Banning trail cameras in Arizona

[emac]

I always thought I was the only one that hated trail cameras. Most people won’t agree with me but trail cameras are an invasion of privacy. If you took your kids to the park and there were cameras strapped to all the trees people would freak out but it’s ok in the national forest. I go to the woods to leave technology and electronics behind and yes, I do carry a gps and my phone but I don’t leave them strapped to trees for everyone to see. They are just another form of litter the same as helium balloons, water bottles and beer cans.that being said, on your own private property, do what you want.

This is funny. There is no such thing as invasion of privacy anymore with the technology in this world.  If you dont think you are being filmed st everything you do anymore you are wrong.  Even in the woods if you can see another human there is a good possibility you are being filmed.

On the trail camera thing AZ is a whole different situation than here.  I have cameras up year round on public and private ground.  I will continue to do so also until someone can tell me a legitimate reason why I shouldn't. Littering doesn't work, invasion of privacy doesn't work, fair chase doesn't work since non of mine are cellular.  And even if they were cellular the chances of an animal still being at a cam location and me being near the location to get there to harvest it are slim.  I have yet to hear a good argument against them.

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[L8NITE]

Give it time Stien...

[jrebel]

I always thought I was the only one that hated trail cameras. Most people won’t agree with me but trail cameras are an invasion of privacy. If you took your kids to the park and there were cameras strapped to all the trees people would freak out but it’s ok in the national forest. I go to the woods to leave technology and electronics behind and yes, I do carry a gps and my phone but I don’t leave them strapped to trees for everyone to see. They are just another form of litter the same as helium balloons, water bottles and beer cans.that being said, on your own private property, do what you want.

This is funny. There is no such thing as invasion of privacy anymore with the technology in this world.  If you dont think you are being filmed st everything you do anymore you are wrong.  Even in the woods if you can see another human there is a good possibility you are being filmed.

On the trail camera thing AZ is a whole different situation than here.  I have cameras up year round on public and private ground.  I will continue to do so also until someone can tell me a legitimate reason why I shouldn't. Littering doesn't work, invasion of privacy doesn't work, fair chase doesn't work since non of mine are cellular.  And even if they were cellular the chances of an animal still being at a cam location and me being near the location to get there to harvest it are slim.  I have yet to hear a good argument against them.

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All I have heard at this point is, "I don't like" therefore they should be outlawed!! 

I can't speak to the OP's original concern in an area that has limited water, feed, etc and hundreds of cams around the only water source.....I would agree in this scenario something needs to be done. 

I have never left a cam and littered.  I have very rarely caught pics of other people so privacy is not to big a concern.  Never killed an animal on the same day of checking my cams so don't really see an advantage to hunting with them.  Matter of fact I have passed up smaller animals in search of the big ones and sometimes eat a tag because of it.    Still waiting.

[fishngamereaper]

Running cams actually benefits wildlife at least from my experiences in washington.. Instead of scouting every few days and bumping animals I soak for a month and check cams ..less pressure. And over the years with hundreds of cam sets Ive gotten maybe two people on my cams . But it's very rare as my cams are deep and off the beaten path.

To each there own, but my cams on public land are not litter.  And I don't run cell cams, I enjoy the effort it takes to check my cams.

[Stein]

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

[fishngamereaper]

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

Flagging tape..

[jrebel]

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.   

[fishngamereaper]

In regards to Arizona I understand the reasoning.

That same reasoning doesn't carry much weight as far as Washington is concerned from my experiences.

[buckfvr]

I always thought I was the only one that hated trail cameras. Most people won’t agree with me but trail cameras are an invasion of privacy. If you took your kids to the park and there were cameras strapped to all the trees people would freak out but it’s ok in the national forest. I go to the woods to leave technology and electronics behind and yes, I do carry a gps and my phone but I don’t leave them strapped to trees for everyone to see. They are just another form of litter the same as helium balloons, water bottles and beer cans.that being said, on your own private property, do what you want.

Invasion of privacy ?   Do you own a cell phone or PC    Now thats invasion of privacy.

[Stein]

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?

[bornhunter]

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?

[Dan-o]

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?

I love running trail cams just for fun, but you ask a great question.

I check mine every month or two when they are out, but any amount of time I am allowed to "ethically" leave my property unattended on public property is an arbitrary number.

[jrebel]

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. 

[Stein]

That's my point Jrebel, if we say it's ok to leave cameras, then it's hard to say it's not ok to leave your treestand up.  Same with all the broken chairs, coolers and tents or even trailers left to "reserve' camping spots.  At that point, we have restricted the use of public land by others unless they want to put themselves in a position of likely confrontation which is not fair. 

I think the closer we can get to leave no trace, the better everyone is now and for future generations.  I'm sure everyone inadvertently leaves stuff either by accident or they can't get back to pull all the trail markers, and hopefully they are also picking up other's stuff.

That's my opinion.  They are legal to use per WDFW and a grey area by public land rules, so I support legal hunting methods today.  I have never touched one, been on countless SD cards waving, but if WDFW asked for public input I wouldn't support it.  If it's a problem in AZ it either is a problem here already or will be.

[trophyhunt]

Now we are bickering about trail cameras on public land, wilderness areas and such.  Man this crap gets old, people need to smoke more weed or something, but getting in everyone's business seems to be popular now days.  carry on, and I will carry on with my cameras, owning what guns I want, taking the cat off my exhaust, not buying discover pass, riding my ebike, putting a scope on my muzzy when it's legal, can't think of anything else that puts us at odds together but I'm sure there is a bunch more we can get nosy about.