In 12 years, I never lost any on public land. I've lost 7 in 3 years on posted private land. Just don't put them by the road or trails. I replaced the straps with 550 cord so they don't stick out so much.
I've had one camera stolen in 4 years of running them on sgl, state parks and state forests. I put a Masterlock Python Lock on all my cameras. Most of the time I hang them about 10 feet high in a tree.
Hiding them up in a tree is by far the best way to not get them stolen. Most locks make the camera's stick out like a sore thumb and lock boxes are worse yet. Small bolt cutters and your camera is gone.
I have had two stolen.. one that was about 10-12 feet up in the tree and one at normal level. I used to run them all high up but now it just depends on the situation.
I use the python locks on all of mine. I also don't buy super expensive cameras. I've never had one stolen(knock on wood), but I did have some guy spin one around the tree 180degrees just to mess with me.
If someone wants to take it, smash it, shoot it, they're going to do it. For me the Python lock provides enough protection so someone doesn't just walk off with it, and most people don't hunt with any knife or tool heavy enough to cut it.
Honestly, I've never had an issue with anything stolen on public land. Reason being, I don't hunt where all of the lazy camera/tree stand stealing hunters hunt....
I run 24 cameras and I keep most of them at normal height ! Some I have hidden in stumps, mounds of dirt,rock piles or even uprooted trees without straps on them ! I don't have any of mine locked up just have the std strap on them ! I have only had one stolen and mine are out 24/7 about 330 days of the year ! I do hike way back in and try to hide them good !
I just had on stolen on bald eagle state park land near Howard. In a prime spot so I’m thinking someone is just trying to deter me from hunting the area. I probably won’t put another one out though. It definitely gets old.
put an old one out that doesnt work and coat it with that "invisible" powder that dyes your skin purple when you come in contact with it. mix it with some itching powder.
Any amount of money spent on security is a complete waste of money. Guys heading into the woods with intent to steal cameras and other gear are carrying angle grinders with cutoff wheels.
I hang cams that no longer work in areas that other hunters would most likely walk through and position my functioning cams in hard to reach spots off the beaten trail. Haven't lost of functioning cam in many years. My broken cams disappear every year.
When it boils down to it if they really want it they are going to get it, just like with treestands.
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