The Big Picture of Hunting

by: Steve Layton & Gary Finch, Finch Enterprises
Don't forget to watch Gary Finch Outdoors each Sunday morning at 6:30 AM on WTVY - Channel 4 or visit www.garyfinchoutdoors.com

The development of new digital photo and video technology has placed cameras into just about every aspect of our lives. Large bulky 35mm cameras used to be the mainstay for quality photo images. Now, great photos and even videos are being captured on pocket size devices, including cell phones. It was inevitable that hunters would rush to develop motion sensitive cameras that would monitor and record outdoor game activity.

When game trail cameras first arrived, they followed the same path as other photo equipment. The earliest models used 35mm film to record still images of any movement that occurred in front of the lens. Unfortunately, what many hunters came to realize, is that their film and developing bills were far outweighing any useable images. Drops of rain, blowing limbs, or the swish of a tail were tripping cameras with nothing to show for their expense but a handful of blurry 3x5 prints.

The latest trail cam models now use the benefits of flash drive memory chips to store digital images. These images can be organized, stored, deleted, or downloaded, without ever being printed. The cameras are available with up-gradable memory capacities that can hold many more images than their old 35mm counterparts. There are no noisy motors required to spool and advance film and battery life is usually better than before. Some models also utilize night-vision capabilities that eliminate the need for a flash that would spook game or reveal the camera’s hidden location. This is also a desirable feature for cameras that are being used as security or monitoring devices.

Trail cameras offer hunters a view into the travel patterns of game around the clock. This can be a confidence builder for those hunters who are trying to justify getting up earlier in the morning or staying a little longer in the afternoon. Sometimes there are surprises revealed like buck movements in the middle of the day or predators moving along the same trails. These cameras are being used as tools for game managers to document the various animals, monitor their health, and measure the success of their property’s management program.

Simply placing a camera around a food source will not achieve the broad view of what is actually happening on the property. Secluded game trails that are well removed from human scent and sounds may provide some eye opening images of game that is traveling unseen through the property. This could be of special interest to the early season bow hunter. With an abundance of natural food sources in the woods, deer may not be using food plots. An early season travel trail can be the best opportunity to intercept a bow season buck. The use of a trail camera allows the bow hunter to electronically scout one area while hunting another. With a limited number of available hunting days in each season, the camera not only provides game information, it becomes a valuable time saver.
Trail monitoring can cut scouting time in half and quickly eliminate areas that are shown to be unproductive.

A wide variety of camera makes and models can be found at any quality sporting goods dealer. Items to consider will be price, available memory, and ease of operation. It stands to reason that if the camera is affordable, has plenty photo storage, and is simple to use, it will find a place in the field rather than taking up space in the closet.

Hunters are finding that taking a trail camera along for a ride in the woods is the next best thing to taking a personal scout. In some ways, cameras are better than a scout. They report everything they see directly to the hunter, but they can also keep a secret!