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.