Hey guys, So typically I run 3-4 cameras from about July to November just prior to the Wisconsin gun season. I have never ran a camera once gun season is over to find out which bucks made it and which ones I can look forward to next season. Well this year I'd like to put 1 or 2 back out. However, as you all know Wisconsin can get dumped on by snow and I'm guessing it would just cover the camera right up and render it useless. Is there anything that I can put over the cam to keep snow off it? FYI- I put my cams in lock boxes Should I be facing my cams a certain direction? not sure if there is any theory to keeping it facing a direction that most storms come from? Any assistance would be appreciated.
My buddy up who hunts up north takes a piece of flashing and makes a little house for them so the snow doesn't build up on them. I will see if he can shoot me a pic.
face them away from the prevailing wind direction to avoid get snow packed in the sensor, lens and flash. I don't put up guards to block snow and don't use lock boxes but i haven't really had any issue with snow burring them but the wind usually knocks off any snow.
Exactly what I do. Generally attach the camera to the south side of a tree with the winds generally coming out of the north. Have never had a problem with snow in my lens. I do not use lock boxes.
I live in NW Wisconsin and leave cams out most of the winter. I do not change aiming direction even though winds are mostly northerly in the winter. I sometimes get a wet snow that would block the lens and sensor but rarely. I use lock boxes on the cams. I also use lithium batteries and get almost one year on them. Check the baiting/feeding laws for your part of the State. I tried building a small roof over the cams years ago but found it mostly a waste of time. Aiming south can be a problem on clear days as you will get the bright sun washing out the photo. Unless you are in extreme NE WI. and the snowbelt your cam will not get buried in snow if placing the cam at the same height as usual.
To avoid weird sun issues I would point it NE and you could avoid the snow then if your worried. You need to get a wet snow with storm winds to have the camera covered. In NW Wisconsin I had 5 cameras out the night before gun season. Out of the 3 facing north 2 of them were 100% blocked with snow and ice. But getting 1"+ of rain with 30-45mph winds followed by snow the whole night is something that doesn't happen that often in the winter.
Ive only ever had one camera covered up by snow, but i had it mounted pretty low to the ground. I don't change how I set them up at all.
I think you will be fine. Make sure you use lithium batteries so they don't die fast in the cold temperature, if we ever get cold.
You shouldnt have anything to worry about... Unless you have 45-50MPH winds and 10 inches of snow There is a StealthCam under all that snow some where....
HAHA. that's partially why I made this post. During hunting season early November a few years back I went into my main rut spot. When the sun came up, I looked over and my cam was literally covered in snow like your picture.