Gotta agree with DuckHunt!!!
If the land is private, put up all the cameras you want. I'm glad I had camera's running on two of my places this year cause it helped me and the Game Warden catch some poachers!!
I generally run 3-4 cameras per parcel of land.
Back in my youth, I hunted out west a lot. Most of it on Bureau of Land Management Lands. No cameras. (This was BEFORE the days of trail cams.)
Still managed to take a fair number of good animals.
I personally don't think using cameras on "Public" land is a fair idea when it comes to "Outfitters". Let's say I drive from East Texas to Wyoming to hunt Elk ( after winning the lottery
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
) in the same area north of Jackson Hole (in the Bridger/Teton National Forest range) that a local "outfitter" has access to year round with his trail cameras in place year round.
Who has the "better success rate"? Who's gonna set up his spike camp in the area where you have poured over topo maps for months so you'll know the area you want to hunt before you ever get there? And how and why did he do all of this, with the use of those cameras that everyone loves!
I don't hunt out west anymore. Too much of a hassle. Too much money. Too many idiots!!
Now wait a minute...before I get hate mail
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
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If I am an "Outfitter" that has LEASED a section of land, and that no one else should be on that section, then run all the cameras you want.
I know some guys spend A LOT of MONEY each year leasing property. In places like Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana it's a "dog eat dog" world when it comes to prime hunting areas. If I have the best Elk, biggest Rams or outrageous Deer, then I draw the clients. And IF I can't produce, guess who don't work next year?
The last "guided hunt" I have been on was probably in 1994-95. (Regulations said we HAD to hire a guide to hunt there). Since then It's all been on me. I don't want to travel just to have to compete with local outfitters on public land in order to hunt "fair chase". At that point, is it really fair chase?
Want to see a list of regulations a mile long? Then go to TPWD's "Public Land Regulations" section. There's enough restrictions there to choke a horse!
Basically, if YOU the hunter, wants to use something (stand, blind, camera, whatever), on PUBLIC LAND, "pack it in, then at the end of the hunting day, PACK IT OUT"!!!
Enough said!
![Wink :wink:](./images/smilies/icon_wink.gif)
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Just the thoughts of a Grumpy Old Redneck from Deep within the Heart of the East Texas Piney Woods!!
Y'all be careful out there!!
AJ
![Mr. Green :mrgreen:](./images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif)
“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming "Wow, What a Ride!