Trail cam ethics poll

[Eddiegomes83]

I don't ever touch cams I find in the woods but I do give them a wave. I have, on occasion, decided to crawl by on my hands and knees acting like the biggest buck in the neighborhood, too.

Haha

[justdirtyfun]

So checking an unknown camera is something I might do. Are there batteries in it? SD card? Name or date?
When a stand goes abandoned, you can judge condition and age much easier. Some rules have stands legal until such and such date. Once we see them after that date, the once legal stand them because illegal and "trash" that should be out of my/our woods.
State regs can address this issue but operate behind the action and technology. They are slow and have to reach a consensus on everything.
Good conversation and makes me think a bit.

[Eddiegomes83]

So checking an unknown camera is something I might do. Are there batteries in it? SD card? Name or date?
When a stand goes abandoned, you can judge condition and age much easier. Some rules have stands legal until such and such date. Once we see them after that date, the once legal stand them because illegal and "trash" that should be out of my/our woods.
State regs can address this issue but operate behind the action and technology. They are slow and have to reach a consensus on everything.
Good conversation and makes me think a bit.

Technically in my state you are not allowed to bring any hunting equipment until the day before the hunt and it must be removed the day after. A trail camera is technically hunting equipment. So therefore shouldn't be there during the off-season.

[justdirtyfun]

So checking an unknown camera is something I might do. Are there batteries in it? SD card? Name or date?
When a stand goes abandoned, you can judge condition and age much easier. Some rules have stands legal until such and such date. Once we see them after that date, the once legal stand them because illegal and "trash" that should be out of my/our woods.
State regs can address this issue but operate behind the action and technology. They are slow and have to reach a consensus on everything.
Good conversation and makes me think a bit.

Technically in my state you are not allowed to bring any hunting equipment until the day before the hunt and it must be removed the day after. A trail camera is technically hunting equipment. So therefore shouldn't be there during the off-season.

I hear you. But

Are you assuming that a trail camera is classified officially as "hunting equipment" or is that in your state regs? Turns into a new issue I think. Bird watchers, researchers, security cams. It will be strange for legislation to come through forcing them to be classified as such.

[Eddiegomes83]

So checking an unknown camera is something I might do. Are there batteries in it? SD card? Name or date?
When a stand goes abandoned, you can judge condition and age much easier. Some rules have stands legal until such and such date. Once we see them after that date, the once legal stand them because illegal and "trash" that should be out of my/our woods.
State regs can address this issue but operate behind the action and technology. They are slow and have to reach a consensus on everything.
Good conversation and makes me think a bit.

Technically in my state you are not allowed to bring any hunting equipment until the day before the hunt and it must be removed the day after. A trail camera is technically hunting equipment. So therefore shouldn't be there during the off-season.

I hear you. But

Are you assuming that a trail camera is classified officially as "hunting equipment" or is that in your state regs? Turns into a new issue I think. Bird watchers, researchers, security cams. It will be strange for legislation to come through forcing them to be classified as such.

I am assuming based on intent. You're using it to hunt then it would be hunting equipment. I guess you could get away with calling it scouting equipment. You could do the same with the tree stand so you're using it for observation.

[MarshRunner1]

On public land I wouldn't feel too bad about someone checking my camera so I would probably do likewise. Would never steal though.

[Findian]

I guess that some people are willing to do whatever it takes. It is Intel nonetheless some people have loose lips that sinks there ship. Guess you could also look at it as cameras can also sink ships or make someone’s day. I guess it depends on how you as an individual want to look at it?

Maybe we should collectively come out of the trail camera that was made out of aluminum where is virtually impossible to break in and steal data/camera or wreck the camera unless you cut the tree down.

So far this year I have lost two trail cameras and five SD cards the most hurtful part is losing the data not the cameras.

In the end still better off finding out who’s hunting there and talking to them one on one and get intel from them and share some of your intel as with them. You may very well find out that you guys could be after different bucks as I have learned over the years. we all know it’s not easy to kill a Mature buck most of the time.

[DEERSLAYER]

I pulled another person's trail camera card just this season. Reason: It was overlooking illegal bait pile. I found some pics of the idiot actually dumping the corn and posing for the camera. He was standing right next to a four wheeler and this was no motor vehicle area. I downloaded the pics and returned the card so he would not know anything was up. I then forwarded the coordinates and pics to local game warden.

he met up with me and i took him to the spot where he promptly removed the camera and left a business card with instructions if the owner would like to reclaim his camera to please contact him. as of last week he has had no one step forward to claim the camera..... shocker.

Outside of this, I wouldn't want someone stealing my camera or reading my cards so i don't. Beside, if they found my camera IME that place is now probably dead. I am not sure how i would feel if I came across someone reading mine, I know exactly how i would feel if I came across someone trying to steal one.

Normally I feel that if it isn't yours don't touch it or sneak pictures from it. It's their personal property. Show some common decency & a little respect & leave it alone. The other person took the time & paid the money for it so it should be for their eyes only. You want pictures get your own camera! Don't be shady about it. However, when you are talking about someone disrespecting others by using illegal methods then I have no problem doing as DaveT1963 did. That was a good move.

[Eddiegomes83]

On public land I wouldn't feel too bad about someone checking my camera so I would probably do likewise. Would never steal though.

Im with you...i would also never steal.

[Eddiegomes83]

I guess that some people are willing to do whatever it takes. It is Intel nonetheless some people have loose lips that sinks there ship. Guess you could also look at it as cameras can also sink ships or make someone’s day. I guess it depends on how you as an individual want to look at it?

Maybe we should collectively come out of the trail camera that was made out of aluminum where is virtually impossible to break in and steal data/camera or wreck the camera unless you cut the tree down.

So far this year I have lost two trail cameras and five SD cards the most hurtful part is losing the data not the cameras.

In the end still better off finding out who’s hunting there and talking to them one on one and get intel from them and share some of your intel as with them. You may very well find out that you guys could be after different bucks as I have learned over the years. we all know it’s not easy to kill a Mature buck most of the time.

I guess my argument is that nothing is being stolen. Nothing is being damaged. It is not on private land.... that would be different to me. I am also not scouting looking for cameras. I just happen upon them as we all do. I am only checking to see what is in the area... not necessarily in that particular spot but more like that overall area. Everything is returned and the data is still there for the camera owner.

I could place my own camera next to theirs. walk in there again later and check and remove it ...then the other guy can come and do the same...we now both have basically the same information but now at least twice the pressure and most likely ruined the spot for anybody.

If i just check theirs i am out and don't come back. If i see a buck in like maybe i plan on a move but not in their spot. I would less try to determine where the buck is coming or going. Same thing in do with any camera. I almost never hunt where my camera is. I usually try to guess where that particular buck is feeding or bedding based off aerial scouting.

[Eddiegomes83]

I pulled another person's trail camera card just this season. Reason: It was overlooking illegal bait pile. I found some pics of the idiot actually dumping the corn and posing for the camera. He was standing right next to a four wheeler and this was no motor vehicle area. I downloaded the pics and returned the card so he would not know anything was up. I then forwarded the coordinates and pics to local game warden.

he met up with me and i took him to the spot where he promptly removed the camera and left a business card with instructions if the owner would like to reclaim his camera to please contact him. as of last week he has had no one step forward to claim the camera..... shocker.

Outside of this, I wouldn't want someone stealing my camera or reading my cards so i don't. Beside, if they found my camera IME that place is now probably dead. I am not sure how i would feel if I came across someone reading mine, I know exactly how i would feel if I came across someone trying to steal one.

Normally I feel that if it isn't yours don't touch it or sneak pictures from it. It's their personal property. Show some common decency & a little respect & leave it alone. The other person took the time & paid the money for it so it should be for their eyes only. You want pictures get your own camera! Don't be shady about it. However, when you are talking about someone disrespecting others by using illegal methods then I have no problem doing as DaveT1963 did. That was a good move.

I do have my own cameras and run them all the time. As mentioned in the post above it actually benefits both for me not to place my own in that spot also. It would just ad pressure by now 2 people coming to check cameras.

I personally would rather you check mine then run your own next to mine and now have multiple people coming and going checking...

Let me also note that although i do check cameras that i find. I do not make a point to come back and check their camera again. Only if i happen to stumble upon one.

I know it still dont make it right....i am admitting to doing it though. With the point it would not bother me as long as nothing was deleted and nothing taken.

[DEERSLAYER]

To me it's clearly unethical & shows a lack of respect for others, yet a surprising number of people don't seem to mind taking advantage of someone else's time & effort. Plus you could make a mistake & their camera takes no more pictures, photo's get accidentally deleted or something else. You could even say you are violating their privacy somewhat. Even on public you can not take possession of someone else's personal property & those pictures are theirs. Unless they are doing something illegal I think people should leave them alone.

I guess their honest effort could result in unwanted hunting pressure by people that take advantage of them. People that may otherwise not hunt the area much if at all if not for what they found while snooping around on someone else's camera. I guess it's a sign of how society has become.

[DEERSLAYER]

I pulled another person's trail camera card just this season. Reason: It was overlooking illegal bait pile. I found some pics of the idiot actually dumping the corn and posing for the camera. He was standing right next to a four wheeler and this was no motor vehicle area. I downloaded the pics and returned the card so he would not know anything was up. I then forwarded the coordinates and pics to local game warden.

he met up with me and i took him to the spot where he promptly removed the camera and left a business card with instructions if the owner would like to reclaim his camera to please contact him. as of last week he has had no one step forward to claim the camera..... shocker.

Outside of this, I wouldn't want someone stealing my camera or reading my cards so i don't. Beside, if they found my camera IME that place is now probably dead. I am not sure how i would feel if I came across someone reading mine, I know exactly how i would feel if I came across someone trying to steal one.

Normally I feel that if it isn't yours don't touch it or sneak pictures from it. It's their personal property. Show some common decency & a little respect & leave it alone. The other person took the time & paid the money for it so it should be for their eyes only. You want pictures get your own camera! Don't be shady about it. However, when you are talking about someone disrespecting others by using illegal methods then I have no problem doing as DaveT1963 did. That was a good move.

I do have my own cameras and run them all the time. As mentioned in the post above it actually benefits both for me not to place my own in that spot also. It would just ad pressure by now 2 people coming to check cameras.

I personally would rather you check mine then run your own next to mine and now have multiple people coming and going checking...

Let me also note that although i do check cameras that i find. I do not make a point to come back and check their camera again. Only if i happen to stumble upon one.

I know it still dont make it right....i am admitting to doing it though. With the point it would not bother me as long as nothing was deleted and nothing taken.

I can see your point... to a point, but I think I would leave them a note in a ziplock explaining it to them & asking if they want to work together to give them the option to share their pics or not. I don't hunt the exact same spot other people do. It's likely to be counter productive to killing big bucks. I just move on. If the deer are going around them I may hunt where the deer are going to avoid the hunter. In which case I would put a camera there instead anyway. Assuming I wanted to put a camera out in the first place which I think has the potential to mess you up.

[Eddiegomes83]

I pulled another person's trail camera card just this season. Reason: It was overlooking illegal bait pile. I found some pics of the idiot actually dumping the corn and posing for the camera. He was standing right next to a four wheeler and this was no motor vehicle area. I downloaded the pics and returned the card so he would not know anything was up. I then forwarded the coordinates and pics to local game warden.

he met up with me and i took him to the spot where he promptly removed the camera and left a business card with instructions if the owner would like to reclaim his camera to please contact him. as of last week he has had no one step forward to claim the camera..... shocker.

Outside of this, I wouldn't want someone stealing my camera or reading my cards so i don't. Beside, if they found my camera IME that place is now probably dead. I am not sure how i would feel if I came across someone reading mine, I know exactly how i would feel if I came across someone trying to steal one.

Normally I feel that if it isn't yours don't touch it or sneak pictures from it. It's their personal property. Show some common decency & a little respect & leave it alone. The other person took the time & paid the money for it so it should be for their eyes only. You want pictures get your own camera! Don't be shady about it. However, when you are talking about someone disrespecting others by using illegal methods then I have no problem doing as DaveT1963 did. That was a good move.

I do have my own cameras and run them all the time. As mentioned in the post above it actually benefits both for me not to place my own in that spot also. It would just ad pressure by now 2 people coming to check cameras.

I personally would rather you check mine then run your own next to mine and now have multiple people coming and going checking...

Let me also note that although i do check cameras that i find. I do not make a point to come back and check their camera again. Only if i happen to stumble upon one.

I know it still dont make it right....i am admitting to doing it though. With the point it would not bother me as long as nothing was deleted and nothing taken.

I can see your point... to a point, but I think I would leave them a note in a ziplock explaining it to them & asking if they want to work together to give them the option to share their pics or not. I don't hunt the exact same spot other people do. It's likely to be counter productive to killing big bucks. I just move on. If the deer are going around them I may hunt where the deer are going to avoid the hunter. In which case I would put a camera there instead anyway. Assuming I wanted to put a camera out in the first place which I think has the potential to mess you up.

I agree it would mess the area up which is why i typically don't hunt where my cams are placed so i wouldn't hunt where others are either. I only use cams in areas that are high traffic only to see what type of deer are in an area and if it is an area worth my time. The intent is not for me to hunt where the person is planning on hunting or his cameras.

I can agree that it is somewhat unethical.... which is why started the poll. I say somewhat because mainly two reasons...
1. I am not doing something to someone else that i would hate done to me. There is absolutely no wrongful intent. I know you said in it is taking from them but technically nothing is taken from them. They still have everything. What are they missing? You can't even say privacy.... that is ridiculous....its woods and deer on public. Nothing private about that. unless the card pics of other things on the card. Then i could see your point. But hopefully people use different cards without personal pics on it for that reason alone.

2. I also say somewhat because i do agree to an extent. But to what degree. Maybe as unethical as speeding or rolling through a stop sign. Maybe a bad example...have you been to a public place like a ball game and person is on their phone constantly. They are sitting right below you. It's right in front of your face.... you can look the other way but find your eyes keep goin to their phone as they scroll to see what they are looking at. To me that would be just as unethical. That is their phone and you should not be looking at. You should look the other way and dont look back. Maybe you are a saint and have never done that. Idk.

Overall i agree. Unethical. Just not enough to think i am some sort sleezy sneaky scumbag. I figured at least half of you guys would say yes and half would say no. I also know that there are some people on here that will day they won't but will.

What i didn't expect was the reponse that i was stealing anything from the guy or making his hard work void.... the person is still whole and lost nothing. Again does not make it right. I have agreed to an extent it is unethical. Am i horrible because of it. I guess but i believe we all do things and don't think what we are doing is that bad but i am sure others agree. I believe we rationalize because we know we have zero harmful intent. Unlike the guy who is actually taking and stealing or deleting pics. There is harmful intent.

Sorry for the rant and thanks for the response.

[purebowhunting]

To me it's clearly unethical & shows a lack of respect for others, yet a surprising number of people don't seem to mind taking advantage of someone else's time & effort. Plus you could make a mistake & their camera takes no more pictures, photo's get accidentally deleted or something else. You could even say you are violating their privacy somewhat. Even on public you can not take possession of someone else's personal property & those pictures are theirs. Unless they are doing something illegal I think people should leave them alone.

I guess their honest effort could result in unwanted hunting pressure by people that take advantage of them. People that may otherwise not hunt the area much if at all if not for what they found while snooping around on someone else's camera. I guess it's a sign of how society has become.

I'm in agreement with the above. The intel is what you're stealing. It keeps being justified because the spot of the camera wouldn't being hunted, maybe that's the intention on the person who placed the camera and the adjacent bedding you'd make a move on is the same bedding the camera owner would make a move on. Now in a sense you're hunting their spot because of intel you stole. I've never touched anyone else's camera and never will.