Add me to the list.....
 

.....of folks that had their game cameras stolen. [:'(]

To make a long story short I went up to get the camera after a 3D shoot yesterday, having only left it out since Thursday, only to find a single set of tracks in the snow leading up through the thicket to the tree that I had the cam mounted on. I am guessing that it was probably stolen on Saturday as Thursday night and pretty much all of Friday was not conducive to jaunts in the woods because of the bad weather.

Though I am a little disappointed I can honestly say that I sort of expected it to happen sooner or later considering the area I hunt. At least I did not have a $300 or $400 unit stolen...then I would really be ticked off.

So for those of you out there who have been in my position before....I know how you feel.[:@]

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That's lousy. Hopefully this guy will get everything thats coming to him...Bob

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Sorry to hear about your bad luck. Hopefully the theif will get whats coming to him in the future.

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Pa- thats blows[:@]

I have 2 that I wanted to get out since Christmas but refuse to set them up in the snow.

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Sorry to hear that...

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thats ridiculous

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It won't discourage me. The next time I will have the chain attached...plus a little note inside the cam....and that little picture trick that everyone is talking about.

Heck, I might buy two cams. One I will place to take shots of deer as they pass by and the other will be set up about 20 feet in a tree to take pictures of the cam that is mounted closer to the ground.

That aughta get the dirty bugger that stole my camera!;)

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Yes, that stinks, and I'm sorry to hear that it happened to you.[:@]

A friend of mine had two of his tree stands cut off of trees (they had been chained on), and - Get This, they were on HIS OWN PROPERTY![:@][:@][:@]

The only good thing in his case was that he went to another friend's place the next day to hunt a wooden stand that they had put up maybe 6 years ago. He shot a nice 8 pointer that day, the biggest of his life.

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That is my biggest fear & the number one reason I have not purchased one. I had a stand stolen once & it made me really mad....last thing I need is a $200.00 game camera stolen as well.

Fellow hunters should have more repect for other hunters. When they steal like this it gives everyone a bad name. I hope somehow you manage to get your camera back.

[:@]

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Frank, I guess if you could have you would have, but I can't help but wonder... were you able to follow his tracks anywhere to give you any clues as to his identity/etrance and exit points, anything like that?

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I'm a victim of 2 cams gone!!![:@][:@][:@]
Thing is I have no clue how!!! The land I hunt is private. Only 3 other buddies hunt. I can't phathom how they even knew where they were. Only thing I can think of, is someone saw me getting out of my truck and walking across the field with them?? I guess you have to be more cautious of vehicles driving by these days?? Kind of sad that you have to look over your shoulder when setting up a camera.[:@][:@]

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Say PABowhunter, what is the little picture trick you refered to? I have a Stealth Cam out that I too am worried about.

Thanks

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On a piece of poster board write something to the effect:
If anyone other than (your name goes here) is having this film processed call me at (number goes here) as this camera is stolen.
Take a picture of it with the camera. If you get a call get there as fast as you can.

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That sucks but all hope isn't lost.


Call the manufacter and report it stolen.If you have the serial number you will be able to get it on record and if anyone tries to get parts for it or get it repaired for any reason,they are busted.Chances that with a cheaper one they won't try to fix it but it has happened.Sometimes when they steal something like this,they don't know how to work it and call to get an instruction book.


I know it sounds far fetched but this is exactly what the shop owner here did for a customer and it worked.It wasn't 10 minutes after the shop owner called that someone called the manufactuer and wanted a book,right away the person on the other end knew it was stolen.They busted the guy shortly thereafter.


Sometimes we get lucky and people will get caught in the strangest ways.

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That stinks,[:@] I can`t understand why someone would steal from a fellow hunter I`ve had stands stolen and it just stinks I have seen others stands in the woods even found a guys backpack and bow once . I think some people think if they find it its okey to STEAL it.Sad Sad Sad

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Well, that is what I would call an expensive 8 pointer Jeff....but well worth it. If I were placed in that situation I think I would have used it to my advantage as that is a perfect reason to convince the wife to buy a new one...:)

That is a good reason to go with the Stealth cam. At least now that I have had it happen to me I can be prepared for the next time I put one out. I know how the old saying goes about "If they want it bad enough...."...but I am gonna make him work for it...and bust him the next time. Don't think I won't be wondering that area quite a bit before next season...and if I find another one just like it that has my initials inside the front cover then.....;) I was intelligent enough to do that much.

There were actually two sets of prints in the snow in that general area. The one set of prints circled the thicket and were actually relatively deep into the snow and looked fresh. When looking at my own, and my buddy's tracks that we just made we could surmise that set of tracks was from that day while the second set that lead to my game camera were much lighter in the snow...probably because there was a thin crust of ice on top of it...and that ice only began to melt the day that we went to go pick up the camera. The tracks continued up out of the thicket into a pine tree grove and then were lost among the pine needles. There are at least three parking areas that are relatively close to this location so he could have went to any one of them.

You know exactly how I feel NY. The funny thing is that I actually had the cam out on that tree since the previous Sunday. I went back up on Thursday to check the cam and to switch film. It was there on Thursday but by the following Sunday it was gone. I will never leave the camera out on weekends again...there are too many people driving around that might notice my car or me setting one up. :(

Oldguy,

There are several different versions of it but md pretty much nailed it. My personal letterboard would say something to the effect of "If I am not the person handing in this film then call the police as the camera that took this picture is stolen..."...or something like that.

Tfox,

No, I never registered it. I definitely will the next one though.

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That sucks PA! I feel for ya man. I hate a thief!!!
There's nothing lower [:@][:@]

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PA,
That kinda stuff really ticks me off also. I have never used one of these cameras, I don't think they are in use as much in the west.
I was just wondering reading this post and replys; Do you think it could have been a anti or non hunter that stole your camera?
Maybe someone just didn't want you seeing any thing of interest in that area.
I don't know, just a possibility. You kind of hope that another hunter would not do that kind of thing, maybe he thought it was HIS area. Hope you find it.
Camo

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Thats really dirty! I have been hankering to check out my hunting areas for signs of poaching and I still have a stand to take down.

Hope the guy gets caught with the camera, been wanting to get one myself.

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Camoguy,

I wish it were that simple...and it very well could be. However, you have to understand the area I hunt and the "hunters" that frequent there on occasion. The motto seems to be "If it is left on public land then it is 'public' property"....

Thank you for all the comments guys.