Taking Inventory

One of my favorite things to do leading up to, throughout, and after deer season is to take inventory on our trail cams. We have 200 acres that we hunt on and have about 8 trail cams that we check often. Believe me, I wish we had more as we always seem to find somewhere to hang another! By hanging cameras throughout our property we are able to get a better idea on the amount of deer we have, where they are hanging out and the times they are moving.

One of the most exciting things to me is checking our cameras in the summertime before bow season starts to see what kind of deer we have to go after that season. I pay close attention to the type of deer we have and when and where they are moving. It’s important that you have an idea on the amount of deer and your buck to doe ratio so you know how to properly manage your deer herd.

It seems a lot of people like to hang cameras only at feeding sites. While this may help you initially in determining the amount and types of deer you have, you still need to hang cameras in other places throughout the property. Some good places for cameras are next to trails, stream crossings, draws, water sources, or areas with wildlife sign (scrapes, rubs, or tracks). This is especially helpful throughout mid season when the rut hits.

As the season ends, a post-season camera survey will let you know what deer survived & will be a year older and larger next year! Keep this in mind to prepare for next season and don’t delete your pictures! By keeping an inventory I am able to judge the age of my deer more accurately and better manage the deer herd for years to come!