Putting up game cameras is an exciting part to deer hunting, but it can also be useful. Several months ago I posted an article on how to use cameras to census your deer herd and determine some important information about sex ratios, deer density, age structure, etc.

Another great use of game cameras is to use the pictures to inform hunt club members of bucks that are off- and on- limits. Inexperienced, and sometimes experienced, members may be known to stretch the measure tape on a 14″ wide buck in an excuse to pull the trigger. Having a picture of that 2.5 year old and saying explicitly “off-limits” with everyone gathered around a table is the best preventive medicine that the buck could receive. Now there are no excuses and more than likely you’ll be able to chase him as a 3.5 year old next season.

Lay out all the bucks that you have pictures of and separate them into 2 piles: shoot and don’t shoot. You’ll find that your illegal buck kills decrease because there is no ambiguity then.