What a Bummer!!!


Rhino

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Like Tim, I'm not happy either! :angry: While checking my trail cams Saturday morning I found out a thief had stolen one of my Reconyx cams. This cam was set on one of our summer plots that's ~4.5 miles inside our property through our interior road system. Needless to say I was LIVID! It's the same spot where I've been keeping tabs on a buck that has kickers off both G2's, has a split brow tine, and during the last run had just started to grow a G4 on his right side. I hoped to learn if he'd matched up as a main frame 5x5. Chances are now I won't know unless he moves during daylight hours during the season. Can't risk having another $500+ trail cam stolen down there.

To make matters worse, after discovering a thief had stolen my trail cam I went to do some pole trimming on a treestand I had near the SW end of the plot. When I got there hogs had destroyed the entire south end of the field by rooting it up. Nothing left but turned up dirt down there. I just left the area in anger.

That afternoon I went there to glass the plot till dark. Nothing entered the plot. That hasn't happened this year. Apparently there's been enough disturbance in there during the past week to cause the deer to vacate the area for the time being.

Yesterday morning while stewing in anger over a few cups of coffee I came up with a plan to do something. I was polite enough to leave a message for the thief too. After all he had to been brave enough to travel a long way into our place to find & steal my trail cam. I wrote a note, put it in a gallon zip loc, clear side out for waterproofing and easy to read the note. I taped it to a tree using gorrila tape (it can't come off short of a hurricane) right next to the road about 250 yards before the same plot. My note said: "To the thief that has stolen my trail cam. If you're reading this note chances are I've caught you on another trail cam I've hidden along the road behind you. Good luck finding it! I've also contacted the local authorities to let them know we have this problem." He'll have a little over 4 miles to hunt for it. I figure only a fool or a thief that's in it for the thrill of the risk will return after finding out he's under camera surveillance.

Edited by Rhino
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It's stories like this I just hate hearing. He most likely got pics of your buck on the camera too, and will be back to poach it come hunting season, or just before.

I really hope your note works. I've had so many treestands stolen over the years, I now hesitate using them altogether. It's a shame there are so many dishonest, self serving people in this old world of ours. It sure makes it tough on us honest folks.

Maybe you'll get lucky and catch the creep Al. I hope so.

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Al I really hate to hear that. Hopefully someone will turn up something that will finger the punk that did it. Maybe they'll turn up on another cam somewhere on your club and can be ID'd.

I've been pretty fortunate over the years, only had 2 climbers stolen (knock on wood).

Worst of it is that your sense of security is now shattered and you have to start worrying about all your cam sets.

good luck bud.

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Worst of it is that your sense of security is now shattered and you have to start worrying about all your cam sets.

That's absolutely right on the mark there John, especially on that part of our property! I don't feel like I need to be in the woods now without at least a sidearm too.

He most likely got pics of your buck on the camera too, and will be back to poach it come hunting season, or just before.

Probably Steve but I'll have the GW's cell number in my cell phone now too. I'm essentially retired so depending on the weather, I'll be there a fair amount during the week once the season opens. I can't do much about preseason poaching or late night poaching though.

My guess is the thief was down there trying to spotlight pigs at night. He passed by my trail cam, realized he was caught from the red IR flash glow, and grabbed the camera to remove the evidence.

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Thats a real shame for sure. Hopefully he finds your note and stays away or you have a pic of him on another camera. He must have been fairly familiar with the area to go that far into the property and find it like that.

Ive been lucky and never had a camera stolen. We used to have problems with trespassing on our property, but we put up signs all around and my dad passed it around to the locals that he wouldnt tolerate trespassing and that he would presss charges on anyone caught. That took care of the problem.

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I know your pain all to well Rhino. Had my Scoutguard, a graduation gift, stolen back in May. It's the worst feeling I think besides losing a loved one.

I was going to put a note out there but never did, so kudos to you. I am actually in the process of getting a homebrew made for me and just got chain today, it also will have a python on it as well. My leaf river is chained to a tree in our woods.

It def. stinks though being it was on your own property, I feel sorry for ya...it is a royal bummer:(

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