Are trailcams making hunters lazy and less skilled?

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Takes the hunt out of the "hunt"??? And makes people lazy?

It's addictive and fun as about anything. I've yet to kill any animal I've seen on a camera, though I put them in places critters likely don't spend much, if any, time during MT hunting seasons. I really just enjoy getting the good pictures and footage. It's a gas to retrieve your cameras after 2 months of running, and going through all the images. You never know what will show up.

3 years ago, I hunted an elk I had on trail camera footage, and also had spotted him while glassing that summer. I didn't catch up with him during season, but did see him the following summer, in person, and on a trail camera footage - his antlers had actually got a little smaller. Where that guy goes during the season is still a mystery to me.

I've yet to figure out how it's making people lazy or how it's cheating in this part of the world. I've heard it's a different scene in places like Northern AZ where animals are confined to water at very limited places.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

Google earth is way more unfair and has made people way way WAY lazier. And has certainly taken more of the "hunt" out of hunting.

 

[Tufrthnails]

Google earth is way more unfair and has made people way way WAY lazier. And has certainly taken more of the "hunt" out of hunting.

I would also say it has taken my advantage away as I used to be able to go 100 yards into a nasty swamp and not see human sign and find those isolated high spots and such, but now with Google earth, caltopo, and gps I have a very hard time finding no hunter sign even several miles into the swamp I hunt here in FL. It is still far less sign then the first 200 yards, but random sign nonetheless.

 

[James Riley]

Google earth is way more unfair and has made people way way WAY lazier. And has certainly taken more of the "hunt" out of hunting.

Ha! Another reason to not like satellites. Never thought of it from that angle.

 

[Irrelevant]

I like them but mostly to put behind the house and see who our neighbors are. So far I've only failed at using them to scout game, unless we're talking about moving branches, rain, snow, fog, or squirrels, I can locate the sh!t out of them with my trailcams.

 

[hank4elk]

I have one up at my windmill & stock tank for fun,see what shows up. Never put one up off my own property.
I hate seeing them in the woods ,but big deal. My view.And I rarely see them here in my area of NM,or at least where I usually go.
But I do use sat. views for scouting,and verifiying spots I see on a map or in person.
I'm apt to avoid an area I see the footprints in & around those high use/obvious areas,human wise.
Otherwise,there's my bird dogs. Which direction with the elk go?
Drones are fair game & open season.....lol.

 

[Southwind]

In Kansas they are legal through the season. Lazier no, some times I think they can be a disadvantage. Why, I've known guys that spend their whole season after a buck that is nocturnal and unless you are there that one day he slips up (if he does) then you are chasing shadows.

I put them out early to see what is developing and just like to see the deer in the area. I can't tell you how many nice bucks nobody in the area has ever seen during the light of day. Others might of had different experiences but I can't say there has ever been one buck I could pattern off a trail cam.

Most of the good deer I see where I put my camera are gone from that area by the time they are hard horned.

I just don't see them as a hunting tool anyway, just entertainment for me.

 

[Joe Hulburt]

Depends on who's ox is being gored. I'm sure you'd be the same if someone was doing something where you hunt that detracted from your hunt. We can discuss just what that might be, but I bet I can make the case that "live and let live" is BS when your sensitivity level is greater than another's.

Hard to imagine how seeing someone else trail cam could detract from my hunt. Seeing fresh boot tracks is much worse but still not worth getting seriously upset over if it's public land.

 

[James Riley]

Hard to imagine how seeing someone else trail cam could detract from my hunt. Seeing fresh boot tracks is much worse but still not worth getting seriously upset over if it's public land.

So what would bug you? Now, take the guy(s) who would do that and ask them if they could imagine that detracting from your hunt or why you'd get seriously upset over it if it's public land. They'd think you were a pussy. It's subjective.

 

[noharleyyet]

ummmm...; )

loin cloth.....check
chisel....check

...let's fill that larder

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

Like most have said, we can argue this forever and its different for each individual. For me, its an inventory tool...it keeps me from upsetting the bucks/does routine by NOT being in their woods all the time crashing around...I set a few cameras and then check them once a month if that. I believe that in some cases it does make some individuals lazy, however, for me it may have just the opposite effect...if I see a huge buck on cam I tend to focus solely on him trying to figure out his movements/timing/ etc.. . with that there are some years that you will not kill anything. I'm a fan of the trail cams...its like Christmas morning to me every time I check the cards!!

 

[James Riley]

...let's fill that larder

Safeway.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

...Actually the same could be said about cars/trucks, BUT, I'm sure glad I didn't have to saddle up and ride into work today! LOL

 

[MN Public Hunter]

I would equate the use of cameras in hunting to the use of a hydrometer for brewing beer, it's just another tool. Could I make beer without it, sure, but it makes certain things easier. That does not make me lazy IMO, it's just makes it more enjoyable the same way cameras are for hunting.

 

[James Riley]

I hate the idea of using a military analogy when it comes to hunting, because I find the two activities (hunting people vs hunting wildlife) to be polar opposites. Further, some guys seem to outfit themselves like they are going to war with the wildlife. The mentality of that I find disgusting.

Nevertheless, I think an analogy here would help explain my point of view: The Recon Marines of today are just as skilled and un-lazy as we were 40 years ago. Some might say they are more skilled and less-lazy, but the kit is different and the technological advances are phenomenal. So, while I don't think they are more skilled or less-lazy, I will stipulate they are more competent in accomplishing "the" mission.

And therein lies the crux of the matter when it comes to hunting: What is the mission?

Apparently everyone has their own. After all, hunting is not war and we can go to the grocery store if we need to eat.

But, while I'm sure a man can be skilled and not lazy while operating a drone from a cubicle in Nevada, it's not morning wet-work with a knife in some hut in Afghanistan.

 

[Sawtooth]

I hate the idea of using a military analogy when it comes to hunting, because I find the two activities (hunting people vs hunting wildlife) to be polar opposites. Further, some guys seem to outfit themselves like they are going to war with the wildlife. The mentality of that I find disgusting.

Nevertheless, I think an analogy here would help explain my point of view: The Recon Marines of today are just as skilled and un-lazy as we were 40 years ago. Some might say they are more skilled and less-lazy, but the kit is different and the technological advances are phenomenal. So, while I don't think they are more skilled or less-lazy, I will stipulate they are more competent in accomplishing "the" mission.

And therein lies the crux of the matter when it comes to hunting: What is the mission?

Apparently everyone has their own. After all, hunting is not war and we can go to the grocery store if we need to eat.

But, while I'm sure a man can be skilled and not lazy while operating a drone from a cubicle in Nevada, it's not morning wet-work with a knife in some hut in Afghanistan.

I think Riley's point about what is the "mission" of hunting and how this new technology is affecting that mission is at the crux of the matter.
I have been debating the purchase of a range finder for the last couple of seasons. My buddy and his son have been using theirs with great success and I have noticed the distances at which they have taken their elk and deer the last few years has grown from 200 yard shots to 400+ yards. Has this technology made them lazy, no, but it has changed how they hunt and prepare for the hunt in the off season. Instead of practicing shots from several shooting positions, most of their time is now spent shooting off of bipods in the prone position. I have always enjoyed the challenge of getting as close to the animal as I could before pulling the trigger. That has always been a big part of the "Mission" for me.
Trail cameras are just another type of technology which can either aid us in our mission or it could change what our mission of hunting ultimately becomes.

 

[Zach]

Subscriptions to horn porn mags(join the club and we'll scout for you)and outfitters(we'll scout for you) would be higher on my list than a camera...

 

[MN Public Hunter]

Subscriptions to horn porn mags(join the club and we'll scout for you)and outfitters(we'll scout for you) would be higher on my list than a camera...

So you would have to throw gohunt in on the list as well...

 

[Zach]

So you would have to throw gohunt in on the list as well...

If the shoe fits...

And some folks sit up to high on their horses to see their shoes.

 

[noharleyyet]

OP: I imagine this will "rile" some folks up.

...prophetic.

Who's ready for fall?