Anticipation builds with each passing moment. A buck you recognize from trail cameras passes through, but nothing of interest walks into view. The remainder of the sit is slow. Leaves periodically rustle in the wind. The occasional squirrel searches for acorns. Otherwise, all is still. The deer woods feel dead, and you can’t seem to shake the feeling that you won’t get a shot at a mature buck this season. At least, not one you’re aware of.
While trail cameras are likely the best and most impactful invention in modern deer hunting, they do come with a drawback. Because of these tools, most deer on the landscape are known. Used efficiently, a hunter can capture the bulk of deer that are on their land. Obviously, that’s a good thing for those who plan to find and target big deer. That’s the objective, after all.
Still, it comes at a cost. For those who began hunting before trail cameras, I’d
