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Do camera’s and social media affect your hunting psyche?

I think you ought to set a good example for all the other attendees and pay for at least half of one. then maybe we'll be able to afford to get him two.

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Wow!!! Why didn't I think of that???
 
I think you ought to set a good example for all the other attendees and pay for at least half of one. then maybe we'll be able to afford to get him two.

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Lol!

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I really think its bad to use cameras anywhere i hunt
Besides the deer are weary of them and most of the time they get stolen by idiots. I just dont waste my money on them. They help imo on big propeties that are managed and need a inventory on what pics they can push on their 5k hunts they sell. Just not my thing i like to be surprised anyway by what walks out in front of me


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_gcun8_kLGQWJMDxQtFpQ
 
While I agree a trail camera can be fun to use I personally use a single trail camera more as a nature watching tool than to really key in on specific bucks or animals. I hang it behind my house. Sometimes I throw bait right under it but most of the year it just sits in the exact same location year round. I have considered buying a second camera... but what for? It's just one more costly thing to leave out in the woods and worry about.

Honestly I don't know where some of these guys get the wherewithal and funds to run multiple cameras on multiple properties both private and public. I'm a working stiff and my time is limited in the woods and i'd rather not waste it by babysitting game cameras. I'd just as soon hunt a spot rather than hang a camera there. The available sign along with a hunt or two should tell me everything I need to know about the area.

As for social media and hunting... that's a topic unto itself. In the last year I have completely freed myself from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all other forms of social media so that should tell you everything you need to know about how I feel about those things. Zero regrets and I don't miss any of it.

I will say that I have and am experiencing some close family and friends fall into the trap of social media celebrity with their hunting pursuits. So much of what they share is contrived to manufacture a lifestyle for likes and shares and it really makes me lose a lot of respect for those individuals. And it's not that I think you shouldn't share your passions with others, just don't manufacture passion for the sake of a few clicks.
 
While I agree a trail camera can be fun to use I personally use a single trail camera more as a nature watching tool than to really key in on specific bucks or animals. I hang it behind my house. Sometimes I throw bait right under it but most of the year it just sits in the exact same location year round. I have considered buying a second camera... but what for? It's just one more costly thing to leave out in the woods and worry about.

Honestly I don't know where some of these guys get the wherewithal and funds to run multiple cameras on multiple properties both private and public. I'm a working stiff and my time is limited in the woods and i'd rather not waste it by babysitting game cameras. I'd just as soon hunt a spot rather than hang a camera there. The available sign along with a hunt or two should tell me everything I need to know about the area.

As for social media and hunting... that's a topic unto itself. In the last year I have completely freed myself from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and all other forms of social media so that should tell you everything you need to know about how I feel about those things. Zero regrets and I don't miss any of it.

I will say that I have and am experiencing some close family and friends fall into the trap of social media celebrity with their hunting pursuits. So much of what they share is contrived to manufacture a lifestyle for likes and shares and it really makes me lose a lot of respect for those individuals. And it's not that I think you shouldn't share your passions with others, just don't manufacture passion for the sake of a few clicks.

I totaly agree no facebook for me and i hardly ever ever go on Twitter or instagram. I do youtube i have a channel i just started. Its directed torwards how i deal with myself and my illness. And hope it helps others while i do it


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_gcun8_kLGQWJMDxQtFpQ
 
Honestly I don't know where some of these guys get the wherewithal and funds to run multiple cameras on multiple properties both private and public. I'm a working stiff and my time is limited in the woods and i'd rather not waste it by babysitting game cameras. I'd just as soon hunt a spot rather than hang a camera there. The available sign along with a hunt or two should tell me everything I need to know about the area.

With limited time, cameras can become a great asset. Set them in early summer in an area you scouted (possibly over minerals to improve traffic), let them soak up the local herd demographics/quality, then check it just before season to see if the area is worth a sit.


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Im too broke too afford something else. For hunting Besides i like to be surprised at the size of animal I’m hunting cameras are not for everybody


https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_gcun8_kLGQWJMDxQtFpQ

With our low densities, it is quite possible that there isn’t a target caliber buck in areas at times. Legal bucks are 13” inside spread or larger, and that can be hard to find in the first place. Minerals (legal in texas) and cameras allow me to skip 4-5 sits it would take for me to move on from an area. They are fairly cheap for good quality ($125 for browning Dark Ops). I don’t spend money on stands anymore, so any Christmas or birthday money I may get goes to gear. I try to save up enough to buy 1 Cam every 6-12 months. The brownings don’t crap out on you, so you slowly end up with a decent number of cams. I only have 2 right now, but will slowly increase that number.

I leave them to soak for long periods, I don’t check them regularly. Once they get pulled after summer is over, I just put them in locations I hunt and let them soak for the season. That gives me historical data to use the next year regarding rut activity and possible patterns.


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With limited time, cameras can become a great asset. Set them in early summer in an area you scouted (possibly over minerals to improve traffic), let them soak up the local herd demographics/quality, then check it just before season to see if the area is worth a sit.


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To be clear I have nothing against anyone who uses cameras and does so effectively. Honestly I wish I had the extra money, time, and energy to run a network of cameras or at least a few more. I think they are fun tools to utilize and I thoroughly enjoy the pictures. At this point in my personal life and hunting career I simply don’t have the means to run additional cameras effectively for my hunting situation. When I do buy another trail cam I’m almost certain it will be a cellular cam. That would help prevent me from wanting to check it frequently.

But.. here’s a stud that started showing up behind my house last year in late November. Neighbor and I both had him on camera at night. Never during the day. That will get you motivated real quick in the late season.

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I love running cameras. I like most of you have limited time to hunt but I have come to enjoy getting the pictures of deer. For me it is part of hunting now. Getting good pics of bucks means that I am finding the locations that they are in. I have started to invest in the cell cams as they keep my presence way lower. I did not have as much time this year for cameras but my buddy I hunt with started moving them around and checking them for me. Social media is good to know when deer start hitting the ground and cool to see big deer but have to realize where you hunt and realistic expectations for you.

As an aside the cell cams can be affordable if you find good deals.
 
The past couple years I ran about 8 cams. Fun, but kinda took the "sixth Sense" out a bowhunting for me. Caused me to think to much and not follow my gut. This past season I guite using them in late season after finding a winter hot spot. Seen three big bucks in day lite just by hunting with my gut feeling. In the early season I found a few big bucks by cam and mostly all at nite.
 
I have been running cameras since the old 35 film days. Always thought it was a great idea. I look forward to pulling the cards, something I do w my son.


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I will be running 6 cameras next year, As of now. I realized that I need to put some kinda close together to really get these suckers patterned better. The one piece that I will be running 3 cameras is only 30 acres, the other side of the road is 40 acres, also 3 cameras.
 
I just realized that my work’s perks program has trail cameras listed as one of the awards. They tie attendance, performance, customer reviews, etcetera to a points based rewards system. A browning Dark Ops is only 4 months worth of perfect attendance. They have the 2016 Dark Ops HD on there so I just had to order one :)

I just thought the hunting budget was gone! Hopefully they step up to one of the newer versions soon. I’d love to buy 3-4 new brownings a year for essentially free!!!


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I have access to hunt a small 7 acre piece of property and a larger piece. The larger piece is mostly farm ground and the only place to get elevated is along the fields. No deep woods and little bedding. Cameras have wrecked my hunting on both pieces of property. Not my cameras rather those of the other people that have permission or those hunting neighboring property.
The smaller piece was a prime funnel between a bedding area and feed field. The hunters who hunt the neighboring property never even came close to it until a younger one convinced them to put cameras out. The secret got out and the first day of that season, I watched two come in late and get in stands within 50 yards of me with one being questionable close to the property line.
The larger piece seldom gets hunted in early bow UNLESS their cameras catch a nice buck, then magically everyone is motivated. I ran into a guy this year that I hadn't met and didn't know had permission. I found out later, the property's owner son had posted a few pictures on Facebook and the guy had decided to chase the buck in the photo.
So to answer @John Eberhart 's AKA "a saddle hunters lord and savior" question it really does change my psyche. I deleted my social media a few weeks after hunting and have been focusing in on scouting state public land for the last two years. If I see a camera I don't eliminate the spot I mark it on my GPS and check back after a few weeks and see if anyone has moved it or removed it. I use this information and combine it with sign to decide if maybe the individuals are tracking a decent deer. I never disturb the camera, I just check on it. Last year I followed a camera as it moved down a heavy trail and it stopped at the edge of a cedar swamp and stayed there, Sure enough a stand showed up in September when they could legally place one on state land. I prepped a small tree on a small island within the cedar swamp along the same trail. The first time I hunted it I watched a decent buck move to his bed from another trail. He was good buck for the area and I'm sure they were following him. I didn't get a chance to hunt it again due to some family issues, so I don't know if anyone ever took him.
It also be extremely disheartening when you walk back a mile through heavy stuff only to find a few cameras. I always get the feeling they wouldn't be back there if they had to actually put the work in and scout the area rather then placing a camera and then simply walking out.
I plan on scrapping the money together and attending one of john's workshops and attending Outdoorama in novi to watch one of his seminars. I am volunteering to deploy to Poland in November of this year so I plan on really applying his knowledge to the state land in hopes of connecting in early October... maybe with help from my own Game Cameras. lol
 
I think cameras are net positive to my hunting psyche, at least how I use them. When I do get some real high-class bucks, the unicorns if you will, I don’t really alter my focus or change my standards to solely go after those bucks. It’s just not where I am at is a hunter, I am still tickled just to take decent mature big-woods bucks with a bow. But just knowing they exist is a big confidence boost. Part of that is the fact that bucks are not very patternable in the mountains, and I am more of a rut-focused hunter. The intel value of trailcam photos just isn’t worth very much in my areas. Conversely I know I am going to see far more bucks I do not have photos of, so that factor in still intact. I guess I can see if you are hunting small tracts of land, naming deer, basically knowing everything out there and not getting the caliber buck you want to target, it could be tough.

I run cameras for the pure enjoyment and the thrill of sitting down with a couple cold ones and going through the pictures. I have reached a balance where I can manage about 5-6 cameras effectively letting them soak about 6-8 weeks at a time and still have time for regular scouting. I have to run them without bait or minerals, searching for areas they won’t get stolen, and I try for daytime photos, so naturally those align pretty well with my hunting spot criteria. To minimize intrusion I am one and done, one trip in to hang the camera, one trip in to get it. In hunting season I combine trips with hunting that spot.

Interesting you brought up sharing photos with other hunters. I share mine with my dad, brother, and a couple friends. Anyone else who asks definitely gets misdirection. I’m an honest man but I would have no qualms about lying to your face when it comes to my hunting areas.

As far as social media, it is mostly for the birds. A lot of very non-authentic people that tend to “do the best” at social media because it prioritizes attention seeking behavior over actual decent content. It’s basically an advertising dog-and-pony show. It’s really made me realize what a sham fame/notoriety is in today’s day and age, and to a large degree, I think even before social media came into play. Especially in an area like hunting, where there really is no way to determine who is “the best” at it. I think rather than the best and brightest people attaining notoriety, it’s often just the ones that promote themselves the most. And I have come to realize as I get older those self-promotors are just about my least favorite people to interact and be friends with.

The jealousy thing, I guess at one time I had twinges of that, I think it is human nature, but I’ve really grown out of that. There are a small handful of people I follow on Instagram, Youtube, and a couple other forums that hunt similar mountain areas I do and I pay attention to what they are up to. When they are successful I am genuinely happy for them, because I know how difficult it is, and I know they work hard for it. Other than that, when it comes to comparing myself to guys that get to hunt managed farms or Midwesterners with completely different antler growth, I could really give a hoot because it’s not even the same playing field. I do think it is ridiculous that the hunting “industry” plays into that whole charade rather than promoting “real” and diverse types of hunting more, but I have seen that tide start to turn in encouraging ways in the last 5 years or so.
 
I think cameras are net positive to my hunting psyche, at least how I use them. When I do get some real high-class bucks, the unicorns if you will, I don’t really alter my focus or change my standards to solely go after those bucks. It’s just not where I am at is a hunter, I am still tickled just to take decent mature big-woods bucks with a bow. But just knowing they exist is a big confidence boost. Part of that is the fact that bucks are not very patternable in the mountains, and I am more of a rut-focused hunter. The intel value of trailcam photos just isn’t worth very much in my areas. Conversely I know I am going to see far more bucks I do not have photos of, so that factor in still intact. I guess I can see if you are hunting small tracts of land, naming deer, basically knowing everything out there and not getting the caliber buck you want to target, it could be tough.

I run cameras for the pure enjoyment and the thrill of sitting down with a couple cold ones and going through the pictures. I have reached a balance where I can manage about 5-6 cameras effectively letting them soak about 6-8 weeks at a time and still have time for regular scouting. I have to run them without bait or minerals, searching for areas they won’t get stolen, and I try for daytime photos, so naturally those align pretty well with my hunting spot criteria. To minimize intrusion I am one and done, one trip in to hang the camera, one trip in to get it. In hunting season I combine trips with hunting that spot.

Interesting you brought up sharing photos with other hunters. I share mine with my dad, brother, and a couple friends. Anyone else who asks definitely gets misdirection. I’m an honest man but I would have no qualms about lying to your face when it comes to my hunting areas.

As far as social media, it is mostly for the birds. A lot of very non-authentic people that tend to “do the best” at social media because it prioritizes attention seeking behavior over actual decent content. It’s basically an advertising dog-and-pony show. It’s really made me realize what a sham fame/notoriety is in today’s day and age, and to a large degree, I think even before social media came into play. Especially in an area like hunting, where there really is no way to determine who is “the best” at it. I think rather than the best and brightest people attaining notoriety, it’s often just the ones that promote themselves the most. And I have come to realize as I get older those self-promotors are just about my least favorite people to interact and be friends with.

The jealousy thing, I guess at one time I had twinges of that, I think it is human nature, but I’ve really grown out of that. There are a small handful of people I follow on Instagram, Youtube, and a couple other forums that hunt similar mountain areas I do and I pay attention to what they are up to. When they are successful I am genuinely happy for them, because I know how difficult it is, and I know they work hard for it. Other than that, when it comes to comparing myself to guys that get to hunt managed farms or Midwesterners with completely different antler growth, I could really give a hoot because it’s not even the same playing field. I do think it is ridiculous that the hunting “industry” plays into that whole charade rather than promoting “real” and diverse types of hunting more, but I have seen that tide start to turn in encouraging ways in the last 5 years or so.

This was an awesome post. Really well written man.
 
I just realized that my work’s perks program has trail cameras listed as one of the awards. They tie attendance, performance, customer reviews, etcetera to a points based rewards system. A browning Dark Ops is only 4 months worth of perfect attendance. They have the 2016 Dark Ops HD on there so I just had to order one :)

I just thought the hunting budget was gone! Hopefully they step up to one of the newer versions soon. I’d love to buy 3-4 new brownings a year for essentially free!!!


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Heck yes!!! The camera just came in and it is the 2017 version!!! Even better!


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