Are deercam's ethical?
 

OK , OK, implying a deercam is unethical is strong words to get your attention, but I would like to raise some questions...
As I hike out of the woods with my deercam in my hands, I’m excited, its got 25 events on it and I can’t wait to get to my computer to see what’s on it. These camera’s reveal a hidden world, a world I could only speculate before I got the camera. I’ve seen some nice bucks on the pics, I’ve also patterned does to time a successful hunt. I’ve enjoyed taking these photo’s almost as bow hunting. However, a part of me wonders...is this piece of technology weakening my deer sense. Is it replacing the time to scout, the knowledge of deer sign, the cunning of the hunt. Does technology like deercams, electronic calls, high tech bows enhance our selves or is it weakening our ancestral hunting skills? I struggle with the thoughts of a time honored traditional fair chase hunt. But, these camera’s are just too much fun.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Technology takes us forward (most of the time). I see no problems with a game cam personally, but I guess we all make our own judgements as to what is fair.

I guess if you were truly worried about technology taking us too far, you'd whittle your own bow and arrows and at a minimum us a flintlock muzzel-loader.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Just another tool at our disposal. I wouldn't trade geniune scouting for a trail cam alone, but works good in conjunction with.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

i never thought about that before. i was actually thinking about getting one, but i think ill just get a regular digi/ or some digi binocs instead. ive seen about all the wildlife i know is here, from foxes under my tree to the great horned owls in a oak 15 feet away. only thing i havent seen yet is a possum and i know they are all over. but i dont think a trail cam is worth it. maybe a cheap 35mm.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Are photo scouting cameras ethical -- you bet! They are an addiction. I hunt for all sorts of game -- but the camera allows me to see the woods when I'm at work or have other things going on. I love wildlife and photogrpahy in general, so watching a buck grow its antlers in summer, or watching the development of triplet fawns is awesome. When you go hunt, and actually see the deer you captured on camera it isa great feeling.

Cameras do not kill deer or increase your chances of deer. It provides you in depth scouting of your enviroment without spreadingscentand disrupting the woods. You still have to get out and HUNT. Period.

Scouting cameras are ethical, and fun.

Now video cameras on the other hand.....I dont know???

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Starting to get a little silly.

Where does it end?


I see they have "wildlife eye" video cams now for trees. A deer's only remaining sanctuary was the dark of night.......now that is being taken away and they are being watched 24/7.

I know guys that won't even go hunt an area unless they see something big on their trail cams.


I don't see how being able to secretly record deer movements while sitting on your couch watching TV can be considered "fair chase"

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I've always wondered what good they are when we can't hunt them at night anyway.
The fair chase philosophy would kind of eliminate many many developments in our sport over the years, would it not?

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I think it is perfectlly all right to use for fun but it is unethical and not fair chase to use as you scouting method. Deer hunting is about getting closer to nature and spending time in the woods looking for tracks and finding scrapes and rubs, not about sitting at your computer looking at pictures of deer from when you were not even in the woods.

I mean whats next homing beacons in the deer so we can see "their travel routes" Just look at your computer before you go out to hunt, go right to the spot they are and shoot. I can already see the post defending the homing beacons, "come on its fair you still have to go into the woods and shoot the derr"

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

what about getting some wireless remote bows? leave it in a tree mounted to an electronic arm,some pullies hooked to a release,little video camera lined behind the sights, with a built in rangfinder. then all you have to do is watch your monitor and click the mouse to fire the bow. i could make millions of this. you still have to chase the deer with the camera?

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Of course its ethical. Many deer have survived this year because of trail cams. If you see a large buck on your cam you are going to pass on anything smaller than what you know is there because of your cam. And chances are if all of your pics of this bruiser are at night then your chances of taking him are slim at best. That is why I am sitting here with a little ground venison in my freezer from last year left and kicking myself in the ass for letting so many deer walk in October cuz I knew there was a big boy there,my camera told me so. 1 more week till the season opens back up. I sure hope he survived those damb slug hunters.....

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I never have used one but if it is legal than go for it. I have enjoyed alot of the nice pictures you guys with game cameras have posted. I glass my hunting property well before season starts, I know what is there for early season. As we all know big bucks roam during the rut so you never know what might be heading your way. Since glassing gives me a mental picture than maybe it is unethical to.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I think the cameras have helped guys better understand just how much a buck travels, and how its really NOT a done deal once the buck gets its picture recorded. To me, whether you see a bucks image on your camera, or a landowner calls you on the phone to say a big buck is out back, its still up to you to set up and do the rest. Trail cameras are a form of hunting all their own, as pictures are the trophy, without the buck ever having been "shot". I dont feel its unfair.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

My hunting property is a 3 hour drive away. How much scouting do you think I did when gas was at $2.95 a gallon?
Just because it's a camera that I don't have to be activly using doesn't mean I'm not using woodsmanship skills in using it. Anybody who's used one knows that you have to have it located pretty darn well to get any use out of it. I've had it over what I thought was an active trail only to find one picture of a fat racoon one week later. You still have to find a location that gets some traffic for it to get any pictures. I'll admit that getting no pictures out of a particular trail can tell you just as much as getting a lot of pictures out of another trail.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

For someone like me who's job keeps them out of the woods a lot they are a wonderful convenience and a great scouting tool . They are just a tool , and no more unethical than stringing lengths of sewing thread 3' off the ground over a game trail or making a muddy patch on it to check for hoof prints.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

They are what one makes of them. Scouting cameras are enjoyable and most that have them say it's like Christmas morning when you get your pictures developed and anticipate what's on the film. If one were to use the cameras unethically, then yes they can be unethical but I can't imagine how that would be.

If one uses them to see what's out there, how can anyone see "unethical" or "unfair chase"? You can get pictures of animals that no one has seen and ones you won't ever see dispite having a picture. Having a picture is no guarantee that you'll score that animal. Having pictures doesn't mean success. Considering them "unfair chase"...[&:]

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I dont have one, does that make them unethical....no! I dont use them I do it the old fashoned way. I have a min. of 3 pair of binos in my truck at all times. I scout year round, that includes during season.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Most cameras have a time stamp on them if I am not mistaken. So when you can get pics of the same buck using the same trail at the same time it sure would be an advantage on knowing when and where to set up your stand.

Knowing when and where to set up is about 95% of the battle.


Is that "fair"???


Tough question.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

If you look at it like another scouting tool or technique then yes,its totally fair. If you look at all the advances in bow hunting gear today,you could probally have this argument over many gadgets and bow refinements. For example,Range Finders, Release aids,scent eliminating clothes,Fast Compound bows that are quiet and compact, climbing treestands,synthetic scents,motion decoys ect ect ect........
None of the hunters just 15 years ago had any of these,and now alot of us can't imagine doing without at least one of these items.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

It is possible that technology can go to far.Everyone has to come to terms with their own sense of ethics as to how much is to much.Once you have an accecptable level of shooting skill the most difficult aspect of hunting is putting yourself at the right place at the right time.I can't imagine the proper use of trail camera's do not make that easier.If you are standing on a piece of plywood in a tree or the newest most advanced tree stand you are still up in the air,bows are quieter,draw cycles are smoother,let offs are higher but it is still a 30 yards and in proposition the lions share of the time.Any technology that allows us to pin point game and particular animals while providing the time that animals used the area trumps any technology relating to the equipment used to kill the animal.
I am not opposed to certain applications of their use,there are still enough variables that do not make killing animals through their use an absolute certainty,things like pressure,changing food sources,the rut etc..
I have to leave now it's 10:08 I have 34 minutes to get to my stand,If he is on schedule I will have 5 minutes to settle in before he hit's my first shooting lane.(only kidding!)

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

Depends how you use it , and how you look at it I guess.

I use it to get pics of deer I may not have even known existed , and to see what survived after the season is over. I get enjoyment from the pics. As far as a scouting tool for mature bucks? I personally don't think it's a very good scouting tool for mature deer. I had a neighbor glassing a field for me every evening , watching a nice 10 pt come out every evening. When he told me the route the buck was taking I setup my cam and got one pic of him , after that he never used that route again.

RE: Are deercam's ethical?
 

I think they are ethical. Just because you got a picture or multiple pics of a deer in an area, by no means says you will put your tag on that deer. I don't have any yet, but plan on getting some hopefully this year. The coolest thing I like about them is the simple fact that you can actually see what may be around your property.