Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss on the loose

I've temporarily escaped. We managed to get a break in my schedule and are up at our pond property. I've managed to hack into a free Wi-Fi signal at a local restaurant (well not actually hack in as they let any idiot use it, which of course explains why I'm using it).

Anyhoo, the property looks great, no sign of theft, vandalism or damage of any kind.

The game cameras are working well. They did capture photos of two trespassers (both men and oddly enough both bare footed). We don't recognize either of them. We are considering forwarding the photos to the local Sheriff.

The good and fun news is that the game cameras have captured some great photos of wild life. I'll edit and post the photos when we get back but I'm telling you we have some good pictures. Deer-o-plenty (no surprise there), some Mountain Hare, a red fox (no not THE Redd Foxx), a coyote (where's the Coyote Helper when you need it), a couple of feral cats (the neighbor said he feeds them) and best of all, drum roll please, we have some great photos of a Bob Cat!

We have plenty more chores to do around the place (I thought living in the country meant living a life of leisure, boy was I wrong).

So far we haven't gone fishing once (are my priorities messed up or what?).

We're having fun and working hard.

If I can check in again while I'm gone I will.

Let's hope those trespassers didn't steal any of your irreplaceable GSF.
I've heard that they're the fish of choice of barefoot people.

Congrats on the escape. I wonder if your barefoot visitors escaped as well.....???

Or did they escape from South of El Cajon and are working their way North?

That's great that you caught some trespassers on film. Did they have fishing gear?

Jeff -- being a "come here" in relation to where your pond is -- I'd be real careful about this whole episode. If they find out you are from SoCal, you could be mis-labeled as a kook. With some of those barefoot NoCals, it ain't gonna be pretty if they find out you reported them.

Also, these local hirsute barefoot dudes might take revenge. I believe this photo was taken fairly close to where your pond is located.




The even better news -- in your area, I believe you can find Coyote Helper for under $3 at most any Lucky Supermarkets or Raley’s --



And, it tastes equally good with coyote, sasquatch, or even mountain hare.

Have a great, safe, and relaxed vacation! I wouldn't worry a bit about any of those multiple eyes you see in the woods after dark if you you sweep a light across the forest.

That sounds like a big improvement from last year. Pics would be great.

Pics are NECESSARY. You know that JHAP. looking forward to them.

B'ski, that's "Gold".....

Can't wait to see the photos! Glad to hear things were OK when you got there...

We got back last night. I have to edit the photos, the cameras literally (just for Bruce) took thousands of them.



Nope neither had fishing gear with them. After I posted the above post we saw one of the guys at the "crack heads" house down the road.

I'll edit photos and post them.


Oh and I guess that I should have said not "THE" Bobcat but a bobcat.

This is the reason for purchasing the game cameras.

Trespassers, caught in the act....






This is just a pleasant bonus for having the game cameras...

Mountain Hare...


Black Tailed Buck...



Grey Fox...



Bobcat...




There were many, many photos of deer (so many I actually got bored looking at them) a few of ducks, and several of feral cats.

OK, Mr Stealth...
Tell us about the types of cams, how they were hidden, and what you learned about round 1 of Beat the Reaper.

Dang that is a good, clear photo of the trespasser! If the pics are time and date stamped, I'd forward them to the sheriff. Without a date, it's unlikely you could prosecute, but a visit by law enforcement could happen.

Cool animal pics Jhap!

We bought seven Bushnell 5.0 Megapixel Trophy Cams. The primary reason that we chose this particular camera is battery life. These cameras are rated as having one of the longest battery lives of any game camera. For us that is a huge issue (since at times we go months without visiting the property). Also price was an issue for us as well and the Bushnell is fairly reasonable comparatively speaking.

Overall I'd say I'm very happy with the cameras. Many of the daytime photos are overexposed, I'm going to have to experiment with camera settings.



Very carefully.

There is a real trade off in hiding game cameras. The camera must be placed in such a way that there are not very many branches in it's field of view, otherwise every branch movement will trigger the camera. This is the case for one of our cameras (which took thousands of photos of nothing but also got one of the trespasser photos). Yet if it is completely out in the open then the camera becomes a target for thieves.

What I did was to trim the lower branches on several trees. Place the game camera up in the tree below the branch line and aimed slightly downward. In this way I hoped to minimize false triggering. I placed the cameras up the trees 10-12 feet so they are above the height that can be reached without a ladder. We used Python cable locks and steel security cases to attach them to the trees.



We now have photos of the trespassers and have identified where one of the two lives (or at least hangs out). Nothing was missing at out place so we didn't contact the Sheriff. We are debating as to what to do with the photos - JWHAP wants to print the trespassing photos and attach them to our front gate with a statement such as: You have been caught on camera trespassing. Stay off our property. There is part of me that want's to do that and part of me that thinks that this is will stir up more trouble.

Thoughts?

All of the photos are date and time stamped. I just cropped it out on the photos above.

Wow... And I thought my trespassers looked like rednecks!!!

Great pics JHAP!

Does Died have an opinion of, or some pull with, the sheriff? If you confront the trespassers and let them know you have photographic proof, they will look for and find the cameras.

If the one guy is in fact the nephew of tour neighbor, he has been put on notice and obviously doesn't care or respect where the property lines are.

You may want to call the county prosecutor to see what they are willing to seek with charges.

One other thing to consider is getting restraining orders against the culprits. Then if you get pictures of them trespassing, the penalty could be far worse than those for trespassing.

I don't know, but I'll find out.


That was my concern about putting their photo on the front gate. The guy walking toward the camera obviously did not know the camera was there.

Both trespassers walked past numerous "No Trespassing" signs and in fact off to the right (out of picture) of the guy walking toward the camera is a post that contains two signs one that says "No Trespassing, No Hunting, No Fishing, No Motor Vehicles" and a second sign that says "Property Under Video Survellience."

After a close up review of the photos I don't think the one guy is the neighbors nephew. He looks older to me than the nephew so for now he is still a mystery.


The guying walking toward the camera is walking on a gravel road.... barefooted!!!

The guy walking away from the camera has something in his hand. When I zoom in on it it looks like a bag of beef jerky. No I'm not kidding.

I didn't think there were any red-necks west of the Rockies.


Thanks, I'm pretty happy considering it's the first round of game camera photos. I need to fine tune the location and camera settings but it's not a bad start.

would this not require the ability to read?

Damn, I hadn't though of that.

Perhaps I should take a photo of my Winchester and put in on the sign as well.

From the looks of them there fellers, I'd say they wuz headin' to your place to get their annual bath in yer pond!

It looks like it might be the same guy in both pics, hat ,beard, barefoot, and same body type, but can't tell ,---- thoughts?