Behind the Badge - Smile You’re on Trail Camera
Smile You’re on Trail Camera
District Game Warden Mike Raasakka
When you’ve been around as long as I have you remember a show called candid camera.
I had a couple of instances from this fall where people were not on candid camera, but they were caught on a trail camera.
In one instance a landowner had been having trouble with people trespassing on his land and also driving off trail.
He had set up a trail camera in a remote location on his land.
During deer season I received a call from him informing me that he had gotten a picture of a vehicle driving off trail on his electronically posted land.
The landowner also stated he knew who the individual was as he had problems with him in the past.
The landowner sent me the picture from his trail camera.
I immediately recognized the vehicle, as it is rather unique.
I had dealt with the individual several times on previous occasions.
I was able to make contact with the individual and he admitted it was him and that he was driving another individual around deer hunting.
He was cited for criminal trespass and paid the fine.
Another instance occurred in January.
A landowner had set up a trail camera on a hill next to a wooded draw on his property.
I also received a call from him stating he had a picture of a vehicle driving on his land.
The landowner stated his land was electronically posted and also had some physical signs.
The landowner stated he had contacted an adjacent neighbor and the neighbor had followed the tracks on his land.
The landowner stated that they suspected an individual who lived not that far away.
I and my neighboring warden went to the location and were able to obtain good photographs of the tire tracks.
I was able to follow the tracks and they drove approximately three-quarters of a mile through the landowners field and along the tops of a wooded draw.
We went to the residence of the suspect.
Sitting in front of the garage was a vehicle that matched the picture.
Upon further inspection we were able to verify that the tread pattern on the tires matched the photographs that we had taken.
We were able to locate people in the garage.
After a conversation with them they admitted they had been driving out there.
They too were charged with criminal trespass.
So a word to those who violate the law, you never know who is watching you.