I was checking my trail cameras on Saturday, only to find that one of my Cuddeback Captures had been stolen. My family has owned this land for over 60 years, and this is the first time anything like this has ever happened. I wasn't too sure about what to do so I called my bro in law(an Illinois State Trooper). He told me to contact a game warden, and I am currently waiting to hear back from them. Saturday afternoon there was a truck parked on our property line about 200 yards from where the camera was at, so I took the plate number down. Where the truck was parked, there are obvious signs where he had been driving back into the field over the past few weeks. I know it probably won't help much, but there's the chance that it might. There is only 1 property close to where the camera was taken. I know the landowners lease it out, but I am not sure who to. The same truck I saw Saturday, was also the same one that was there last gun season, so I am guessing he is the guy hunting the area. I know that the chances of ever getting the camera back are VERY slim, but I couldn't just sit here and not try to do something about it. I have a stand not 100 yards from this camera, that I could not believe was still in the tree. My guess is the guy was trespassing, got his picture taken, and knew he needed to get rid of the evidence. How has anyone else handled getting trail cameras, stands, etc. stolen? Ever got them back? I guess I'm in the market for a new camera now
Have had tree stands and 3d targets stolen over the years. Reported them all and never got anything back. Hope your luck is better than mine.
the kid that lives across the road from me stole my stand a few weeks ago. i reported it and got my ladder back because they were in his back yard but havent gotten the stand yet. Im still trying to get it. Hope you get your camera back
Scott, Sorry for your loss! We had a situation similar. So we decided to multiply the Stands...so they steal 1 and We'll put 12 up! It seems to have worked. Also, came up with a locking mechanism that is like none on the market problem solved. You know if they want something bad enough they will get it! Strength in numbers! Can't see doing that with camera through! Only when we need it...Keep them guessing! This has solved our problem! SilentSling
I've had a climber and a trail cam stolen. I reported it to the DNR. They were nice enough and came out to the place where it was all taken from. They told me I would probably never see those things again and I never did.
I had my camera stolen and decided that when I replace it I will be getting 2, one to use and one for a high location pointed at the camera in a undetected place. That way I will have a picture of the thief and weather I get it back ill know who did it.
A guy from another site posted last year that he had a camera stolen. He went on craigslist and sure enough there was the same kind of camera for sale from someone in his vicinity. He called the state police who made arraingements with the seller to come and purchase the camera. It was stolen and the perp. got arrested and the camera was returned. A longshot I know but it might be worth a try. Blessings.......Pastorjim
Several years ago, I had several items stolen from my property. 2 trail cams, a ladder stand, and some misc. stuff from my blind including a bucket seat and a camo tarp. I was pissed beyond belief. Nobody had permission to be on the property. I reported them missing, but nothing much ever came of it. I had my suspicions of who took them, but no proof. A year or so later, I found out that the person that I thought took them got busted for poaching and lost his hunting rights for a year. I got to thinking about it and decided to take a little walk around the land he had permission to hunt that was right next to mine. Low and behold I found my camo tarp under one of his blinds. Now he could have bought the exact same tarp as me, but that is highly unlikely in my eyes. So now I feel I have confirmation, and will always know. Someday, he might need my help, and then I'll have to decide what to do.
Sucks about your camera, Scott. I've had sticks and a stand stolen once. The land owner figured it was a couple teenage boys that he caught on his property. He felt it was best to make them aware that it was not okay to trespass, and that stuff was missing. Never got my stuff back and haven't had an issue since. Sucks I lost a couple hundred dollars worth of stuff, but I also hunt his land at no cost. I left it up to him as to what we should do. He chose not to cause serious trouble in the area by pressing charges, unless it happened again. Did you have permission to look around that land? If not, one of the worst things you can do when trying to catch someone, is break the law yourself. This seems to happen a lot in these situations.
I stand at the edge of the woods and pour one out of respect. Get a cam and only put it out when you're out. Hunting "accidents" happen. I let my cousin use one of my cams and it got stolen. They have a problem with random people just showing up and trying to hunt. Indiana is a rather populated state and hunting land it at a prime. It doens't help that people just don't get it. A lot of city folk think they can just bring a shotgun and come sit in the woods (doesn't occur to them someone owns it). They steal a lot of stuff.
