Trail cams- security boxes or no?

[TruckMonkey]

Headed up in the next few weeks to set up some trail cameras. Looking at some water holes, wallows and a few game trails.

I am wondering if I should invest in security boxes?

I have a mix of cameras but was just planning to use a cable lock on them.

 

[sneaky]

I've had way better luck with using the screw in mounts up high in a tree, done right they're almost impossible to see unless you're looking up for them. Straps and cables are easy to spot and locks only keep honest people away. Thieves bring tools

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[22lr]

I've had way better luck with using the screw in mounts up high in a tree, done right they're almost impossible to see unless you're looking up for them. Straps and cables are easy to spot and locks only keep honest people away. Thieves bring tools

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This +1.

Lock boxes may help with small tampering animals and honest/slightly less than honest people out, but they are still pretty easy to cut open if you wanted to do it.

 

[180splitg3]

I have security boxes on some of my cams. They are great for peace of mind but not that difficult for someone to break into if they want the cam bad enough. Since 2007 I have only had one camera stolen and it was in a security box...

 

[Wapiti1]

Like Sneaky, I like the screw in mounts. Mainly because there is never a tree that is right for a security box to be strapped to. The screw in mounts are easy to use and are very versatile.

I put my cameras up high in the branches if I can, and no one has ever bothered them.

Jeremy

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

For protection against humans, they are not worth the cost. If they want to steal it or damage it, they are going to. Crazy that folks walk around with bolt cutters.

If you have bear and other critters, then they can make sense. I lose some every year to black bear and javelina as they both like to gnaw on them or use them as jawbreakers.

 

[ironsides68]

Trail cams have gotten so cheap ($40 for a reasonably good one), that the cost of a $25+ security box does not seemed justified any more. I recently saw a YouTube video suggesting to use long pipe clamps. (You know, the ones with the worm screw to tighten.) Drill a hole in the clamp near the tail end, large enough to fit a small padlock. Total cost per strap/lock is less than $3. These contraptions seem to work really well. Sure, some really motivated thief with bolt cutters could get it off. But with bolt cutters, they would get almost any device.

 

[TruckMonkey]

For those who put them up high do you use climbing sticks or just find a clime-able tree?

 

[sneaky]

For those who put them up high do you use climbing sticks or just find a clime-able tree?

It just depends. Thieves are looking for trail cams at waist height. They don't walk around looking up, especially if there's no dangling straps or cables to catch their eye.

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[Finn16]

I always use security boxes primarily for bears of which we have a lot. My cameras are never by a road so if a person stumbles upon one they would need to have tools with them or go take a long hike to go get some.

 

[Flyfisher9]

I just carry the one stick and an extra large climbing strap around with me when I'm doing cams. For the most part cams seem to blend in pretty well after u put them up on a screw and dont disturb too much vegetation.

the first pic was a pretty bad hide and the second is

 

[sneaky]

Here's a couple of setups I have pics of. You really have to be looking for them to spot them on the screw in mounts

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[excaliber]

Nice job. I can't see them at all.

 

[Travis2282]

I use the lok boxs with it held to the tree by screws, then a padlock on the box followed by a cable lock around tree through camera and metal box! Haha u gotta really want my stuff!

 

[sneaky]

I use the lok boxs with it held to the tree by screws, then a padlock on the box followed by a cable lock around tree through camera and metal box! Haha u gotta really want my stuff!

Man, no way I would spend more on the locks than the camera. Not gonna carry that much weight either. I would literally have one camera setup if I tried that lol.

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[Travis2282]

Lol well that one is on a reconyx and it stays in same spot. I usually just take the cam at end of season and return it there the next year

 

[pirogue]

Are there universal boxes you guys use? Seems like boxes used to be made(or readily found) for only one or two models of cams. Thanks

 

[CorbLand]

Some companies make universal ones. Head freaks has a pretty nifty design that seems to work well from the few I have seen. I personally don’t lock many of mine. Not worth the weight and you can buy two cameras for the price that one and everything to lock it sets you back. I don’t know many people that are losing 50% of there cameras.


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