Sometimes the element of surprise is what makes a hunt memorable.
Cresting a rise to encounter a flock of turkeys scratching in the leaves on the fall forest floor.
Being startled by the thundering wings of a ruffed grouse bursting through a thick stand of birch.
Kicking a rabbit out of a brushpile, and watching as a vocal beagle gives chase.
And I like this one best of all – spotting a nice buck that seemingly materialized in front of your stand from out of nowhere.
The surprise of it all – the unknown – is what makes hunting so unpredictable and fun. Let’s face it, no matter how much time we spend in an area, or how many hours we’ve scouted and scrutinized, we really don’t know what we’re going to encounter during a day in the woods.
At least, that’s how it used to be.
Trail cameras have given us in the woods around the clock, constantly spying on deer trails, scrapes, watering holes or any other spot that we feel needs to monitored 24/7.
Trail cameras help us determine which bucks are in the area, how big they are their daily habits.
Are they feeding under oaks at night?
Are the deer bedding down in the hollow during the day?
If you have enough trail cameras strategically located in a location, you can accurately determine a buck’s travel patterns and daily routine.
I’ll even go as far to say that trail cameras have reduced the need for preseason scouting.
I have to admit it is interesting to check the trail cameras every year to find out how many bucks are in my hunting spot, and how big they are. And the cellular trail cameras are downright addicting, forcing me to check my phone throughout the day to see what’s been moving through.
Trail cameras can give us a pretty complete picture of deer numbers, antler size and travel patterns in a localized areas. They give us a lot of information about the game we pursue, but is it too much?
I’ve been collecting images of several bucks frequenting one of the places I hunt. I know them by their individual racks, and I have a pretty good idea of where they’re going to be, and when.
It’s a thrill to see the bucks on the camera, but I’m concerned that it won’t be as much of a thrill if one appears near my stand during the rifle season. I already knew it was in the area, thanks to the cameras, so the element of surprise is a bit muted.
It almost seems like an unfair advantage.
Granted, I don’t place treestands based on camera images and I use the technology just to satisfy my curiosity. All of my stands were set up long ago, and the locations were based on trails and sign that I encountered while scouting. Actually, it’s all centered on a guess. The food sources, trails and sign are present, but will the deer appear?
Besides, I don’t believe it’s entirely ethical to base stand placement on trail camera data. In my opinion, using a trail camera to determine where you’re going to hunt goes beyond fair chase. With all of the advancements in firearms and gear, we don’t need any more advantages to kill a deer.
But here is the part about trail cameras that I find the most troubling: they eliminate the element of surprise.
To me, it’s exciting when a buck I’ve never seen before approaches my stand. There are times when I’ve harvested bucks that I’ve bumped into weeks earlier while hunting fall turkeys, and those instances were still memorable.
But the instances when a nice buck appeared – one that I had no idea was in the area – make for a truly special experience. Those occasions make hunting so unpredictable, and that’s the part I like best.
Just sit tight, because you never know what’s going to appear or when.
Unless a trail camera already told you so.
- This column appeared in PA Outdoor News.
