Earlier this week I touched on how game cameras and deer management go hand in hand. Not only do digital scouting cameras work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week taking photos of deer on your property, but they also give you a good idea of quality. What could be easier? Here we go.

Camera Placement – I’ve written extensively regarding tips for camera placement, so I won’t go into as much detail here. However, for the beginners out there, the easiest way to photos of white-tail deer is to have something that attracts them. Food, minerals, and water are obvious and good choices. However, although these sites are great for getting deer photos they may not necessarily be the best for collecting deer survey data using your camera. 

Rechargeable Batteries - This sounds simple, but you can save yourself some heartache and money if you pay attention here. Digital cameras (and make sure you are using digital) are great because they can work around the clock. The problem is that they are motion activated and that requires power.

Each time they are activated and take a photo, the camera uses battery power. This increases with photos taken in the dark. The more photos you take, the more battery power you will need. Invest in rechargeable and be done. (more…)

Now that you have decided on the best locations to monitor with your game camera, you will need to know a few tips to help make sure that you get quality deer photos. With that goal in mind, when at all possible point the camera toward the north. Not on will placing the game camera in this position greatly reduce the chance of the camera getting triggered by the sun, but it will reduce back-lighting on your subject and give you much better deer photos.

Likewise, placing the game camera in areas of heavy tree cover will also help prevent the mid-day sun from accidentally triggering the sensor. So, if you want to take better photos in a relatively open area, face the camera north. If you are trying to pattern deer using a game camera in a heavily wooded area, any direction will work.

Next, it’s important that you accurately measure the distance from the trail camera to where you expect deer to travel. If the camera is set back too far, then the sensor might not trigger and the camera will miss the shot. Of course, having a deer cross too closely is equally bad since the camera will only capture part of the deer as it passes by – or totally miss the deer all together! (more…)

The digital game camera really has given hunters one of the best scouting tools available for white-tailed deer and other game, but most users fall short of using their camera to its potential. The game camera can be a great tool for seeing what’s out there, but like any tool, it must be used properly for the user to get the full benefit of using the “hunter that never sleeps.”

First and foremost, a digital game camera will let you see many of the bucks you have available for harvest in the area where you hunt. Most of the bucks you probably would have never seen otherwise. The most common practice employed by game camera users is to set a camera adjacent to their feeder or food plot. Although this usually gets hunters lots of pictures, all it really tells you what deer are present.

You’re probably thinking, “Well, if I know a certain buck is coming to my feeder, then I will just sit there and wait for him.” But, if you really intend for the camera to help you not only get a look at your deer, but also want it to help you bag “your” buck, then you will have to get a bit more creative, so pay attention. (more…)

With all the time we spend deer hunting, it’s a good idea to stay stay safe and avoid injury — so here are a few tree stand safety tips to think about to minimize the chance of injury while using your tree stands while chasing whitetails.

Tree-steps or tie-on ladders are great tools for gaining elevation, but some folks still use large nails as steps since they are less expensive. Climing stands are great for deer hunting because they are light and portable, but have obvious limitations if you don’t hunt areas with a fair number of tall, straight trees.

These following tips are really quite obvious, but please remember them because they could save you from injury or even save your life. And keep enjoying the outdoors! (more…)

In the South almost all bow hunters are hunting from the tree stands and many of the gun hunters are, too. Hunting from an elevated position gives the hunter several advantages, such as remaining above the white-tailed deer’s field of view, keeping the hunter’s scent above that of a mature white-tailed buck’s nose, and also increasing our visibility of the woods.

Unfortunately, as the use of tree stands has increased, so have the number of hunters injuring themselves through both proper and improper use. Deer hunting has become one of the safest sports in America, but with some common sense precautions it can become even safer.

Tree stands can be used safely. I have used ladder-type stands, climbing stands, lock-on-stands, as well as built-in stands made of lumber. I will not use a stand if it seems unsafe to me and neither should you. One important reason is simply because hunters are usually alone in the woods and far from both help and any type of medical attention. (more…)

ELCAN Optical Technologies has a rifle scope equipped with camera and video capabilities that photographs or videos automatically when you pull the trigger! In addition, the digital scope can be used to take a picture or video of whatever it is you are looking through your scope without pulling the trigger. Today, we are specifically talking about the:

DigitalHunter DayNight Digital Riflescope by ELCAN Optical Technologies.

We all know the effort it takes to video our own rifle hunts. It’s not easy! But what if you could easily and efficiently record exactly what you see? That’s what this scope can do for you – it records while you shoot so you can review shot placement and document the harvest in general.

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Winchester has released a press release announcing the return of the Model 70 bolt action rifle for 2008. The news is so fresh, in fact, that Winchester’s website has yet to be updated and still refers to the Model 70 as a historic firearm:

“We are often asked when the great historic products such as the Model 70, Model 94, Model 1300 and others will be reintroduced into the marketplace. At this time there are no definite plans or announcements.”

Winchester had ceased production of the Model 70 bolt-action and the Model 94 lever-action in 2006, putting an end to two legendary American rifle designs. The Model 70 had fallen out of favor with American shooters after a 1964 redesign that was regarded as cheapening the quality of the guns. The quality of Model 94s had similarly been degraded.

The re-born Model 70 will be made in America, will feature a new trigger, pre-’64 style controlled-round feed, and an improved version of Winchester’s great 3-position safety. All indications are that the re-born Model 70 should be a great rifle, offered in 4 different grades in a variety of calibers yet to be specified.

There’s currently no word on any plans for a Model 94 re-birth.

Ok, so you have decided to get a digital game camera to scout deer in your area. There are lots of camera options, so here we go. A big factor to consider in determining which trail camera to buy is battery type/requirements. It’s seems obvious, but choose a camera that works with rechargeable batteries.

Rechargeable batteries will save you a bundle of of cash in the long run and you can use that money to buy another game camera. I know folks who keep their cameras out for months at a time by simply rotating 2 sets of rechargeable batteries and swapping memory cards. Many cameras also have ports for the attachment of solar charger. This is even easier!

Next, let’s talk about image capabilities. As far as picture options, you’ve got infrared (IR) or color photos. Both have their advantages and disadvantages. IR cameras are usually priced higher than color cameras and IR pictures will not be as detailed as the full color photos. However, the IR models have the advantage of not needing a flash, which some hunters fear may spook deer and cause them to avoid the area where the camera is placed out. I have not seen any evidence showing that flash impacts deer. Of course, if you go with IR technology it’s not even a consideration. (more…)