't like them." 

For the anti trail camera guys / gals....can you please provide a reason to ban trail cameras?  Change my mind.....  Does it make me a better hunter?  Does it give me an unfair advantage?  Does it increase harvest rate?  Does it have a negative impact on harvest numbers? 


I will itemize what I see as the advantages;

1.  I can manage my hunting based on intel obtained that would otherwise be an unknown.  Example....the big brown color phase bear has cubs so don't shoot her.  As opposed to Bear!!!!  Bang!!!!  Oh crap she was wet and I now killed three bears instead of one. 
2.  Seeing cougars (predators in general) that would otherwise not be seen.....I have a cougar problem and I have the proof that WDFW refuses to acknowledge.  Same goes for our non existent wolf problem that WDFW refuses to acknowledge.  I have wolf pics and I can monitor that problem year to year.   
3.  Seeing year to year the changes in game numbers and health of game to dictate the hunting pressure I'm willing to put on a piece of land.
4.  Allows me to hunt year around.  Keeps me active but also lessons the actual footprint on the land, thus lessening the stress on game. 
5.  Allows me to see game that is not alert and watch them in a more natural sense / setting. 
6.  Security for trespassers, poachers, etc. 
7.  It is just good clean fun that really does not hurt anyone.  It gets my kids excited to hike and hunt.  It is like going on a scavenger hunt as opposed to just a hike in the hills.  My family loves pulling trail cams and can't wait to get home to look at the bounty. 

Please list the Cons because so far this is all I've heard;

1.  Littering....this does not pass the smell test, I have never left a trail cam without recovering it at some point.  I check them regularly.
2.  Privacy.....Well, this is another thread in and of itself.  What are you worried you may get caught doing???  Privacy is not an inherent right on public land. 
3.  Unfair advantage....prove it, give me specifics.  My cameras do not make me a more successful hunter or give me an unfair advantage but maybe I'm doing it wrong. 
4.  What else??