Using game cameras to catch trespassers...

[NM_Shooter]

Hopefully Peter will chime in on this one.

We have some problem with poachers trespassing on our property.  They know that we are mostly there on weekends, so they come on during the day.  We have a locked gate, but all of our fences are lay-down fences due to the snow, so all they have to do is unhook a few posts, lay the fence down, and drive over. 

I suspect that I can get some help from the game warden or sheriff if I can just find out who this is.  I'm thinking of setting up some game cameras to try and catch the vehicle, but need to also try and get the license plate.  Looks to me that most of these cameras take a picture when triggered, and then have a 1 minute or more delay until picture #2.

I'm wondering if I hide a camera by the road in a pile of rocks, if I can get an angle on the back of the truck as it passes by.  Might be tricky trying to get the sensor angle right, as I'll need to hide the camera pretty well.  I thought about hiding a second camera off to the side, so that if someone steals the first camera, I'll get a picture of that.

Peter, care to weigh in?  Have you had any luck with your local law putting pressure on trespassers based on your camera pictures?

I'm thinking about a relatively cheap camera, such as the Moultrie Gamespy D40.  Probably will need to get 4 to 6 of them.

The other thing that worries me a bit, is that I don't want these folks coming back and poisoning our ponds and streams.   

[diyfrank]

I think getting a sheriff or warden to do anything based on a picture is hit and mis. I know people in other states that were able to recover stolen property. I run a lot of cameras and get people trespassing. Ive had things stolen and had the person that stole my cameras, tell the deputy who had them and where they were and the deputy wouldn't do a thing to help me.
   said without a warrant all he could do was ask them if they had my cameras.

Trespassing,?? Its hard to say.  I would recommend to anyone use cameras and video cams anyway. you my recognize someone somewhere sometime yourself. You could simply post their pictures up on a board next to a no trespassing sign where you suspect they enter. They would has to be pretty ballsy to continue after seeing you have them on print.

Another thing if you want to build your own cams is build them in a bird house or something that doesn't draw attention to it.

[MountainDon]

I'm pretty sure Peter had some good luck at least once with getting someone taken to court for trespassing on ;the farm; as he calls it. He had very clear pictures.

The sheriff should help, unless maybe the trespasser is his brother-in-law, cousin or whatever. You know how that is in northern NM. I know the game warden in our area of the Jemez would go out of his way to arrest a poacher.

G/L

[Whitlock]

I have used them to catch Hygraders. But they were easier to set up.You know were they will be.
You might try using signs. Like smile you on camera.
Or-No Trasspassing
    Survivors will be
    Shot Again!!!!!

If you know were they are coming though the fence set up a spike strip weld up 20 penny nails like jacks work very well.

Good luck,W

[peternap]

Actually it works pretty well and is proof positive in court.





If you want a license plate, you need to determine your trigger time and set the camera so it will get it. I like faces . Most cameras have a burst mode and you should set it for the maximun number of pictures,

Whitlock, you need to watch the wording on signs. It can coime back and bite you in the butt if you ever do kill someone.

[Whitlock]

Maybe the last sign was a little harsh
No worry Peter the only sign I have around here is Tresspassers will be VIOLATED

[glenn kangiser]

Can you use a snare, Peter? hmm

Probably hard finding a big enough sapling....

[MountainDon]

In a court of law that would likely be as bad, maybe worse, than the sign stating trespassers will be shot. 

[glenn kangiser]

Seems Tarzan got away with it....

I'm sure you are right, Don..

[Whitlock]

In a court of law that would likely be as bad, maybe worse, than the sign stating trespassers will be shot. 

Come on Don were is your sense of humor

[MountainDon]

Oh, I appreciate the humor. At the same time I have seen rash words come back to haunt people. Too many bleedin' heart lawyers and judges out there. I'd also love to catch trespassers in a snare, cage, pit, or net ...



However, I don't need the legal hassles that would bring. So I would never do that.

[fishing_guy]

My game camera is a Wildview and was about $100 for a 5 mega pixel model.  It can be set up for a 1/5/20 minute delay and can take 1/3/6shots or shoot a 20 second AVI movie between delay settings.  With a $30 SD card, I can get over 2000 pictures.

It also has a setting for flash/no flash.  If the intruders were at night it wouldn't work out because either they see the flash and know where the camera is, or no picture because no light.
Sample pic of trespassers during the day:


Sample picture of trespassers during the night(with flash):

[MountainDon]

The best choice for a camera for security purposes would be one that does b&w infrared pictures in the dark. No visible flash.