Ever had an issue with theft while tent camping off forest service roads during hunting season?

[Macintosh]

Curious how people approach camping security during hunting season when base-camping at pulloffs along forest service roads in an area you are not super familiar with? Ie there is one main fs road through a unit with a few spur roads, and lots of people camp at pulloffs along the road. If you have a NON-lockable tent, do you do anything to prevent theft or anyone messing with your stuff? There is extremely little theft in this situation ime and my inclination is to put “true valuables” in a locked vehicle and leave camping stuff as-is…but every so often I hear of something that makes me think I live in a sheltered little bubble. It would suck and likely end a trip to have someone mess with your sleeping bag or tent, so wondering what other peoples experience is and if you “do” anything proactively? Do you not worry at all, do you pack up everything but the tent and take it with you, etc?

 

[Rock’N Tacos]

Anything valuable is locked in the truck or with me and all the camping stuff stays in the tent. I have been doing it that way for over 20 years and never had a problem.

 

[Chris in TN]

Stuff like this is always in the back of my mind but at the end of the day most hunters aren’t thieves and most thieves avoid creating potential conflicts with armed people. So I just take minimal ‘true valuable’ type stuff with me and keep my guns close at hand. If I leave something behind I’ll lock it up out of sight.

Also, if someone gets caught stealing on federal lands it could become a federal court issue. The extra legal hurdles of federal courts likely serve as another layer of deterrent.

 

[ElkArcher918]

Anything of high value (ex. electronics, optics, firearms, etc.) either gets stored in my locked truck or goes with me in the backpack. There's only so much you can do with camping gear. For the most part outdoorsmen are good honest folks who are out in the mountains to have a good time. Unfortunately, there are a few bad apples in the bunch, just human nature. In all my years dispersed basecamp hunting, I've never had anything stolen. Best thing you can do is be selective in choosing where you camp. Stay away from crowded sites and/or rowdy curious neighbors.

 

[Soj51hopeful]

Same as others said, I lock valuables in the truck if it’s not with me. Camping stuff I don’t worry about, if someone takes it then I’ll be pissed but that would be a one off situation that I don’t want to create extra work for the other hundreds of times nothing does happen.

 

[RCAG_03]

As above, either with me or in truck locked up.

However a friend of mine had his elk rack and yeti cooler filled with meat stolen from the back of his truck here in Colorado.

 

[Gseith]

I’m always paranoid, and try to camp far off the road.
I start adding up the cost of my sleeping pad, bag, and tent. And if I lost those it would end my hunt early real quick.

 

[grfox92]

Methheads dont seem to find their way out into the mountains in Wyoming. Never had an issue and have never worried about it.

Sleep systems stays unlocked in the tent, table with grill and a cooler under it also stays out. (Non griz country)

Sent from my SM-S931U using Tapatalk

 

[TheViking]

Same as other answers above - anything valuable is either with me or locked in the truck.
Some people like to get as far away as others as possible, but I’m the opposite. I actually try to camp close to others and make friends with them. Then we can lookout for each other. More people/tents/trucks is a deterrent for thieves.

 

[Weldor]

Truck has been broken into twice, down by the border. They don't care if you lock it up in a vehicle. They just smash a window and off they go. It's a risk you have to be willing to accept. When I hunt down there I bring yard sale camping gear and minimal valuables. If I can't carry it with me it stays home.

 

[Macintosh]

down by the border

=mexican border I assume? Or are you a canadian worried about them ‘murican frostbacks?

 

[Weldor]

South, not sure about the Canuck's.

 

[cnelk]

In 35+ years Ive never had a problem.

One time, a long time ago, I left my wall tent set up while I came back to town during a November hunt. Cots, camp kitchen, everything was left in the tent.

When I returned a couple days later, there was a note on the camp kitchen saying 'Thank you'. Apparently, a couple hunters got into a tight spot and needed a place to stay for the night

 

[Idhunter777]

Curious how people approach camping security during hunting season when base-camping at pulloffs along forest service roads in an area you are not super familiar with? Ie there is one main fs road through a unit with a few spur roads, and lots of people camp at pulloffs along the road. If you have a NON-lockable tent, do you do anything to prevent theft or anyone messing with your stuff? There is extremely little theft in this situation ime and my inclination is to put “true valuables” in a locked vehicle and leave camping stuff as-is…but every so often I hear of something that makes me think I live in a sheltered little bubble. It would suck and likely end a trip to have someone mess with your sleeping bag or tent, so wondering what other peoples experience is and if you “do” anything proactively? Do you not worry at all, do you pack up everything but the tent and take it with you, etc?

If I was in western Washington I would be worried about tent camping but I live in idaho and have always left all my camping stuff in my tent without any worry

 

[Amos Keeto]

1977, San Juan NF, about 10 miles north of Pagosa Springs, CO.
Guy that rode up with me showed up in camp with "stuff" he couldn't have gotten except by theft.
"Where'd you get it?"
"A camp off ***** Road."
"Take it back! NOW!"
"But.....!"
"Take it back or walk home!" (896 miles!)

Never hunted with that s.o.b. again!
We hardly spoke on the 12 hour drive home.

I never leave anything of "real" value (guns, jewelery, cash) in camp unless camp isn't road accessible.

 

[Mule3006Elk]

Never
I leave basics in the tent. Pad, sleeping bag, pillow, clothes, tent light, Buddy Heater.

 

[Billy Goat]

The only theft I have really run into, or actions has been to ruin a hunt. Different motives.


It does happen tho, NR plates probably doesn't help.

 

[7mm-08]

I have a friend who was shed hunting in Hell's Canyon (Idaho side) who had his tent ransacked by other shed hunters in the area. Maybe it was an act of vandalism or an intimidation tactic because they were shed hunting in the same area, but the memory has stayed with him for more than ten years. Pretty crappy thing to do to a fellow outdoorsman.

 

[displacedtexan]

I've never had an issue in decades of setting up dispersed basecamps near Forest Service or even county roads.

Big game hunting, bird hunting, fly fishing, and hiking. Just realized I've done it every month of the year.

 

[Jethro]

Never. At the start of a hunt we’re fairly diligent about keeping stuff out of sight from the road. In in or behind tent or trailer. But nothing is locked. Gets little more lapsed by end of hunt.