Poll: Why Trail Cams Get Stolen

[True Sportsman]

I agree with wholeheartedly with Bobcats assessment, it's because there are POS thieves in this world, thats why camera's get stolen.

I agree, a lot. When I first saw the title of the poll, I thought there would be a "because the person was a POS" category. I would have voted for that category.

[ICEMAN]

I have never used one.
 
I would argue that the reason they get stolen is because;
 
 

• The chance of getting caught are nill...
• The cameras retain value when stolen, IE: sell, or keep, valuable either way...
• The cameras do not have any digital security to make them useless to a thief
• Law enforcement cannot spend any manhours into investigation...
• Nobody has had their hand blown off removing one yet... ( I am not encouraging this...)

[champ41]

People are too big of scum bags to get their own.. 

[ouchfoss]

I would think one of the main reasons is being too close to a easily accessible area (too close to a road). I tend to only put my cameras in a place that I feel confident no one should ever have a reason to be there. Unfortunetly that means sometimes putting them in a spot that is a pain in the arse to get to. I just set one today and it was a good 45 minute hike one way into no-mans land. A little bit of sweat and time is alot cheaper than buying a new camera. 

[MikeWalking]

I have never used one.
 
I would argue that the reason they get stolen is because;
 
 

• The chance of getting caught are nill...
• The cameras retain value when stolen, IE: sell, or keep, valuable either way...
• The cameras do not have any digital security to make them useless to a thief
• Law enforcement cannot spend any manhours into investigation...
• Nobody has had their hand blown off removing one yet... ( I am not encouraging this...)

OK I will.  Recommend #5 that is...

[h2ofowlr]

You should add bears to your poll.  I bet a fair amount of them are ripped off the tree by bears.  They are curious by nature and see a toy attached to a tree.  A nice chew toy.

[bobcat]

You should add bears to your poll.  I bet a fair amount of them are ripped off the tree by bears.  They are curious by nature and see a toy attached to a tree.  A nice chew toy.

I often wonder how many of these "stolen" cameras were actually taken by a bear.

[hoytem]

they get stolen because people are dishonest low lives

[Pancraciomabary]

Even I was also using trail camera from last few months but nw it got stolen.and I agree that seriously in our world stealing is no more considered a bad thing.Now I wil have to buy it again.

[NWBREW]

I voted "other". It's because there are dishonest people in this world. If it's not yours, don't take it! Having said that, I've got six cameras out and most of them have been out for the last six months straight. None of them are locked, none are camouflaged. But I do have them in an area that doesn't get a lot of human activity. My main concern is here in a week when archery deer season opens. I'm thinking of pulling a couple of them, or at least moving them to less obvious trails.

   



 

[Bluesdude]

I also vote other, (dishonest people)  I can't count all the cameras and treestands I have found on public land, and just keep walking.  I even found a loaded stainless S&W .44 mag one time hiking into Packwood Lake, saw the guy pass me on his horse wearing the gun in a hip holster on the way in and knew it was his. (must have fallen out on the ride)  His eyes got real big when I found him at the lake while he was working back scouring the trail and I pulled it out of my fanny pack and said "is this what you are looking for?"  I will never forget that.

I have stout cable locks on both my cameras now after having one stolen last year with a more simple chain and lock system.  I also made these real looking WDFW stickers which I put on my cameras to make them look "official".  So far no one has touched them!

[CallMaker]

I like the sticker.....looks vrey nice.

[gaddy]

I like the sticker also, how about a little sticker stating that this camera has a gps tag imbeded to allow for tracking incase of removal by unotherized personel or animals to aid in our ability to recover data recorded by said unit. or this unit is linked via satillite to its host witch is being monitored for scientific research, your image has been documented as passing this location at this time.

[ouchfoss]

I like the sticker also, how about a little sticker stating that this camera has a gps tag imbeded to allow for tracking incase of removal by unotherized personel or animals to aid in our ability to recover data recorded by said unit. or this unit is linked via satillite to its host witch is being monitored for scientific research, your image has been documented as passing this location at this time.

 
Although Ive never had one stolen (knock on wood) I kinda figured some sort of sign or sticker stating that it was being watched or tracked might help deter some thieves. The WDFW sticker is a good addition to that idea too!