Internet on cell phones, no steer tractors, and talking GPS’s, technology as we all know has taken off with leaps and bounds in recent years. Some would consider this a good thing and some would like it to just go back to the good ol’ days. No matter what, we are in a new age that can in turn help hunters be successful this fall.

On a trip last week for the archery season opener in Kansas, I was introduced to Windows Local. This is a free program that allows you to view topographic maps all over the United States. Having never hunted Kansas before I was able to view where I wanted to hunt and develop a game plan through the program. I first opened the program and zoomed into view to almost the exact tree I wanted to sit in. The program also allowed me to mark with points where I had seen bucks while scouting, highlight property I was able to hunt, and mark a trail I wanted to enter my stand and exit on. The program is really amazing with all of the features it allows you to access! Even though I wasn’t able to harvest a buck on this trip Windows Live helped during the hunt.  I was able to save all my points on the program to use as reference point for when I return to this spot during the rut. 

Technology has lead to improvements on trail cameras also. People are now producing higher quality photos with trail cameras by taking pictures up to 5 megapixels. Trail cameras can hold thousands of pictures on a single memory card, which is way different from the 24 photo film days. New this year is a camera that will send your thousands of high quality trail camera photos right to your email or cell phone.

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The camera is called a Smart Scouter. It takes and sends photos wirelessly to your cell phone or email address with the payment of a few fees. This now allows hunters to leave a camera set up and not have to disturb an area to check their cameras. Talk about a new way of hunting which could change the future for many dedicated hunters.

The changes don’t stop in trail cameras and topo maps. Hunters can now videotape their hunts with ease. A new product called the Roscoby Riser Cam records video of your hunt onto small SD cards. The camera is shaped like a stabilizer and screws right into where your stabilizer would go. It records at great quality for its size and has a built in microphone to record all of the emotions of your hunt. When an animal is coming you have to remember to press record, which is a small draw back, but when you are able to catch the hunt of a lifetime on film it’s all worth it.  

These are just a few ways hunting is being affected by technology. New products are coming out every year, which is making hunting much different then the Fred Bear days of stick and string. Some may argue is this good or bad to have technology involved in hunting? No matter who wins this argument technology will continue to affect this great sport now and in the future.