As a landowner, checking trail cameras is one of my favorite things. I love scrolling through countless pictures of squirrels and raccoons, hoping to catch a glimpse of the monster buck I’ve been chasing. 

While the excitement of seeing monster deer or longbeards on your land is one of the perks of running trail cameras, there are several different reasons why this practice is important!

More Informed Decisions When Hunting

Unfortunately for most of us, we only have a limited number of days a year that we can get out and hunt. Trail cameras allow landowners to keep track of the wildlife they have on their property and know what areas those animals frequent the most during different times of the day. This will help you understand which areas of your property will give you the highest likelihood of success.

Another benefit of having trail cameras is being able to identify what deer/turkey you have on your land and decide what animals are mature and ready to be harvested and what animals you want to let grow into more mature animals. You can make a much better decision when you can look at several different pictures of an animal and pre-determine which ones are ready to harvest versus having to decide in a split second while hunting.

Safety and Security of Your Land

Trail cameras can also enhance your property’s safety and security. Setting trail cameras up on entrances or near equipment will allow you to monitor your property even when you aren’t there.

These cameras will act as a security system letting you know if anyone who isn’t supposed to be on your land is trespassing. With today’s technology, most trail cameras will send pictures directly to your phone and notify you instantly of any trespassing.

Selling Your Land

When it comes to selling hunting land, buyers will pay a premium for land that has been well-managed and has mature deer. Having records of trail cam photos is a great way to show buyers the quality and quantity of deer on your land.

While there is no guarantee that deer in trail cam photos are still on the property, it’s a great way of showing the genetics you have in the area and persuading prospective buyers to make an offer.
If you’ve got more questions about using trail cameras on your property, get in touch with me at Aland@NationalLand.com or reach out to your local Land Professional!