Moultrie Game Cameras Help Catch Thieves in Arizona
By Mike Lambeth
Moultrie game cameras have proven to be one of the best choices on the market for wildlife surveillance. Due to their dependability, functionality, and outstanding quality, serious hunters know that the Moultrie name is synonymous with quality. These versatile game cameras are also capable of taking video, and serve to put hunters and conservationists in the driver’s seat when it comes to game management.
If you have never used a game camera to aid in scouting your hunting spot, then maybe you should consider getting one. Lately, some folks are learning that their game cameras also have other useful functions, as well.
Ben Boon operates Grand Canyon State Outfitters in Buckeye, AZ where he annually guides his clients on 50,000 acres of some of the most incredible mule deer, elk, turkey, waterfowl, and predator hunting. Boon hunts the rugged terrain in the southwest part of the state where monster desert mule deer roam. His elk hunts are conducted on prime lands in the northern part of the state. His clients enjoy a good success rate and each season some real dandies are taken.
Boon, a Moultrie pro-staffer, employs 20 game cameras to aid in his scouting and game census endeavors. With the rising cost of fuel last season, Boon outfitted four of his I-45 Game Spy cameras as Game Management Systems - adding modems so the photos taken could be sent directly to his cell phone. Gone was the need to drive several hundred miles a week to check his game cameras. He says the move has saved his outfitting service a ton of money and allows him to better spend his time farming, instead of travelling so far to check his distant game cameras.
Since growing up on a farm in Washington, Boon has farmed his entire life. He readily admits that the rugged area he farms is challenging due to the arid conditions there. Most area farmers have to rely on irrigation for their crops and to provide water for livestock.
When the economy crashed a few years ago, some people took desperate measures to make a living. Others decided to earn their living in a dishonest manner. “In our area we had a bunch of thieves stealing copper,” Boon said. “When copper prices went up, thieves took advantage and got busy.”
Boon explained, “Thieves started preying on water wells since there were electrical lines run there that contained a large amount of copper. I’ve been told that the copper lines are worth $300 to $400 at a scrap metal facility. Once vandalized, landowners are left with a $7000 expense to replace the stolen electrical lines. Last year alone, our water district was left with $150,000 to $200,000 in repairs.”
Boon thought of his Moultrie cameras and then devised a plan to catch the copper thieves. Attaching an I-45 game camera to an elevated pole near a well site proved ingenious for the frustrated outfitter. Ben placed his camera and modem inside a box and then attached a solar panel on top. “The way I rigged it up, I knew the thief would never know it was a camera,” Boon opined.
Five days later, Boon’s cell phone received photos from the camera surveillance unit near the well. Though it was dark Boon clearly was able to identify the copper thief as a former employee of the ranch. Boon took immediate action and phoned the local sheriff who caught the wire thief red-handed 10 minutes later. “If it wouldn’t have been for the instant notification from my game camera, the thief would have robbed us blind,” Boon surmised. “That camera saved us a lot of money. Due to the infrared flash the thief never knew he was being photographed. Best of all, it sends a message to potential thieves that we are watching our wells, and will catch any future thieves!”
Boon offered these final pieces of advice, “We tried several models of game cameras before deciding on Moultrie. They are the easiest to use and the most dependable. I highly recommend that you get the solar panel when you set up your cameras – it will save you a lot of money on batteries. As an outfitting service, our Moultrie game cameras are one of the most important tools we have at our disposal – they are awesome!”
“For hunters that have a considerable distance to drive to check their cameras, or for hunters that just want to know instantly when a big buck walks by a particular location, the Game Management System will save you a considerable amount of time and money. The beauty of the system is that the photos are sent directly to your cell phone or computer. Just remember: You can’t spend 24 hours a day in the field, but your game camera can.”
Moultrie Game Cameras have a myriad of uses. For more information on Ben Boon’s outfitting service visit him on the web at www.grandcanyonstateoutfitters.com or contact him at (623) 810-8955.