Should trail cameras be outlawed?

[bobcat]

No, they shouldn't be outlawed, I have 10 myself. Trail cams are my new hobby. I can enjoy them year 'round, hunting is only 3 to 4 months at best.

I would agree with a law against the ones that transmit photos as they are taken. That's taking the technology just a little too far, in my opinion.

Outside of hunting season though, no problem. Think of the fuel that would be saved by reducing trips to check cameras. Kind of hard to argue with the environmental friendliness if it.   

[Nice Racks]

I heard Obama is wanting to monitor our trail cams.  He is borrowing the funding for it from China as we speak.

[CP]

I wish they were never invented but they are here to stay now.  Makes finding a place to  in private (without the NSA viewing) difficult.

[boneaddict]

Very hard indeed Cedar.  and....I wasn't saying they should be banned, but argueing for the OPs validity of the question.   I have had the thought many times and do wonder if and when that line will be drawn.   

as for the argument about security cameras etc.   I have the expectations that I am being filmed at that time.   When I am alone in the woods on some mountain, getting away, I don't necessarily want to have the expectations that I am being filmed as I am walking down the trail, taking a leak behind that tree etc.   

Typical of any user group, there are morons that will ruin it for everyone.   Throwing down a 50 pound bag of salt can be very devastating. 

[sticky]

I like using my two cameras and see the advantages they bring, but I can see how some might see them as unfair. There are plenty of hunters that find the cost of hunting big game almost prohibitive. I remember my dad telling me 35 years ago that hunting was becoming a 'rich man's game' when the state raised the price of a deer tag to $5. A hunter that can afford a dozen trail cams greatly increases his chances of finding game compared to the same hunter scouting on his own.

That being said, the state doesn't care about issues of equity. Their only action would be to put an extra tax on trail cameras so those that find them affordable can pay more.

[boneaddict]

   One of the biggest turnoffs I had to them was when I was hunting in 16 down in NM.   This USO guide came bombing in with his truck.  He was placing cameras on EVERY waterhole and crossing in the whole damn unit.   I bet he had 100 brandnew trailcams in boxes in the back of his truck.   I was standing there scouting out a stand on a waterhole and he marched in and put up his camera in front of me.  I followed him out bsing with him.   I guess if I wanted some new cameras I could have figured it out pretty fast how to pick some up, but that's not how I roll.   They had a big money client and they had multiple guys canvasing the Gila for a monster.  That just turned me off a bit.

[Skyvalhunter]

USO has quite the reputation with reguards to this

[wildmanoutdoors]

No, they shouldn't be outlawed, I have 10 myself. Trail cams are my new hobby. I can enjoy them year 'round, hunting is only 3 to 4 months at best.

I would agree with a law against the ones that transmit photos as they are taken. That's taking the technology just a little too far, in my opinion.

Outside of hunting season though, no problem. Think of the fuel that would be saved by reducing trips to check cameras. Kind of hard to argue with the environmental friendliness if it.   

 

Its not a whole lot different than flying in a plane to scout and shoot the same day.

[boneaddict]

Montana has different regs don't they???   Have to pull cameras before first of season???

[bobcat]

In Montana I believe you can't use trail cameras during any big game season. And that includes bear and cougar, so that's a long time period in which you can't use your trail cams, even if all you're hunting is deer and/or elk.

[300rum]

I personally think they are kinda like unwrapping your present before Christmas.  I don't really care for them.

I don't want to know what goes on in the woods at night, I kind of think of that as the animals time.  That's just a personal thing though.

I don't like having to look around at every tree, just to take a leak.  I don't like the idea of my girls having to either. 

I don't like them being used by the guides to "peddle" their hunt (happening more and more now).  I think field photos of an animal on the ground with a happy client/hunter are much better.

I don't really want my face to be plastered on the "people on trail cams" thread when I am hunting.  I don't want my picture taken at all, really.

I don't like the mess that they leave.

I have mixed feeling on the "feeding" that goes on. 

If it is your property, I am fine with it.  Public property, I don't like it at all, similar to building a duck blind and then thinking it is "yours" to only be used by you (on public property).   

 

[Gringo31]

Tag

Some interesting points.  I all for whatever you want on private property.  Don't care at all if people do so on public property and are "low impact".  But, we have too many laws already. 

Just watch, WDFW will soon be selling trail cam permits 

[furbearer365]

This is just someone starting junk on here again.  The fact that he/she hasn't responded since their first post tells me that they are not wanting a decent conversation or willing to give their opinion.  My opinion is I don't need this state taking more away.  Im 50/50 on the idea of taking them out during hunting seasons but even then I don't know.  I have shot my buck then put my camera out during the rut just to get pics of those big rutted out blacktails that are hard to see otherwise.  So I do it for the pics of what is there and not as any kind of aid.

[h20hunter]

No. They should not. I enjoy running my cam all year. It is a fun hobby and isn't hurting a damn thing.

[bowhunterforever]

No. They should not. I enjoy running my cam all year. It is a fun hobby and isn't hurting a damn thing.

Its like opening a christmas present when you check your card