I looked at my GPS and walked around circles for a few minutes to locate the actual tree that my camera was placed on.
Finally! I found the tree where I placed my camera but there was no camera on it. In fact, the whole tree was knocked over.
Human tracks marked the area immediately around the tree. Somebody had stolen my camera. What makes this whole scene even more ridiculous is the fact that my cameras are locked around a tree with cables and locks.
Of course, someone might be able to pick the lock or cut the cable, but not this criminal. This person took out a saw, sawed the tree down, sawed the limbs off the tree, and then slipped the cable that my camera was on, right along the length of the tree.
How do I know exactly what this person did? Well here's the thing. Other than the obvious human bootprints, the wrappers left at the scene, and the amount of sawdust under the tree, most of my camera sets are composed of 2 cameras, 3 cameras, or even 4 cameras!
These cameras are pointed at each other in opposing directions. I've got some cameras that are in the holes of trees that even take me over 30 minutes to find.
This camera set actually had a few cameras at the set and around it that caught the action.
Now I'm not the one to investigate or accuse, but the picture below is of the only person that walked in this area (of 3 cameras) and was seen on other cameras with a saw as well. Interesting. . .
Even the local wildlife doesn't seem to steal my cameras, even though the deer get curious sometimes.
Stolen camera??? Some people are just downright nasty.
ReplyDeleteWhere in NOVA was this?
ReplyDeleteSterling, Va
DeleteSadly enough - that doesn't surprise me. Do check the Sterling/Leesburg Pawn shops, it's probably there and with any luck you can match the two photos - yours and the one the Pawn Shop took when he walked in. The local county mounties are pretty good about following through on that, there's a lot of MS13 in the area messing with petty theft. I live in Sterling and found someone's handbag in the crook of a tree in my back yard one day. With a sterling silver and turquiose watch in it and an appointment card. The Sherrif's Dept was able to help track it back to the owner.
ReplyDeleteGood idea! I won't get too excited since chances of seeing it ever again are very slim but will definitely check a pawn shop or two.
DeleteI'd say he is a hunter (camo backpack) and out scouting for next year, or collecting his own game cameras from this year. That would make sense as when he saw yours he decided to steal them. Depending on where you are located, I'd go back in October next season and see if you can't run into him. Hell maybe just expand around that area and you may likely find your own camera posted on a tree.
ReplyDeleteChris
Brian,
ReplyDeleteBased on the picture on your blog, he is probably a hunter. If the tree was cut down, I'd speculate that he was back in the woods to retrieve or install his tree stand. Chances are his camo backpack contained a sierra saw or zip saw for removing branches. He is not dressed to hunt, and obviously has no bow/gun. I'd think he was doing maintenance on his stands, or food plot. I don't know where this area was, public hiking area? Private land? If public, I'd check with local park authority to see if hunting is allowed as he may be poaching. If public, he may even be registered to hunt that specific plot of land.
The fact that he removed/stole your camera may indicate that he is territorial. I'd come back next October when bow season starts up. If he is indeed a tree stand hunter as I suspect, he will be setting up again, and possibly using his newly acquired game camera. You may luck out and retrieve it. He was obviously coming and going through your area, so speculate where a good game ambush point may be. Look at tracks, food, ect. I'd scan the tree line as it would be easier to locate a tree stand 15-25 ft up rather then spot your camera from a distance. Might have a better chance finding his stand once all the leaves fall off the trees.
He could have also been a park authority worker or hobbyist who thinks game cameras are illegal and removed it. I don't know the rules. Goodluck with your search, just some suggestions.
Thanks for your advice! I know for sure that he is on public land without permission. I'll keep an eye out for him if he's ever in the area again.
DeleteI just had a camera "go missing"....then I asked my roommate to walk out with me and look, and she found it 30 feet from where I "SWORE" I had hung it a week ago.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say the same thing, but oh well. Just out of curiosity, have you had any cameras stolen in New York?
Delete