The future impact of cellular trail cameras

[Vermin93]

So I just watched this video advertisement for Spypoint's new Live trail camera and it got me wondering what impact this rapdily evolving mobile technology is going to have on deer hunting.

Spypoint Live camera overview

I work for a telecommunications equipment vendor and I can tell you that the proliferation of 4G LTE technology is going to be a huge game changer in terms of our ability to do things with wireless enabled devices. The amount of bandwidth that the new wireless technologies can support will untether so many devices that have always required some type of corded connectivity. It's already happening, but there is much, much more to come. Today these cellular enabled trail cameras are $400+, which puts them out of reach of most of us. But what will happen in a couple of years when you'll be able to get a reliable 4G LTE enabled trail camera for $150 and a 3-month data plan for $30? You'll be able to see every picture shortly after it's been taken and then react to it. You'll be able to check your battery power, check your memory card capacity, delete unwanted photos - all without taking a step into the woods. It will mean less intrusion, less human scent, and more real time data to help with your stand selection. It seems this does not bode well for the deer. Nature almost always seems to adapt to adversity over time, so it will be interesting to see how the deer react to this advancement in technology and it's effect on hunter behavior. If you also consider the advancements in black flash technology and battery life improvements, we'll soon have an almost undetectable trail camera that can run for months and transmit every photo to your smartphone right after it's been taken. You'll know within minutes when a buck enters his bedding area and will be able to react accordingly. Quite honestly, I don't really like the sound of that but it's technology that's coming to the hunting community sooner than later. Maybe I am not giving the deer enough credit, but I think mature bucks are in big trouble once this new mobile trail camera technology becomes affordable to the average hunter.

 

[Bow Hunter]

Do you really think the price will drop that much in just a couple years?

 

[Vermin93]

Do you really think the price will drop that much in just a couple years?

Yes, I do. It is amazing how quickly we are seeing substantial cost improvements in the electronic components and wireless chipsets that enable these devices. It was not long ago that red IR cameras were pretty expensive. Now you can get the entry level ones on sale for less than $75.

Example: When the Spypoint Pro-X Plus came out less than 2 years ago it was their top of the line trail camera and it retailed for $399. I recently bought one on Camofire for $179.

 

[htnseymour]

I agree, tech is going to catch up quickly. Look a the I-Phone and how much it changed things and then the Google Powered phones and Android. As it is I can set my DVR, Set my House Alarm, start my wife's new car, and watch TV on my phone. Can't imaging how the camera pics coming to your phone while you might be in the woods will change things. Might make some lazier.

 

[Bow Hunter]

I think on those hot summer days it might be nice to just check your trail can from your phone instead of going out in the heat and ticks and snakes.

 

[TheLBLman]

It seems this does not bode well for the deer. Nature almost always seems to adapt to adversity over time, so it will be interesting to see how the deer react to this advancement in technology and it's effect on hunter behavior. . . . . . . Quite honestly, I don't really like the sound of that but it's technology that's coming to the hunting community sooner than later. Maybe I am not giving the deer enough credit, but I think mature bucks are in big trouble once this new mobile trail camera technology becomes affordable to the average hunter.

I have mixed feelings about all this, but do believe the deer will do just fine.

The additional technology will provide hunters with more information, but it may not do anything to make them a more skilled hunter. Hunters are always looking for short-cuts and an easier way to gain experience and skill. But most of it comes the "hard way" over time. You can read all the books, watch all the videos on swimming or hunting, but you'll only learn how to swim, you'll only learn how to hunt, by swimming and hunting.

Just think of all the advances of the past couple decades in clothing, stands, optics, archery, etc. Yet often those with the most advanced "stuff" remain the poorest of hunters, due to a lack of real hunting experience.

While all this advancement may do little to make an inexperienced hunter more experienced, perhaps it may help us become more enthused about hunting and wildlife management. I believe our deer herd is in better shape today in part because of the widespread use of trail cams.

 

[Deer Assassin]

good post wes

 

[redblood]

i care very little about trail cameras (bucks are easier to photo after you shoot them in my book), but the cell cameras are already cheaper than conventional cameras.dont believe me? considering the average hunter drives a full size 4wd truck averageing 15 mpg at best and has a 1 hr round trip to his hunting land, well it wont take long for the fuel and time costs to outpace the price and service plan of a cell camera. my buddy buys all his from this website and you can see that they are just a little more than a quality conventional trail camera. he gets bick buck pics emailed to his phone, just a couple of minutes after the pic is taken. check them out


https://www.smartscouter.com/ssPurchase.aspx?cid=8

 

[102]

PHHHHTTTTT!!!

 

[birddog]

i would like it to finally catch all those SOB's stealing camera's

 

[W.Seay]

Great post Wes!

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

PHHHHTTTTT!!!

X2

 

[BHC]

I agree cameras give little increase in success. Will cellular cameras increase success, I can't speak for everyone but I believe they would for me on the property I hunt. The reason is on Friday night when I'm deciding where to hunt and all the sudden I get a pic of a particular buck I'm after on a food plot, you can bet I'll be sittin on a stand near that plot that mornin, and probably that afternoon. Now I would have to go out on the plot to check my cam, potentially spooking deer to find out what's on cam. To me that would be a tool if used correctly could really help a hunter. Deer will still be hard to kill, I hunt deer that I know there in a certain area all the time yet I don't kill them. For me it would just be another tool in the bag.. Would be cool for hunting individual bucks.

 

[bigtex]

Good luck getting cell service in my neck of the woods............

 

[Tomahawk]

i would like it to finally catch all those SOB's stealing camera's

That is the main reason I would be interested. I'm hunting some trespassers/thief's myself. I've switched my cameras to high up in the tree (8-9 ft) as well as security boxes. I'm really considering a "real time cell camera" just so I can try and catch them red handed. It's not going to be good for them if I do.

Also, great post Wes...nail on the head.

 

[BowGuy84]

I'm working on getting a lil acorn camera up and running at my property. It texts/emails pics and is very close to black flash.

It was my gift to myself after getting a big promotion recently. It will save me time, money and putting down scent going back to the back of the property if I can get it working.

 

[BowGirl]

The trail camera that emails pics = trespassers worst nightmare. Steal the camera and you get theft tacked on. You can alert the police or investigate yourself as soon as you get the email. Im excited for this technology myself.

 

[boweye91]

All major camera companies are going to have a cellular model within the next two years IMO. I really think this is where the industry is going and the competition will produce some exciting advancements.

 

[Mike Belt]

I don't doubt that trail camera technology has helped to put a few bucks on the ground but overall it hasn't been the demise of many. I doubt that it will make a great difference in the outcome.

 

[BSK]

I do have a concern over "real-time" pictures. I can see where that could be abused. But will it lead to major problems? Highly doubtful.

 

[TheLBLman]

I doubt that it will make a great difference in the outcome.

x 2

The biggest single change I've seen come from trail cam usage has been in motivating hunters to raise their standards in how they individually define a "shooter" buck. By having the pics of some older and larger antlered bucks, many hunters become more motivated to pass up younger, smaller antlered bucks they would have otherwise considered a "shooter". This in turn allows for more younger bucks to become older bucks, greatly increasing all hunters' opportunities for older bucks, even those not using trail cams.

But this phenomenon has ALREADY happened for the most part. When more are getting their pics over the phone/internet instead of physically pulling cam cards, I don't think getting those pics quicker is going to make a major change in hunter success. But to what extent it may slightly increase a hunter's odds at a particular buck, it may add more motivation to pass up other bucks, thus providing a net gain in more hunters having more older bucks to hunt.

I like the idea of being able to disturb less an area in being able to get the pics via phone, although this has already happened to some extent by newer cams having such long battery life. Most cams being used 3 years ago probably wouldn't hold their battery charges for more than a couple months. Most $200 cams today have a field battery life of 6 to 12 months.

Now if I could just get good cell service in most of my hunting areas, something I don't have now, to the point I have multiple carriers on multiple cell phones simply because some work when others don't in so many areas I hunt. I currently have 3 different cell services! And the one that gives me the best deal overall (Verizon) is the one with "no service" in the most of my hunting areas, although I can get good service in some of these areas with other providers.

 

[TheLBLman]

I do have a concern over "real-time" pictures. I can see where that could be abused. But will it lead to major problems? Highly doubtful.

I agree.
My take is those most likely to "abuse" this technology are also the ones most likely to be poor hunters, although I believe some of the big-time TV personality hunters have been using this technology for years already. Seems I remember going to a seminar a few years ago, where the celebrity hunter talked about getting up around 3AM and looking at all the "live action" on multiple monitors in his bedroom. He would then decide which stand locations to hunt, typically choosing a stand that appeared to be in the direction of travel of a particular targeted buck. This strategy might result a little better in areas that are mostly fields, but a lot less effective in much of Tennessee.

Regarding those who may adopt this strategy, it may lead to an increase of non-targeted younger bucks surviving to older ages, so in terms of herd age structure, may even be beneficial. But there's a limit as to what extent I and most other hunters are going to replace our hunting experiences with technology experiences. Many of us want more of our hunting to be an escape from technology.

 

[redblood]

I do have a concern over "real-time" pictures. I can see where that could be abused. But will it lead to major problems? Highly doubtful.

I agree.
My take is those most likely to "abuse" this technology are also the ones most likely to be poor hunters, although I believe some of the big-time TV personality hunters have been using this technology for years already. Seems I remember going to a seminar a few years ago, where the celebrity hunter talked about getting up around 3AM and looking at all the "live action" on multiple monitors in his bedroom. He would then decide which stand locations to hunt, typically choosing a stand that appeared to be in the direction of travel of a particular targeted buck. This strategy might result a little better in areas that are mostly fields, but a lot less effective in much of Tennessee.

Regarding those who may adopt this strategy, it may lead to an increase of non-targeted younger bucks surviving to older ages, so in terms of herd age structure, may even be beneficial. But there's a limit as to what extent I and most other hunters are going to replace our hunting experiences with technology experiences. Many of us want more of our hunting to be an escape from technology.

true

 

[BamaProud]

Maybe we will finally get a clear picture of a Mountain Lion or Bigfoot. They can't outsmart us forever.

 

[Hangnail]

I guess the next thing will be darting deer with tracking devices that can be tracked sitting at home. That should make hunters better! Just think, in a couple of generations, hunters won't know how to do anything without their laptops.

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

I think TWRA should establish a 250 yard buffer area around them just like bait.