#1 Reason I love IR Cameras

[Skyco]

Great story about the remote control deer Heard a similar one around here with a twist- the DNR guys here carry it with an orange vest on it hoping no one will shoot at it while they are carrying it or setting it up. Well one day they set it up at the edge of a field back from a road. When they got back to the road they realized they forgot to take the vest off. Before they could get back to it, some doofus stopped on the road, looked at it awhile then proceeded to shoot it Now that was really stupid, who would ever think an actual deer would have on an orange vest! Needless to say he was busted.

On the gates- I have a locked cable gate across my remote property, I always set the 4 thumbwheel numbers to something that has meaning to me. Last year going to the property I kept finding the lock combo wheels changed to something else...I finally figured out some lowlife was doing the SAME thing I was but HE was checking how often *I* came to the property Fortunately I haven't had any problems yet but it makes me uneasy.

 

[2manyrocks]

You appear to be 2 or 3 steps ahead of these guys. Good for you.

The Conservation officer's story got me wishing that he had a video that he could post of the guy wanting to shoot his robotic deer. The cops in one of our larger cities post pictures of the would be "Johns" they catch on their website. There's a local hunting and fishing show on TV where the conservation officers are sometimes guests--maybe if our conservation officers show up with some video of these nuts they'll be embarrassed enough to stop and think for once. But then if our judges would put them in orange jumpsuits and let them pick up litter every weekend for a month, that would cut down on their free time to trespass, too.

 

[Redbug]

Skyco...Interesting stuff. I think I would get one of those cameras and set it along your road...looking outwards at the gate. Even if nothing comes of it, at least you will have the lowdown on who is messing with the lock. You don't have to tell him or even let on that you know... The good thing about those combination locks is the number can be changed. You can give out the number to various people so they can enter, (like if you are having a party, etc). And later you can change it to limit the access, again.

Also, here's a great website where folks are researching and rating which game cameras are best for the amount of money you want to spend... I have been thinking of getting one or two, also.

Welcome to Chasingame - Trail and Scouting Camera Reviews and performance ratings

About the deer decoy...I keep thinking of the movie "Crocodile Dundee". Remember the part where the bad guys thought the night hunted kangaroos were shooting back? Too bad DNR can't rig one of those deer decoys to shoot back using blanks...before they arrest the night hunters. The muzzle flash would be a hoot!

 

[Sigarms]

Found a truck one time down the road at an access gate onto my property during hunting season.

Had a clear shooting lane into a dirt mound with no chance of stray bullets going anywhere, behind the house. Good 100 yard shot, clear, out in the open, nothing whatsoever in the shooting lane. Let off 60 rounds VERY fast, then another 30 rounds, one round per second.

Waited about 10 minutes after the last round, and it was pretty funny watching those guys come out of the wooded gully to my left and make a bee line across the field to their truck.

That happened four or five years ago, NEVER a problem since with people "wondering" onto my property during hunting season, which has always been fenced in anyways.

 

[john_bud]

But then if our judges would put them in orange jumpsuits and let them pick up litter every weekend for a month, that would cut down on their free time to trespass, too.

And if they have no guns, no truck and are barred from getting a hunting license that may slow them too....probably not.

I was talking to one of the guys I hunt with today and we were wondering if we should start a pool on how long retaliation takes and how expensive it is.

The reason I was talking to him was to ask if he knew why a big burl was cut off a tree. It is one that I was watching for a few years now and was about 3 to 3-1/2 feet across. Well, it's gone and he knows nothing about it (he's normally more observant than I.) There was a person on a 4 wheeler with a chainsaw previously caught by a camera. Maybe a coincidence, maybe not?

 

[Shirleyshusband]

Glad you got them on film. It's going to hurt their pocketbook for sure. With any luck, they'll loose a gun or two also!

 

[2manyrocks]

Depends on the local law enforcement and the judge. We had a judge who'd make sure a case like this got continued enough times that the person wanting the prosecution would give up.

 

[studor]

I worry about being an absentee landowner myself -- but luckily I have befriended a number of the locals and now get regular reports about the goings on around my place -- the bad news is I have some gossipy neighbours -- the good news is -- I have some gossipy neighbours
This year during deer season some poor guy stopped to try and pot a grouse on my property- he had members from three different hunting parties who all own land nearby descend on him and have a "few words" - don't think he'll be back!!

 

[john_bud]

Depends on the local law enforcement and the judge. We had a judge who'd make sure a case like this got continued enough times that the person wanting the prosecution would give up.

Is the judge in the back of the truck or on the ATV?

 

[2manyrocks]

I think the judge expected them to cook the deer and drop it by his house plus expected votes in the next election.