I must be hunting nomadic bucks because this is not true at all on my Barbour County property. Number 1 on the hit list will disappear for months at a time and then magically show up again, and this is not always during the rut. I have had pictures of him for 4 years now and there is no obvious repeating pattern to when he leaves or comes back. The only repeating pattern is that he turns nocturnal just before bow season each year and stays that way until just after gun season closes, regardless of human activity on the property. Of course during the rut, I get all kind of new bucks showing up on camera, all at night.

I feel your pain and you know what's funny.... I have a buddy who leased in Barbour County for years (let it go this year because they went too high) who has bucks only show up during the season. All off-season he only has does on his couple of hundred acres but as soon as the season starts bucks start showing up like crazy and as soon as the season is over they leave. He's the type of guy that can fall into a bucket of d*cks and come out holding a snatch.

Last club I was in had some busybody guy who had cameras out all over the place. Damn guy screwed it up for everybody. A man must ask himself, "do i want pictures of bucks or dead bucks".

I am not certain what I am doing different than many of you....

But, I have no problem at all getting pics of bucks OR killing them after locating them. Maybe it is a fluke??

Low, average, or high deer density?

Average

And, for the past 20 years on numerous propertties.
I love trail cams. I bought one of the old original Cam Trackers back when they first came out.

Run about 15 cams on 5k acres. Have been for years. Definitely helped with trigger restraint and have been able to zero in on a few good ones as a result of getting consistent pics in a certain area. Being that our lease is 7 hours away,it ain't like we're over pressuring them by checking them every 3 or 4 days. Generally let the cameras soak at least 2-3 weeks before checking them,usually longer. Really think that's the key. Year after year,I've seen the bucks group up together in preseason and visit the mineral sites on a very consistent basis; it all changes right around the bow opener/when velvet strips off,and they disperse. Then it's time to try and find their preferred winter home range.

I put cameras on feeders for inventory purposes. Don't use them otherwise.

A hunter using game cameras just needs to show some discipline and intelligence in using them. They're a tool... use them as such. Giving up game cameras is like saying that you're giving up sex because you caught an STD. There's a lot said for being smart and disciplined about everything you do.

I use cameras just to see what is in the area. Most bucks caught on camera are night time deer and I never see them in the daytime.

If you're going to run cams just a heads up think twice before buying spypoint..I'm in the middle of a simple repair under warranty..with multiple phone calls, emails, receipt and proof of purchase they're still giving me the run around..

I have however say I had a Moultrie cam repaired under warranty and can say their customer service is great...

Anyone giving up cameras you can send them my way

I've been questioning myself on whether to use cameras this year or not. Im the kind of guy that will see good bucks on camera on a Monday and lose sleep ALL week long until i get to hunt Saturday morning...i just get that antsy about it. I feel like i may be better off just being surprised of what shows up when I get it the stand.

Yea but will you be able to hold steady when that excitement hits you in the stand? Before, you had a week to deal with the excitement. Now you’ll only have minutes if not just seconds.

Lol, I already get nervous with excitement when I see one in the field after looking at game pics. If that ever leaves me, I will just stop hunting.

Whats really cool is when you kill one and all your neighbors send you theyre pics and you aint got a dime in a battery or camera one holding him... TALK TO ME...

AMEN to that brother!

Do you want to kill bucks or just take pictures of them? That is the question. I gave em up and have been better off. Just stay out of the area. Had some guy in a club running dozens of them and he spooked up the whole damn place. Guy was always dicking around in the woods and leaving scent everywhere made em all nocturnal.

I used them until i got spoiled and bored. It became a waiting game for me. There aint much sport in it when im using a rifle and know exactly when each buck is likely to come by and where from. Like shooting ducks in a barrel for me.