What do you use to secure your trail cams?

[ninepointer]

I use 1/8" or 3/16" nylon coated steel cable and use cable crimps to loop the ends for a padlock. I'm not particularly fond of the light coloured appearance of the clear nylon coating on the cable, but that's what's available in the hardware department. I'd prefer something in black.

What, if anything, do you folks use to lock your cams to their trees?

[TheBig1]

I am very interested also in hearing everyone's ideas on this matter.

Chad

[FISH-ON]

Chain & lock

[Reinyrooster]

I am also interested in hearing what everyone else is doing. I have lost two cameras to thieves in the last few years. That is why the price of trail cameras really ticks me off.......I am always hunting on someone else's property so have no real control over trespassers. Can't see spending huge money on any camera and then having to fork over more money for a box to secure it.

[W.Miguire]

Masterlock makes a cable and lock assembly it's called Python. I bought mine when I got my trail cams. camlockbox .com they where the cheapest .
W.M.

[TheBig1]

Back when I had a 35mm game cam a guy on a forum that I belonged to then was making and selling, for a very small price, boxes for them. What it was, was a small electrical box. He would cut the front out for the camera to poke through and welded a lock hole on the front and then welded big loops on the back on the sides for you to secure with chain or cable to a tree.

I still have it, I'll try to post a picture later if I remember and don't get busy. Perhaps some of our more technical persons on here can then duplicate some for themselves and for some of us less technical souls.

Chad

[IroquoisArcher]

Ditto on the Python locks. They come in several sizes (3/16", 5/16" and 3/8" are a few) with 6' pf cable with covering over the cable. I got mine through the company here in Philadelphia, PA (Allpadlocks think it is). The 3/16" ones they don't key alike but the others you can get 4 keyed alike and I've heard of guys asking them and they keyed more alike. I use the 3/16" as any of them are only good for honest people. Thieves will get them off regardless. With the Python I use a pipethrough the case (only use homebrews so when make drill case for it and goop it in).

[HorizontalArchr]

I just use the nylon strap included but have been known to climb trees to make it less likely for a possible theif to steal or even see. FYI I've had 2 stolen the last two seasons. Both were on trees that I didn't spend the time to climb

[Deaf jeff]

python cables and boxes from camlockbox.com. have not had any problems of my cameras staying where I put them

[W.Miguire]

I found if you call camlockbox they will deal with you . got mine for 16.00 each and keyed alike. also a great deal on my trail cams.
W.M.

[Doe Master]

I have found locks keep honest people honest . A thief will steal it regardless . I have found the boxes make it easier for the thieves to see it . The last trail camera I saw that was stolen had the vermin hook a ATV to then rip it apart .

[DuckHunt]

I have found locks keep honest people honest . A thief will steal it regardless.

Unfortunately, that is true. I have 3 and only one is really locked and that is with a Python cable lock. Locking it to a tree is no insurance from returning to find it in hundreds of pieces on the ground around the tree. Even if the lock is gun proof, the camera isn't. Its also not rock or limb proof if someone wants to give it their best Barry Bonds impression and swing for the fences.

My best recommendation is to think carefully about where you place your cameras. I have one camera that is not locked that I highly doubt anyone would ever find. Its is on the back side of a large tree hugging the side of the tree opposite from where any human would reasonably travel. It still gets pictures of the ridge I want to see and wandering eyes will never gaze upon it. I realize though that not all prime locations for a camera offer options for such discreet placement.

I also learned this year that one man's discreet spring time placement is another mans late summer briar thicket. I looked like was in a cat fight and lost.

DuckHunt

[rayman]

I used to have a Stealthcam and it had a metal plate you slid through a space and could chain it to a tree. It never really worked great and then one day the pictures wouldn't load onto computer any more. I got another one of different make, which I can't remember now and it is out in the woods, and it has a space for a cable to slide through. I got a piece of non-coated cable, made small loops on the ends with cable clamps, and welded the nuts on the clamps. I can lock it to a tree, but yea, somebody could bust it if they wanted and hope that it stayed together enough to be usable.

[flightattendant100]

There is a thread where a member used bark and made a cyl. for his trail cam, and it hid it GREAT!!! maybe somebody can find it.

[IroquoisArcher]

Here's just a couple ideas from diy and OutdoorTalk (homemade trail cams we do).

http://www.diytrailcams.com/post/anyone ... 1288988899

This will probably explain it better:
http://www.outdoor-talk.com/forum/index ... 265.0.html

Oh from allpadlocks.com ( http://www.diytrailcams.com/post/python ... 1289906894 ) is where I got my 3/16" Pythons again and think they were somewere around $9.00 apiece(?) but they have had a rate increase since then