Rights about leaving a camera on public land?

[treestandman2]

I hunt public land and was wondering if my camera is stolen do I have any rights or is it finders keepers and too bad? Hopefully anyone finding it would be honest enough to leave it alone but I have had stands stolen in the same area. I guess the same thing would apply to my stands, is all this stuff legally fair game for the finder? Did I say finder, I meant crud ball!!!

 

[swampfox]

If its not yours,leave it alone!!!!!

 

[treestandman2]

Hey Swampfox,
Wouldn't it be great if everyone followed that???

 

[Tinhorn]

If your car is stolen off a public street, the cops will hang-um if they're caught so I guess it's against the law to steal your cams or stands off public property, even if it is woods. Also, stealing over $150 around here is a felony and has a stiffer penalty if convicted, your cam's are worth every bit of that.....

Tinhorn

 

[ghoot]

treestandman2,
I hunt and use my cameras on public land in OK, but it's risky. Not just because of the thieves, but because last year the regulations for hunting public land said that any personal items left over night become the property of the wildlife department. I've lost 2 tree stands. I suppose it was scum bags rather than the department, because I suspect that the department would at least leave a note, but I'm not sure. I noticed that this year the regs say that a treestand can now be left out for 14 days before they own it. I guess if a scum bag steels a camera, they are actually stealing it from the wildlife department! In other words, check the regulations for your state to make sure you're not giving them a camera if they find it!
ghoot

 

[shufigo]

I'm not a lawyer, but I can't see any way that you've given up ownership of the camera. It's not laying loose, lost or abandoned. It's unattended personal property, the same as if you'd camped there and left your tent, sleeping bag and cooking stuff. If someone took that, it'd be stealing, wouldn't it? Why would your camera be any different -- just because it's easier to carry (steal)?