Trail Camera Teasers

Most of us were in the habit of putting out around 134 trail-cams per acre to make sure we weren't missing ANYTHING that might possibly have been moving in our woods back in the day. Deer, turkey, cats, dogs, weeds, neighbors, and rabbits had no choice but to be monitored in a big-brother fashion.

 Along the way, we realized the more cameras we put out, and the more we checked them, the more we were guilty of "disturbing the peace." This is especially true as summer gives way to September, and as the bachelor groups finally start to break up. Now, I put my cameras where I can get to them without leaving hardly any scent, in high traffic areas, and over a healthy mineral block, pile of corn, or Deer Cane mineral lick. The idea is to at least get a general idea of the deer population in my area, and how many bucks managed to make it through from last year. Of course if you are like me, you aren't managing a private 500 acre deer magnet of a farm, we just hunt on a transitional piece of property, about 40 acres total. But it's still fun! And it's a great way to get the whole family involved in scouting out next fall's possible hit list.

However, many of the bucks on my camera are merely "teasers." Several 150"+ deer have wondered through on their summer feeding pattern, never to be seen again. Lets be honest, how many of you have waited "for the big one" you saw back in August only to not fill a tag because you passed on several nice deer that just weren't "Mr. Big?" Even so, I LOVE checking my cameras with the kids. It even gives my wife hope that my falls are not spent in vain when she sees a healthy number of deer being caught on tape.

But it's not just the "teasers" that are fun to see. I love seeing the new fawns, especially twins, making their way along the edge of our woods. I don't even mind seeing small bucks, young does, and other small furry woodland creatures. It reminds me of how creative our God is! (And that He has to have a good sense of humor)

So take those pictures for what they are worth, don't get to caught up in "the big one," you may never see him again. And don't get to discouraged if all you see is the neighbor farming on your camera. Who knows what the rut will blow through your property! Just enjoy being able to see all these amazing creatures that are making their way through your woods.

Our thought for the day comes from Psalm 19:14: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Men, too often our thought life and what we say is anything but that! The next time you try to put a nail through your hand or are tempted to look at something you shouldn't, let the challenge of Psalm 19:14 run through your mind instead!