Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is this information being used for?
2. I'm a hunter. How can I contribute images?
3. What if I cannot identify the animal in the photo?
4. What if the animal I see is not one of the options?
5. Why do some photos have no animals?
6. How can I ask a question that is not in the FAQ?

1. What is this information being used for?
These identifications will help us better understand what scavengers are using deer gut piles across Minnesota. See the "Research" tab to learn about the goals of this project.

2. I'm a hunter. How can I contribute images?
If you are a deer hunter that hunts in Minnesota, and you would like to volunteer to record and submit images, register online at https://offal.umn.edu or get in touch at offal@umn.edu. We have project cameras and equipment to loan.

3. What if I cannot identify the animal in the photo?
If you cannot narrow down the animal you see in the image, select "Unknown." There are several other volunteers that are looking at the same image so your ID will be compared with theirs.

4. What if the animal I see is not one of the options?
If the animal you identify in the image is not listed, select "Other." These images will be pulled out later to be scrutinized further.

5. Why do some photos have no animals?
Remote cameras are triggered when there is movement in the lens. Often times cameras are triggered when high winds blow vegetation in front of the camera.

6. How can I ask a question that is not in the FAQ?
Go the "Talk" tab at the top of the screen. There you will find discussion boards where other volunteers are asking questions and discussing images. If you don't see a relevant thread, select the "Help" forum and submit your question as a new discussion. Our team is regularly checking and answering questions. There are also several volunteers that may be able to help.