Trail camera placement.

So I have been using trail cameras for a couple of years now and I can never seem to find the bucks. Is there a way to pattern them?

 

I would also like some tips on where to place cameras for early season buck patterns.

Where are some areas to target that aren't necessarily a food source?

 

Just like hunting or trapping, leverage natural or unnatural attractants (food, scents, water, minerals) as legal in your area, travel corridors and/or habitat. Also let the cam set longer than you think you should before checking.

 

I used to put my camera(1) in my food plot, and I always got a few buck pics. Most of them were night pics or one series of pics for the summer. Very limited. This last spring I went into the thicker bedding areas and found the runs from last year. I then went out and around looking for trails, to these spots. Mind you, they weren't big trails. I was slightly sceptical b/c they weren't great trails but they have produced tons of buck pics. What I found is the bigger bucks skirt my food plot (100 yrds or less) but rarely go out in it. It seems that where they rub/scrape is pretty close the normal range for the year.

 

Summertime my best luck has always been at large destination food sources - alfalfa, soybeans, etc. I've had very sporadic luck with getting good photos in the woods and the photos are always hit or miss depending on available light. If it's legal to put out food or minerals that's a great way to get summer photos as well.

Although I've also learned not to put too much stock in summertime photos. Every year there's a few bucks who disappear when the velvet comes off.

 

Look for heavily used deer trails or find a good water source if one is available. Also, if it is legal to use minerals in your state, start a mineral site.

 

Food Food Food, Bait Bait Bait, Minerals Mineral Minerals.

Put cameras in these locations and you will find bucks.

 

Any advice on how to start a mineral site?

 

Take a bag of minerals (Lucky buck, Trace, Monster Raxx...any will do), pour it into a damn/moist area near food and water (On a rotten log or stump if possible).

Place a trophy rock or trace salt block on top of it.

Profit.

 

In the summertime stick to edges and food sources. I see too many guys who put there cameras a mile deep in the timber and wonder why they don't get many deer on camera during the summer. Granted if you have a good trail that they are using it can work. Sometimes I will go deeper into the timber if I'm on public land but what i'll do for example is walk the edge of a corn field or soybean field and find a heavy trail that is being used going in and out of the crop field and then follow it about 100 yards into the woods. A lot of times you will find where 2-3 trails intersect. That is where you would want to put the camera.

 

Can't beat the back corner of a bean field in the middle of summer.

 

My biggest problem is there are no crop fields around me it is mostly bedding.

 

If there are regularly used bedding areas, you might be able to find some trails heading in to those areas but be careful not to go to deep into their bedroom and drive them out. I'd look for a trail in/out and try that.

 

I feel like most of our bigger deer do this, with the exception of one or two.

 

Edges of food plots. I put mine on a little water hole last year and got some good pictures. You could also start a mineral sight and put one there.

 

It's a big problem if you used for 2 years, can't believe you never catch a buck. Try to read this guide: How To Set Up & Use A Trail Camera - Trail Camera Expert

 

I go out after a rain near where they're feeding and base the location on the tracks.