It depands on what one wants to do IMO. If you want to shoot mature deer and do not have a lot of time to scout then IMO they are necessary. I told myself I would NEVER use one, well I need one to hunt like I want ot these days. With kids and all their activities I do not have the time to scout like i use to, What help me was fact I knew when, why and where the deer were moving. The last two years I have no idea what is in my woods and where they are at. I have been flying blind. So I went and bought one, and in Jan I am going to buy two more.