I'm wanting to know if anyone is on a lease where regular cams are allowed but cell cams aren't?

We have 10 spots on 3K acres and a couple people put up cell cameras. I'm the lease manager but everything goes to a vote and I was looking for some input before the vote.

Thanks

Same boat as you. Never had them banned, but never used them either.

I have deployed two on one lease I manage and there are 3-4 in use on another lease this year. I fought them because I was certain that I would be in one stand get a text "The Buck" was at another stand and I would hustle to try and put a stalk on him. I don't foresee this being my reality.

It has been great getting 'real time' intel in the group texts from each lease as the pics come in. If you are 'bow only' like your signature line says, the benefits of not disturbing an area to pull cards seems like it would significantly outwiegh the negatives by a wide margin.

Ive got two leases and on one of them we have one member do all the camera management and cell cams are used. It really makes it nice to not have to disturb the area to get the pics. The pics only come in once or twice a day. Everybody can draw the line on ethics and fair chase etc where they want but personally I dont want anyone I hunt with making any real time decisions on where to hunt based on real time pics. We have an understanding that all the guys agree with not to get pics to make immediate decisions on where to hunt based on that. I really worry about all the technology hurting hunting.
If you really wanted my opinion on your situation i would allow them but limit the frequency they get pics in and not allow moving during a hunt. Thats just my opinion since you asked and im not pushing it on anyone.

Yeah, i figured that and I really didnt intend at all to start anything--he just asked and I gave an honest answer.

Is this for a community type set up where stands are shared? I’m trying to understand what other situation would call for banning the use of cell cameras. I’m not a big fan of cameras in general but also follow the saying, “to each their own.”

I could definitely see drama if you’re sharing blinds. If that’s the issue, maybe only use during off season for survey purposes. Cut them off mid September once velvet is off and a good survey has been completed.

We have 2 community blinds and no cams are allowed at those.

Being a bow only lease I believe that real time cell cams shouldn't be allowed for this reason. If two hunters are hunting the same deer and one gets pics on Tues/Wed then shows up and shoots him on Thurs.....I just think it adds drama and I hate drama. If I read correctly PY, BC and many states do not allow cell cams. If one owns their own ranch that's one thing but when you have a group trying to make everything fun and fair I believe it changes things.

I will vote no but was looking for others input.

Thank you for commenting

I don’t see a problem using cell cams, I don’t use them simply because I don’t want the added frustration of hunting knowing I’m in spot A and the buck shows up to spot C but common sense should dictate no one moves from one spot to another during hunting hours. That being said some guys are simply idiots and therefore rules are needed to make sure nobody else’s hunt is ruined by the lease idiot. I run 15 cameras and their only checked on certain days around noon but cell cameras can keep that movement to a minimum so I think they have their place. I’d allow them but with a simple rule of no stand hoping, if they can’t follow that simple rule you don’t need them around anyway..

never heard of them being banned but we have 11 spots and 6 guys on 5600 acres the cell cams really help us keep up to date and help decide where to go, we have all community spots but never have any issues. will say the best part about cell cams is not having to switch card every trip and driving around the whole place to check them

The thought of stand hopping never even crossed my mind, probably because I use them for simplicity and less disturbance. That's also why I was in pure confusion as to why they would ever be banned. Just cause a deer shows up on Tuesday doesn't mean it's going to show up on Wednesday, nor can I fault a fellow hunter for taking time away to be at the lease more than me -- that's a personal decision.

Makes no sense to me to ban them, you can’t control what the bucks are gonna do......

On a community lease, maybe the cameras/pics should be community as well? If there's an issue, draw for blinds on a per-hunt basis.

First I've ever heard of banning cell cameras. What else do you ban?

I was scared to ask but I’m curious.

If the concern is that a lease member could effectively hunt or scout multiple locations at once, thus giving him or her an unfair advantage over the hunters that aren't using cellular trail cams, then I think that concern has some merit. That's not unique to cell cams, however, although they are much easier to manage than regular trail cams.

And I know you can't control what a buck is going to do, but trail cameras certainly help hunters make an educated guess.

I have a business partner that hunts a family place where one of the family members runs cellular trail cams and the deer politics are pretty serious. While hunting one morning he spotted a nice shooter, got all excited, readied for the shot, and then received a text from the person running trail cams telling him "don't shoot that buck, he's too young." Now THAT takes the fun out of things.

Well, was he too young? Cell cameras also let you see what gets put on the ground that you might not know about. If there is a LEGITIMATE question about age, there's no hiding a bad decision from a cell cam. Maybe the rest of the group would have been grateful for some technology there

I’m not saying they don’t have their place. Hell I used them to pattern a deer on our place this year already for a cousin and posted her kill on this forum. I don’t know how old the deer was in my story, honestly, and don’t really care. That wasn’t the point. One of the best parts of hunting is finding an animal that gets you excited. Having your phone blow up while you’re hunting from some guy messgaing you from his office chair to say I’m watching you, don’t shoot that deer, is a little too Orwellian for me.

Cellular game cameras really doesn't help much with finding deer given the size of my property - other than knowing what's out there and helping to aid in knowing which bucks to harvest (ageing/antlers/etc). Also helps with ensuring feeders are operational. Several times I've seen pictures stop only to find an issue with the feeder.

They have been crucial for controlling the hog population. It's great to get messages live when hogs show up - went from only taking a few hogs a year with many hours in the stands to taking 15+ by driving to the blind when the hogs were present.

Not trying to ban anything except drama...

These responses really do help, thank you

Don't allow there to be drama over them but not allowing them seems like you are throwing the baby out with the bath water. Drama isn't about the equipment used at your lease...drama is about the people on your lease. If you don't have the right people that is a completely different problem.

Good luck, seems you have some challenges ahead...regardless of the cameras.

Couldn't have said it any better

Just ban a-holes and the problem is solved!

I have never even heard the suggestion of banning cell cameras. Seems antiquated to me. Cost aside, there are absolutely zero disadvantages of not using them over traditional trail cameras.

It’s hard enough to shoot a nice deer on a bow only lease. I would think it’s a good thing if one of your hunters patterns a deer and kills it. If someone wants to be a crybaby kick them off.

Hmpf . . . , who is creating the drama?