Have trail cams ever got you to psyched?

[BSK]

Its like just when you get that big rush "OMG, its a big one, BAM!" Providing it is a clear shot.

I used to be that way Woodsman and secretly still am but on our club being off only a few inches in score could result in dollar penalties, loss of hunting time and horrible shame. It is much safer when its premeditated versus heat of the moment. Only a picture or previous sighting will do that for you.

Yes good point. If I were on a club or a quota hunt where I had to be careful, I would be. But as for now, when I see it I usually have my mind made up that I am going to shoot it that very second.
And I don't consider myself a novice, I have never killed one over 120 or so, but many in the 100 + or - range.
I just get overly excited when I see that good lookin 8 point.

My comments about knowing the shooters from the non-shooters were more about those hunters shooting bucks by age. With trail-cameras, no more having to actually "field judge" from the stand. You see him from the stand, you've already looked at dozens of pictures of him and have already judge his age. No guessing from the stand.

 

[BSK]

I completely get the many sides to this coin. I understand having knowledge of exactly what bucks are out there taking the "excitement" out of seeing a shooter buck for the first time. I also understand the disappointment of not being able to see and kill target bucks a hunter has on cam.

Personally, I like having realistic expectations of what is out there. And to me, not being able to see/kill target bucks is just a reality check. It's another reminder of why older bucks have survived to the age they have (by not making dumb mistakes), and that we aren't anywhere near as good of hunters as we think we are.

And then they shift ranges on you and a booner you've never seen before steps out

And that's why I try to check cameras a day or so before every hunt. No more surprises! But it has happened a time or two. Someone kills a buck, and we don't have a picture of him. That is until I check the cameras next, and there his is, first on camera less than 24 hours before he was killed.

 

[pass-thru]

BSK....how far are your cameras from your stands?

 

[BSK]

BSK....how far are your cameras from your stands?

I don't have any set rule. I've had cameras set up where you can see a stand in the picture. And then I have cameras far from any stand.

In essence, I do not try to avoid stands with my cameras, as the deer don't care about the cameras (I'm extremely careful about scent when checking cams [all can be driven to on an ATV], and all my cams are black-flash).

 

[Bucks & Beards]

The big advaantage for me is identifying shooter bucks before they show up in front of me on stand. If you already have a hit list, then you don't waste precious seconds evaluating the deer. You already know which one he is (hopefully) and you can spend your seconds getting the shot. More often than not, this is a pipe dream but we have to try since the penalties for making mistakes are severe. For me, it doesn't distract from the excitement of seeing a mature buck for the first time with my own two eyes, even though I may have a picture of him.

"GCA Baby" fairchaser

 

[deerhunter10]

people also pass up a whole lot of deer normally they will shoot because they get caught up in one or two deer. ive been there and done that I got one deer in my head when we ran them and didn't shoot a deer that year and passed up many deer when looking back at it like what in the world was I thinking? I still get obsessed with a deer a year right now its two. but I will shoot a mature deer. now I do agree with yal it does make it easier especially in thick stuff when you run cameras on rather or not the deer is a shooting or not. but to me there isn't much better then the surprise factor. and also more and more hunters now are getting so disappointed while running cameras. for the average hunter most don't understand where to put them, when to check them. for a lot of hunters i think they hurt them wayyy more then help them. but for the people that gather data it is an awesome tool and for some hunters it is a awesome way to scout.

 

[W.Seay]

It sure makes it easier to sit on stand all day if you got recent pics of a bruiser in the area.

I find my enthusiasm for hunting stays much higher when I know bucks I want are really out there.

X2

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I LOVE identifying a buck the second I see a buck I have on camera. I also absolutely get thrilled seeing a big buck while hunting when I have no clue where he came from. Both are exciting to me. Cameras both show you the caliber of bucks that are in your herd, as well as how you should set your expectations. What baffles me is when I make a mock scrape in a location where I don't expect anything and 2 hours later a mature buck shows up and I think, "where did he come from?" I like them

 

[T-Man84]

people also pass up a whole lot of deer normally they will shoot because they get caught up in one or two deer. ive been there and done that I got one deer in my head when we ran them and didn't shoot a deer that year and passed up many deer when looking back at it like what in the world was I thinking? I still get obsessed with a deer a year right now its two. but I will shoot a mature deer. now I do agree with yal it does make it easier especially in thick stuff when you run cameras on rather or not the deer is a shooting or not. but to me there isn't much better then the surprise factor. and also more and more hunters now are getting so disappointed while running cameras. for the average hunter most don't understand where to put them, [color:#FF0000]when to check them. for a lot of hunters i think they hurt them wayyy more then help them.[/color] but for the people that gather data it is an awesome tool and for some hunters it is a awesome way to scout.

I am sure this makes me one of the ones cams hurt, but what would you say is the best time to check them?

 

[BSK]

I am sure this makes me one of the ones cams hurt, but what would you say is the best time to check them?

It isn't when (time of day) or how often you check cameras that can hurt you. It is the camera checking process itself--what precautions you do or don't take when checking the cameras--that can hurt you. Walking to cameras and leaving a human scent trail on a regular basis absolutely can reduce deer traffic through the area, at least during daylight.

 

[T-Man84]

It isn't when (time of day) or how often you check cameras that can hurt you. It is the camera checking process itself--what precautions you do or don't take when checking the cameras--that can hurt you. Walking to cameras and leaving a human scent trail on a regular basis absolutely can reduce deer traffic through the area, at least during daylight.

BSK, I totally agree with that...I always try to set my cameras where I can get to them by ATV, and slap on a pair of gloves that I have done my best to de-scent, etc...so that I am not leaving any more scent than is absolutely unavoidable.

The whole WHEN to check thing threw me off!
Thanks for chiming in.

 

[BSK]

The three major precautions I take when checking cameras are:

1) I ride an ATV/UTV right up to the camera.

2) I take scent-reducing precautions with clothing and boots.

3) I like to wear a cheap rainsuit that holds clothing fibers from dropping off on the ground or being rubbed off on briers, twigs or grass I might brush against.