The fawns are out there, and it’s that time of year again when we need to roll up our sleeves and continue to the summer section of habitat management. Knowing your deer population—age, mix, and movement patterns—is crucial, and that’s where our trusty trail cameras come into play.

I recently got my hands on some refurbished cameras. With these and my existing ones, I should be able to cover enough ground to get a solid idea of what the managed 350 acres has in store for us this upcoming season.

Now, I’ll be honest: these cameras aren’t my first choice. I’ve always preferred the old-school method of checking the camera myself. There’s something satisfying about getting out there once a week, sifting through the photos, and feeling like a wildlife detective. But let’s face it, that weekly ritual was eating up three hours of my life—three hours I just can’t spare anymore. So, I opted for the comfort of automatic picture sending.

I know, I know—you might say that hunting based on automatic camera guidance strays into murky ethical waters. I get it. However, I’m viewing this as a tool for habitat and herd management rather than a shortcut to the hunt. After all, understanding the deer population is key to making informed decisions about our land and ensuring a sustainable future for our wildlife.

So, here’s to the upcoming season! I’m excited to see what the cameras reveal about our deer population and its growth. Cameras are going out this weekend, and I can’t wait to see what’s happening out there.