Do trail cams belong on public land?

[Tight Lines]

Good point but I don't like "vague" laws

OK but how is a cell cam "communication" which is meant for hunters coordinating and pushing game? It's not illegal, and no one that I am aware of has been prosecuted by a game warden for violating any law.

 

[sleepr71]

If it’s not mine..I don’t touch it. If it’s not yours..don’t touch it. Pretty simple.

 

[bfriendly]

Some hog traps are set off by Electronic devices

Yeah but that’s more like sending the pest Control guy/girl out there to kill bugs. (See what I did there )
I really don’t care either way, but IMHO real time photos sent to a communication devic, like a cell phone, should be interpreted as a communication device being used. I think they are fun and I love checking my cards. I’d love to get photos on my communication device too

 

[kmckinnie]

Yeah but that’s more like sending the pest Control guy/girl out there to kill bugs. (See what I did there )
I really don’t care either way, but IMHO real time photos sent to a communication devic, like a cell phone, should be interpreted as a communication device being used. I think they are fun and I love checking my cards. I’d love to get photos on my communication device too

My point was oh never mind.

 

[Gbr5pb]

Lord help when I saw how long this thread was I thought it had to be a seak one involved

 

[tad1]

It’s public land, I shouldn’t have to smile for your camera. They are intrusive, go ahead and place them on your front door , back porch, and your daughter’s bedroom.
In the public woodlands, Leave no trace…

 

[NCHillbilly]

Good point but I don't like "vague" laws

Do you even hunt in Georgia?

 

[Dupree]

I hunt a good bit of public land. Between 4 different pieces of public land, I’ve probably covered at least 20 miles scouting since September. I have seen 3 cameras in that time, all 3 of which were cell cams. I do not think they are an issue.

I currently have 4 cells cams on public that isn’t even open for deer hunting anymore this season. I’ve ran those 4 cameras on different places all fall. I’ve even discussed my cameras with DNR employees and shown them pictures. Nothing was mentioned about being illegal.

I’ve had pictures of several people this fall, several of which I don’t think even knew the cam was there. One person was walking straight at my camera with his hand out and I thought for sure it was gonna be gone, but if he messed with it, he turned it back on because I had deer on camera a few hours later.

 

[Dupree]

For those acting like cameras are intruding on your privacy while in the woods, you never know when a live person is in the woods and watching you. You gave up that privacy, when you stepped onto public land.

 

[Bowyer29]

Curious for those OK with private trail cams in public lands ... OK for those cams to be placed on trees facing your family's campsite on public land?

I think the bigger picture needs to be looked at and addressed. I imagine the majority saying OK for cams to be on public land would not be happy with a number of cell cams placed around their campsite.

How would people react to cell cams placed on public beaches?

The state / city cameras everywhere are enough. We don't need them in the woods and parks and rivers etc.

Public. You have no expectation of privacy in Public. Plan accordingly.

 

[NCHillbilly]

For those acting like cameras are intruding on your privacy while in the woods, you never know when a live person is in the woods and watching you. You gave up that privacy, when you stepped onto public land.

I have seen a few very interesting things from a climbing stand on public land over the years.

 

[tad1]

Not long ago on this forum a fellow posting how he killed a good deer. He had seen it on his cell cam very shortly before and changed his approach. Congrats to the successful hunter.
Really don’t care too much about that but where does it end? heck we could mic the things up like our doorbell cams, cammers could ask whether I’d seen any deer that day?!

 

[tad1]

"no expectation of privacy"
Yes, this is a valid point that is hard to argue with.
the issue is much more complex though, and involves subjectivity and emotion.

 

[tad1]

At what camera density does it become an issue? 1 cam per 100 acres, 10 cameras/100 acres.
the waterhole issue out west is an example of this.

 

[tad1]

Heck with radically advancing technology, facial recognition software and all, My MacBook tells me that is Joe Blow out of Forsyth county lives over off country club lane..... Man he drove a good ways to hunt this wma!

 

[tad1]

Sure, we have been using trail cams for decades to pattern game, improve success, etc. just wondering at what point tech becomes a bigger issue.

 

[NCHillbilly]

At what camera density does it become an issue? 1 cam per 100 acres, 10 cameras/100 acres.
the waterhole issue out west is an example of this.

The methheads easily solve that problem here. After one of them comes through, there are 0 cams per 100 acres. And here isn't anything like out west. There are no waterholes concentrating game from large areas of land. Nor are there large numbers of outfitters selling guided hunts on public land.

 

[livinoutdoors]

I wonder what they hang the game cameras on out west? Is it possible that they seem crowded because there is only one tree per acre to use? I do support the use of cameras on public land but i'll say again, we are getting very careless with this no expectation of privacy/imma gon film you all over thing. People put these stupid ring doorbell cameras on their house, then add one for every room. When they step outside their phone is out filming or taking pictures constantly. Most nobody stops to think where this is all headed.

 

[Taco4x4]

I have been huntin public for the past ten plus years. I have seen enough cameras to fill up a five gallon bucket. The strap gives them away most times. I just walk behind them and go on my way.
I to use cameras and currently have four out. Two cell and two regular ones. The cell cameras are great for my way back in there spots and I sometimes use a regular one on the walking trails to get an idea of the amount of hunting pressure in curtain areas. Also I have been known to put a camera looking at my truck when I park in a place I don't feel comfortable with.

The only advantage the cell cameras give me is if I get a pic of another hunter in that spot I know to go hunt somewhere else. It kept me from walking in on him or him walking in on me. I don't see what the fuss is all about. Guess its not the camera but how some folks try to use them.

 

[basshappy]

Public. You have no expectation of privacy in Public. Plan accordingly.

That's obvious. I don't think anyone is arguing for privacy in the woods. For me the issue is the powers that be with the residents of the state need to start thinking about this topic and address it because there could easily be a time in the not too distant future where there are either cell cams or surveillance cams throughout the woods. Cell by private persons and surveillance by GOVT. Waiting until after the fact is almost always pointless.

Who really wants GOVT cameras throughout the woods simply because the technology is cheap and why not we already have em deployed on the streets in the cities and towns?