With so many folks out there using trail cams, I'm curious how many are putting these out on public land? I hunt state land and have to be real careful where I place them. Public land really restricts what you can do. It sounds like many folks are talking private land when I hear using 4, 6, 8, or how ever many cams, and top end cams, without concern of theft?
5 for me all on public land. i don't worry for a second all pre season, but when rifle season opens i get a little worried. don't place them on obviouse crossings, like 20' off the side of the road, if i'm near the road i take extreme caution in not leaving a trail on the side of the road.
Public or private, to me theft is always a concern. I will say if I had only public land to put my cameras on, I would use the cheapest but best camera I could find. The system I use now consists of a locked security box lagbolted to the tree with 3.5 inch lagbolts along with a python cable. No it's not completely theft-proof but that system will definately keep an honest man honest. Short of rigging an explosive device or high voltage system to the camera, there's really no way to make something completely theft-proof. Blessings.....Pastorjim
I keep mine on public land. I always take one set of rapid rails with me and I use a covert mount to keep my camera approx 8-9ft off the ground, which keeps it out of the normal line of sight. I really like the mount because it has no black strap that sticks out like a sore thumb. Also i keep my camera where i plan to hunt, which means I dont plan on seeing any other hunters (fingers crossed) http://covertscoutingcamera.com/tree60.html
Jeff, I hunt public land when bear hunting. Between 4 of us we usually have 9 trail cams out. We use bear boxes to protect the camera from the bear but we also chain the bear box and camera to the tree with a lock In hopes that too will keep people from taking a cam. So far we haven't had an Issue yet In the 4 years we've been running cams. If I was to use these cams around my place on public land for deer I'd put my bear boxes out here too and chain them. They can still be taking yet but It will take a little bit of work to do It. Most people are lazy these days but there's always them pricks out there that will do anything.
I hear that Steve! I use 2 Cuddy Captures (good pics/reasonable cost) and there isn't any kind of theft protection built into it! It's like taping 2 $100 bills to a tree and hoping nobody takes them. lol
I put mine on public land, but usually pretty far back and not on a human beaten path. I would say the odds of someone coming across mine and seeing it are pretty low.
Oh yeah, and mine aren't worth much so I don't really care. Now I might be a little more careful if I spent $400-500 on one.
I used an old 35mm camera on public land a few years ago. Went to go retrieve it after a few weeks and it was gone.
I place my 1 camera on public land in a heavily hunter area. I left it in since may of this year and had a buddy pull it last week since doe shotgun starts this weekend. I will have it in the woods the rest of the season is very specific and hidden areas with the exception of the main gun seasons...it will be pulled for those. I have a lock box and python on it. Always try to place cover around it and it is never on the main trails. Will it get stolen...perhaps but, I am doing everything I can to avoid it (outside of not having it in the woods)
