Hey I am going to be hunting public land this season here in Missouri and was wondering if I should put out a trail cam or two. What do you guys think? Yes? Or should I just not waste my time and money because some jerk is gonna steal it?
I say yes. Don't put one that cost more then 100 though. If you hunt the land right, you should be scouting areas deep in and far from roads and paths, and in thicker stuff. The odds of someone finding it should be slim. If they find it, and worse yet steel it, you wernt in a good spot, i can promise you that...especially this time of the year.
i have a small cabel that is very hard to cut, i also hunt public land and have about 5 of them out right now, just get some cables and locks for under 20$ and your set.
IF the camera thing isnt your cup of tea get a lone wolf and sticks and be aggressive on sign. This will allow you setup just about anywhere and keep you moving around without scenting an area up with trail cams. Trail cams are def beneficial but scouting on your own will teach you were the deer are and arent.
I hunt public land a lot. The camera thing is always a concern and I've had some stolen....but, ironically, not on public land. Those were taken on leased land that nobody else was supposed to be on. I honestly haven't seen sign of anyone in the areas I hunt during the off season. I actually take climbing sticks to hang some of my cameras off the ground far enough that they can't be bothered without someone either having a climbing source with them or having to leave and return with a climbing source. If they want my cameras that badly there's not much I can do. I also go a long way off the road to put cameras but this is also where I hunt. The closest one is a half mile and the farthest one is 1 1/2 miles from the truck. I'm fortunate enough to hunt in Oklahoma, Kansas and Wyoming. Since I live in Texas, I can't put cameras out in Kansas or Wyoming. I know from past history there are deer there so I don't worry too much about it. However, I do rely on others for information. I talk with highway patrolmen, game wardens, sheriff's deputies, mail carriers, route truck drivers or anyone else I can think of that travels those areas on a regular basis. It is amazing what those folks see in the area in the wee hours of the morning or at night. Hope this helps and good luck.
I'm not too concerned about scoring the deer in the pictures but just want to get an idea what is in the area. I get them up enough that you must have a climbing source to get to them; typically 10 to 12 feet.
I use game camera's on public land. If i find good sign and wait it out, but come up empty, instead of leaving the spot i can leave a scout to tell me exactly how regular the spot might be for game and hopefully establish a regular pattenr and time to get a stand in the tree another day that might prove fruitful. There are a few things that you can do to help avoid your cam being stolen. 1) I generally put mine high in a tree. I carry tree steps and a harness to get it higher in the tree. When you find a spot, find a tree and use your range finder from the spot you want the cam to film to the spot you will hang it, that way you can set you camera at a correct distance that you set your camera distance sensitivity at. Climb the tree and hang it, always use a lock as well if possible and remov your tree steps. This will be the first deterent, if it isnt seen it isnt going to be stolen. 2) I try to put shrub or bark around the camera but not where it might stand out too much or have anything fall in front of the camera lense or sensor. Just stuff it in around the cable lock and back of the cam houseing to blend it in as best you can. 3) You can also put a laminated paper note on the cam stating that it is registered, marked, has a gps tracker imbedded in it or another camera set up somewhere taking pictures of the person who may have climbed the tree to steal it. These are just a couple of ideas for ya, hope that helps, good hunting, Doz
Thanks, I just bought a wildgame innovations IR8X that should be here this week and hoping to put it up on public land this coming weekend.
I have one of this model cam decent pics and video, no hole for a cable lock of anykind just small bungee straps also the only way to tilt it is by sticking a stick behind the cam I agree getting the cam up off the ground out of the line of sight will help... but me no way i would put one out on pulblic ground.
Well I got it for 75 bucks off of camofire.com so the price is right for a public land scouting camera. I'll just have to put it up a little high and maybe add the note about it being password locked and what not :p
Finally got my trail cam, Wildgame Innovations IR8X. Got it from 75 bucks on camofire and hoping to put it out this weekend.
Just makes sure it's legal in your state as Wisconsin just finally are allowing them this year on public lands.
