we started putting out cameras in March at a place we just started hunting last year with the hunt club. we have 4 cameras out, 2 have shown us there are deer and even got a few bucks on cameras before they completely dropped their racks, 1 camera has shown deer there periodically, and 1 had nothin the first pull and a few the second pull but nothin worth while. three of the cameras are mine so i am going to more 1 of the cameras that had deer there often, and another than was so-so. the other camera that hasnt had much action is my buddies and going to try and convince him to move it but he really likes the spot as it is on the edge.of a swamp and thick, just not mcuh sigm of deer thus far, and its the place he missed a nice 6 pt at last year that someone else killed, ended up at 17 wide, lots of mass, and almost at 15" tall. we are only covering about 1/5-1/4 of this piece of land and i really want to cover some more ground over the next few months so by august we can choose the primary spots we.want to try and bowhunt and set the cameras up there. so where i need help is this. since i dont have enougb cameras for everywhere, i was thinking of putting some corn and blocks down to try and not let the areas go cold for the next couple months. the site where i had a few bucks on camera in march i have had a few different things set out in the past few.months, corn and kool aid. i ordered some monster raxx and was really thinking of putting it here as i really like the location, 50-60 yards from swamp, middle a cluster of oak trees surrounded by a lot of grown pines. would the corn and kool aid effect the effectiveness of monster raxrx (assuming they like it). any suggestions yall can give me about putting stuff down when im taking cameras away from wud be great.
I hunt VA as well. Honestly I use most of my minerals and trail cams in spots that are very easy to get to. Mainly because if the deer are in the area they are gonna find the lick and I don't want it to be right on top of where I plan on hunting and I don't want to be wandering around in their "house" too much before season. Most of the time the deer patterns change so drastically come fall due to changes in food sources and the rut that a lot of the info you're getting now isn't terribly relevant, I mainly want it for "inventory" purposes and I just like messing with my cams. Just to see what kind of deer are in the area and hopefully see a couple good bucks. The closer to season it gets I like to put the cams near trails or cover I plan on hunting and then I check them rather infrequently or when it's raining. If you don't mind me asking what club do you hunt with? I've hunted with a few in VA and NC and am currently in FHA on the eastern shore but hunt a bunch near sussex & dinwiddie as well. I hunted a little urban archery last year in Chesapeake also. Hopefully I'll have some good pics in the next couple of weeks to share.
I do so much early scouting that when I find a decent area and put a cam on it, it produces greatly. more time out there really helped me
I would wait a little bit to move cameras there deer are probably in the process of changing patterns since everything is turning green. I'd wait till mid June then do a little scouting an moving camera cause it's likely the bucks will be in the area they will be in come early bow season.
