I recently read an editorial concerning the use of technology in hunting. This article was specifically related to the use of “trail cams” but also included mention of the Pope and Young Club’s restrictions on electrical devices mounted to a bow or arrow (i.e. rheostat adjustable sight lights, illuminated arrow nocks, bow mounted range finders, etc.). We all agree Pope and Young was founded by Traditional Archers of the first magnitude and probably had no idea where American ingenuity would take the sport or the associated equipment; however, I wondered (I have this problem, you see) how Pope and Young would look upon digital trail cameras. My personal opinion is they would frown on their use ether before or during hunting season. “Scouting” is properly done on foot with field glasses and eyeballs. As to lighted arrow nocks: I have always wondered at folks’ fascination with these devices. For the average Joe, they would seem only to serve as a distraction, disturbing correct follow-through by wanting to see where the shot had gone. For video taping a hunt, they make it much easier for the audience to follow the arrow’s flight path and for the videographer to verify shot placement after the fact. I have no clue as to why they should be banned by the Club. It has no bearing on my life, I just wonder (here we go again), why the ban? If someone were to say they wanted to mount a range finder on their bow, I believe I would direct them to the local Walmart gun department to just pick up a 30-06 (no disrespect to the’06). It strikes me that if a fellow feels so unsure of his archery/field skills as to require a bow mounted range finder, this would be the same sort who would use heat-seeking, variable pitch fletched arrows and he has taken up the wrong sport. To Cam or not to Cam? That is the question. What say you all?
It seems the technological advancements in this sport often cause huge debates, division, and even sometimes bring about elitist attitudes. My opinion? If it's legal, and you're comfortable using it, that's your choice. The more we quibble and divide amongst ourselves, the more ground the anti-hunter groups gain. It's not so much about one's choice of equipment (assuming no laws are being broken) imho. To answer your question, yes I use cameras. This is the first season in the past four I have put any out. It's 15 yards off road beside a mineral site to gather inventory. Nothing more.
Where do you draw the line? No Aerial photos, no carbon or aluminum arrows? If you use the freeway to get to your hunting grounds or have a cell phone to call for help? No eye glasses or contacts? Lets face it, technology will find its way in one way or the other. Some will try to stay "pure" to the sport, others will embrace the technologies. Everyone's definition of pure is as different as the next. It's up to the individual, governing bodies and organizations like P&Y to decide whats right for them. Just my .02 ... and yes, I love my trail cams :D
Well said. I agree. Blast me for this but I honestly don't care about P&Y or B&C. And no disrespect at all of those of you that have worked hard to get a buck that qualifies and use that membership as a badge for your accomplishments. I think it is great and you should be damn proud of yourself. It just does not fit my personal agenda right now. I am not going to change my standards and methods unless the law tells me I have to change. I am going to shoot and be proud of what I legally shot without regard to an award club's idealogical standard. If I happen to shoot a buck big enough some day to qualify I will see then if I broke any of their rules shooting that buck; and if I didn't I probably would apply. If I did break one of their rules I would not lose a second of sleep not applying because their book says I had an unfair advantage. Last thing. I honestly have no idea if my typical hunting methods would qualify. I'll (hopefully) worry about it then. So I am not going to give up trail cams because a club says you have a unfair advantage. I set my own standards (within the law of course).
Since your question was specifically about trailcams, I will only address that issue. Anyone who has used trailcams for any period of time would tell you that they cannot be used to pattern a specific animal. It's simply impossible with a trailcam alone to know what a paticular animal is doing every day at a given time. With the changing seasons, agricultural conditions, human activity, and etc. there are just too many varibles that come into play to be able to say that this animal is going to be at this location at this time. Last summer is a perfect example for me. I had probably 25 pics of the biggest 8pt buck I have ever seen, beginning in the month of May, clear up to the last of October. I consistantly had his pic on three different cameras in three different locations. It would seem that I would have had that deer very easily. In fact, I only saw him once on, opening day and my brother in law saw him once during the first week of November. And both times it was not in a spot where I had ever had a camera. As a matter of fact, last summer was the most productive year I have ever had with a trailcam, getting numerous pictures of different bucks in various locations. Yet despite all these pics, I only saw 1 or 2 bucks all season that I had pics of during the summer. I also think that if you asked most guys who use trailcams, they would tell you that while they initially got into cameras to see what bucks were out there, it has morphed into something else, at least it has for me. I still want to get pics of good bucks but more importantly, I just want to get good quality photos. It's as if the trailcam has become it's own hobby, separate from hunting. I think they can be used as a tool to see what is out there but as far as patterning a deer with one, I don't think so. Blessings.....Pastorjim
