AZ Game and Fish Commision votes 5-0 to ban trail cameras

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guardyan_angyl

guardyan_angyl

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I don’t know the details just thought someone else here might know more info.

On December 4th, 2020 Arizona Game and Fish commission voted unanimously in a 5-0 vote to introduce an outright ban on all trail cameras for hunters. This proposed ruling is extreme, vastly opposed by many hunters, would have a severe economic impact and was hastily rushed through the process which raises concerns of bias.
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https://www.change.org/p/arizona-game-fish-department-disbanding-of-proposed-trail-camera-ban-by-arizona-game-fish-department-2bf05dd6-a207-498b-b250-c14d133ef426?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_26200241_en-US%3A1&recruiter=1167590730&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=share_petition
 
The trail cameras have gotten out of hand in a lot of locations. Some outfitters are running 400 or more in certain units. Waterholes will literally have dozens mounted around them and the amount of traffic going in and out to check the cameras is interfering with the natural movement of animals and livestock. I counted 42 cameras around one semi-secluded tank in 6A a couple years ago. There are some outfitters and guides that can actually track the movement of animals from one cam to another. That makes it easy for them to spot and track trophy animals for their high dollar clients. It is affecting the age structure and trophy potential in some units. Unfortunately, Arizona, unlike other states has no guide and outfitter professional organization to monitor the conduct of guides and outfitters; so, the Commission has to do it. That is where this came from.
 
Good point jls. I can see both sides. But then again I don't use em and don't see em in the areas where I hunt, so no horse in the race for me.
 
Never used one until this year hunting with a buddy who has a couple. For a guy who has a tougher time getting around but still enjoys hunting I found it very informative and helpful. Shame the bigger outfitters gotta ruin it for the normal folks.
 
As someone who works in law enforcement. I have no idea how they are going to be able to enforce this law without a 100% outright ban. The major component to any criminal crime is intent, and proof of that is what gets convictions.
 
redj said:
What a shame.
Now everyone will have to get out of their trucks and hike around to do their scouting.
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Yep. Last deer hunt we were about 10 miles west of Payson watching a forest road on a ridge that was looking more like a freeway. People stopped, glassed from their trucks, glassed us, set up their binoc tripods etc. we were only a few miles off the road and saw no less than 20 deer on the far side of the next hill over, it was pretty funny. If they had gotten off of the roads....well anyway. One thing that blew our minds was a heard of elk that just moseyed past us. I had no idea there were elk there as we never put in for elk there. 100’ away and they just eyeballed us....as if they knew it wasn't elk season.
 
I didn’t really get this, till my oldest son in law told me he had a cam on his property in New Mexico. Not for hunting, he watches his property while they are in Az. I had not been paying attention to trail cams because I’ve never used one. I get out and walk. But when I found out from son in law that he sits at his house in Arizona gets a notification that something has moved on his camera. And then he opens his app and can watch real time his property. I can totally see the way some of these guides are( dicks) I could see them putting 100 of them in an area, so they could tell where every single deer is. And then send their other guides to take the guided Hunter to his deer. What they should do is like we all know about firearms. Punish the offender not the tool.
Next will be, that rifle shoots too far, gives the Hunter too much advantage!
 
Zanehenson said:
As someone who works in law enforcement. I have no idea how they are going to be able to enforce this law without a 100% outright ban. The major component to any criminal crime is intent, and proof of that is what gets convictions.
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My GUESS would be that there won't be much enforcement - outside of G&F confiscating / removing them when they find them. I can imagine that if / when they have a problem they may surveil the area (maybe using hidden game cameras) to gather evidence against those placing them - but that the biggest impact will be had by them simply confiscating them. Again - just guessing...
 
Zanehenson said:
As someone who works in law enforcement. I have no idea how they are going to be able to enforce this law without a 100% outright ban. The major component to any criminal crime is intent, and proof of that is what gets convictions.
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I agree and think it’s the only way to do it without leaving the door partially open. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it’s written as

“ prohibit the use of trail cameras for the purpose of taking or aiding in the take of wildlife”

So if my brother doesn’t have a tag, and I do, can my brother put cameras out and pull them Thursday before the hunt and share pictures with me? I can go either way on this subject. But make it written more solid. Complete ban unless on private property, or allow them.
 
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