Iowa DNR Bans Trail Cameras!

[@matthewkubik3874]

Update, they issued a new statement saying no changes will apply this season to the trail cameras. The DNR have put this on hold for this year to get more public input.

[@BeennHurr2330]

Trail cams are a lazy substitute for scouting 🦌

[@b.h4651]

Can the DNR still use cameras to catch people? Indiana and Tennessee DNR sneak cameras out to spy on hunters on their property which is an illegal search but they do it. Just wondering if they allow themselves to use cameras on you?

[@SmokyRow]

I am from Michigan and your not suppose to leave items over 24 hrs except legal blinds, DNR doesnt enforce law so trail cams have been littered all over state land. I want Michigan to Ban cams on state land.

[@Take-emTv99]

It’s a very hard law for them to enforce. To have DNR officers going on to public land and looking for them is a huge task for them

[@SmokyRow]

@@Take-emTv99 Back in the 90,s when they banned screw in steps DNR would just take them, I know first hand, so they can enforce it.

[@joshuamccasland8180]

I am sooooo glad to see this!

[@Dark30Outdoors]

Trail cams should not be banned anywhere, period. It hurts nobody. We used to have freedom!! Sickening!!!

[@Take-emTv99]

I would agree

[@AllSportsStations]

Again...they are NOT BANNED until hunting season. It is to stop people from tracking game using the text messages and such a camera can send now days. It is basically the same as someone texting or calling you and letting you know where a herd of deer are. That has been illegal in Iowa for a very long time.

[@TurkeyNate]

Pretty sure this is a clarification to the rules. Cell Trail Cameras have always been illegal since it’s an electronic form of sending information. However it was never specifically called out so it wasn’t followed. This clarification will cover both public and private property. No way they only single out public land use of trail cameras.

[@Take-emTv99]

As of right now, I’m fairly certain it’s public land only.

[@outdoorsmanallday]

@turkeynate where did you see that it’s private too?

[@Take-emTv99]

The dnr has stated that on private ground both cell cameras and trail cameras can be left unattended. Just not used while actively hunting

[@TurkeyNate]

I’m talking specifically about hunting and not being able to use cell cams to aid in the hunt. Yes I understand you can leave them out on private land. That makes sense because people use them for security etc.

[@AllSportsStations]

@@Take-emTv99 They can be left unattended on public land as well...just not used while actively hunting.

[@lanevickers1856]

I applied for an Iowa tag for the first time I'm a Michigan resident , I was wondering if it's only cell cams ? Are regular cams still useable ?

[@Take-emTv99]

All cameras on public property. Cell camera or regular trail cameras

[@AllSportsStations]

@@Take-emTv99 To continue for the person that asked...all trail cameras are 100% perfectly legal on public and private land...until hunting season. It is to stop people from tracking game the same way they would with CB radio and cell phones.

[@Take-emTv99]

My local dnr said they are treating them just like tree stands on public ground. They can’t be out before or after season. So in my case I would say they can not be left out on public land.. doesn’t matter what time of year.

[@AllSportsStations]

@@Take-emTv99 I called mine and he stated they can be left out but cannot be out during hunting season. I will call Des Moines on Monday as all the DNR agents need to be on the same page.

[@Take-emTv99]

This was the problem that I was afraid of. Because it’s so gray I feel like the officers can do what they want depending on situations… hopefully they can figure it out and solidify the rules.

[@AllSportsStations]

They banned the use of trail cameras DURING THE SEASON...as they see it like using CB radios and such as people get text messages telling them where deer are...

[@arrowsmithoutfitters3451]

I live in SE Iowa. I hunt my farm and have permission to hunt a couple of the neighbors farms. I run only non cellular SD card cameras. I don't think the new regulations will affect my camera usage since I am on private only and I am not using cell cameras.

[@outdoorsmanallday]

An additional point to what you said, if hunters start taking 2-3 year olds (first decent one that comes along) and not waiting for the mature buck they are targeting, that’s gonna have a nasty effect a few years down the line. Won’t be that many mature bucks any longer, as those 2-3 yr olds didn’t have time to develop. That’s deer mgmt 101. I use cell cams on my property, but never used while hunting. But I do enjoy monitoring wildlife all year round. And if the DNR wants to reduce harvests, why legalize rifles a few years ago? Before then, shotgun range was half the distance.

[@Take-emTv99]

I would definitely agree I think if they do crack down hard on this. In 4-5 years will might have a problem seeing big mature deer on public land.

[@LetThemGrow]

Did they ban them? I think title is misleading

[@Take-emTv99]

They banned them on public land basically

[@LetThemGrow]

Did they?

[@timothy5988]

@@Take-emTv99nope

[@daveroberts9480]

Why do people think they have the right, to leave private property on public land overnight unattended. Sorry don't like to see other people's junk hanging on trees when I walk in the woods.

[@Sonja00]

So don't go in the woods if it bothers you

[@joshuamccasland8180]

Your right to film ends with what you own. If your door camera can see your neighbors house your neighbor should sue you for illegal surveillance

[@iowajohn883]

It’s bullshit. Running cameras on Iowa public isn’t hurting anyone. Ban cell cams that’s understandable. Ban all cams takes away a big part of what people actually use the ground for to began with. At the end of the year those pictures are all a lot of people take home with them. Imagine if nobody knew of the 200 and just some lucky random guy was the only person to ever realize it existed.

[@Take-emTv99]

I would agree. But I can also understand where the Iowa dnr is coming from.

[@richstafford1245]

Overreach. Be careful. Illinois was better than Iowa not so long ago. The DNR and politics destroyed it.

[@iowajohn883]

Who voted for this? Why do the people who pay the taxes not have a say in any of this. Seems like drastic overreach. Government control on the state level.

[@Take-emTv99]

I’m not sure

[@billocker4538]

iowa sucks just like I had a dnr officer say the head guy that controls fish stocking doesn't stock bass because he doesn't like bass they eat the pan fish.

[@dougwallace2210]

well first every one of us needs to be honest about the use (intended or not) of these game cameras especially the cell type - while you listed all the good points of them and the way you use them, you also use them to monitor the movement of the deer you hunt and when you should/could/need to be in a particular stand location every day of the season as well. as I do as well - BUUUUTTT - at what point is it fair chase anymore? - how many times a year do you hear someone on a hunting show/magazine article/youtube so called celebrity showing off a big buck they just killed and then claiming it only happened because they got his mugshot literally hours or minutes ahead of them killing it? I think from your reading of the clarification, they did address cell cameras on private - it said you could not use them while actively hunting? to me that would cover everyone - but also very grey as maybe you weren't actively hunting when you got a picture of a deer. Now, I'm also somewhat conflicted because as a landowner this is a government over-reach telling what I can and can't do on it - but such is life - big brother is always looking out for us, even when we don't ask to be. Friends and I have been having this discussion for years about the cell cams - most regs say you can't use electronic devices in the aid of hunting, I don't see how a person can claim a cell camera isn't electronic device they aren't using to aid them in their hunting - we all are doing so. While I do use them - they are great for security - but I'm with all the states that think Cell Cameras should be banned during hunting season - in Missouri you can put out feed/bait but must be cleaned up or stopped 10-days prior to season - I think such a ruling would work for cell cameras - legal to use up to a certain point (days in time) prior to season opening and then not legal during season. I do believe all States will have a cell camera ban in the near future I'm all for it.

[@tonyellis6383]

Yeah, i 100% agree. I think it is kind of humorous that people are upset due to having to learn deer and hunt deer without a camera. Personally, its not my story i want to tell so i have never used any camera's. i never minded them at first, but from the DNR perspective, it has got way out of hand and is unfair to a fair chase and DNR can't simply manage it and determine which ones are cells and which ones are not. Technology improves way to fast and they won't keep up with managing them due too people have taken advantage of them, its wrong to the game they are chasing. Same thing with Drone recovery, overall i don't mind the idea. However, I 100% agree why states will never allow it, same thing will happen and people will take advantage of it. I guess we are all going to have to hunt deer by just simply hunting them, I'm all for it.

[@Take-emTv99]

I think most of us are definitely wanting a more clearer set of rules. As they have it right now it’s so confusing. Overall it’s just coming down to fair chase and most people will have to spend more time in a tree, or walking around scouting.

[@richstafford1245]

First of all I would never vote for more laws and government control, that is just me. Secondly very few people are using cell cameras real time and even if they are the success rate is way way lower than the get off my lawn law and order crowd would have you believe. Why pass legislation that is difficult if not impossible to enforce? All you do is give more advantage to lawbreakers. Bait and minerals are illegal where I live. All the stores sell them and they fly off the shelves. Advantage lawbreakers. Almost nobody gets caught. There simply aren’t enough officers. Guys from a popular hunting podcast said they just came back from Kansas public for a spring scouting trip. Cell cameras ban went into effect last year. They are still everywhere. Almost every other tree. Advantage lawbreakers. You aren’t hurting or stopping the criminals with these laws just the guy that has a career and or family that doesn’t have the time to scout constantly. Especially out of state.

[@richstafford1245]

How would you prove cameras were not being used for security reasons on private land? If I was a law breaker and had a cell camera on public and somehow they traced it back to me by Mack address or something. I would just say I have no idea why it was there someone must have stolen it and I wasn’t aware. Also the cell camera companies aren’t just going to hand out customer information without subpoenas. Monumental task. Good luck with that..

[@dougwallace2210]

@@richstafford1245 - I think you could be wrong there as to the cell companies handing over customer data - I'd have to do some research, but there was a gun manufacturer not that long ago that done that very thing and without a court order. no doubt it'll be a hard one to enforce, much like speeding limits - when caught they'll just make an example out those that they do catch and let that be a deterrent to the rest of us. There'll be a power-hungry agent out there wanting to make a name for themselves and push to be the FIRST one to bring a case.

[@dougheller171]

Have you reached out to your local game warden for clarification? If not, you should and maybe do an interview to get your questions answered.

[@Take-emTv99]

Yes I have, I have been told that if he finds any cameras on public he will be writing tickets to all party’s associated.

[@AllSportsStations]

@@Take-emTv99 That would be against the passing of the law...UNLESS it is during hunting season.

[@outdoorsmanallday]

@@Take-emTv99 What about private? And how is he going to know who's camera it is on public?

[@Take-emTv99]

Private is ok as of right now. I have no idea how they are going to control it or enforce it. My best guess is just take them down and we will probably see a bunch of them on the dnr end of the year auction. Just like what they do with tree stands left on public

[@6by6by6]

Ban them across the nation.. Hunting is about the chase not the kill, you’re a lazy unskilled intruder in the woods if you can’t hunt without knowing exactly what & where the prey is before you leave the trailhead.. I’ve killed more cameras than animals in the last decade and will continue hunting cameras as long as they get left in the woods..

[@Sonja00]

No don't ban them stay home if you don't like seeing trail cameras

[@wswillett]

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