I'm curious how everyone else uses their trail cameras. I'm looking to pick up a few more but havent decided what the best use is for them yet. This year I used them strictly on field edges and community scrapes and got more pictures of deer and especially mature bucks than I ever have before, but curiously that equalled less mature buck sightings than I have ever had while hunting. I knew what was on the property but clearly learned nothing about their movements. So.... Do you set them to scout a specific stand sites or trails to see if it is worth hunting there? Do you use them more for inventory and set them up on field edges or community scrapes? How often do you check yours to minimize impact? Do you think you have done things in the past with trail cameras that actually hurt your chances at a buck? In your opinion whats the best way to use a trail camera?
Here is a link to a blog I wrote that I discuss my feelings on trail camera placement and usage. http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post/Trail-camera-photos-can-lead-to-one-night-stands.aspx
I have three cams right now and hopefully adding a couple more this spring. Two cams I use on trails, field edges, stand sites, etc. I'll usually put them at the beginning of July. Most bucks by then are usually sporting antlers, albeit not much to look at, but gives me a good idea of at least bucks and potential targets. I'll move those cams to a different area at the end of July and repeat this through late summer, leading up to season. By season, I have a pretty idea of at least what I have in the area. My last cam move comes during the first week of season. I move cams again, to know buck travel corridors, etc. I try to refrain of checking them much during season unless I am hunting the area, which I usually plan. This way I don't have to be in that area more than once. I have one camera, that I just purchased last year that is really small, a WGI x6c. I keep that one in my pack and if I come across a scrape when going to or from a stand, I can easily set it up and check what is happening on the scrape. I've noticed over the years of using these things that you can check them too often and you can bump deer off their patterns doing so. When I go into the woods to hang or check cams, I take all of the precautions I would if I was hunting, in terms of scent reduction. I'll also try to plan my rounds to take place mid day so I reduce the risk of bumping deer. Cams are an excellent tool if used in a smart way. But if you're careless about how and when you setup or check them, you can hurt your chances. This is why we're starting to see a huge influx of cellular cams on the market. No need to go to the cam to check them. Buckeye's strategy is a good one and it reinforces what I stated about being smart with the cams. However, what if you can't or don't have big fields or areas to glass from a distance? I myself have some fields like he does and can do this. But many of our food plots are in secluded areas that don't allow you to get to easily or scout from a distance. Deer in these instances are not used to any human intrusion during the summer. Heck I'd venture to say that many of our deer outside of the field deer I mentioned don't see a person from May to October unless we're mowing our roads. These are the types of instances where I think that getting in there with a cam and leaving the area alone for a month at a time is the only option. Even then, you're still chancing things. The closer you get to season starting, the less you want to be anywhere near the area until you're actually hunting it. This is why I try to "schedule" cam setups and checking when I go to or from a stand.
This was my first year using trail cameras. For me, the number one rule is not to check them to often. It is hard not to, but this is the biggest problem I see people do and I was probably guilty of it the first month or two using them. This is a good thread, I'm intrested to see what others have to say. Great write up Scott!
Scott, are you using trail cameras during the hunting season? Or you just using them during the summer to identify the buck in the area?
Do you set them to scout a specific stand sites or trails to see if it is worth hunting there?Not too often but once In a while I do this. It depends on the camera though. My No Flash Cuddeback, no I won't because of the red IR lights at night. On the video's my Cuddeback takes I've saw too many nice bucks and young bucks take off running from the red IR lights. My Reconyx camera's, yes If I can hide them good. My Reconyx cams have no lights what so ever for the night pics. Do you use them more for inventory and set them up on field edges or community scrapes? Yep, great Inventory tool. I know I'm not getting pictures of every buck In the woods but at least I'm getting the majority of them I'd like to think. During the summer they mostly go on field edges or very heavy trails leading to food. From mid September to late November they go on mock scrapes. From December on they go back to heavy trails leading to food sources. How often do you check yours to minimize impact?Depends. In the summer I like to go at least every 2 to 3 weeks. Would like to go longer but I just can't hold back, loving uploading the pics to see what I've got. I wear rubber boots and rubber gloves no matter the time of year (except winter). It made a huge difference I believe once I went to rubber boots and gloves. I got much more activity on my trail cams after I started doing this. My camera's are usually spread out all over the woods and during hunting season I have stands all over as well. When I hunt a specific stand, If I haven't checked that camera In a while I'll check It then Instead of making a special trip. On my mocks that I have camera's on I pretty much do the same thing there too. Do you think you have done things in the past with trail cameras that actually hurt your chances at a buck? Yep, checked them too often and wasn't watching my scent close enough. If I can I'll go and check my cams right before a rain Is coming In. I also won't check them with a bad wind direction (depending on where my cam Is). In your opinion whats the best way to use a trail camera? For me, putting them on my mock scrapes during the hunting season.
I like them. I'm not sold on them, but they are fun, and useful tools. HATE HATE HATE seeing this though.
Dont seem to matter what cam you have,night pics spook game. not knocking your brand but i have the same results from 4 different cam companys. I dont think i am going to let my cams shoot night pics next year,or maybe just in areas i dont plan to hunt.
It's Impossible to spook a deer with the black flash of the higher end Reconyx models. If they are spooking It's because they see the camera (blob) In the tree.
I have not seen any info yet on a black flash as yet, I have heard people say there is something like that coming out later in the year. But nothing as far as pics go .... maybe you have some you can share? I seen a ad for primos going to a black flash but not much info on there website yet. looked at the rconxy site and seen a lo-glow and no red glow listed I would like to here more about it. do you have one of the no red glow units?
Yes, 2 of them. One Is the HO RC60 and the other Is a RC60. No IR lights what so ever. I've posted plenty of pics In the trail cam section from these 2 camera's.
The camera trigger "tick" will also spook bucks. Seen this first-hand this year. Not something I wanted to learn. If you put the camera out in a dead silent cold night and trigger it up close you can hear it "tick".
It would be hard for me not to leave my cams out during the rut here,so many traveling buck's during that short window before the gun hunters.Big deer did not show up on cams until 3 days before the mo gun season for me. Glad to see some different deer for a change but the rut lasted about 3 days only it seemed.
There's some pretty good advice on here. I've been using trailcams for 10 yrs now and I would have to say yes, the standard flash spooks big bucks. I use them over mineral sites and find that even the big old smart bucks become used to them since I use them from April till seasons end. The does and younger bucks don't mind them and even as they are chewing the mineral, look directly at the camera and are relaxed. My advice is to use them early and constant and since I live an hour away from where I hunt, I check them every 2 weeks. I go only to the site and get out, I never scout around.
