Should trail cameras be outlawed?

[huntnnw]

I'm not saying its blind luck.. I know you chase mule deer and that's a whole different game. My biggest buck and most of the top 6 I have we're not harvested over bait or anywhere near one that I know of. I call or rely on my scouting in the preseason on stand placement . This year I was turned onto buck fever synthetics and have started mock scrapes added to what I do. Lotta my baits are pic only deals

[Opportunist]

I see no issue with trail cams. I've only messed around with them on my property. I've only found a couple while hunting, I picked my nose in front of one and hung a BA at the other. I really enjoy the pictures from them on this forum and others.

I think the bait issue has risen it's ugly head and taken over this thread. Baiting is not really my thing but there was a time when I tried it for bear when it was legal, so never say never. I'm not into banning, just don't feel right. I remember voting against the hound/baiting measure and at the time I didn't much care for hound hunting. A few years later after hunting rabbits over beagles I changed my opinion on hound hunting, my conscience was clear because I didn't try to ban someone elses form of hunting.

[2MANY]

There are definitely some masters of bait on this thread.

[addicted]

dont outlaw cameras.... outlaw forums. thats where the real shady folks do buisiness lol

[Kain]

Seems to be two different issues.  Baiting and trail cameras.  I cant afford either one but dont think they are causing that big of a problem.  Trophy guys are going to wait for the big animals which I think is fine for population numbers.  Hobbyist just want to see what animals are around and get some great pics and vids. 

[Knocker of rocks]

I have a feeling that you probably couldn't outlaw trail cameras in Washington.  I don't even know if the Montana law would pass a challenge.

Given the commonness of cameras observing our everyday life here and in Montana, how could one specifically target one kind of camera, one user group or one presumed use?

[Elkaholic daWg]

 Interesting reading............but I am wondering why we are giving the greenie/ANTI trolls ideas?? I use the word greenie,since if they are anti....they WILL also be greenie. Sorry if it offends anyone!

[PolarBear]

Be careful Bone!  If you refuse to use bait, trail cams, high fence, private land etc, you will be deemed an elitist and anti hunting! There are far too many "hunters" who couldn't shoot a decent buck without using every trick in the book, legal or not.  To me, if you have the time to scout but still resort to bait and dozens of cams on private land, you are a harvester, not a hunter.     What ever happened to us guys who hunt by reading sign, the lay of the land, weather etc. without all that bait, cams and crap?
To answer the original question....No they should not be outlawed!  Apparently too many people depend on them instead of skill and we would be over run with all those extra dinks.    

[bobcat]

I sure do love my trail cams! And my bait! Allows me to have a year 'round "season." The bait is only to aid in getting more, and better pictures. I can't possibly keep enough bait out to keep animals in a particular area. They need to be there already.

I do try to pattern deer and elk, but so far about all I've found is there is no pattern. Other than the obvious pattern we already know about- they are most active in the early morning and late evening.

If you don't like trail cams, don't use them. I didn't, until three years ago. Got one for a Christmas gift and I found out I had been missing out on a lot of fun.

[turkeyfeather]

I have lots of skill. Programming some of these camera's takes a IT degree. It's terrible to say that hunters that like to see pics of animals in their natural, undisturbed habitat are unskilled and don't know what they're doing. That kind of attitude is why we will never all be united for the benefit of all.

[Greenhorn]

What ever happened to us guys who hunt by reading sign, the lay of the land, weather etc. without all that bait, cams and crap?

You do that to figure out where to set up your trail cam!

[huntnnw]

I have lots of skill. Programming some of these camera's takes a IT degree. It's terrible to say that hunters that like to see pics of animals in their natural, undisturbed habitat are unskilled and don't know what they're doing. That kind of attitude is why we will never all be united for the benefit of all.

 

[biggfish]

If you don't like trail cams, don't use them.

I think we've hit the nail on the head with this one.

[smartazz171]

If you don't like trail cams, don't use them.

I think we've hit the nail on the head with this one.

I actually can't believe this thread has so much play. I use trail cams to save me money in my scouting.  I can't afford every weekend to spend $50 in gas to scout. I scout hard on paper first, circle areas that are worth investment and then I spend 2 days scouting and putting up trail cams.  I check them a week or two later and depending on what I see and sign on the ground, I judge if im going to spend more time there.  I don't live in the Midwest where I can hunt out of my backyard but choose to sit on my a$$ all day.  It makes me more effective on where in the vast western frontier to concentrate my skills and dreams of hunting elk.  By the way, I'm sure everyone here who doesn't like the technology of game cams, I'm sure you hunt only with 50 yard max muzzle loaders, iron sights on your grandfathers ww2 gun, and your flint tipped arrows being launched from longbows.  Hypocrites...

[huntnnw]

times have changed in the last 20 years..The cost of fuel alone has changed the way I scout and and I use cams now in some places due to it. I didnt worry about fuel years ago when $20 got you 20 gallons or more! I use to scout daily !! now thats not even a possiblity!!