Hello, all you great people!!!
Last spring, I decided not to run cams and stay out of the two small 11-13 acre wood lots I hunt. In the years past, the previous years, I found myself going into the woods weekly or every three weeks during the summer to check the cams and to put some bait out. I would get tons of photos, but I never equated my cameras to me being successful. Deer were passing through my woods and didn't seem to be established. I wanted the deer to feel safe and comfortable in my woods. Part of me also felt like something was missing. I felt like I was sitting and waiting for a buck to come through, almost like a livestock auction. I wasn't growing as a hunter, but I was good at attracting deer to a small area. This feeling led to changes in my approach and philosophy toward hunting deer.
I am not putting this above other people's approaches; it was a personal decision/challenge. It was not an easy thing to do. Staying out of the woods made me feel like I was missing out on something! It did help get rid of the stressor of spending money on corn and batteries and fighting with the wife to find time to change the cards. I listened to podcasts, read articles on how to become a better hunter, and started to read deer signs, not just see signs. I spent a lot of time in those two woods in the spring and began to see patterns and possibilities that I had not observed before. For me, it was about a challenge and personal growth, then an opportunity to compete with other hunters. I would say that I had more opportunities to draw on a buck, had two shooter bucks within range, one made the right path choice, the other did not, and with some luck, I was able to seal the deal.
I plan not to run cameras again and use what I learned to hit the woods this year.
Just curious as to others' ideas, thoughts, or suggestions for not running cameras or running cameras and not trying to make it a whether this is the way to hunt.
I am looking to learn from others on here and grow. It comes down to personal preferences and what you are comfortable with, but we can always learn.
Thanks for your thoughts !!!
Last spring, I decided not to run cams and stay out of the two small 11-13 acre wood lots I hunt. In the years past, the previous years, I found myself going into the woods weekly or every three weeks during the summer to check the cams and to put some bait out. I would get tons of photos, but I never equated my cameras to me being successful. Deer were passing through my woods and didn't seem to be established. I wanted the deer to feel safe and comfortable in my woods. Part of me also felt like something was missing. I felt like I was sitting and waiting for a buck to come through, almost like a livestock auction. I wasn't growing as a hunter, but I was good at attracting deer to a small area. This feeling led to changes in my approach and philosophy toward hunting deer.
I am not putting this above other people's approaches; it was a personal decision/challenge. It was not an easy thing to do. Staying out of the woods made me feel like I was missing out on something! It did help get rid of the stressor of spending money on corn and batteries and fighting with the wife to find time to change the cards. I listened to podcasts, read articles on how to become a better hunter, and started to read deer signs, not just see signs. I spent a lot of time in those two woods in the spring and began to see patterns and possibilities that I had not observed before. For me, it was about a challenge and personal growth, then an opportunity to compete with other hunters. I would say that I had more opportunities to draw on a buck, had two shooter bucks within range, one made the right path choice, the other did not, and with some luck, I was able to seal the deal.
I plan not to run cameras again and use what I learned to hit the woods this year.
Just curious as to others' ideas, thoughts, or suggestions for not running cameras or running cameras and not trying to make it a whether this is the way to hunt.
I am looking to learn from others on here and grow. It comes down to personal preferences and what you are comfortable with, but we can always learn.
Thanks for your thoughts !!!
