Deer Cameras

This is an exciting time of year for deer hunters. Bucks are growing their new antlers and by the end of July they should be 95% grown. Watching antlers grow is exciting because you can see how rapidly their growth occurs. Basically, bucks grow most of their antlers in less than four months. Antlers are the second fastest growing tissue behind only to cancer.

Deer managers are now using surveillance cameras to monitor growth. Use of these cameras also gives deer manager’s confidence that their management practices are working.

Cameras record date and time and once this information is analyzed it is obvious animals have predictable patterns. Most hunters are using these cameras to make decisions on which animals to remove from their herd. But there are some hunters who feel that using these cameras is unethical.

Now the camera controversy arises, as do many others among hunters and I am certain it will continue for years without ever being settled. The cameras are merely tools that enable the user to see what is going on when they are away.

Cost of cameras varies from $200 to over $2,000. I have tried both ends of the spectrum and found that you get what you pay for. Many ranches are even putting photos and videos gathered by their cameras on their websites.

If cost were not an issue, I would use video surveillance cameras over still photos. Still photos can’t provide multiple angle look at deer’s antlers.

Besides cost of the cameras, the only other thing to be concerned with is using it outdoors. The circuitry is delicate and can easily be contaminated by dirt and rain.

With my busy schedule, the surveillance cameras help make proper decisions regarding deer management.