are trail cams illegal on national forest?

[Knocker of rocks]

Tell us what he says.  It may be worth speaking to a superior in the WDFW and/or USFS and/or BLM if this continues to be an issue

[h20hunter]

Regarding bait, cams, and bears. We had quiet the chat and never really got a good answer on bait and bear hunting. Other than the obvious fact that you can't bait for bears you are not in any violation for placing feed for purposes of photograpy when it comes to bears. Now...say you bait the area (I have) then want to hunt the area (I have) you are in a very slippery gray area. I belive in the waterfowl secition an area is considered "baited" for 30 days once the feed is expired. After that you are not hunting a baited area. I don't know of anything specific regarding bears. So, say last year, I baited an area and got hundred if not thousands of pics of bears. I did hunt the area but had not put out bait for 30 plus days. One could say I was still in voilation because of the past baiting. If you have bait out and are 1/2 mile away hunting you could still be considered to be hunting over bait because of the proximity. I know of no good definition regarding time and or area size to know if you are hunting over bait. I've gone as far as warned people that had spring tags for the area and told them exactly where it was so they didn't accidently get accused of baiting.

I guess I would say that you can put all the feed out you want but when it comes time to hunt be very careful because you intent may not matter, only the intrepritation of the gamie.

Also...please keep in mind I'm not a gamie and only trying to offer some advice.

[h20hunter]

ps.....never did kill a bear in the area. did come close but never pulled the trigger......

[medic6]

Any chance the blind you left out and failed to mention in your original post is what he has an issue with not the game cameras.   

[Knocker of rocks]

Regarding bait, cams, and bears. We had quiet the chat and never really got a good answer on bait and bear hunting. Other than the obvious fact that you can't bait for bears you are not in any violation for placing feed for purposes of photograpy when it comes to bears.

I would say it is illegal to attract bears with bait for any purpose

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, *77.36.020, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

[h20hunter]

I would agree......stick to bait for deer.........not bears......good point.

I was baiting for blacktail, not bears.

[Knocker of rocks]

A lot of that is probably a public safety issue, in addition to a game issue

[bobcat]

Regarding bait, cams, and bears. We had quiet the chat and never really got a good answer on bait and bear hunting. Other than the obvious fact that you can't bait for bears you are not in any violation for placing feed for purposes of photograpy when it comes to bears.

I would say it is illegal to attract bears with bait for any purpose

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, *77.36.020, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

You need to read further. Their definition of bait means it was put there in order to hunt bears:

(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them.

[bigbucks1985]

Any chance the blind you left out and failed to mention in your original post is what he has an issue with not the game cameras.   

Why do you think the gamie  biggest issue was the blind?  He said something like you can only leave an unattended blind/tree stand out for 72 hours(i think that is what he said to me over the phone). I will be getting more info from him and i am pretty pissed that he went through all that effort of following my tracks for miles and taking my gear. 

[bigbucks1985]

When did this turn into a topic on baiting bears?

[h20hunter]

I didn't mean it to...there was a comment regarding bears and bait and I chimed in.

Ususally I just say "what apples?". Those were brought in by the deer!

[Knocker of rocks]

Regarding bait, cams, and bears. We had quiet the chat and never really got a good answer on bait and bear hunting. Other than the obvious fact that you can't bait for bears you are not in any violation for placing feed for purposes of photograpy when it comes to bears.

I would say it is illegal to attract bears with bait for any purpose

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, *77.36.020, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

You need to read further. Their definition of bait means it was put there in order to hunt bears:

(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them.

Gotcha, good job.

[medic6]

I am surprised he went out of his way to find your stuff and pack it out, then call you to pick it up.  Smart person would have just called and said come and remove it.  Any chance he hands you a ticket as a big thank you for making him work so hard

[jackelope]

provivder you should be for all that is hunting related, the more we choose sides and dont stick together, the more the libs will take away till there is nothing left. just saying. Its not like the camera follows animals around then shoot them for you lol.

It appears that provider isn't a hunter. I sent a PM requesting he address questions about his post and have received nothing. Any moderators on here? Maybe check into provider. Me thinks he's a plant.

The guy basically says he doesn't like trail cams. That makes him a non-hunter and a plant? Come on, man...
I won't be checking into him. I think Bob33 summed it up pretty well. And I also think Provider has been a member on here a long time.

[lokidog]

I am surprised he went out of his way to find your stuff and pack it out, then call you to pick it up.  Smart person would have just called and said come and remove it.  Any chance he hands you a ticket as a big thank you for making him work so hard

Ticket for what?  I think it has pretty well been established that it is not illegal to put trail cams out or bait in front of them.  Maybe the blind I guess?  I missed when the blind came into the picture as an issue.