I use them only for security now.
Giant Deer of Iowa are rapidly becoming a past memory
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Same- otherwise I run regular sd cams. Cell cams are only at “traffic” areas (driveways/lanes where people are)
tall@wide
PMA Member
Since muzzle loaders go out to 600 yards now that is why I mentioned them. I watched a video from mcwhorter on their muzzle loaders. The owner and his son say on video “these are 600 yard weapons and there is nothing primitive about these muzzle loaders. People are using these and similar in Iowa and it could be tweaked to increase age structure. But I agree, any weapon shooting past 100 yards or so should be examined.
tall@wide
PMA Member
I agree 100% that finding them is the hard part. It seems almost impossible now to find a giant..Killing them isn’t that hard on private land.
Daver
PMA Member
We have three I think, but only use them for remote security at our hunting farms. If a deer walks through the yard, etc, he/she will be captured, but we never use them to facilitate hunting. I have one back home that I have had out in the field behind my house, but I don't hunt there, so also not really used for hunting.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Removing cell cams would be as simple as enforcing the law as written. They literally break the no electronic device like raidos to discose the position of wild game to a T. Could not be any more in violation.....
I believe they would need no new legislature, just make it known they will be enforcing the law allready in place....
I
iowavf
Well-Known Member
I still use the one I have, but it's not a wifi camera, just one I'll pull the card on later. Still big bucks out there, but with EHD and the clearing of habitat, I think they find the out of the way places or the big properties that a small percent of people can hunt. Leasing property to
thecreedeer
Member
I disagree with the idea that the hunters of Iowa are different than the hunters of WI or any Whitetail state in regard to actually registering deer in the record book. There are record deer in every state that never get reported. Secretive hunters are secretive hunters no matter where they live. We have a problem and it's not getting better. Its technology and its not going away and it only gets bigger. The banning of cell cams, and more proficient weapons is a battle as well and the younger generation which is the future is obsessed with technology and only want more of it. We have to be Realists, and I think the only hope is to limit the buck tag to one deer between all seasons. I think as serious hunters we all agree the animal we all respect and love to pursue has little chance of surviving when being pursued given the new technology. I got into hunting because I started hunting at the age of 12 and being a bowhunter first. The long hours of sitting in a treestand and experience the adrenalin rush as a deer slowly closing in was my addiction. To me you can't experience true deer hunting unless the deer are within 20 yards. To me that is deer hunting. Sitting in a shooting house and holding a weapon that can kill a deer at 400 yards is just target practice. You can't appreciate the size of an Iowa giant until you are able to wait for him to get close. Being in the timber as a deer slowly approaches and waiting for the opportunity for him to turn his head to draw your bow without being detected as your heart is ripping out of your chest, now that is deer hunting. When you drop a deer at 400 yards only to appreciate his size when you walk up to him when he is down,I believe you missing the best part of the hunt. To all the fathers of young kids get them hooked on deer hunting the right way. Make it a challenge. The challenge will keep them interested. I believe a kid that experience the adrenalin rush of real Whitetail hunting will never do drugs because there is nothing like it.
I am all for going to one buck tag, limiting long range weapons be it optics restrictions or powder restrictions, get rid of assault rifles during muzzleloader season increase fines for the laws already in place, clear up the wording on certain laws to reduce the “grey area” that alot of people take advantage of, cell cams can go if it’ll help, ban tag sharing ,I’m %100 for that… because most of these things will feel like a sacrifice, it will make it harder for me to kill a big deer. But the one thing that I think will not be a sacrifice is giving up a tag so that I can hunt 4 gun/ muzzleloader seasons with my remaining floating tag. The one thing I think kills big deer more than anything listed here is WEATHER!! If I can hunt every cold front for 100 days with roughly 45 of those days being with a gun or muzzy I just don’t see how that’s a sacrifice.
According to 2023 stats : For every guy shooting 2 deer there’s literally 20 that didn’t shoot one. I just don’t think allowing the 85,000 unsuccessful gun hunters having 3 more gun/muzzy seasons will be a good idea.
My opinion: start by moving to a 2 buck state , make the landowner tag count against your statewide tag. Let that gain some traction first.
According to 2023 stats : For every guy shooting 2 deer there’s literally 20 that didn’t shoot one. I just don’t think allowing the 85,000 unsuccessful gun hunters having 3 more gun/muzzy seasons will be a good idea.
My opinion: start by moving to a 2 buck state , make the landowner tag count against your statewide tag. Let that gain some traction first.
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So this may not be a popular counter argument but to those saying that a majority of the book class bucks are not getting entered (I do believe a good number are not entered in many states) doesn’t that go against the argument many are trying to make with this thread? If other states enter most of their book deer and Iowa doesn’t but used to then Iowa moves up the chart provided on the OP. I do believe book antlers are decking in Iowa generally speaking but I think the heavily managed areas are still producing good deer as those areas have more 5+ yo deer. High grading is an issue! Look to the Golden Triangle of Illinois. Sounds like a lot of us are guilty of using the many weapons and cell cams but wouldn’t if they were not legal…. Odd argument, bout like one buck, can’t those that believe these changes would improve Iowa, do it without it being regulated!?
hillrunner
PMA Member
The number of people willing to self regulate will have 0 impact on the big picture. It's the tragedy of the commons. On the other hand, anything that makes hunting harder will have a large scale positive effect on the herd.
I hate government regulation as much as anyone but the reality is that without it, we'd have no large game left in North America.
Things are changing for sure in Iowa. Things like EHD are an issue but we cannot control that currently. I dont think they would be able to ban trail cameras or most of the increase in technology once people get used to using them.
Another part that seems to be missed is many of the truly big deer i have been able to hunt/harvest were 6,7,8 years old before they became giants. The trend to hunting 5 year olds is not helping produce top end deer.
The future is pretty easy to predict without some big changes. People with large properties will continue to have big deer to hunt, but they will have to go to great lengths to protect what they have. You will see an increase in high fencing bad neighbors and or more leasing to remove competition. The single biggest thing that can be done is go to a one buck limit .
Another part that seems to be missed is many of the truly big deer i have been able to hunt/harvest were 6,7,8 years old before they became giants. The trend to hunting 5 year olds is not helping produce top end deer.
The future is pretty easy to predict without some big changes. People with large properties will continue to have big deer to hunt, but they will have to go to great lengths to protect what they have. You will see an increase in high fencing bad neighbors and or more leasing to remove competition. The single biggest thing that can be done is go to a one buck limit .
pkostelecky
PMA Member
Couldn’t agree more!
Falldreams
Well-Known Member
The massive onslaught of camera and specially cellular trail cam usage is single handedly the largest of many contributors to the statewide decline of numbers of older age class bucks (5 plus). The reasons being all those that have been brought up here on this thread……high grading, instant and massive intel causing much less need to scout and understand intimate deep deer knowledge, instant big buck succes. High grading is a huge one!
I attended a state DNR meeting last year that had a questionnaire to fill out. I took the time to write and explain it very long, detailed answer in regards to opposing cellular trail cameras and why. Interesting why the question was even on the form??? Even more interesting is the fact that there has been no banter or anything mentioned since then publicly. Or anywhere for that matter.
If enough people grouped together to form a strong movement maybe maybe some traction could be gained on banning trail camera usage for all hunting oriented purposes?? As many are already aware other states have imposed trail camera bans of various nature in other states.
I attended a state DNR meeting last year that had a questionnaire to fill out. I took the time to write and explain it very long, detailed answer in regards to opposing cellular trail cameras and why. Interesting why the question was even on the form??? Even more interesting is the fact that there has been no banter or anything mentioned since then publicly. Or anywhere for that matter.
If enough people grouped together to form a strong movement maybe maybe some traction could be gained on banning trail camera usage for all hunting oriented purposes?? As many are already aware other states have imposed trail camera bans of various nature in other states.
Be nearly impossible to make a law to ban cell cams.
Clarifying thst they are already illegal as the law currently reads would be the move.
Clarifying thst they are already illegal as the law currently reads would be the move.
Falldreams
Well-Known Member
At less than one CO per county that I’m guessing are all already over worked I’m not confident that once the law is clarified our states CO’s would have the time, energy or motivation to enforce. I agree clarifying the current law could be done and should be done though.
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Not sure it would need to be. I think the majority of hunters follow the rules. Not saying 100% however probably more than 75%....
Maybe I'm nieve....