outdoors: Scouting for deer with trail cameras

By Rick Taylor Community contributor

Posted on Fri, Sep 14, 2012 : 10:20 a.m.

This gorgeous 10 point buck was taken with one of my trail cameras just a few days ago.

It’s hard to believe that the bow hunting season is a mere two weeks away, beginning Oct. 1. This year has gone by so fast yet I had an epiphany about early season scouting. I didn’t want to repeat the mistakes of last year by not scouting like I should have.

So, I found three of my trail cameras in the garage and bought 2 more along with fresh batteries and SD cards. I was going to make sure I had my trail cameras taking pictures of deer in the woods long before the Opener of Bow Season.

I made the necessary phone calls to landowners who extended me the courtesy to hunt their land again. I’d be nowhere without the hospitality of the landowners, so I’d like to sincerely thank them for making my hunting season a reality.

I set out my trail cameras in late August and left them alone for two weeks before returning for my SD cards.

I was excited to see what images I may have captured and hoped to see that buck of a lifetime.

Trail cameras do much more than take pictures of wildlife. They illustrate which deer keep coming back, how many times and what time of day they visit these areas.

Finally, these cameras let you know whether you’re in a good spot or not. I find these cameras to be an invaluable resource and highly recommend them to all hunters.

There are downsides to owning a trail camera. First, thieves do exist, and it wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had them stolen. Thieves are the scum of the earth — just saying.

Secondly, hunters have a tendency to return over and over to their hunting spot to see if new deer pictures have been taken. Simply put, the more you visit your hunting location, the more human scent you put out for big bucks to notice.

Trail cameras can’t do all of your scouting for you. The cameras only work in very short distances up to 50 feet or so. Nothing beats getting out to an adjoining ridge with your binoculars and glassing.

So, get out there and start scouting and good luck.

Finally, I’ll be doing an elk hunting story on the Moriah Ranch I hunted last year through the eyes of another hunter. This is a story I’m so excited to share with you so stay tuned!