I was unable to hunt opening weekend because I had to work. The guys at the lease woke up Sat and noticed that the lock and chain were gone from the gate. They looked all over thinking maybe someone forgot to lock it and it fell or some how it ended up in a pick up. It was never found so it was assumed that someone cut the chain and took it. We could not figure out who or why someone would do that. The landowner replaced the lock but kept it the same key.

I made it out that next Tues and hunted until the next Mon. I had an issue with my trail cam so took it down and put it in the glove box of the Polaris and forgot about it. My brother came out Friday night. On Saturday we were going to help my cousin at his stand and I showed him what the cows did to my camera and then put it back in the glove box. Sunday my brother left. That afternoon I was going to mess with my camera and it wasn't there. I thought my dad had taken it out but he hadn't seen it. When my brother got home he realized that the pistol that he had in his truck was gone. He thought it happened in Junction when he stopped to get gas but I realized someone had stole his gun and my camera Saturday night.

Again I couldn't hunt opening weekend of Mule Deer season (Im heading out tomorrow). My dad told his cousin who is the lease manager about the theft and told him to be sure and let everybody know not to leave anything in pickups and lock doors. Of course nobody listened and Friday night 12 guns were stolen. The sheriff and Texas Rangers are getting involved because that same night 2 other leases were hit in the area and another 18 guns were stolen. Counting my brother's gun thats 31 total stolen.

Our lease is on Hwy 137 NW of Ozona. Obviously now we know why the lock was cut. So they could make keys and come and go easily.

Other than reminding everybody to be vigilant about locking your vehicles and campers/cabins, do yall think they'll try to hit us again? My thinking is with this big of a haul they know LE will be crawling this area and theres not too much left to take. Im going to try and set up a trail cam to catch em. I don't really want to confront them knowing now they are highly armed.

....hope they catch the scum...

Yep, sorry and I hope everyone gets their guns back!

Im southwest of Ozona off 189. Several years ago neighbor got hit and claimed 26 guns taken. Not sure as to why he had that many or why hed ever leave them at camp.

Im guessing they hit while hunters were at deer camp, correct? If so, pretty ballsy IMO.

So you guys left 12 guns out in your trucks? How did they get in and nobody hears them,if all else put up some game cams around your camp for a few days that sucks.

That's the scary part, they came in while everybody was sleeping.

As I stated in the OP, I was not there but we told everyone what happened 2 weekends ago but apparently nobody listened and left their guns in the trucks with doors unlocked.

A dog would go a long way to stopping these sort of things. It doesn't even have to be an aggressive dog. Just need a dog that barks when it hears something. I have a Beagle in camp with me and if I'm asleep a coon can't even come into camp without me knowing it.

I hope they catch the thieves but they unfortunately will get away with it...ugh.

Thanks for the heads Up!

One of my friends in Reagan county had 2 ranch king blinds 2 all seasons 1000lb feeders and 2 Browning trail cams stolen last week. He thinks they went in during the week and at night. When he reported it the sheriffs and GW stated that this is happening a lot this yr. Better lock your stuff up.

If our LO catches someone pulling that crap, I'm not sure they'd be seen again.

Thanks for the heads up. 'Like the dog idea, but, although we loved her, no way I'm having a beagle again. RIP Whiskey River Thunder.

when I hunted in Ozona I never liked all the oilfield guys on the place always made me nervous even though all where good guys just did not like having them there when everyone else was gone.

Someone steals all the guns while people are asleep?
Sounds like someone needs to think about who their lease partners are!

Its 90% family and the others we've known for a lot of years lol. I might be a little concerned about that but it happened on 2 other leases in the area the same night. LE believe its a gang out of Big Lake. Im getting this info 2nd hand so Im thinking LE has and idea who it may be.

Y'all need some watchdogs in camp.

Hope they catch the lowlifes. I would be armed around camp and especially at night. Lock the gate when everyone is in camp so nobody can drive in after dark.
Lock up the guns inside where you sleep. I don't think they will return this year, but I wouldn't take the chance.

I will have my .357 or 9mm on me at all times now. The gate is always locked but apparently they stole the lock and made a key. When the LO replaced the lock he kept key the same. He just needs to get a new one with new keys.

I agree with you that I don't think they'll be back for awhile.

Meth heads. Only someone really prone to high-risk endeavors would sneak into a camp with hunters and firearms to steal. Cartel and organized crime do not need guns that bad to take those chances. These thefts are almost certainly meth head addicts that live in the area.

Check the local pawn shops....

Sorry to hear about the theft, but don't get your hopes up about the Sheriffs Office here in Ozona. if you want to pm me some of the guns I can keep an eye out for you.

Pretty brazen to come in during season. Sounds like they were looking for guns to me.

We had a camp several years ago that was hit, but they waited until the season was over, and before we could get everything moved out. No guns taken, but tons of other stuff. Meth addicts was our assumption as well.

Didn't even think about meth heads but that does sound like the most likely due to the risk they took. That's unfortunate to hear that about the Sheriff's office.