The Computer Science of Deer Hunting
By: Steve Kass
Every fall, hundreds of thousands of Michiganders descend upon the woods to take part in the timeless tradition of deer hunting. Deer hunting not only supplies Michiganders with trophies and venison, but also the nostalgia of a tradition that has passed down from generation to the next. It brings hunters back to a simple, primitive time; the one aspect of modern life that remains untouched by technology.
Or is technology already there?
Deer hunting is often a quiet and solitary activity and while I scanned my woods for deer, I pondered what connections computer science might have with something as primitive and traditional as deer hunting. The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) came out with new K-12 computer science standards to create connections between computer science and other subject areas. The goal of computer science integration is not to turn every student into a future computer scientist but rather provide them with a basic skill set so they are able to fully leverage its possibilities in their own lives. Could I use deer hunting as an example that meets the MDE K-12 computer science standards?
The first thing I noticed sitting in my deer blind was the game camera I placed nearby. I placed several cameras as part of my scouting routine to identify what animals are roaming the woods near me and what patterns they follow. Game cameras are digital cameras that take photographs triggered by motion and store them on an SD card or through wireless transmission directly to a smartphone. Some even have an app that assists with viewing and organizing images, processing the data, and providing location identification.
Game camera possibilities are doing more than just scouting deer. TV6’s Discovering did an episode about the Michigan DNR’s ongoing wolf surveys. Hundreds of game cameras have been placed to collect data on wolf activity in the state. In order to sort through millions of photos, artificial intelligence (AI) software is used to scan images, identify animals, and organize the data.
Over the past summer, REMC1 and the Western UP MiSTEM Network partnered to arrange several teacher externships for local educators to visit advanced manufacturing facilities. The goal was to expose teachers to technologies being used in the facilities and learn what skills are necessary to work there. One of the externships was at Burton Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) in Ironwood. Burton EMS manufactures and assembles electronic components and products with a variety of both day-to-day and industry uses. Some of the components Burton makes specifically go into game cameras!
Using connections, such as deer hunting and game cameras, can make a meaningful impact on computer science integration. What other activities can be enhanced through computer science?
For more information on the K-12 Michigan Computer Science Standards, please visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mde/services/academic-standards/michigan-k-12-computer-science-standards
To view the portions of the Discovering episodes that explores game camera and AI technology by the DNR, visit:
DISCOVERING | Great Lakes Fishing Decree & Wolf Trail Cameras Episode
(12:06 - 16:16)
DISCOVERING | Fall Smallie Fishing | Trail Cameras Episode (15:14 - 19:42)
Image Courtesy of: Fredrik Öhlander via Unplash
