Found camera today...
 

Went out today to check my stands for the last time and to put a camera out in a new location. I found this spot last year towards the end of the season and knew that it had to be a staging area of some sort. It's a small square weed patch about 30yrdsX30yds and it's on the edge of a bean field tucked back in the woods. It's got three trees in it very close together, not sure what they are, but they're short and hang down somewhat like a willow. Underneath them is all kinds of open room for deer to bed under while still being extremely hidden. Went there today and found sign of a monster that Ive been trying to peg since last year: I'm positive that I finally found his bedding area, and I know this thing is a monster- I've seen enough of his sign over the last year to know that he has to be a bruiser. Well I went to the tree that I had intentions of putting my camera on, and I walk up to it and see that it already has a camera on it. Not sure whose it is, but I have a suspicion that it's the neighbor (He's an outfitter).



What would you guys have done?


After a few posts I'll let ya know what I did...it seemed like a good idea at the time...

RE: Found camera today...
 

whos property is it? what did ya do? your keeping us in the closet here.

RE: Found camera today...
 

haha,the camera and the tree areon the property I have permission to hunt on, but only by about 10 yards. Me and my dad have hunted this property for 9 years this year. The outfitter bought the other half last year and isn't supposed to be on "our" side.

RE: Found camera today...
 

Leave a friendly note on the three explaining the situation or where he can get his camera back. I like the 2nd thought. That way he has no pics;)

RE: Found camera today...
 

i would probly leave a not but if it happens again it would disappear

rick

RE: Found camera today...
 

If you are sure he does not have permission to be there, I would take it up. Before doing this though, I would make certain of my property lines before doing this though. Just me though.
Chris

RE: Found camera today...
 

10 yards isn't the end of the world. Are the property lines clearly marked? I agree with trailinone as well, make sure about the true property lines.

I'd talk to the owner of the camera before removing it. Perhaps if you talk to the "outfitter" and he says it's not his, you own a new camera but be forewarned, the camera owner may come looking for more than just his camera.

RE: Found camera today...
 

Just talked to the landowner-- he's been out in the fields all day. He said that he didn't know the camera was back there, and that he found a camera on Wednesday and took it down. If it's the Outfitter next door, then he only has permission on an "Ask first and tell me when you're gonna be here and what you're gonna do" basis. For example, there's a food plot back there that the Outfitter has to come through our side to get to, that's not an issue. The problem is this guy brings his clients onto "our" side to hunt, whichpisses my landowner off. Sowe went throughlast year and took down thereflectors and pink tape that this guy had put up. Come to find out they lead to my stand!!

So anyways, I guess I took the ethical approach to it-- maybe kinda boneheaded. I carved my name and my landowners names into it along with my phone number, and I went ahead and put it on the same tree. Its really the only tree suitable in that area and I in no way bothered his. Im hoping he'll see that I have permission (landowner's name on my camera) and in no way bothered his stuff, so Im hoping he'll see that and won't bother mine. But just in case I'm gonna get out there Monday morning and check it, see if there's any pictures on it and probably take it down.

RE: Found camera today...
 

You'll be lucky if its still there... Unless the outfitter is a fairly decent guy...

RE: Found camera today...
 

My thoughts exactly... but me and our landowner both know that if it's gone, only 1 person could have done it. I think that would be the end of the Outfitter having any sort of permission AT ALL.

And besides, there's a free one sitting on my landowners kitchen table that he took down Wednesday, lol

RE: Found camera today...
 

Right Rob, 10 yards really isn't the issue. It's the fact that it's the BEST spot on that property and we both know it(I had a stand close to there before they sold the property and it ended up being on the Outfitter's side once all was said and done). The lines are clearly marked yes-- with bright orange posts going all the way through the woods. Two of these posts are directly behind the camera, it's obviously across the line.

RE: Found camera today...
 

that isn't right. it's trespassing. but let me ask this. does the outfitter own the land next to the land you're hunting on, or does the landowner own it?

RE: Found camera today...
 

He's an outfitter and owns land next to the property you can hunt? Me thinks my approach would have been a heck'uva lot nicer.

But thats just me. I'd be looking at opening doors not slamming them in someones face.

RE: Found camera today...
 

For lack of my adult thinking skills I would probaly moon the camera, take his SD card and load it up with a whole bunch of monster bucks photoshoped in to that backdrop.

RE: Found camera today...
 

Had a similar situation last year close to the property line, walked in front of the camera with apaper that read what number to call to get their camera back if it was there the next time I came through. Needless to say it was not there whenI was there the next time. Had it been in the middle of my property...I would need to be in that postion before I could say.

RE: Found camera today...
 

I agree with the friendly note suggestion. Sometimes the lines in the woods aren't clear, or at least the perception of where the lines are. I've been in similar situations hunting in close proximity to other hunters. The last thing you want is bad blood. Hunting that close to the line, you might have the need to get over on his side someday to track a deer.

Either way, some hunters are can be kind of tough to deal with, and don't like to be told where they can and can't be (right or wrong). If I were you, I'd play it safe, and make sure you have a lock on your game cam, your stand, or any other piece of gear you might leave in the woods since you know other people are running across your stuff. It's no guarantee that your gear will be protected, but it helps. I've had locks cut before and stands stolen, but it at least makes it a little tougher for your stuff to 'walk off'.

Good luck with it.

RE: Found camera today...
 

IMO leaving your camera there was a bad idea

RE: Found camera today...
 

i would have turned his camera to the east. get pictures of the sunrise.

RE: Found camera today...
 

Question is?......will this spot still be worth a hoot after ya'll get through bickering & dickering and stinkin the place up?

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Found camera today...
 

Yup...only reason I put it there is cause it's the only tree anywhere around this weed patch. Ive had this tree in mind since last season and had been wanting to put a camera on it ever since. I should have just read his card instead of putting mine out, but oh well.

RE: Found camera today...
 

How couldI have been any nicer? I didnt have any paper/pen on me, and I didn't mess with his camera at all. Majority of guys in my area would have just swiped it and said nada about it. I made sure I asked my landowner first if it was supposed to be there- he said no, so he was gonna take it down.