hunting technology

I think this goes back to the age-old discussion on what is fair-chase. I have to say that even though I personally don't use alot of "tech" I do shoot a rifle system that is capable of killing game at 3/4 of a mile away. My opinion is that if it is legal, it falls under "fair" chase. Not that I agree with every legal practice, but I know that there are those who disagree with some of mine. I say if you want to invest in 50 trail cams and sift through all those pictures of frolicing squirrels, more power to ya. I'll be busy tuning my handloaded ammo and keeping up on my marksmanship. I say there's room for us all.------shooter

I believe that it boils down to this. Either you truly enjoy the outdoors and develop the skills to scout and hunt successfully or you hope you can buy enough technology to be effective. Woodscraft or techno? It's your choice. You can learn to read sign and age tracks and spend time watching the animals or get cameras that will wire images to your computer. I was raised by a bunch of savages and really like spending time out whether I get something or not. Others enjoy buying and playing with techno toys. It's not necessarily bad but different.
Mark

I've been hunting for nearly 5 decades so I have seen the rise of all the techno gadgets in the huning and even fishing arena's. To each his/her own if it is legal. Guess it is a personal choise for sure. I still use a map and compass (though a gps sounds cool). I do use a scope and it's the best I can afford (used a peep sight for nearly 20 years). My binoc's are the same, best I can afford. I don't use a range finder, or spotting scope and surely don't begrudge those that do.

Guess I am old school. I kinda like the idea that I don't have "every advantage avaliable" when I go hunting (those new fangeled compound bows sure do look nice...but the ol' recurve still shoots pretty good [-o< ) but hey, if it's your thing no problem with me. As another poster said, I am all for it within the realm of fair chase.

1st off I love trail cams, but 50 is in excess if you ask me for sure. I use trail cams for fun and photos more so that actually trying to locate a deer for me to harvest. Truth is I've never done that, not that I wouldn't because I might do so in the future.

I also use 2-way radios on occasion, more so for fun, communication, safety, etc. But I'm not against using them in certain situations to help locate game either. Lots of hunters use them whether they will admit it or not.

I really agree with what Shooter and Mark said on this topic. Everyone has their preferences when it comes to hunting. You have the Techno bubbas and the more traditionalist. A lot of the technology these days does make kills more clean like the range finder. On the other hand I don't see how a game camera could make a hunter make a cleaner kill. I only have one qualm when it comes to game cameras and it is over pressure one game. I just feel like some people use them in excess and it could harm the patterns and survival of game especially during the rut and winter. Just My .02

i own 4 cameras- well let me explain- 1. doesn't work, 2nd one might as well not work cause it takes un-seeable pictures, 3rd one is great but it's an old 35mm, so i haven't used it in a couple yrs, and the 4th one i dont own "just yet" but i made a trade for one , just haven't got it yet.

so i kind of dont have any right now either....

my 2 cents- i bugs the heck out of me when guys over use them. i honestly dont have the patients to sit in a stand anyway, so i use to use them mainly just to get some cool pictures. my favorite pics are the late rut pics, which are seasons are over by then.

but i can live with someone using a camera on a place they want to sit, thats great. but 50?? that rediculouse.
i'll bet with that many, SOME laws are being broke?? usually most forest service / blm areas have a set # of days you can leave your stuff [ here i think it's 14 days] there is no way , well if a guy has a regular job, you could check that many cameras? could you?

in fairness to the "50 camera man" he claims he has them spread out across 3 states and his friends are helping him with them and use them for their use also. I have read some great, mature opinions on this site that mimic my feelings and that of Bigreds on the other site. I am not for or against the ones you have to physically check,but the ones that can be checked by logging on, are in my opinion simply wrong. I enjoy hunting and want to pass my hunting skills along to my boys, but I want them to respect the harvest and most of all enjoy the HUNT. in summation I would like to change the question somewhat. Do you think this kind of tech(ie.trail cams) has shifted the emphasis to the kill being whats important or is it just our need for instant gratification? thx

I work in the technology world, and I think that there are some guys that are just in to tech stuff just like some are into primitive weapons, some are in to long range etc. Personally, I like a happy medium and I have enough trouble maintaining all the technical electronic devices that they pay me to work on. The last thing I want to do is deal with that stuff on my own time. So I guess my answer would be that I would not chose to use a networked camera system to provide real time game photos, but as long as it's done within the bounds of the law, I don't have a problem with it and personally don't think that it really does much to help with actual harvest. So I will live and let live with the camera guy.------shooter

I do believe that hunting in general has become more of a competition to out-do the other guy. And for that I blame the hunting products industry and the hunting media. They are just doing their job which is trying to sell as many products as they can and make as much money as they can. And by convincing people that their product will get them that monster buck or bull etc. only fuels the fire. Many want that edge, the next big thing, so that they might have bragging rights. Which leads to obsessive people with 50 trail cameras etc.. Don't get me wrong, I do like allot of todays technology and like most I am OK with it as long as it is legal and fair chase. I just think it is causing many to lose the meaning that it is the hunt that is most important, that you don't always have to fill your tag to have a great and memorable hunt, or maybe finally getting that smart old buck after 3 or 4 years of trial and error. Yes I think many want instant gratification and for that they are totally missing the boat.

Tough topic. Do I think folks go overboard, yes. Some even go so far to use ultralights to scout for deer. Now that is over kill for me. Using trail camera's? Yes and No. Depends on how many are used and in what manner.
I personally use a traditional bow for archery, but use what technology has been given to us for rifle season... range finders, scopes with windage and drop, ect.
For rifle hunting technology, for me, has helped me make difficult shots in high stress situations that otherwise wouldn't have been possible. It has also helped me keep up with 'one shot kills' and drop animals in there tracks. I appreciate technology on that front.
There needs to be limits on atv's, flying, ect. when scouting in the hills, But unless he has to go physically check every camera.. I don't think he's hurting anyone. :-k