I have been running trail cameras for about 12 years now. I have seen deer spooked by either type, infrared or flash. I know there is no way to tell really an be absolutely sure. But do you think that they benefit in patterning a particular buck or make it more complicated. I am not trying to find a right or wrong answer. Just looking to see if most feel that putting cameras in the woods is a plus or minus?
For me, they are just for fun. I don't put them near where I would hunt. I have ran cams for 8 years and think I have maybe gotten two daytime pics of bucks I would target. They don't do much for me as far as patterning daytime movement, but they do a great job of showing me what is out there.
IMO it entirely depends on your dedication and your set-ups. Bait will usually alter patterns for a little while and get the deer more accustomed to the cameras themselves... same with scrape set-ups. Trail set-ups are entirely different and require a different approach involving less visits and more scent control. There is no way anybody can actually say wether they truly affect the deer's movement patterns or not, there are so many other factors that come into play. How do we know that the deer didn't smell human scent on the camera? Hear it? See it? Just avoid that area for no reason? Switch patterns? Its all just a guess... you just have to figure out how far you are willing to push your trail camera usage and find what works best for you. I have had yearling does spook over cameras and I have had mature (4.5+ y.o.) bucks pass by units without bait regularly. There is no set answer.
It's a tool/technique. Like scent control, compound bows, wind, or topography. If you use them right, your "luck" in the woods can increased. Used poorly... well, not so much. There are no guarantees in this game, but the are tools available & plentiful, and they certainly can be helpful! I love trail cams. They can show me deer that I may have never known where in the area. Sure, they can and will spook some deer, but so will the trail I leave when I scout the woods.
