I don't think they help that much for patterning a big buck. Too many variables to be able to kill that buck anyway. IMO having a pic or 2 of him over x amount of days is .02% of a piece of the puzzle needed to setup on him and kill him. Inventory? Potential your land has? Yeah I agree with that. An aid in killing a specific deer caught on cam? I dunno. Not to mention he could be gone and bucks you've never seen before could be roaming around when the rut hits.
This upcoming year (2010) I will not put any stock In the least anymore on where I see bucks with my camera's. This has hurt me In years past I think.
Yep I put no stock in them. Been putting them up for about 5/6 years or so and decided last year to not use them. Keep my stinky butt out of the woods as much as possible and be forced to not let my hunting brain be influenced by a few pictures. Go figure, I killed one of my bigger bucks ever.