Would a digital camera work for me while hunting?

[greywolf63]

I'm a Photographer as well as a hunter and I was wondering if I took my Digital camera with me while hunting if it would be a problem for hunting reasons? Or should I leave the camera or the hunting at home on that day?

Greywolf  

[Grey Taylor]

From what I have seen, doing either one seriously will be at the detriment of the other.
On the other hand, it would be a real shame not to have a camera with you to record those special hunting moments.

Guy

[pobs]

well it depends on the camera, i mean there's a big difference between lugging a D-SLR with 400mm tele lens attached and carrying a compact digital camera in your pocket.

[Voodoofire1]

I think a compact would be a great asset,and just as long as you don't take pictures like this you will be fine,critters tend to shy away from half naked men in the woods, just ask Vic,and I won't even mention about how they shorten the life expectancy of the camera.lol,lol. just kiddin', we all know how purdy he is,lol.
 

[adkmountainken]

i find it very hard to do both however i agree with Steve, if you had a compact camera that was easy to grab and shoot you would be okay. that is where i messed up, i had a simple easy to use camera that i could grab and take a shot then put away quickly. i then bought a big 10x zoom with a lot of bells and whistles that was bulky but takes great pictures. however i can not quickly grab this camera and by the time i get it out the chance for a good picture is usally gone. i hate to buy another camera but i think i'm going to get a really small compact one to wear around my neck.
 Would love to see some of your pictures if you could email me them or post on them on here.

[Osagetree]

Why not do both at the same time?
 

I actualy shot this little buck after the pic was snapped.
 

Some past years
 


A small digital in your corgo pants pocket can be fun, just don't try to get it out of you pocket when the one you want to take comes along. Wait till after your arrow is in him!

[Biggie Hoffman]

Yep...me too. I keep a 7.0 megapixel sony in my pants pocket. It even will take short video clips. But I never consider it when I see a critter I'm gonna shoot.

Two weeks ago it cost me a shot at  bobcat. I was screwing around with the camera when I looked down and he was standing right under me. I couldn't stand, put the camera down and get my bow before he spooked.

[VTer]

I always have a camera with me. Usually a 4.0mp that I keep in my backpack or in the pocket of my handwarmer that hangs on my waist. In the early part of the season when I'm not carrying a lot of extra clothes I'll have a video camera and a tree arm as well.

[Huntrdfk]

I hate the thought of being in the woods without a camera, too many things going on that I would hate to not be able to record.......but when I see something I want to shoot it doesn't come out until after the shot opportunity has passed....


David

[steadman]

For me it depends on the kind of hunting. If I am sitting a stand, I have it ready to take pics all the time. While "running and gunning" I usually never take it out until I am hiking back to camp. Also it is nice to have a decent camera in case you tag out, it is fun to me to keep hunting with my camera.

[Bodork]

I carry one of the pocket models with me all the time. I want to have it when I kill my first big  game animal! Most of the time I wish I had a better one with me. This year I had a buck with one 4 point antler come in behind me at about 8 yards. I had no shot with my bow but I took some pictures with my camera when he was about 35 yards out feeding away. If nothing else, I can prove to my wife I where I was all day! In my defense, notice the lack of cover. This country is hard to bowhunt!  Mike
 

[Killdeer]

I have taken SO many more pictures since getting a point-and-shoot digital!

My old outfit is a Canon Eos Elan2E with a backpack full of lenses. I would never take it out on a hunt, it is just too big and bulky, and film is expensive and takes a lot of time.

The digital has given me shots that I would never have taken, allowed me to "take notes" on things that I would want to identify later, and share my experiences with my friends.

From the beautiful

 

to the obscene,

 

there are SO many things that I encounter while hunting that I wish to bring back as my trophies. A camera brings them home to the campfire.

 

Killdeer

[Matty]

I Am a shutterbug myself I would love to tote a digital SLR about in the woods But One more thing to worry about, And when the Moment of truth comes the last thing I think about is my camera.  The best thing to do is take someone along who likes to take pics as well.

[Bjorn]

Both, for sure!

[Mr.Chuck]

I'm a shutterbug too!  I take a larger Nikon Coolpix 5700.  Sometimes it's a pain, but then, when I need a "good" camera for those moments, it's there.  I carry it outside my pack with easy access, with a minimum of movement!  

[Labs4me]

Carrying a small digital camera has enhanced my bowhunting outings for sure. Just make sure that your flash and sound is turned off so you don't blow a few opportunities like I have.

Biggie, bragging not get you a date...

[pointy sticks]

I used to carry a digital SLR around my waist at 3D's and hunting but it was very cumbersome.  


  My wife gave me a little 6m Nikon for Christmas and it hasn't been out of my pocket since.     I currently have a 2mg SD card in it for storage, and can store up to 1200 picture or 3:30 minutes of video.

 Mine went bunny hunting yesterday in the afternoon, and to my buddies work shop last night. You just never know when your going to have one of those moments.