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And if Fish and Game find a camera on private land how do they know what it is being used for? They can just go after the land owner. Also, since 98% of the land is private, why did they not exclude the private land?
You should call them and voice your concern! As I said before in a different thread and post. I don't dislike trail cameras, but it gives those that abuse them a unfair advantage over the animal. It's become such technology driven, remote cams, cell cams, range finders, high end range finding scopes, better quality everything for hunters. It seems to me that banning them to assist in the taking of Wildgame makes sense in our state of Az. Give the critters a break from eluding detection when they get water. Arizona's cam issue became a problem because cams were abused on water sources!
......On private property. I use them on my private property due to rodent destruction and where I set traps. Ranchers may want them for info on livestock predation so that can be addressed.
Read the rule making on this subject.
Drones are illegal for wildlife take.
Yeah I read the whole thing. Officers have discretion. And therein lies the problem doesn't it. Are the officers now thought police? Ranchers want them for a lot of things but what is going to stop law enforcement from charging them? What if someone puts up a game camera at a water hole and is not using it for hunting?......On private property. I use them on my private property due to rodent destruction and where I set traps. Ranchers may want them for info on livestock predation so that can be addressed.
In pursuit of wildlife for the purposes of "take", is where you'll get enforcement. Officers have discretion, as stated. Most hunters will comply. Some will not.
I just read 28 pages of the rule making to respond. I suggest you do the same.
Read what I quoted. I didn't come up with the 98%.
Your comment states "98 % is private". I think you meant to say 98% is public! Most of the huntable land in this state is public property. Private makes up a very small part of it. We can agree to disagree on this. I live here and have hunted here 39 years, something needed to be done. Is it perfect, nope, is it better than what we had, yup! Will it get modified someday, probably.
So 98% of hunting is done on public land. Got it. As far as agreeing to disagree, I am not sure what you mean by that. You said you agreed with this decision and then said that land owners should be able to monitor their land. Those things seem to be at odds.
What don't you understand about the regulation? It clearly states you can't use a camera to assist in the taking of Wildgame. They can use the trail cam to monitor the land as long as it's not used to assist them in taking Wildgame.
I understand the regulation just fine. The regulation says you can not use it to aid in hunting. It also says you can use it to take wildlife photography even on public land. In fact, it says they have no ability to regulate cameras for those uses. The part I don't understand is how are they going to determine what the camera is being used for and what is going to stop law enforcement from just charging people and then having to go to court?(I am not even disagreeing with you on the use of camera part.)
Well I'm not going to worry about what other people do with regards to using trail cameras unless it directly effects me. I would like to think if a person was observed using a trail camera by a AZGFD officer that they would proceed using caution and prudent judgment. I don't think the nature of the law is to run out and start charging people. They know it's a touchy subject. I think if people worried about the Wildgame as much as they worry about who's going to charge who for a violation we wouldn't even be having this discussion. People abuse things and they abused the trail cams here. This discussion you are having with me now you have not once mentioned what's in the best interest of the animals, it isn't trail cameras I can assure you that. How do they help them? I love to hunt but fair is fair for the critters.
