Trail Cam Bucks

Trail cameras (or camera traps) have many uses. 

Biologists often use them to document animal species without disturbing their normal behavior patterns.  Maybe this is because the animals live in remote areas with little human presence.  Or they may use them to document species that live in populated areas, but are rarely seen because of nocturnal or secretive behaviors.  Ecologists often set these cameras on timers to record changes over time - for instance a camera may be set to take a photo at the same time every day thus recording vegetation growth or the melting of glacial ice.

Among non-scientists, trail cameras are used in similar ways.  Many landowners use them to document the different species that call their land home.  Probably the most common use (and the use that they are most often marketed for) is for the documentation of deer numbers and habits, especially the habits of bucks.

Over the past eight months my trail cameras have documented lots of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus).  Most of the deer are does and fawns.  Occasionally a buck shows up on the camera.  This is always a thrill.  My latest set of trail cam pictures included images of three different bucks

First was a four-pointer or "forkhorn".  Here in the eastern United States, we count the total number of points on the set of antlers.  In the western United States points are counted differently and this would be considered a two-point buck as it has two points on each side.

The second buck to appear on camera was a six-pointer.  It has evenly matched antlers with three points on each side - so Out West this would be a three-pointer.

The final buck has appeared on camera several times.  I don't think I have shared any of his photos before.  Even after viewing numerous photographs, I'm not sure how many points this deer has on his antlers.  I think he has a pair of brow tines which are not visible from this angle.  If he does have brow tines, that makes him an eight-pointer. 

I believe this is the same deer photographed on my second camera.  In this picture, he definitely seems to have brow tines.  It is also possible that these are two separate deer.  It is difficult to tell based on the camera angles and distances.