SuperMn106 Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 I am thinking about getting a couple of cheap ($100 and under) but reliable trail cams and using them this year. I hunt mostly on public land. Does anyone else use trail cams on public land and what is your strategy on keeping it safe from theifs? Do you lock it with a cable or only leave it up over night and take it down during the day? Also, what is your camera set up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikebohio Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 its hard enough to keep them from getting stolen on private land. check your local dnr rules for putting them up on public land. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 its hard enough to keep them from getting stolen on private land. check your local dnr rules for putting them up on public land. it would be a good thing to see whats running around, but the chances are real good that some one would take them, if it was me i would just do some real good scouting and forget about trying to lose my stuff, ive lost stands on public land, mho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkeygirl Posted June 14, 2011 Report Share Posted June 14, 2011 I never have for the fear of loosing one. While working at camp next to the state land, I had one out. this year I may put on out on the state land right by camp...through camp I have easy access to the middle of the state land where few people go. Would love to get a bear:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted June 15, 2011 Report Share Posted June 15, 2011 I sure wouldn't risk setting a trail cam on public land. Just my honest opinion but you can't make one totally theft proof. If a thief wants it, he's going to get it...even if he has to go back for the tools to do it. I know of stands chained and locked to trees that didn't stop a thief. I also know of trail cams that were ripped off of trees or they just attempted to tear them off the tree, essentially destroying the camera. If they tear it up trying to steal it the net effect is the same. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 Every year I have cameras set up on public land and have never had one stolen. If you place your camera in a high traffic (human) area then your odds of having it stolen are probably quite high, but then your chances of getting some interesting pictures would be lower anyway. Off the beaten track where people seldom travel there are probably some indistinct trails (buck trails?) that make for good camera placement. The harder to reach, the better. Also, you may want to place cameras late on a Sunday evening and retrieve early the next Saturday morning to avoid having it in the woods during the busy weekend. Use a stout cable lock, or similar devise, to secure the camera. Camouflage the camera as you would yourself when out hunting, making use of natural cover. A camera strapped to a bare tree trunk is easy to see. No guarantees, but that should work. Of course, here where I live, there are millions of acres of national forest and cameras placed miles from the nearest road are not likely to be discovered by anyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted June 16, 2011 Report Share Posted June 16, 2011 I probably would not put one on public ground Mike, but if I did I would at the very least use a python cable lock and make sure the camera was as far off of human travel routes as possible. A camera with good camo might help. My cams are homebrews, I only have one running right now which is on a mineral site. Really need to break down and get another cam or two back up and running and on trails, floods claimed a couple of my cams last year and am really missing having 4 to 5 cams to check every weekend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperMn106 Posted June 22, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 Thanks for the advice guys! The place where I hunt I walk back in far enough to where I have only seen one other hunter back there but he was still a couple hundred yards from where I hunt. I don't trust people enough to leave it out all week. I would probably just leave it over night or something. Now I just have to find a cheaper camera but with some good qualities. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtrujillo Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 I've used cameras on public land and not had any problems yet. I lock them up with a cable, but there aren't too many people around in the areas that I use them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loner Posted June 26, 2011 Report Share Posted June 26, 2011 anytime,you put a stand or cam on private land there is going to be a risk of theft.here are some things i do: *always go to the stand or cam from a different place.don't leave trail for someone to follow *atv use to remote areas are dead giveaway for riders that follow every trail they find.park away from the cam area on the regular atv trail and walk to the cam *i am careful not to leave any boot tracks in obvious areas like sand,ditches,mud.i also,stick some twigs or branches around the cam to keep it from standing out.be careful not to get in line with lens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.