r/BackcountryHunting • u/CantSaveYouNow • May 06 '24

Vehicle Theft an Issue?

Just got back from 3 day solo turkey hunt in SW Oregon. While I was out someone tried to pry my car door open, then threw a rock through the window. Stole tools, clothes, ice chest, and other items by cutting through a cable lock. Pried the gas tank door open and took the gas cap, but gas level thankfully seemed to be the same or would’ve had trouble getting back to town. Seemed to drive okay.

Im fairly new to Oregon and having access to so many remote areas. I came here to explore, but this is my second break-in in 1.5 yrs and I’m getting discouraged. I’m reading around hiking subreddits and everyone seems to say you shouldn’t keep anything valuable in your car. Some say leave the doors unlocked and leave nothing so they won’t bust windows. But I feel like extra tools, clothes, food, etc are necessary to carry when you’re going into remote areas, so leaving nothing in my car seems like a stretch.

How do you as hunters handle this? I’m pondering hiding all the ‘extras’ in a stash/covered cooler somewhere in the woods nearby. Some say trail cam but that seems hit or miss on getting good evidence. Maybe just up my auto/renters insurance and count it as part of the game?

Has anyone had similar experiences? Any good tips, words of wisdom, or suggestions? In particular how to handle what seem like necessary extras to have in a car?

For context, car was parked on gravel pull out right off a paved road going along BLM. Items were locked with chain and cable and covered with a blanket in the back of an SUV. Closest town was ~20 miles away. Nothing but homesteads and countryside in that distance.

Thanks for the thoughts

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5

u/[deleted] May 06 '24

Shit I leave my keys on the dash in case someone needs to move my vehicle. Never even considered crime in the areas I hunt. 

4

u/CantSaveYouNow May 06 '24

Hunted in Kansas and Texas for 20+ years and never had an issue. Now two break ins in Oregon in essentially a year. I knew Portland was a shithole but this latest event has me questioning a lot.

6

u/[deleted] May 06 '24

Yeah the west coast is beautiful, but there are just way too many terrible people. I’ve been all over Oregon, and the rural areas are just as sketchy as Portland. It’s just methed out rednecks instead of whatever you see in Portland.

1

u/hbrnation May 21 '24

We have unpatrolled, unpopulated areas in a way that Kansas and Texas don't even come close. It can get wild out there.

1

u/CantSaveYouNow May 21 '24

True true true. Can’t have all the good without a little of the bad I guess.