For both serious and casual hunters alike, there is an activity that is almost as much fun as the hunt itself… checking trailcam pictures.

Over the years, I have used trail cameras as a “scouting partner” to keep tabs on the whitetail deer that are moving on and through the properties that I hunt. I have to admit that perusing the pictures of deer on the trailcam is a little bit like opening presents.

While it’s always great to see a mature buck with big antlers, it’s also the unknown of what other pictures have been captured in the days and moths since the last card pull that is so exciting.

For example, I have seen pictures of rare piebald deer as well as deer with broken legs and even upside down antlers. But, deer are not the only animals that I have captured on trailcam pictures.

I have seen wild hogs (unlike some areas, wild hogs are not very common in our area), turkeys, crows, foxes, rabbits and even hawks.

Of course, I have also seen things that I don’t like.

For example, I have seen pictures of people trespassing on the property. One that stands out  was a picture of a man riding a four-wheeler through my food plot while holding a can of beer. (You should never drink and drive, even if it’s a 4-wheeler).

One of the neatest features of some trailcams is the ability to record clips of video. So, instead of capturing only still shots of wildlife, you can get video of the deer and other animals that cross the path or your trail cam. This makes observing especially interesting.

Using the video feature on my trail cameras, I have been able to capture video footage of deer standing on their hind legs trying to get int the top of a feeder, as well as a racoon taking a swipe at whitetail deer that was getting too close to its own meal of feeder corn.

Trail cameras have certainly come a long way over the years. When I first started using one, I had to insert 35mm rolls of film into the cameras and change it out as it took all the pictures on the film roll.

Now, cameras use SD cards to capture photos and videos. There are also trail cameras that used cellular technology to allow you to view images and video on your cell phone in real time.

There are certainly those who don’t believe in taking advantage of the technology that make trailcams so popular with many hunting enthusiasts. But, for those who use trail cameras as part of there scouting, it’s definitely a tool that is helpful in knowing that the big deer you know has been moving on your property just might show itself and present a shot that could result in a memory you will never forget.