Public Land Trail Cams - For or Against

bbright2

Member
Messages
69
Based on the high number of threads and responses, trail cam theft seems to be on the increase. That's unfortunate and not something I condone. That said, I am not a fan of trail cams on public land. You want to know what's on your ranch or your lease, knock yourself out with a camera behind every tree. Personally, I am a national forrest, public land DIY hunter. I don't live near the places I hunt but even if I did, I would not use trail cams on a public land hunt. I have never run across a trail camera during my hunts or scouting trips...and if I did, that would simply tell me that I need to go even more steep-n-deep. Its clear though that many consider it acceptable to leave a trail camera on public land. If it is legal and adds to your hunting experience, then I support your right. Its just not for me. What about you?
 
I disagree, for me it adds a level of suspense that gets me through the offseason. Its almost like opening morning everytime I pull that SD card lol.
 
I have no interest in trail cams. I can see their utility, but have never used one and don't intend to start. I do think they have gotten a little out of hand. People have gotten so wrapped up in their trail cams that we wukk soon see more regulations - not a good thing. If you want to leave a camera out overnight in an area you are actively hunting - fine. If you want to stake a claim with a trail cam, then expect to have problems.

Bill
 
I think that hunting is hard enough with so many people out there opening day. Anything that gives you an advantage should be a plus as long as it is ethical and not illegal. Most of us are only able to hunt a few days anyway so scouting with a camera can make it easier to take an animal. I don't own one right now but I will by next fall. I have come across about 5 cameras over the years. I don't even check their cards. I just move on and hope that someone else does not steal them. The Trophy Cam seems to be a sweet little device.

Dillon
 
I guess it doesn't make much sense to me why you wouldn't want to know what is in the area and at what times. I don't know about you, but I will use the technology to my advantage when I draw a Le tag 1 time every 15 years, or I could take your approach and hunt an area that might have good animals or may not, or it may take me several days to find the animal I want to chase instead of hours. You may as well ride a horse to your hunting area instead of drive a truck. Its all about time management, and I would have a hard time getting to all 10 hunts a year without the use of technology.
 
like zrider said. its like opening day everytime you put in that SD card. i cant wait to see my pics everytime i go. i would go and check them everyday if i could and if it didnt scare away the animals. but i love it and if you dont own a camera get one and you wont regret it. its super fun and way addicting. you will understand if you buy one. it does suck that there are people out there that think if its on public land its fair game to take or take your spot that you have spent all the time finding. i dont agree with that. go find your own spot and if you got a $100 camera stolen im pretty sure you would want to kill a man. so dont steal just look at his pics on his card and leave.
 
If you don't care for trail cams, don't use them.

If you find one on the mountain, leave it alone.

If you are hunting public lands no water hole is yours regardless whether you have a camera or tree stand on it....IT'S PUBLIC.

If you get to a spot that you've scouted (maybe that waterhole) and somebody else is there, then go somewhere else (they may have scouted that area just as hard or harder than you. Just tough luck.
 
I agree i enjoy game cameras and they are very addicting. Seems like i buy more every year. The time from settin them up to when yo ufinally get in there to get them out is like waiting on the big hunt. I lie in bed and think about what kind of pictures i got tonight...maybe bigfoot? ha now that would be cool. It is unfortunate there are people who think they need to steal them for some reason. But im all for them cameras... as for now i got two dropped in for elk. Took the horses in about 7 miles to put them in. They have been in for almost 3 weeks now. I just hope they can last for one more week with the bow hunt startin
 
+1 alp75

-KILLSHOT Productions Guides & Outfitters-
227killshot.jpg
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-19-10 AT 11:41AM (MST)[p]another +1 alp75

Trail cams have risk and reward but by no means should the fact that a cam is located in a particular spot stake claim to that spot for the camera owner.

If I had a cam I would be excited to see what images I had captured but I'm sure I would worry the entire time it is out in the field if it would be there when I went to check it.
 
Personally could care less about all these cry baby stories of someone stole my camera. I think what the trail cam guys outta do is steal each others cams. Kinda like recycling. If you have one stolen, you get to steal one, but not two. Then everyone is even steven...
 
I don't have any trailcams and never will and I don't have anything against people using trailcams, what I can't stand though is the mentality that if you have a trailcam set up that means that is your spot. You might have a trailcam set up on a water hole but I've been watching that spot with my boots and my binoculars at early hours of the day trying to keep my distance from it to not put human scent there. so IT'S NOT YOUR SPOT!
 
My train of thought leads me to think where technology has brought hunting and how much more difficult it is for an animal to survive into maturity with the aid of all these techno gadgets. In my eyes the advantage is leaning more towards the hunter today than what was in the past. Opens up a hole arena for potential debates I know. Unfortunately I see regulations coming into play someday.

Wasn't it Montana last year that tried to ban the use during any big game season or something of that nature?

Al
 
Here are a few ideas that are being kicked around at the Department Of Interior.

You will have to buy a permit for every trail cam left unattended on federal land.

No vehicles with a wheelbase less than 60".

No vehicles less than 1/2 ton in weight.

No chemical or organic baiting of any animal.
 
I agree, if it's legal go for bad but if the flash goes off on me expect the next picture to be of a full moon I don't hang mine out for the simple reason that someone would take it it doesn't matter how far back in you get someone else will find it, plus some people don't like to get their picture taken.
 
I love to use my camera's. I enjoy putting them out in new area's just to see what is out there. I have 3 different camera's out right in area's that I have no intention of hunting this year...but maybe next. In my opinion they are a great tool for scouting. If they are LEGAL then shut up about it! If fellow hunter's don't start supporting fellow hunter's even if the subject it not your cup of tea then, the sport is in a world of poop.

HAWK
 
never understood the "hey look there is someones stuff, I'm gonna take it" thoughts. BUUUUUUTTTTTTT, I hate the cams. I hate bait, I hate food plots, I hate electronic calls. Using a trail cam isn't scouting. Planting engineered food isn't sitting on a waterhole. Playing a CD isn't calling. I can look at my front door via Google Earth. Won't be long until I can watch the hills via a satelite. Perhaps I can get a robot to go shoot the damn elk. Seriously, how lazy are you that you need to sit at home and "scout" Yeah I know I packed in and set up the cameras, if you did that, you can do it again and again so do your scouting. The balance in hunting was that you go into the animals world, where he has the advantages. By using the trail cams, you can be the worst scout, loudest talker, etc. and still master the animal. To me your like the dude in the bar who gets a lot of action, then you find out he uses GHB to do so. I know to each there own, but I am personally disgusted by the cams, engineered food, high fence hunters, and yes, in my personal opinion they are all the same type of hunter, BUT stealing your cams is BS.
 
Hossblur, you hate all of that "high tech" stuff yet you are surfing the web on hunting products and getting information. Shame on you for using the web. Also what about that $40,000 truck you drive to your hunting area or high powered rifle. Maybe you do it the hard way and use a 75lb compound bow that only requires you to "hold" 15lbs while you wait 5 minutes for that perfect shot.

After you give up everything and go back to making a spear out of your own skill and the only clothing you have is from animal skin that you tanned lets talk about if trail cams should be used or not.

I agree though with you that no matter the item thieves should be dealt with in the proper way.
Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
Any person who comes across a trail cam that is not there's and thinks (or more especially acts on this thought) "I'm taking that thing...!" is a criminal at heart, and disgusts me.
I don't have any trail cams- right now, I can't afford them. If I could, I would have 2 cameras out there right now. I live in Northern Utah and it is 5 hours one way for me to where I hunt. I cannot drive that every weekend to scout. So a camera would definitely be a help to me. I know the area well where I hunt, and I'll admit it would be an advantage if I knew which of 2 locations I should be at at first light, and which to be at at dusk... But hey, I only use a bow anyway, and the odds are slim I get close... I can use all the help I can get. I've never killed a trophy animal, come close, but haven't sealed the deal. I hope this to be that year...

"Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!" 2 Ne. 28: 24
 
Triple BB-Hopefully someone steals something of yours that is on public land.The we'll see who the "crybaby" is.Since when does setting up a trailcam mean you are lazy?It adds something to the summer.We scout just as much as ever the old fashioned way.Been using trailcams for several years now,and have NEVER killed an animal we got photos of.Like someone above said-they're fun!It's exciting to see the pics!If it's legal,why should anyone freakin' care?In the 5-6 years we've been using them,we have exactly 1(one)pic of a mature buck that we would kill during daylight.They virtually ALL drink at night,after dark.So it really only tells you that the bucks you are seeing are within a 5-7 mile radius of the water.Also,in the areas we hunt,they move on after seeing a couple of flashes go off.Especially if there is more than one camera there.You're lucky to get a mature buck coming in after he knows the cam is there.To each his own,I say.If mine get stolen..oh well.That's the risk we take when setting them out on public land.We have never messed with anyone else's,nor have they messed with ours.I'm sure it will happen sometime,and like I say...oh well.That's why I buy the cheap ones.Some hunters don't like crossbows;some don't like compounds;some don't like in-line muzzleloaders.What we don't need as a hunting fraternity is infighting.Does no good for anyone.+1,BrowningRage.DON"T TAKE MY STUFF.I don't care where it is.It's mine.Not yours.
 
>Hossblur, you hate all of that
>"high tech" stuff yet you
>are surfing the web on
>hunting products and getting information.
>Shame on you for using
>the web. Also what about
>that $40,000 truck you drive
>to your hunting area or
>high powered rifle. Maybe you
>do it the hard way
>and use a 75lb compound
>bow that only requires you
>to "hold" 15lbs while you
>wait 5 minutes for that
>perfect shot.
>
>After you give up everything and
>go back to making a
>spear out of your own
>skill and the only clothing
>you have is from animal
>skin that you tanned lets
>talk about if trail cams
>should be used or not.
>
>
>I agree though with you that
>no matter the item thieves
>should be dealt with in
>the proper way.
>Mntman
>
>"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
>

side hammer thompson center new englander, shooting maxi hunters and powdered pyrodex. 97' F250 152,000 miles and a caved in bed, but other than that you got me!!! "Hunting is where you prove yourself". Again, if your looking down the sights of your compound bow, or through a 4x12 on your 300 short mag, your at least there, not sitting in your basment looking at pics. the fact that your there means your hunting. Go sit in the bush and take all the pics you can, but again what is the difference between the trail cam and google earth? Yup I am old fashioned I actually think you should be within a few miles of the animals your pursuing, crazy huh!!!
 
Wow this is never going to end! Ok guys here's the real deal. I have used cams in the past and I have had 5 of 6 stolen. Boo hoo get over it! It is public land and its not a if its gonna get stole, its a when! You need to decide if the risk is worth the reward? I don't use them anymore, not on public land. If you leave anything on public land you have no legal claim on that item if it gets taken! Even if you know the person who took it! If I came across a spotting scope someone left on top of the mountain because you don't want to pack it in and out every time, its mine! Sorry but that's the way it is! And just for the record I have never taken anyone's cam and never will! But get over it! Itsd gonna happen eventually! So ask yourselves is the risk you take when you leave your property worth it?


I just call em as I see em!
 
>never understood the "hey look there
>is someones stuff, I'm gonna
>take it" thoughts. BUUUUUUTTTTTTT,
>I hate the cams.
>I hate bait, I hate
>food plots, I hate electronic
>calls. Using a trail
>cam isn't scouting. Planting
>engineered food isn't sitting on
>a waterhole. Playing a
>CD isn't calling. I
>can look at my front
>door via Google Earth.
>Won't be long until I
>can watch the hills via
>a satelite. Perhaps I
>can get a robot to
>go shoot the damn elk.
> Seriously, how lazy are
>you that you need to
>sit at home and "scout"
> Yeah I know I
>packed in and set up
>the cameras, if you did
>that, you can do it
>again and again so do
>your scouting. The balance
>in hunting was that you
>go into the animals world,
>where he has the advantages.
> By using the trail
>cams, you can be the
>worst scout, loudest talker, etc.
>and still master the animal.
> To me your like
>the dude in the bar
>who gets a lot of
>action, then you find out
>he uses GHB to do
>so. I know to
>each there own, but I
>am personally disgusted by the
>cams, engineered food, high fence
>hunters, and yes, in my
>personal opinion they are all
>the same type of hunter,
>BUT stealing your cams is
>BS.


I have other people set mine up and check them for me....I wouldn't want this hunting thing to be too much work!

(Sarcasm)!
 
I enjoy using trail cams it gives me an advantage on days that i cant make it up to spot
 
So let me get this correct, you are allowed to use technology as long as it fits your situation but if someone else uses a different type of technology then they are bad hunters????

If I understood you correctly, you need to get off your high horse cause it is only a shetland pony and you would stand higher on your own 2 feet.

FYI- I have one trail camera and it is 6 miles in with a 2500' elevation gain. The last 400 yards is so straight up and down you are crawling on your hands and feet for awile. I check it once a week.
The reason I do not sit out there 24/7 during the summer scouting is because I have three daughters, a wife, job and friends. So it makes since to use a camera. I still get out there and do my scouting and know where the elk are and what they are doing but since I use a camera I don't get out there and hunt the way you do???

Again, pick up spear and get off the internet and live like a caveman and then you can run all of us lazy ass guys out of the woods, until then you better pick a different subject.

This is just another example we as hunters lose rights all the time because of this stupid ass bickering because one guy doesn't like what someone else does.
There is a lot of crap I don't like that other hunters do but that does not mean I am trying to ban it.
Mntman

"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
 
Hey Hornhunter247, you mind if I take your truck, your quad, your horse or whatever else you ?rode in? on and left when you went hunting do ya? It's that attitude that hurts everyone! Get over it?? How dare you sir! Stealing is stealing. It's more than obvious when a trail cam is put on a tree it was left there on purpose and it BELONGS to the individual that put it there. I don't agree that it's a claimed spot as it is not, but it's a great tool to see what's in the area to hunt. If it was on the ground laying alongside a trail at that time it would be no different than a spotting scope, but even at that, as a HUNTER and a good person I would make the best effort possible to get it back to the owner. Get over it?? Good grief man where are your scruples??

GBA
 
I almost had my whole elk camp stolen one year, I pulled in as they were pulling out. Guess I should have just waved? A thief is the lowest form of existence....
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-10 AT 05:26PM (MST)[p]Yeah get over it! You know how stupid its getting hearing about guys whine over these cameras! Yes its yours, and they can be great tools. But they should be considered expendable. You leave it in the woods unattended and it WILL come up missing! Ok so is paying a few hundred dollars worth the pics your getting? Some yes some no. The general attitude is if you leave something in the woods its your right to claim that spot! Just like guys setting up camps a month before season! And yes if you find my truck sitting in the exact same spot for more than 30 days it is your legal right to file an abandoned title and claim your prize! And again get over it! I really don't care about trail cams one way or the other, I don't mess with other people's belongings, I'm just tired of all these worthless pity posts. Its the few that lose respect for others that will screw it up for the rest!



I just call em as I see em!
 
I agree somewhat,Its kind of cheating a little but alot of people is using them so why not join them cause evryone is cheating a lttle.And plus they are alot of fun to check to see what pics you get each time.IMO
 
Hornhunter said:
"If you leave anything on public land you have no legal claim on that item if it gets taken! Even if you know the person who took it! If I came across a spotting scope someone left on top of the mountain because you don't want to pack it in and out every time, its mine! Sorry but that's the way it is!"

And then he said:
"Its the few that lose respect for others that will screw it up for the rest!"

Hmmmm.....

------------------------------------------------------
"So... Now you got a little taste of what I do..."
 
Oh come on ichabod tell me what your thinking here? Too funny man! But as a guy who has had close to 2k in cams stolen plus lock boxes destroyed, locks, solar chargers, ect ect... I knew the risk when I left them out and have never bitched publicly one time!! It sucks and it pissed me off but when I called to report it the first time I found out its a sol deal. I left it or abandoned as he put it and there is no law protecting them! I believe in karma and what goes around comes around. Its not the thieves that are going to get them banned its all the guys crying about it! It sucks but its the risk everyone is so willing to take! Oh should I be helping guys whine and cry and talking about shooting someone over a 100 dollar cam? My bad!

I just call em as I see em!
 
>So let me get this correct,
>you are allowed to use
>technology as long as it
>fits your situation but if
>someone else uses a different
>type of technology then they
>are bad hunters????
>
>If I understood you correctly, you
>need to get off your
>high horse cause it is
>only a shetland pony and
>you would stand higher on
>your own 2 feet.
>
>FYI- I have one trail camera
>and it is 6 miles
>in with a 2500' elevation
>gain. The last 400 yards
>is so straight up and
>down you are crawling on
>your hands and feet for
>awile. I check it once
>a week.
>The reason I do not sit
>out there 24/7 during the
>summer scouting is because I
>have three daughters, a wife,
>job and friends. So it
>makes since to use a
>camera. I still get out
>there and do my scouting
>and know where the elk
>are and what they are
>doing but since I use
>a camera I don't get
>out there and hunt the
>way you do???
>
>Again, pick up spear and get
>off the internet and live
>like a caveman and then
>you can run all of
>us lazy ass guys out
>of the woods, until then
>you better pick a different
>subject.
>
>This is just another example we
>as hunters lose rights all
>the time because of this
>stupid ass bickering because one
>guy doesn't like what someone
>else does.
>There is a lot of crap
>I don't like that other
>hunters do but that does
>not mean I am trying
>to ban it.
>Mntman
>
>"Hunting is where you prove yourself"
>

Hey, I don't really have time for this hiking crap so I hunt a ranch with 12 foot fences. I call the week before and buy my deer by the antler inches, they let it out of the pen and I camo up, load up the short mag, bring in a camera crew and if they film it just right the fence isn't in the shot and I kill a big old buck, then I can have a service gut and cut it while I retire to the 5 star rated cabin for some cheese and wine.

I want to kill a bull with a cool name so I am gonna buy a $175k tag that lets me hunt for 4 months state wide. But, I don't like the hunting part so I am gonna hire a fleet of guides, who in turn will hire hundreds of kids to scour the mtn.s looking for a suitable bull. When they find it I will fly in and shoot it, take pics, then fly out and let the guide service cut, gut, drag, then haul it all over the country to use a an advertisement.

I went out to a local island and saw a huge buck. I have to kill this buck. I want it so bad I bought a conservation group, who in turn bought a legislator, who in turn got "hunting" opened on that island. Forget that the biggest deer out there lives 150 feet off a paved road and takes pics with people, killing him makes me the alpha male!

Yup, I agree, banning this crap hurts all of us, the slippery slope argument. HOWEVER, we all can be honest. If you grab a bow, horse or hike into the wilderness and live in a pup tent eating MRE's, your much more of a hunter than me. The dude that killed that snake bull, DIY, during an open season is a 1000x more a hunter than a certain doctor who killed a spider bull last year. Using a guide and/or service is less impressive than DIY any day. Actually scouting is being there on the ground, trail cams aren't. Yes its legal, so are high fences, so is baiting(found this out after challenging the Pig Man about baiting elk in Utah). But is it ethical? High fences, no. Baiting, no. Using technology to scout so you don't have to, I say no, some say yes. I still won't steal your cam, but if I hike in to do some acutall scouting and find a cam and all you get is pictures of a leaf on your lense, sorry, can't control the wind, thats just one of those things that you can fix if your actually there.
 
Just because you left your camera hanging there you think "YOU" found the spot. Most hunters I know leave as little evidence of their having been there as possible. Do you really think because there is not a marker of some sort that you are the only one who has been there. So it be okay for me to go scouting, find a big buck or bull and then hang a sign in the canyon or basin that says "I found this spot, you need to find a different place to hunt," and I should expect to be left alone? This sense of entitlement when leaving a blind or camera on public land is making me sick.
 
So I guess if you left that trailCam on public land it can be taken and you're just SOL because it isn't your no more, But now if you put a 1/2 stick TNT in it and it goes Bang as some-one is taking(nice word for stealing) it, Now I bet you own that trailcam and your a bad person because you just put a hurting on a thief with a little surprise in a box. You have to wonder where in the Hell this world is going.

Stealing a Trailcam is the same as picking something out of the bed of your truck parked in the forest.You can paint that thing up and put lipstick on it But it still in STEALING period.



"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
 
i can't blame anybody for trying to give themself an advantage. technology has it's ups and downs. i do think however that we are nearing the point of having too much of an advantage over the animals. kinda takes the fun out of it if you ask me. hunting to me is getting out and enjoying the outdoors with family and friends, and the uncertanty of it. seems like it's more of a competition to some people. obviously outfitters will use any advantage they can. guess it just depends why you hunt.
 

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