So I'm still a little pissed. A few weeks ago, I went out to check one of my new Moultrie M80 cams. I had left t out for quite some time, not having the time to really get to it and check it. I was expecting to have some great pictures on it. To my disbelief, it was gone. I was concerned for my other cameras I had scattered throughout the property, so I quickly made a lap and checked them all. They were all still there. The strange thing is, that this one was somewhat hidden, you would need to look for it. The other ones were on cam stakes in the middle of fields or one field edges. They are M80 minicams as well, but they still stand out. I expected them to be gone. Now, the camera that was taken was about 50 yds on my side of the property line. It had pictures on the card of Mr. Clean, the big 10, from Nov and Dec. As you most know, I hunt beside an outfitter. First thing I did was call him up and ask a few questions. He claimed he didn't know anything about it being gone and says he let a group of hunters hunt it unguided with just a map at the approximate time it would have disappeared. He did however tell me about a bunch of pictures he had gotten of the big 10 in Nov and Dec. Coincidence? Not sure. The other problem I've had with this outfitter is trespassing. I'd say probably 6 times in the last few years we've caught one of his hunters over on us. We've caught them bloodtrailing, stalking, and entering/exiting using my lease. So I called the outfitter a few days ago inquiring about my camera again. I made the comment to him that I had pulled all my cameras and was done for the year. So I go out for the last hunt of my year last week, during the fresh snow. As I'm walkin back, I cut fresh boot tracks in the snow...on my lease... Im the only one who has permission other than my dad, and i knew full well I was the only one supposed to be there. I followed the tracks backwards which led to a lone wolf climber on the ground. I followed them the other way, and it led to one of the outfitters stands that sits directly on the property line. I look towards it and I see someone in it. I stop and pull out my phone to call the warden, then I decided not to. I walked up to the guy and started questioning him about walking my lease. He ended up being a super nice guy who said he was told he could access that stand by my lease. I called the outfitter who then got real crappy with me. He started talking about how I shouldn't complain since he wasnt hunting it, he said it should have been ok since I told him I was done hunting for the year. He then said that if I continued to give him grief that he would come up and lease it out from under me. He also told me I shouldn't have ruined that guys hunt because he's a doctor wanting to buy the farm I lease. I told him to grow up and listen to me, and to under stand that if I was trying to be a jerk, I would have just called the warden right away. Instead, I tried to talk to him about it. He calmed down real quick then. The hunter ended up being a real nice guy. We talked for a couple hours in the field swapping huntiing stories. He had a map and was told how to access the stand. Not his fault at all. In fact we tried to put on a stalk of a couple does in the field, got busted though! I apologized for ruining his hunt, and he apologized for what happened. I'm still pissed at the outfitter. Oh, and I also got a video of a dude zipping past one of my cams on a quad. I hate trespassers and thiefs.
It's a very good spot. I've seen a 200+ and killed a 180 on it last year. That's why there's so much pressure from people wanting to be there.
You're probably right man. I just hate to make an example out of an unknowing hunter, when they're being told wrong. Like this guy, he was told that they had permission to access use m lease. He was from west Virginia, just doing what his guide told him to do. I've never actually caught the outfitter himself over on me. I think he knows better.
Maybe have the CO talk with the outfitter as he seems to be giving his clients the OK to hunt your lease.
I would take some action you have given this guy enough warnings and he ignores them and has the balls to get stern with you...Screw that!!!!
It was a 170 acre farm. The outfitter bought a 40 acre chunk. I lease the rest of it. I know the owner very well. Have known him since I was just a few years old, I've hunted his farm for 12 years. This is the first year of leasing it.
The only reason I haven't done this yet is for the fact that I've tried to stay on his good side. Sounds weak I know, but the way the property line is now, when I shoot a deer, it has a good chance of running onto his property. The one good thing I can say about him is that he's always let me go recover a deer, as long as I wait til his clients are out of the woods. We do the same, and we try to meet them whenever possible to be there when they do so. I know if I piss him off he'll stop letting me recover if I need to. He'll play dirty.
I know exactly how you feel man. Had 5 teens come onto my property steal 3 game cameras, shot all the windows out my camp, and then broke into it. I was able to retrieve a camera they thought had sunk in the bayou, got a picture of all 5 of them. Best to luck with you finding your camera man, i know how bad it sucks to get them stolen..
you need to press charges, and im not sure what can be done were you live, but i know alot of states have laws for this kind of thing. the outfitters can be responsible, and also loose there privlige of guiding hunts in that state. then it wont do him anygood to lease a bunch of ground, because he wont have any clients. i am a law enforcment officer, and i will tell you gentlemen that it is very hard to work most of these cases, but it is always worth a shot. my suggestion to you about how to go about it, is to talk to your local law enforcment and find one that feels as passionate as you do about the outdoors, and im sure they will do everything that they can to help you. most of the deputies here hunt, and we dont mess around when we can make a good case. i know alot of people dont look at out county anymore as an easy way to come to kansas and poach big deer to take home. when you make examples, every body listens.
It sure bites when you are trying to do the right thing and enjoy it while others think they can do what ever they want with no reguard to right or wrong. Takes the enjoyment out of it but you've got to press on. Don't let the slease bags win. Tim
Had to deal with trespassers this year on a buddies place,250 acres in southern Ohio and I'm the only one that can give permission,when I found their stands I left a very polite note and put up a sign,when they didn't remove their stand I pulled them down and left a note with my phone # and told them they could have them back after the Game Warden wrote them a ticket,didn't have a single taker,as for tracking a wounded animal,I would never stop someone for doing that,its the right thing to do,when I was in Iraq I had some stands stolen and a blind but now the word is out soo this year its been nice,its good to have a land owner that supports the effort,good luck.
