


June 18, 2012
Trail Cam Catches Austrian Politician Having Sex, Sparks Debate on Marking Camera Locations
By Chad Love
Uh, I'm gonna have to check with the editors, but I don't think this one's going to be eligible for the Field & Stream Trail Cam Contest.
From this story on Time.com:
Wildlife cameras are set up to capture images of animals in their natural habitat. But in Austria, they recorded a politician having sex in the woods. The unnamed politician from the Austrian state of Carinthia chose the wrong spot for his intimate moment among the damp leaves and ants — right in front of hidden cameras owned by southern Austria’s Carinthian Hunting Society.
Getting busy right in front of a hidden game camera is, well, let's face it, embarrassing to say the least, but the incident has set off an interesting debate on whether hidden trail cameras should be marked.
From the story:
The incident has set off a debate about privacy in Austria and whether wildlife cameras should be allowed to operate unmarked. One data-protection activist says the cameras pose a threat to people’s rights. The cameras should “at least be marked with signs,” Hans Zeger, head of ARGE Daten, an NGO focused on data protection, told Der Spiegel. This would enable people in the forest to “adjust their behavior and avoid the monitored areas.”
It's worth noting that the area into which our amorous Austrian and his lady friend wandered was marked with no trespassing signs, so maybe his activities were, shall we say, fair game. But what do you think about trail cams on public land? Should they be marked? Are they required to be flagged or marked in your state? Or would doing so only insure that you'd lose a trail cam. Is there an expectation of privacy in the woods, or does it behoove you to keep your pants on?
And of course, I gotta ask: Has this ever happened to you? Discuss. Tell us, but please don't show us...
Comments (23)
Any outdoorsman will agree that when nature calls- you gotta answer. And i'm not sure i'd want someone posting a youtube vid of me squeezing the charmin after a paticularly good shore lunch...
It seems to me that marking cameras is just an invitation to theft of same.
I once saw a couple "D" styling while sitting in my deer tent blind with my labrador, and my lab ran out and threw his bucket of water on them.
Nearly 99% of the time, new rules, laws and regulations are made because of someone doing something they KNEW they shouldn't be doing.
The closest I have come to this is the photo of a clothed rear end of a woman. She was wondering the woods looking for her dog and I got a perfect framed photo of her backside. It would have qualified for Boone and Crockett, if you know what I mean.
He did it to himself. Public figures are people, too, and they do get busy, but they are held accountable at a higher standard than regular people. While it sucks to get caught like that, he DID venture into private property that was marked as such. It's his own fault. Trail cameras shouldn't be marked just because of somebody's mistake.
If it's marked, it's not hidden and odds are it will soon have legs.
Visible cameras make ppl honest and short court cases.
Sometimes I think cameras, motion detectors, and sirens are better than deadbolts, but nothing beats an 870.
Of course, why should a camera designed to be unnoticed be allowed to stay hidden in the woods? No, I don't think trail cams should be marked, even if on public land. Of course, if someone does get photos/video of another person, they should have the decency to not make that stuff public...unless it involves illegal activity.
Gotcha!
Looks like Mr.Austria needs to fill out a form ID-10-T!
I don't use trail cams. My hunting areas are small. I just shoot whatever comes out that's legal. If I had one I WOULD NOT mark it! If you're stupid enough to get caught doing something stupid, tough! You catch me taking a leak? So what?
Theres no way im marking mine. I would prefer to keep cameras
Just like a politition to lead the blind dog off the trail !
Oh yea where's the footage
On public lands you have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
If you put your trail cam on private property, without the permission of the property owner, then I can see where you'd have a case for invasion of privacy.
Marking for trail cams? Put a notice near all the gates, "Notice ! There may be hidden trail cameras in the vicinity"
FirstBubba & Albert Curtis Have got the reasonable answer. No Need to 'Mark the Spot' - Just an awarness like the constable 'Overhead survelance' or 'Radar Survalliance' on PUBLIC lands. If on Private property check with the owner First B4 using pubic property on their land or at least remember the bull can make it across the field in 5.5 seconds.
If you're gonna do the wild thing out in the wild woods like a wild animal, just remember,the forest has eyes.
Where else would you go for a romp in the woods but someplace marked No Tresspassing? That cuts way down on being caught in flagrante delicto.
Where else but someplace marked NO TRESSPASSING would you go for a romp in the woods. It cuts way down on being caught in flagrante delicto.
Hi...
I see no harm in posting signs reading "trail cameras have been installed on this property". Might even decrease poaching and increase adherence to game laws.
If such signs are put up, you probably wouldn't even have to have the cameras...!!
There should be no law saying that you have to post a trail cam! Even if it is on public land... well its public land and you shouldnt be doing things u dont want others to see on it
Marking a trail cam is a surefire invitation to someone's five-finger discount.
I've never caught someone in the act like that but have caught trespassers more than once. A fellow hunt club member also caught night time hog hunters with dogs, both against club rules, and it turned out to be the son of one of the members and his buddies. And they should have known better on 2 counts: not to hunt at night or with dogs, and that there might be a trail cam on the feeder they were looking at. Knuckleheads.
Of course, what's the first thing a Politician thinks of,
"We have to have a law!"
I mean, how dare a private property owner put a camera up on his own property!
The nerve of some people.
No there are not required to be marked here in AZ. And it would be bad if they were required to be marjed cause more of them would come up missing. I try to play by the rule that if I stumble up on someones camera, I try to back out of the lense angle as soon as possible or avoid it all together if I can. I do this cause I dont want to mess up anyones pictures. Unfortunitly this respect was not returrned, I had my camera set up on a tree in a nice spot, even had it in a cage with monster cable around the tree and through the cable with a hardened lock on it. left it for just over a week and when my brother went to pick it up, GONE. no lock, cage or cable. tree was still standing so they either took bolt cutters or a saw, or managed to shoot the lock off, either way I was out a camera. If I am required to post a sign that says I have cameras up what are the odds I ever come back to find my camera still there??
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It seems to me that marking cameras is just an invitation to theft of same.
If it's marked, it's not hidden and odds are it will soon have legs.
Visible cameras make ppl honest and short court cases.
Sometimes I think cameras, motion detectors, and sirens are better than deadbolts, but nothing beats an 870.
The closest I have come to this is the photo of a clothed rear end of a woman. She was wondering the woods looking for her dog and I got a perfect framed photo of her backside. It would have qualified for Boone and Crockett, if you know what I mean.
Any outdoorsman will agree that when nature calls- you gotta answer. And i'm not sure i'd want someone posting a youtube vid of me squeezing the charmin after a paticularly good shore lunch...
He did it to himself. Public figures are people, too, and they do get busy, but they are held accountable at a higher standard than regular people. While it sucks to get caught like that, he DID venture into private property that was marked as such. It's his own fault. Trail cameras shouldn't be marked just because of somebody's mistake.
Looks like Mr.Austria needs to fill out a form ID-10-T!
I don't use trail cams. My hunting areas are small. I just shoot whatever comes out that's legal. If I had one I WOULD NOT mark it! If you're stupid enough to get caught doing something stupid, tough! You catch me taking a leak? So what?
Of course, what's the first thing a Politician thinks of,
"We have to have a law!"
I mean, how dare a private property owner put a camera up on his own property!
The nerve of some people.
Nearly 99% of the time, new rules, laws and regulations are made because of someone doing something they KNEW they shouldn't be doing.
Of course, why should a camera designed to be unnoticed be allowed to stay hidden in the woods? No, I don't think trail cams should be marked, even if on public land. Of course, if someone does get photos/video of another person, they should have the decency to not make that stuff public...unless it involves illegal activity.
Gotcha!
Theres no way im marking mine. I would prefer to keep cameras
On public lands you have no reasonable expectation of privacy.
If you put your trail cam on private property, without the permission of the property owner, then I can see where you'd have a case for invasion of privacy.
Marking for trail cams? Put a notice near all the gates, "Notice ! There may be hidden trail cameras in the vicinity"
Hi...
I see no harm in posting signs reading "trail cameras have been installed on this property". Might even decrease poaching and increase adherence to game laws.
If such signs are put up, you probably wouldn't even have to have the cameras...!!
I once saw a couple "D" styling while sitting in my deer tent blind with my labrador, and my lab ran out and threw his bucket of water on them.
Just like a politition to lead the blind dog off the trail !
Oh yea where's the footage
FirstBubba & Albert Curtis Have got the reasonable answer. No Need to 'Mark the Spot' - Just an awarness like the constable 'Overhead survelance' or 'Radar Survalliance' on PUBLIC lands. If on Private property check with the owner First B4 using pubic property on their land or at least remember the bull can make it across the field in 5.5 seconds.
If you're gonna do the wild thing out in the wild woods like a wild animal, just remember,the forest has eyes.
Where else would you go for a romp in the woods but someplace marked No Tresspassing? That cuts way down on being caught in flagrante delicto.
Where else but someplace marked NO TRESSPASSING would you go for a romp in the woods. It cuts way down on being caught in flagrante delicto.
There should be no law saying that you have to post a trail cam! Even if it is on public land... well its public land and you shouldnt be doing things u dont want others to see on it
Marking a trail cam is a surefire invitation to someone's five-finger discount.
I've never caught someone in the act like that but have caught trespassers more than once. A fellow hunt club member also caught night time hog hunters with dogs, both against club rules, and it turned out to be the son of one of the members and his buddies. And they should have known better on 2 counts: not to hunt at night or with dogs, and that there might be a trail cam on the feeder they were looking at. Knuckleheads.
No there are not required to be marked here in AZ. And it would be bad if they were required to be marjed cause more of them would come up missing. I try to play by the rule that if I stumble up on someones camera, I try to back out of the lense angle as soon as possible or avoid it all together if I can. I do this cause I dont want to mess up anyones pictures. Unfortunitly this respect was not returrned, I had my camera set up on a tree in a nice spot, even had it in a cage with monster cable around the tree and through the cable with a hardened lock on it. left it for just over a week and when my brother went to pick it up, GONE. no lock, cage or cable. tree was still standing so they either took bolt cutters or a saw, or managed to shoot the lock off, either way I was out a camera. If I am required to post a sign that says I have cameras up what are the odds I ever come back to find my camera still there??
Post a Comment