I don't have a dog in this fight, as I don't hunt public land, but... This! This! And this! Well said Ski. Too often I hear hunters complaining that trail-cameras are somehow "cheating." I'll bet I've looked at more trail-camera pictures than anyone in TN, and it is extremely rare to find a mature buck that is highly patternable by camera. I'm sure it happens from time to time, especially in more open farm or pasture country (where travel patterns are limited), but in the big woods? Extremely rare.They don't bother me. They're not taking anything from me. They're not hurting me. I don't assume any privacy while I'm on PUBLIC ground, so it doesn't bother me to walk in front of a camera. It's not like I'm dragging a dead prostitute to a shallow grave. That's what roadside ditches are for. All I'm doing is hunting and unless that camera blocks my shot, it's not in my way.
Cameras don't pattern deer. It doesn't work like that. If somebody hung a cell cam thinking they can know when to hunt a deer, they're going to be sorely disappointed. Chances are pretty good those cams hanging in the wide open for you to see are not looking for deer. They're monitoring hunting pressure. Knowing the number, frequency, and types of hunters using the place is handy when deciding whether to invest time hunting a spot or to check it off the list and move on.
I don't run cell cams and I rarely run a cam on public ground. When I do it's not a cell cam, and I learn everything I need to know within a week or two and remove the camera. I've never hung & left a stand on public. Just because I don't personally do that stuff doesn't mean I have a righteous position to be upset that somebody else does. I don't. I'm one of the many, many, many owners of that ground and they have as much right to use it the way they want as I do. If the high school marching band wanted to parade through a thicket at 7am November 2nd, nobody could stop them. It's public owned land. If you're going to let stuff bother you on public land then you're going to be a miserable hunter and should probably do what it takes to get your own land. Sure if you notice something illegal then report it, but then be done with it and press on. Don't let it irritate you. It's not worth the heightened blood pressure.
Not at all.That's a Screw you move from that fella it sounds like.
What it really does is let's the person know there's particular bucks using the area. Now they know it. Instead of having to put boots on the ground and time in the woods.
Too often I hear hunters complaining that trail-cameras are somehow "cheating." I'll bet I've looked at more trail-camera pictures than anyone in TN, and it is extremely rare to find a mature buck that is highly patternable by camera. I'm sure it happens from time to time, especially in more open farm or pasture country (where travel patterns are limited), but in the big woods? Extremely rare.
If you (or anyone for that matter) gets a cell pic of said deer and makes a move to spot X because of such, then kills said deer, is there really nothing to "rub" about?And what's the rub with that? You say it like it's a bad thing, like you're judging them for doing things differently than you think they should. Or am I reading that wrong? To me it's just different strokes for different folks. If a guy can buy a $100 camera that tells him where & when to hunt, and has the same or better success than me, then I guess it's probably time for me to change how I do things because I'm not too proud to say his way is better.
If you (or anyone for that matter) gets a cell pic of said deer and makes a move to spot X because of such, then kills said deer, is there really nothing to "rub" about?
For conversation, let's say you've got nothing on camera you deemed worth hunting all year then all of a sudden… cell pic, hunt, kill - thanks to nothing other than a cellular camera.
Where do you deem we've crossed a line? I know everyone is different.
You do you bud. I promise I won't lose any sleep worrying what Ski or anyone else for that matter does with their cell cams.
You obviously are worried about it or you wouldn't have started this conversation.You do you bud. I promise I won't lose any sleep worrying what Ski or anyone else for that matter does with their cell cams.
My opinion: I don't care if someone uses a cell (or other cam) on public all year (if legal to do so). I have hung them before a hunt. As said many times about trail cams, the cam does not guarantee a kill. The person has to get to the spot and hunt it and the deer has to get to the spot to be hunted and that has to happen at the same time...lol... As we have seen in many other threads, someone else may beat you to the spot or hunt it on days when you aren't around so no guarantees. I look at this the same as the debate between long bow, crossbow, compound, rifle, shotgun, muzzelloader..... Will always be a spirited debate and will have different opinions. Trail cams for me are inventory devices. Entertainment if you will. I'm not a fan of messing with someone's legally placed cam on public land. Now, will I have fun with it, you betcha. If I see it before I pass it, I will make sure the owner has a chuckle when they examine the card. Sometimes I put a txt on my phone with my number so they can contact me and we can swap stories if they like.Wanting some input on having game cameras on public land. Majority of people say they are against leaving stands on public land. Then why should a cell camera be left in the woods the whole year. Sitting on every game trail you come to. Meanwhile you are out walking and gathering intel. While they guy with a cel came is gathering data 24/7. You can't sit there and relax knowing some unknown individual is sitting there watching you from home. You can't even access the sd card on a cell cam. To see what he's seeing. Meanwhile a stand left out anyone can sit in cause it's public land. I'm looking for an honest opinion not a one sided opinion cause you have cameras out on public. I don't go to public land to have some stranger getting constant photos of me and kid. Area warden said take them if you find them. I'm not gonna do that though.
This right here will get you fined in Colorado, would like to see it elsewhere. I've seen less issues in the woods amongst hunters and gear there and I believe being fined for it is whyWhat I deem crossing the line is breaking the law. More specifically if someone ruins my hunt or puts me or mine in danger
I obviously didn't start this conversation.You obviously are worried about it or you wouldn't have started this conversation.
I see that now. When I opened the conversation I guess it started on page 2 for some reason because your post was the first one I read.I obviously didn't start this conversation.
If you worry about everything you don't agree with, I'll wish you luck. I assure you some things aren't THAT big of a deal.