I've used them some on public with no issues but I'm putting them in hard to reach areas I don't expect many to go. The people that do I expect to be better hunters and hopefully less likely to steal it.
Not to bad of experience so far...usually i'll try and use my tree climbers to hang them high angling them down on public land just to keep out of the line of vision.
HANG THEM HIGH!! Harder for thieves to get to them and it makes for cool pic angles. What most guys do is take one Climbing stick in to hang and/or check the cams.
They were just legalized a few years ago actually. Maybe 3-4 at most. Only legal on state and county though I think. Not legal on mfl, or other tax law land, if I recall.
In my experience, it is well worth the risk of them getting stolen. Placed 6 cameras on state land with a buddy last year when going to college. Had 3 stolen, but the other 3 provided great information on which woods to hunt and which to not based on human pressure and quality of deer. Buy cheap cameras and pull them once the season is started and more people are in the woods.
Never used them on public. I am considering it though, just see what deer are around the area I hunt. I know some B&C bucks have been ran over about a half mile from where I bow hunt public and heard of people getting pics on private around it, but I would like to know for my own what's out there. May take a cheap cam down in a couple weeks and put out.
I use them on County and National Forest lands here in Wisconsin. They are legal on those lands, not much for State lands around here in NW WI. so I don't worry about those laws since I don't hunt State lands. Each County has their own laws and all are open around here.
First time was late season last year, had two cameras out, didn't have any real issues. A couple found one when snowshoeing with their golden retriever. They stopped to pose for a picture before moving on. Camera wasn't messed with and it wasn't locked. Have one out now for the last few weeks, Somebody would have to be walking through some pretty thick brush to find it. I have a lock on it, but that is only a slight deterrent.
I stand corrected. I looked it up and you can only use them on MFL if land owner gives you permission. Thanks Man!
No problem! I want to put some out, but haven't been brave enough to risk theft yet, lol. I have some cheap cameras that I got for 30-40 bucks that I could use, but it would still irritate me if they were stolen.