Check cams or not prior to hunting?

That's my go to strategy as well.

 

I would think your best chance all week would be your sat morning hunt before the property gets any pressure. Don't disturb the property at all Friday night IMO.

 

I like this one too.

 

I only set up cameras where I can drive up to them in the ATV, and swap cards while the bike is still running. I feel like we leave a lot of unwanted scent when trekking into the woods to check cams.

Even as little intrusive as this method is, I would still wait until after Saturday mornings hunt. I generally check them right before lunch if I'm not hunting all day.

 

Hunt then pull, unless it's raining Fri night

 

Hunt, kill deer, check camera, realize bigger buck was coming in after you shot, get mad....

Kidding....seriously, id hunt then check in that situation.

 

All my cameras but one are on crop fields to maximize pictures of deer in the Area and are easy to pull on way into and out of stands. One is on a hillside in the woods (again on way to stand). I never put cams on my stands. Stands are set up/ moved based on live sightings and deer sign. I've heard some deer are camera shy (Other deer seem to love them). Whether that's true or not I don't know, but I do it this way for all the reasons above.

 

I'd scout it and check cams while doing so.