I have a neighbor who frequently trespasses on my land. He has put spikes in the ground to puncture the tires on my atv. Recently, he took my tree stand and trail camera. I know it's him because my land is land locked and he has the only easy access to it. We have a long history that started when I purchased the property that he felt he had squatters right to hunt on.

Can a trail camera be hidden well enough to avoid detection and still catch him trespassing? I fear if I lock one down, he will cut the tree when I'm away at work. If I mount if high, he will shoot it and render it useless. If I use cable (Python) locks, he will get a bolt/cable cutter and cut it off. I want to be able to use my land again. How can I catch this guy? He is able to avoid prosecution because he hasn't been caught red-handed, yet. Even the sheriff knows he is doing this but has no way to prove it at this point. Any suggestions?

I would try a few Covert CA3.0 cameras. They are very small and can be attached to a tree or structure via a "deck screw"...omitting any type of strap or cable makes the camera much easier to conceal. The CA3.0 is cheap enough that you could use 3 or 4 cameras; it's unlikely that they would all be detected by your slime ball neighbor.

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Some guys here have posted pics of some pretty clever camouflage jobs.
Is there a place where you could put a cam in a case that would look like an electrical box? Reconyx sells some, but one would probably look out of place in the woods. Near the house, or if there's a line of utility poles on your land, one of those boxes might blend in okay.

Cutting down a tree is usually a rather noisy project. Is he really that bold, or is the area so isolated that he wouldn't draw anyone's attention?

Usually, mounting a cam high keeps it out of sight as much as out of reach. If he saw it and decided to shoot it, he'd have to be sure he hadn't already been photographed by it, and then stand off to one side before taking aim at it. Shooting it might disable the cam, but images stored on its removable memory might still be available for evidence. I think someone would need a large-caliber firearm to punch through a heavy duty security case, and they'd have to hit the cam just right to damage the memory.

Truly, it doesn't take too much to cut a 5/16" Python; I've removed two using small bolt cutters. A good chain or a Master Quantum 30 would require more work, but would be harder to hide and might not fit through a cam or security case in a way that would hold the cam or case tightly to the tree.
<http://www.masterlock.com/product_details/CableLocks/8218DPS>

One other possibility might be to hide one cam (or more) very well, and put out a dummy cam in a little more obvious location. Not too obvious, unless you want it more for a deterrent than as a decoy. Reconyx also sells dummy cams in camo or grey.
<http://www.reconyx.com/accessories.php>

What T-Post just suggested the (DLC Covert CA3.0) is a very good choice for that job you need done. Very long battery life also.

Rick!

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Set a trap with a cheap cam....somewhat hidden but accessable. Set another cam (preferably blackout) to watch the first cam and conceal it much better(since it is focussed on a single object it can be hidden pretty well and the pir sensor doesn't need to have the full cone or range. I know of some folks up here who had a chronic thief and they set up a 3 cam trap...he found the first 2 but missed the third. The covert 3.0 is a great cam - its what I use on public land...just have to camo the strap or use a screw(illegal on public land unless on a stump or dead snag). Good luck.

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Do you really want to catch him, or do you just want him to leave your land alone? If the latter, do this:

Print out a nice color brochure for one of the newer game cameras with a cell-phone link to transmit photos as they are taken. Cover in waterproof paper and post them prominently on the access road, with a note saying you now have three of these cameras monitoring the land. Stick one in his mailbox.

It's up to you whether you actually go out and buy three of these cameras or not. But I'd think twice before I knowingly trespassed on land where two other cameras would be transmitting my photo while I cut the first one down.

^^^ That's a cheaper alternative than even the dummy cam idea. I like it. Psych-out!

spypoint tiny-w that,s all

It is indeed very possible to camo a camera well enough to keep him from finding it. I do it quite often with mine and on many occasions have spent a great deal of time trying finding them again. This usually happen when the camera has been left out for a longer period of time and has not been checked. I always write down the general location where they are set thinking I will have no problems when I go back, but it does happen. I have spent several hours looking for a SG 550. I actually had to go after the sun had set to see the red blob. If it had been new no glow camera it would probably still be out there.

There are many good ways to camo one. The loose leaf type camo material works as base layer, but natural material is usually used to finish the job off, but remember this if you cut green leafy material, it will soon turn brow and depending on the back ground could make the camera really stand out. I try to use old already aged material and blend well with a good matching back ground. A stick of hot melt glue and a Bic lighter works great for attaching material. I know I shouldn't say this,,,,,but I have never yet had one stolen.

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Ive had good luck setting the camera on or near the ground and pointing it up at a slight angle. Of course it depends on brush and snow. Easy to hide them on the ground.

A friend of my cousin had a simular problem this year. Ultimatly he bought a ladder stand with a thick foam seat and put some sort of GPS transmitter in it and sure enough it was taken. Called the sherrif and they were able to find most of his stuff behind his neighbors barn.

Another option would be the spypoint tiny w with the blackbox receiver. That blackbox would be pretty easy to hide vs the camera itself.

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Hiding the cams close to the ground with alot of natural cover is what I do...that and purchase camo tape to match...the one cam on our property for catching tresspassers is on an old apple tree with a lot of dead/dying branches falling and leaning. Have caught the neighbor burying some bucket of $*!# and another walking the dog buy our hunting areas. Even fooled my dad after I had told him where to look. It is a WGI w6x with treebark pattern with a mossy oak pattern overlaid in small strips - all tape custom job with golden rod and grass added. Caught that seven point on my avatar there as well as 2 nice eights and a huge 4pt(17" spike on left 3pt on right 175+ lbs), a gray fox, coyotes(saw the cam), bobcat, small bucks and bunch of does(1 saw the cam). Have to worry about snow now though as it will pile up to that level by end of december at latest.

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GET OUTSIDE!
Com
w6x IR5x2 ca3.0, MP6black
HBs
nikon l11,l14 & l14(slv)/yeti
sony s600fh/BF, s40fh/yeti s40/ss2
fuji j10/BF
Panny Fx35/ss2,Fs5(slv),Fs42(slv)/ss2,Lz10(IR),
Oly Fe47/aio
past
tc35,n4,n6 hbs Fx100,Lz8,J10s,Fs7

Thanks everyone - lots of good ideas. I'm torn between wanting to catch him or just keep him off my property. As it now stands, I can't think of keeping any property out there for fear of it being taken. I'm not sure that without catching him and having him answer to the law and a fine, this would stop. I like the idea of dummy cameras and a trap camera. I'm also toying with making a dummy camera/lock box that can be seen from his property and posting some warning signs saying the area is protected by cameras that send pictures to a cell phone. It sucks that I can't even use my own property without fear. It's not that big a parcel (20 acres) but it's narrow and I can't monitor the back end of it very well. I suspect he spots stuff during the day and takes it under cover of darkness. Either way, I need to catch him in the act.

Best way is to set a couple bear traps around.You won't have much trouble finding out for sure who it is.

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