Trail Cam Security

IrvJr · December 22, 2009, 03:29 PM

Hi All,

I bought a pair of relatively inexpensive ($60 apiece) trail cams from Dick's sporting goods. Instead of buying one very expensive camera, I got two cheaper ones. I've done some testing and the picture quality is acceptable to me.

Deer season is over here in NH, but I've found some spots recently where there is evidence of a lot of deer activity (scrapes, poop, pee, tracks, etc.). I'd like to set up my trail cams to get some photos of these deer.

I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to purchase lock boxes for these trail cams. The lock boxes would cost almost as much as the trail cams if I include shipping. They are about $42 shipped per box.

How do you secure your trail cams? Do you lock them to the tree? Do you try to camouflage them? Do you just leave them be?

Thanks in advance!\

Gbro · December 22, 2009, 07:02 PM

What ever is comfortable to you is my answer.
I have a Cuddybac that cost me over $400.00 and it has a place to hang a lock but what good would all that do to someone who is of a mind to steal it? It would probably be shot or smashed in anger anyway.
Then I have a neighbor at the lake that locks "EVERYTHING", but he was a security gauard and that is what was comfortable to him.
What is the old saying? Locks only keep what??

wpcexpert · December 22, 2009, 08:46 PM

I finally got a Cuddeback this year. Not the $400 one. But I was just strapping it to the tree. Then I went to change out the SD card. The card was gone and one battery. I figure that someone had walked past it, realized they had their picture taken and removed the evidence. Like I really care if someone walked past it on public land.

I got the Bear safe box for it. Now someone would have to have equipment on the spot to mess with it.

The boxes may cost almost as much as the cameras, true. But you've also got $15-20 in SD card and batteries. Also, how much is your time worth. You take the time to scout and hang your camera, leave it for a week and go back. If it's gone, you've lost not only the materials but the time as well. And someone will have your hard work sitting at the house.

cnimrod · December 23, 2009, 08:46 AM

depends on your risk tolerance and how accessible the area is, who hunts the area and such, but I'd say if you're willing to buy lock boxes which cost (almost) as much as the cameras. I'd take the risk. One gets stolen replace it and set up the other one, well hidden, to watch it. ( there was just a case on F&S I think where they caught a slob hunter this way)
I have one on private property but accessible off a "public" power line never had a problem. But other areas I hunt I've "lost" ground blinds I've left out. It comes down to numbers, the more hunters you have in an area the greater the odds of a bad apple.

December 22, 2009, 03:29 PM	#1
IrvJr Senior Member Join Date: June 2, 2004 Posts: 199	Trail Cam Security Hi All, I bought a pair of relatively inexpensive ($60 apiece) trail cams from Dick's sporting goods. Instead of buying one very expensive camera, I got two cheaper ones. I've done some testing and the picture quality is acceptable to me. Deer season is over here in NH, but I've found some spots recently where there is evidence of a lot of deer activity (scrapes, poop, pee, tracks, etc.). I'd like to set up my trail cams to get some photos of these deer. I was wondering if it would be worthwhile to purchase lock boxes for these trail cams. The lock boxes would cost almost as much as the trail cams if I include shipping. They are about $42 shipped per box. How do you secure your trail cams? Do you lock them to the tree? Do you try to camouflage them? Do you just leave them be? Thanks in advance!\

December 22, 2009, 07:02 PM	#2
Gbro Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2005 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,084	What ever is comfortable to you is my answer. I have a Cuddybac that cost me over $400.00 and it has a place to hang a lock but what good would all that do to someone who is of a mind to steal it? It would probably be shot or smashed in anger anyway. Then I have a neighbor at the lake that locks "EVERYTHING", but he was a security gauard and that is what was comfortable to him. What is the old saying? Locks only keep what?? __________________ Gbro CGVS For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, But to us who are being saved, It Is The Power Of God. 1Corinthians 1-18

December 22, 2009, 08:46 PM	#3
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	I finally got a Cuddeback this year. Not the $400 one. But I was just strapping it to the tree. Then I went to change out the SD card. The card was gone and one battery. I figure that someone had walked past it, realized they had their picture taken and removed the evidence. Like I really care if someone walked past it on public land. I got the Bear safe box for it. Now someone would have to have equipment on the spot to mess with it. The boxes may cost almost as much as the cameras, true. But you've also got $15-20 in SD card and batteries. Also, how much is your time worth. You take the time to scout and hang your camera, leave it for a week and go back. If it's gone, you've lost not only the materials but the time as well. And someone will have your hard work sitting at the house. __________________ When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. - Thomas Jefferson

December 23, 2009, 08:46 AM	#4
cnimrod Senior Member Join Date: September 24, 2009 Location: NJ/NY Posts: 152	Locks only stop honest people depends on your risk tolerance and how accessible the area is, who hunts the area and such, but I'd say if you're willing to buy lock boxes which cost (almost) as much as the cameras. I'd take the risk. One gets stolen replace it and set up the other one, well hidden, to watch it. ( there was just a case on F&S I think where they caught a slob hunter this way) I have one on private property but accessible off a "public" power line never had a problem. But other areas I hunt I've "lost" ground blinds I've left out. It comes down to numbers, the more hunters you have in an area the greater the odds of a bad apple.