Trail Camera Safety

With the increase of trail camera use comes the need to safely secure the unit to help prevent theft. Most trail cameras today come with some sort of securing the unit to a tree or other object. Unfortunately most of the time the method is not enough to deter theft. Usually the camera can be bolted to a tree or attached with bungee cords and then padlocked. A padlock can easily be cut or even broke off of the unit if it simply locks onto the plastic housing. The most secure way of attaching the camera is by use of a cable lock. One such model that I have had considerable success with is the Python cable lock made by Masterlock. This cable is designed to tighten when tampered with and there is no shackle to cut. Another method is to buy a metal box that is made for many models of cameras and then use a cable lock to secure it to a tree. The metal box will help prevent damage to the memory card if the thief is intent on destroying evidence of themselves. This setup comes in handy when using your camera for surveillance. Although it does not provide for the best triggering, using a ladder and placing the camera out of arms reach and angled towards the ground, will deter most thieves. If a person is serious about stealing a camera, there is nothing made that will completely stop them. However, with a few precautions, a person can help deter the majority of criminals.