Help with locating Whatcom County Thief (Updated)

[pianoman9701]

Ethics? Camera: yes. Ground blind: maybe.

Here in the southwest, where water is scarce, hunting over water holes is more popular than the PNW. A camera isn't bothering me and doesn't affect my hunt, but a ground blind might. Its first come, first served, on a daily basis, for hunting over watering holes. You can't put up a ground blind to dibs a water tank for an entire season or even just the next day. I've come upon watering holes where there's a ground blind that wasn't in the spot I wanted to set up, so I left it alone. If the owner shows up after I do, according to the Game and Fish Dept, they are supposed to leave the area and let me hunt it, regardless of whether their blind is there. I've also come to water holes with ground blinds set up which were exactly in the spot that I did want to hunt. I didn't steal them, but I did take them apart and toss it aside. I am curious as to whether ethics of other hunters say I should have left it alone(?).

I heard the gammie for a unit nearby will go out in plain clothes and sit at a watering hole early in the morning. Occasionally a hunter will show up and say "this is MY water hole." The gammie is reputed to ticket such hunters! I like that 

Yes BC, but as you noted, this aint AZ. There's plenty of land to hunt and no need to touch someone else's stuff. I could see carefully taking down the blind and even leaving a note about it being public land. But since the guy is already a known thief, I wouldn't expect any courtesy from him regarding the blind either. I'm actually quite surprised he didn't take that, too.

[scoyoc5]

my grandpa told me when i was a young buck " IF IS NOT YOURS DON'T TOUCH IT" !! I have applied that saying my entire life. If i set a ground blind up and someones decide to take it down I'm calling BS.. samething with a treestand. be respectfull of others property period!whats next towing my truck that's parked at the same gate??? leave a note call a game wardon and move on theres plenty of land.

[JohnVH]

there is a bunch of lifted dodges up here. Get any pics of it? I have some very good diesel connections..

also, do you see it in any of the lynden truck galleries here?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NWTruckPulls/photos_albums

[blacktailer]

Nice link John...

[Chesapeake]

A suggestion for trail cam users.

Take in with you some ladder sticks and place your trail cameras in the trees cable locked and 10 foot high or so.

This seems to greatly reduce or eliminate theft. I think most folks dont ever see them cause they are up out of the normal line of sight. And while alot of folks carry multi-tools that could be used to cut cables, few carry a ladder. Dont place them over bait, its too obvious.

Would be nice if folks just left stuff alone though and you didnt have to lock stuff up.

[scoyoc5]

Great idea

[Jonathan_S]

A suggestion for trail cam users.

Take in with you some ladder sticks and place your trail cameras in the trees cable locked and 10 foot high or so.

This seems to greatly reduce or eliminate theft. I think most folks dont ever see them cause they are up out of the normal line of sight. And while alot of folks carry multi-tools that could be used to cut cables, few carry a ladder. Dont place them over bait, its too obvious.

Would be nice if folks just left stuff alone though and you didnt have to lock stuff up.

I've considered the same thing but never tried it.  How well does this work, and how do you ensure you angle it properly everytime?  It seems like it would eliminate line-of-sight quite a bit.  I suppose I'd rather have less pics than a stolen cam though.

[Fl0und3rz]

Unattended blinds are available to the public on a “first-come first-serve” basis. These rules were designed to provide an equal opportunity for all users.

2012 Regs. p. 88.

That said, I probably would not use another's blind or stand, unless it was in an area that I wanted to place a blind or stand.  Instead, I would probably just hunt another area, or put up my own blind or stand.  But the requirements are clear.  You cannot "call" an area by setting a blind or stand, then leaving it unattended.

Sorry about your trail camera, that behavior should be punishable by more than what currently applies. 

[pianoman9701]

Unattended blinds are available to the public on a “first-come first-serve” basis. These rules were designed to provide an equal opportunity for all users.

2012 Regs. p. 88.

That said, I probably would not use another's blind or stand, unless it was in an area that I wanted to place a blind or stand.  Instead, I would probably just hunt another area, or put up my own blind or stand.  But the requirements are clear.  You cannot "call" an area by setting a blind or stand, then leaving it unattended.

Sorry about your trail camera, that behavior should be punishable by more than what currently applies.

This has to do with permanent blinds set up by the state or by organizations like DU. This isn't referring to privately owned blinds, although it could be interpreted that way.

[Bean Counter]

my grandpa told me when i was a young buck " IF IS NOT YOURS DON'T TOUCH IT" !! I have applied that saying my entire life. If i set a ground blind up and someones decide to take it down I'm calling BS.. samething with a treestand. be respectfull of others property period!whats next towing my truck that's parked at the same gate??? leave a note call a game wardon and move on theres plenty of land.

Granted that we're off base from the OP but..

There IS plenty of public land, but if I get to it first that morning, I'm using it if I want. Call BS all you want. I don't care who taught who what personal ethic. The law is on my side, at least in my state. Someone leaving a ground blind in advance doesn't mean squat. I don't believe in sitting in another persons ground blind so if its in my way then yes I'm disassembling it and moving it. That kind of song and dance might fly in WA but if you try it in Arizona first you're going to get your ground blind seized and then you're going to get ticketed.

p10:  Hanging a tree stand or setting a blind near a waterhole does not entitle a person to exclusive hunting rights to that waterhole. Depending upon the location it may be unlawful to leave treestands hanging or ground blinds set for extended periods of time. They may be considered abandoned property and subject to seizure.

[6x6in6]

PM sent go4it....

[pianoman9701]

my grandpa told me when i was a young buck " IF IS NOT YOURS DON'T TOUCH IT" !! I have applied that saying my entire life. If i set a ground blind up and someones decide to take it down I'm calling BS.. samething with a treestand. be respectfull of others property period!whats next towing my truck that's parked at the same gate??? leave a note call a game wardon and move on theres plenty of land.

Granted that we're off base from the OP but..

There IS plenty of public land, but if I get to it first that morning, I'm using it if I want. Call BS all you want. I don't care who taught who what personal ethic. The law is on my side, at least in my state. Someone leaving a ground blind in advance doesn't mean squat. I don't believe in sitting in another persons ground blind so if its in my way then yes I'm disassembling it and moving it. That kind of song and dance might fly in WA but if you try it in Arizona first you're going to get your ground blind seized and then you're going to get ticketed.

p10:  Hanging a tree stand or setting a blind near a waterhole does not entitle a person to exclusive hunting rights to that waterhole. Depending upon the location it may be unlawful to leave treestands hanging or ground blinds set for extended periods of time. They may be considered abandoned property and subject to seizure.

BC, right now I'm picturing you getting up in my face like your governor in Obama's! I hear ya, baby!

[6x6in6]

there is a bunch of lifted dodges up here. Get any pics of it? I have some very good diesel connections..

also, do you see it in any of the lynden truck galleries here?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NWTruckPulls/photos_albums

I'd venture to guess that you and I now a lot of the same people who are regular pullers at Bertheson and Moses Lake, some of which are tuned at a certain diesel shop on the outskirts of NE Bellingham.....

[scoyoc5]

my grandpa told me when i was a young buck " IF IS NOT YOURS DON'T TOUCH IT" !! I have applied that saying my entire life. If i set a ground blind up and someones decide to take it down I'm calling BS.. samething with a treestand. be respectfull of others property period!whats next towing my truck that's parked at the same gate??? leave a note call a game wardon and move on theres plenty of land.

Granted that we're off base from the OP but..

There IS plenty of public land, but if I get to it first that morning, I'm using it if I want. Call BS all you want. I don't care who taught who what personal ethic. The law is on my side, at least in my state. Someone leaving a ground blind in advance doesn't mean squat. I don't believe in sitting in another persons ground blind so if its in my way then yes I'm disassembling it and moving it. That kind of song and dance might fly in WA but if you try it in Arizona first you're going to get your ground blind seized and then you're going to get ticketed.

p10:  Hanging a tree stand or setting a blind near a waterhole does not entitle a person to exclusive hunting rights to that waterhole. Depending upon the location it may be unlawful to leave treestands hanging or ground blinds set for extended periods of time. They may be considered abandoned property and subject to seizure.

lol

[JohnVH]

there is a bunch of lifted dodges up here. Get any pics of it? I have some very good diesel connections..

also, do you see it in any of the lynden truck galleries here?

http://www.facebook.com/#!/NWTruckPulls/photos_albums

I'd venture to guess that you and I now a lot of the same people who are regular pullers at Bertheson and Moses Lake, some of which are tuned at a certain diesel shop on the outskirts of NE Bellingham.....

I know your right