JoeRE wrote:Holy buckets do some people spent a pile of money on cams, SD cards, and batteries! The heaviest users must be dropping several thousand dollars a year on cams, cards & batteries (not to mention data plans for cell cams)....hey its a (relatively) free country but that kind of money would get you a pretty nice lease in a big buck state or a good outfitter hunt if that is your thing
I am slowly migrating to the anti-trail cam club unfortunately. Not there yet, have half a dozen and still use them heavily, all are out doing inventory right now. However I have become more jaded toward them with every passing year. Heck I have a hard time justifying the $200-300/year I spend on cam replacement and batteries but I suppose I am more frugal than most.
The big issue for me is that [glow=red]they are such a crutch[/glow]. I see this in myself and in everyone else. In the very near future, anyone who kills a big buck without using a trail cam will be viewed with shock - everyone will say "had to have been complete luck because he doesn't use trail cameras!" In other news, I might be turning into a curmudgeon.
I suppose it is a crutch in some manner - however, I heard the same arguments for portable tree stands, compounds/ crossbows, release aids, carbon arrows, range finders, GPS, on-line Topo Maps & Aerial Photos, internet and cell phones. And leases them selves can be a crutch.
As far as expense - guarantee you I get far more intel per $ spent then I would if I have to drive and glass and scout constantly - not to mention the big time saver. The closest area I hunt is well over an hour away and a lot of mine are 3-4 hours one way.
I probably average $1000-$1200 a year on cameras and batteries. There just is no way I could scout effectively the number of areas I hunt without them. The one factor that many face that the average Midwest hunters doesn't is to even find a legit shooter - I might have to check out 20 WMAs to find even one legit 4 year old or P&Y caliber buck. In Ohio I don't have to use near as many cameras as any one of our farms has a # of good bucks on them.