Went out to check my trail camera yesterday. I have been hiking over a mile back in some national forest land. Hoping to get some pics of a buck that I saw last year. I have had my camera out for over a month now, and have done this for three seasons with no problems, until yesterday.
I made my way back to it and my jaw hit the dirt! It was no where to be seen. I sat down on a downed log for an hour or so. After thinking about it, I got my head clear enough to walk back out.
I told my Dad about it, he is 62. He laughed and said well what did you expect! He told me that when ever he was my age he put out some rabbit boxes. He said, the bad thing about that was someone use to beat him back to them and take his game out of them. He just gave up doing them after a bit. I told him that was to bad, I would have enjoyed doing that with him when I was younger.
I hate that this kind of stuff takes place. I was not going to write about this on here, but I can't stop thinking about it.
I hope all who stumble on other peoples things, will just leave them alone. I work hard for my money and it makes me sick that someone else could just take from someone something that was not theirs.
Bryan Horner
Hope Carma gets him. :mad:
That's why I'm so enamored of my little camo Scoutguard. It's hard for me to find, and I know where it is! Since my first game camera was stolen, I try very hard to hide them from people. I don't use a security system of any kind, because it makes them more visible. I've had stands stolen that were locked to the tree with logging chain and heavy padlock, so I don't put much faith in locking them up. The chain was stolen too.
I feel your pain. I was concerned about the two that I have, but secured them with bike locks. If the thieves really wanted them, they could cut it. At least the locks give me a little sense of security.
Theft of my property always makes me feel as if I have been personally violated.
The best I saw was a guy here in NJ last year had a camera out at his ladder stand. A camo clad thief came along and was looking up in the trees at his stand when he got his picture taken. He stole the stand but didn't see the camera. The guy whose stand was stolen blew up the picture and put it in every sporting good store in the area with his phone number and story of what the scum thief did. I don't know if he ever caught the guy. The sad thing is that most of these thieves are hunters.
These thieves are not real hunters.
They may be out hunting, they may dress like hunters, and they might even talk about hunting and sound like they know something.
But, we all know that real hunters have honesty and integrity. Real hunters play by the rules. Real hunters have ethical standards.
Thieves are simply thieves.
Joe
I bet there is a picture of him on it somewhere. I lost three tree stands one season, makes you mad. Sorry about your loss.
This thievery of hunting related gear is getting outa hand.
I checked one of my cameras last week and it had pics of a fisherman on it with a couple of nice pics of the guy looking in at the camera. He didn't take it but I moved it any way.
Bryan,
A buddy of mine that I hunt with in another "river county" south of you had his stand stolen on a piece of "public land" that he had hunted for the past 10 years. He had hunted the same tree.....year after year. About a week after he had the stand stolen, we were scouting a little bit one morning and happened back into the area.
There was another stand hung within 10 yards of where his was stolen from. No way of knowing whether it was the same person or not. Sure seemed kinda odd that another stand would happen to "appear" in the same, exact place. There are only two ways into the place that I am speaking of, we had saw one particular truck parked by one of the ways in on several occasions. No way to prove anything, one way or the other.
That being said, he already has one put back, exactly where the other one that was stolen was. We are gonna keep a real close eye on the area, during the month of October.....if it was the guy that parks close to the access to the stand, and he catches him.......well let's just say that I am quite sure that the fella won't "walk" out of the woods. My buddy was "hot" last year, and I talked him out of approaching the guy about it. It never ceases to amaze me, the lack of respect that people show now days for someone elses property.
Some people just don't seem to have any "self-discipline".....therefore they need some "instilled discipline".
Sorry to hear about your loss, but I honestly believe that "karma" will bite that individual on the keyster.......eventually.
Winterhawk1960
imo lots people have been raised without the fear of God in their lives the supreme court kicked God out of the public schools in 1969 we have been on a downward spiral since then,not everyone was raised with good morals to respect other peoples property shame really but it's where we are right now in much of America,hope you recover your loss,Ralph
Had a pop up blind stolen off private land last year,used it twice and gone. Have never had a stand stolen yet but I hope I don't catch them in the act.
Kind of hard not to feel hateful for a while but know it will be returned to them in spades.
Seems that you guys are missing a pre-season warm up opportunity. Set up your trail cam and treestand along with a video camera and record the reaction when an arrow scares the ____ out of the perpetrator.
That's an outdoor channel program I'd watch!!!!
Moebow, now you have gave me something to think about. That could be fun!!!!! LOL
I just put up a new-to-me two-man ladder stand the other day. I haven't put a lock on it yet but plan on putting one on it this weekend. I thought about putting a sign on it that reads: "Smile, you have just been photographed by a hidden infrared game trail camera. Leave the stand alone and you won't get in trouble." Even though I don't even have a trail cam. Stupid idea?
I also put a couple of copper trap tags, with my name and address on them, on the stand too. I know that they can be easily cut off, but hopefully, if someone sees a name on it, it could possibly deter theft? Depends on who it is I guess.
I use 12' wooden ladder stands that I build from treated 1X4's. Built 12 of them a few years ago to spread around my property. After having one stolen from one of my prime spots, I replaced it and took my cordless drill and some long deck screws and screwed it to the tree several times. It will take some serious effort to get it this time. I don't think a regular screwdriver will get them out.
Probably can't do that on public land.
In fall of 06 we put out a 150#, $100.00 protein feeder. Our private land. Quarter mile from road. No problem even though we were having uninvited help with our deer hunting. Then in Dec 08 it ran out of feed and i decided to move it about 75 yards further from the road. Intending to add feed the next week. Came back and it was gone. As long as i kept feed in it it stayed, when i failed to fill it, it disappeared. It could have been carried out by one person. By this thread it looks like deer woods theft is rampant. We will be trying some of the suggestions mentioned above.
get a rope
While I don't believe that cameras should be stolen, I imagine that some folks just don't like to be photographed. No one seems to ever address that one.
I like the idea of putting a camera up pointed at the game camera. At least you can get pics of the thief. I'd use my treestand to get the second camera up high and concealed.
I've never understood why some think it is ok to take others stuff! I haven't experienced this...but did have my treestand taken when the area was logged! What a surprise when I walked in to hunt...no treestand...heck NO TREES!!!haha
I use a little electric engraver and put my name and phone# all over the stand. I use the metal hang-on stands so it is pretty easy to do. I figure if someone is going to have to do a lot of work if they don't want someone to see my name. I also stopped investing in more expensive stands and bought the Baby Gorilla stands.If you watch the sales you can by them very cheap. Like $29.99! There are other good stands besides Gorilla. I like the Gorilla's because they all come with a safety harness. I don't know how the company makes money because I see the same type of harness sold for more than you pay for the stand. As a side note you can give the extra harnesses to a kid or someone who needs one. They make great door prizes for your local club. While most of the stands that are made today are well made and have that archery safety trademark I would still be cautious especially if you are over 250lbs. Then get what will safely hold you regardless of cost. To date I have never had a stand stolen. Maybe I am just lucky. I have friends who have been victimized so I know the maggots are out there. In the end I don't know what a guy can do but try to set a good example and talk to people especially young hunters about ethics and values. I used to get bitter about this stuff and figured if I had a stand stolen that maybe I would back up a few steps and hope they try it in the dark or better yet wait for them and let them deal with a 53gr hollow point but this is all foolish thinking and talk. I would strongly suggest there are other ways using law enforcement, whatever, to catch these guys. One thing for sure is they are probably not to smart and will tell someone. Good luck and good hunting.
BASS TURDS!
Too bad there isn't an incindiary device in them that you can trigger from your cell phone! Like the old mission impossible show.. "should you choose to steal this camera, it will self destruct..... along with everything you own".
Sad state of affairs indeed.
I've had 3 treestands stolen from me over the last 10 years. Yes it really p sses you off getting out of bed and into the woods a half hour before it even thinks about getting light, and you think you've misplaced your tree. You don't want to scent up your hunting area by blindly stomping around looking up in every tree trying to figure out were the heck you hid the tree that you've been hunting out of for years. Then it hits you, that sick violated feeling. I'm always gratefull that I've never caught the dirt bags that do these things. My father always taught us that the LAWS always seem to protect the wrong, not the wronged. So, is losing the wright to see your family every day worth beating the bejesus out of some piece of (poop).
But wouldn't it be a hoot!!
GLENN MOYER
When I used to live in Michigan I went out to my stand on my brother-in-law's property at 05:30 and found someone in it. It was bow season, October 10, 1999 and he was sitting in my Baby Grand with a shotgun. He yelled when I hit him with the flashlight beam. I shut it off quick and just backed out of there and went down the street to a local diner and got a cop to come back with me. He called DNR enforcement and we all went in together. He was gone but he had took a dump in my stand seat as a goodbye. They saw him in the distance and went after him. I told them I'd identify him if they caught him but If I went with him he'd get a Snuffer in the guts. When they caught him he said he was hunting woodducks in the flooded field(still part of my brother in laws land) but when they checked his shotgun it was loaded with slugs. He was arrested, lost his shotgun and hunting rights for 5 years. He got fined for trespassing and defacing private property.
I had my entire storage unit emptied by thieves with a bolt cutter and a rental truck. All my camping gear, treestands, some archery collectables including a 1960s Pearson boxed bow and arrow set and 3 Bear Bows from the 50s and 60s as well as a lot of funiture and electronics and appliances and clothes. I HATE THIEVES! I work too hard for my money to just have someone take it. I bet you all do too. Bat Rastards!
MAkes you wonder why a person like that even bothers to go into the woods! Why do they hunt?!?Wouldn't it just be easier for them to go to the super market and steal their own supper! Not funny I know.. but you have to wonder why they do stuff like that.
My archery club just had 5 new ladder stands stolen out of our storage trailer. I've had a few stands stolen over the years. Now i use a wedgelock treestand in the areas where i know they might get stolen. I put out the cheap wildview trail camera since i don't want mine stolen. My friend had a cuddleback stolen that he bolted into the tree. The thieves had to actually cut down the small tree and take that peice with him to steal it. I hate slob hunters and thieves.
Though one of my dreams is to catch someone up the tree just applying the bolt cutters to one of my stands......
You really have to be careful with these maggots. You have some junkhead pukes that know there is stuff to be had in the timber, and steal just to support their habits.
I'd watch for your stuff on your local auction sites. These are idiots......and many are stupid enough to list the stolen items locally.
QuoteOriginally posted by razorsharptokill:
[QB] Too bad there isn't an incindiary device in them that you can trigger from your cell phone! Like the old mission impossible show.. "should you choose to steal this camera, it will self destruct..... along with everything you own".
:clapper: I like that idea Jim! Or how about when someone robs a bank and they open the bag and they get sprayed with ink that won't wash off! Then you'd know who they are!
There used to be an old Irish toast that went something like this..."Lord turn the hearts of our enemies; if their hearts won't turn, then turn their ankles...at least we will spot them coming by their limp!"
Had a fella who lived near by (can't call him a neighbor for the same reason ya can't call him a hunter) steal my brother-in-law's stand. We knew it who it was because we followed the tracks in the snow over a half mile to within 100yds. of his house. Naturally he denied it when confronted. Had to talk my b-i-l out of doing anything that would put him in handcuffs.
Couple of days later, sister who caters, had about 2 gallons of baked beans left over and wanted everyone to take some. I told her I would take it all. See this same fella has a big Lab that runs the neighborhood and poops in everybody else's yard. The next morning I dumped all the beans in the upper corner of my property somewhere near the dog's normal route. Later that afternoon I drove by the guy's house and saw a mattress leaned against the garage, sheets and blankets hung over his fence, and the dog tied outside (which nobody had ever seen before or since).
Ahh, sweet revenge.
Amazing! So stupid he stole something in tracking snow!!
Yea, well, doesn't suprise me. These folks airn't exactly PHD's...
I recently starting hunting public land and I pack my stand in and out, every time. I really sucks but if you want to keep ahold of your stuff these days, you better keep it close by. Even putting stuff under lock and key just keeps the honest people honest.
I keep a deer cart under my camper at deer camp. We stopped by camp last week on our way home from a trip and sure enough, the cart was pulled out from under the camper. They didn't know I chained it to the axle. Had a feeling it would walk if I didn't lock it down. Heck, really didn't know if the chain would keep it in place.
I just have the mentality that if I can't afford to replace the item, it goes home with me.
It also has kept me from putting cameras out. I just know they will walk in no time.
Hope you get your cameras back and catch the guy who stole them.
JL
how many people have been actually caught stealing treestands and cameras ? I am wondering what the punishment is if they make it to court?
In this State, it would be Grand Larceny. Don't know the penalty, never been there. :)
Poor dog. You should have fed the beans to the owner! Dogs only do what they are trained,or lack there of, to do.
Not sure about the law, but I believe grand larceny has a money value attached to it. Not to certain someone will get grand larceny for stealing a $100.00 treestand. Unfortunately our courts are so packed full they don't mess too much with issues like these. A small fine would probably be the most anyone woud get. It's a shame, but it's our great legal system. The criminals have too many rights!!!
Catching a thief and then reacting within reason is worth the cost of bail... Your going to spend the money anyway at least enjoy it.
Rotten damn thieves...
John III
Just a friendly reminder to everyone.
If you do happen to have something such as a treestand stolen, and have proof of who did it/still has your property...DO NOT attempt to retrieve your property without law enforcement.
This goes double if you catch them in the act of stealing your son`s new moto-cross helmet off the seat of your pick-up.
If you happen to catch a thief in the act, the RIGHT, JUST, and CORRECT, thing to do is NOT LEGAL. The thief will go home that night, and YOU will NOT!!! :D
Sounds like the voice of experience, Bonebuster. A sad state of affairs.
In the news in MS this week was a story about a group of concerned citizens who gathered together and did a door-to-door search for a burglar. The way I heard it, they caught him, turned him over to the police apparently unhurt, and now this group of well-meaning citizens is now being investigated by the State Attorney General and the FBI. Yes, the FBI!! The burglar was released the custody of his father.
Grand Larceny does have a money amount tied to it here. I don't know what's current, but I'm sure that many stands and cameras would qualify.
Found some trespassers trail cam set-up on private property which I'm the only one with hunting rights. Danced in front of it,gave him some finger signs etc.I tried to use up all his film (?)by moving in and out of picture, etc.I never touched his set-up, but left him a nasty note. Went back a few days later and the cam was gone. Never saw him during the season.
Would I have been justified to take the cam and give it to the land owner? He ailready told me to take down or leave a note for any stand,etc. I find.I just leave a warning note.