Public Land Trail Cam Etiquette

[Moserkr]

I met some guys dropping cams all over the woods in one of my spots. It gets hit pretty hard during rifle unless you go really deep, but is empty during archery. I've run cams out there before too but Im hesitant leaving them out during rifle. But that made me think...

Has anyone ever pulled the cards on other people's public land cams and then just put them back? Download the data, don't delete, put the cam back as found. My opinion is that it's fair game on public land and is a no harm no foul situation. I will be carrying a card reader with me from now on. If the cam is locked in a box then I'll leave it be. Otherwise I cannot find an argument in my mind why its unethical. Thoughts?

 

[Mallardsx2]

Define nefarious.

Are we talking Roman Helmet situation here?

 

[bigsky2]

Ill be completely honest, if I found a cell cam during the season in Montana I'd be tempted to put something in front of the lens. Not sure if I'd check someone's card or not. I wouldn't want anyone checking my cards. I lock mine though.

 

[recon6036]

There is one in Wyoming that’s been in the same spot for a few years now. Appears that it is maintained. I have never considered checking the card, but I did hold up a sign with my email address written on it, asking the owner to send me Elk pics…..no luck though.

 

[Elky Welky]

I'm not messing with someone's private property, as much as I would like to get those peepy pervy trail cams off public land. This poll does raise an interesting question on the legality of checking the card.

A prosecutor could charge a criminal offense here, but how is pretty interesting. Using Montana as an example (sorry, these are the statutes I am familiar with. Worth looking them up in your own states), it would be really interesting to see it tried. Under both a theory of criminal mischief (vandalism) or theft, there still has to be either a showing of:

Criminal Mischief: "without consent tampers with property of another or public property so as to endanger or interfere with persons or property or its use;" 45-6-101(b) MCA

No interference with use, so that one is out.

Theft:

"(1) A person commits the offense of theft when the person purposely or knowingly obtains or exerts unauthorized control over property of the owner and:

(a) has the purpose of depriving the owner of the property;

(b) purposely or knowingly uses, conceals, or abandons the property in a manner that deprives the owner of the property; or..." 45-6-301 MCA

No purpose to deprive the owner of the property under any subsection, so that's also out.

BUT, if I were to charge it as a prosecutor, I think the avenue would be under Unlawful Use of a Computer, which states:

"a person commits the offense of unlawful use of a computer when the person knowingly or purposely and without authorization:

... ...

(b) obtains the use or access of any computer, computer system, or computer network without consent of the owner;"

If a trail cam qualifies as a computer, then this one under sub b could work, which means messing with the card could lead to this sentence:

"A person convicted of the offense of unlawful use of a computer involving loss of property not exceeding $1,500 in value or when no loss can be articulated shall be fined not to exceed $1,500 or be imprisoned in the county jail for a term not to exceed 6 months, or both."

 

[TOGIE]

i vote unethical.

maybe unlawful.

but we don't need laws to be ethical, right?


right?

 

[Big Sky Guy]

I quit putting out trail cameras. I just find other's and do exactly as you laid out. The only photos I will delete are the ones that get taken of myself if I accidentally walk in front of the camera before finding it. There is one that's been out past two seasons, next time I'm planning to go up there I'm going to take a change of batteries for it to be nice.

Pro-tip: carry a micro sd adapter as well. Most use the standard SD cards now, but I've come across some with the micro ones.

Edit: For all those on here claiming otherwise, if you came across ice cold beer in the backcountry stored in a snow drift or stream and clearly abandoned would you also consider that criminal mischief, unethical or otherwise unlawful to crack open a cold one??

 

[cgasner1]

I don’t mess with them mainly because you don’t know how many you have walked past. I’ve been sent pictures of myself on people I knows trail cams. Also have had about 6 of mine stolen

 

[COEngineer]

Property left on public land should be considered trash and removed by anyone who finds it. You can camp in most places for maximum 2 weeks, but cameras are not camping gear, so unless expressly excepted by some specific forest, I argue they are forfeit.

 

[Elky Welky]

clearly abandoned

This is the most important distinction. Trail cams are also quite clearly not abandoned, so it is an apples to oranges comparison. I think comparing them more to coming up on a campsite would be more apt: would you sleep in someone else's tent when it is still clearly being used?

Funny you use that example though, I can honestly say I have come across two beers (PBR) abandoned about 2 miles up one of my all time favorite elk hunting drainages at the end of a hunt with my old man. It was truly awesome to drink beer at the end of a great day while hiking out.

 

[nrpate05]

Property left on public land should be considered trash and removed by anyone who finds it. You can camp in most places for maximum 2 weeks, but cameras are not camping gear, so unless expressly excepted by some specific forest, I argue they are forfeit.

Even if they're legally allowed to be there?

It seems unethical. I wouldn't want someone taking a siesta in my tent during the day while I'm out.

 

[Elky Welky]

but we don't need laws to be ethical, right?

Right. This is why homicide should be legal. Making homicide illegal only punishes law-abiding citizens that wouldn't kill other people in the first place. A criminal is already going to break the law, regardless of if we make something illegal.