Idaho F&G Proposal-Outlaw Trail Cameras

[Machias]

Most of you guys have an unrealistic idea of what these things actually enable you to do.  I've been using my wireless trail camera for a couple of years now, in Virginia and in Idaho.  It does NOT increase your harvest.  Are there instances where it is possible to abuse them, yes same as anything else, but it is just not the reality.  At $470 a pop, very few guys will have these things plastered all over the woods tracking a deer or elks every movement.  Come on guys let's at least have a realistic discussion, not one based on fantasy.

[lord grizzly]

Most of you guys have an unrealistic idea of what these things actually enable you to do.  I've been using my wireless trail camera for a couple of years now, in Virginia and in Idaho.  It does NOT increase your harvest.  Are there instances where it is possible to abuse them, yes same as anything else, but it is just not the reality.  At $470 a pop, very few guys will have these things plastered all over the woods tracking a deer or elks every movement.  Come on guys let's at least have a realistic discussion, not one based on fantasy.

I would say the fantasy is the one where you don't think this tech gets better and cheaper cuz that never happens...

[lord grizzly]

do you disagree with the current game rules on drones too?

[Duckslayer89]

Here's the thing. Pretty soon there will be live streaming blue tooth enabled trail cams that guys can spread all over the woods and have full surveillance in real time while there "hunting" right on there smart phone. yes the game departments need to stay ahead or at least as close as possible to advancing technologies in regards to fair chase. If that means they outlaw trail cams or adopt Montanas law here in Idaho  than I'm all for it.

Sadly i could picture this!

[Machias]

do you disagree with the current game rules on drones too?

What are they?  I'll do some research and let you know.  Look I'm all for restricting technology in the field if it HONESTLY impacts the herds.  I'm a guy who is not for lighted nocks, but for reasons other than what most folks who are against them.  There is a ton of stuff in the woods right now that has vastly more impact than what a wireless trail camera or any trail camera does.  It's like we are stepping over a dollar bill to pick up a nickel.  I mean if we want to be honest about why we want to outlaw certain things but turn a blind eye to other things.

[lord grizzly]

https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title36/T36CH11/SECT36-1101/


here's a good place to start. I just don't see  the difference. if finding animals in real time with surveillance equipment like drones (or helicopters/planes for that matter) is widely accepted as not fair chase. why should remote access cameras be exempt?

[Machias]

So your hang up is the real time part?  My camera is 3 hours from me, all it does is saves me a ton of gas and I suspect 99% of folks that use them, this is the reason.  That is the only advantage they give me is saving me time and gas.

[Wacenturion]

Sooo, have these cameras been an issue? Is this just another case of creating a solution to a non existent problem 

BINGO!

your both missing the point. like I said, technology isn't going to move backwards here. much rather see game departments n front of issues than years behind trying to catch up wouldn't you? especially considering the area here (tech) is the fastest evolving thing in the history of man. I understand no one likes change and they like it even less when there inconvenienced but try some practical thinking here and remember were not talking about a game department like Washington, were talking Idaho's. you cant get much more pro hunting than our F&G. this isn't going to be motivated by spite like you guys may be used to, there going to legitimately try and maintain fair chase using practical game laws.

but I know you spent a bunch on your fancy cameras...

Yeah, well WDFW was pretty pro hunter when I first started my career in 1974.  Things change and from my experience I can with certainty tell you that Idaho F&G is also evolving.  Headquarters in Boise, just like WDFW headquarters in Olympia.  Bigger towns, more liberal views as their populations grown.  Just the way things are.  I would guess that today there are far more graduates coming out of colleges in the natural resource field without the "grew up hunting" backgrounds of say 40-60 years ago.  Views about things are also evolving.

So just because it's Idaho F&G, don't think for a minute that they don't have staff with far different opinions than you or me on various issues. 

[Machias]

lord grizzly you hound hunt, correct?  What type of tracking system are you using?  One of the new Garmins?

[Wacenturion]

 

[lord grizzly]

lord grizzly you hound hunt, correct?  What type of tracking system are you using?  One of the new Garmins?

I don't. and I don't think tracking your own animals quite correlates to this topic of tracking wild ones. im pretty sure its also illegal to use a radio color tracking device to pick up on wild collared animals in the pursuit of hunting. as it should be

[lord grizzly]

im not going to try and convince you of anything. right now your cams are 100% legit and I hope you enjoy the benefit they give you using them. the fact that you cant see technology's evolution for what it is due to wanting your own convenience or that it is prudent for game departments to address its advancement is your short sight not mine. and hopefully not Idaho's F&G department.

[Machias]

Fair enough lord grizzly, if you want them outlawed, I understand, I'm not short sighted at all.  I'm just hoping folks like yourself want them outlawed for the right reasons and not some reasons that are unrealistic.  We could all look at each piece of equipment out in the field and conjure up all kinds of ways they could be abused.  If it's a legit concern, I'm all on board.

[boneaddict]

Thinking cameras don't increase the chance of harvest seems a little niave, since in reality if it didn't, why would so many people be using them.  Just a thought.   I have never liked them, but definitely see how they are fun. There are a lot of critters that were never known to have existed, usually monarchs (especially whitetail).  Then they were spotted at night....no escaping detection I guess.    The big outfits love them.   THey will put one on every waterhole and figure out which ones to put clients on.  I guess that's fair..... 

[Machias]

Thinking cameras don't increase the chance of harvest seems a little niave, since in reality if it didn't, why would so many people be using them.  Just a thought.   I have never liked them, but definitely see how they are fun. There are a lot of critters that were never known to have existed, usually monarchs (especially whitetail).  Then they were spotted at night....no escaping detection I guess.    The big outfits love them.   THey will put one on every waterhole and figure out which ones to put clients on.  I guess that's fair..... 

You misunderstand, I'm saying a wireless trail camera does not increase harvest over any other trail camera.  Do you really think that if they outlaw trail cameras the harvest numbers will drop?