How many trail cameras does everyone use, if any? Also, how many acres are you covering with these cameras from all of the properties you have them on? And finally, when using your cameras are you trying to pattern a particular buck, make a hitlist of bucks, or just try to figure out what kind of pattern the deer are in within that particular area.
I have 4 cameras on the 365 acre farm of ours. For me I like to know what areas the deer are using the most and also, what bucks are using our farm. The farm is 50/50 on timber and ag fields, and I still feel that 4 cameras does not adequately cover the farm.
During season I will try to place them to "pattern" a buck, more or less to figure out which areas are being frequented by a good buck. During the summer, we run them for inventory purposes and the fun of checking cams. I've had out anywhere from 1-6 at a time, ranging from 200 acres up to 3000. Right now I have 3 out up in Indiana on a 2800 acre tract...certainly doesn't cover it, just on the more major travel corridors.
I have 3 on 180 acres of mostly timber. The main reason I have them is to see what deer are on the property. I move them around about every 2-4 weeks just to try and get an idea of how many shooter bucks are in my area. Im sure I dont use the cameras to their full potiental as far as making me a better hunter. But I have found that if you get pictures of some good quality bucks, that gives me the extra "push" I need to spend more time on stand.
I've got six right now... with a goal of picking up another one or two each year for the next several years until I get somewhere between 10 - 15. I use them to figure out which parts of the farm(s) I hunt are receiving the most usage, and -- simply for the sheer fun of it; I like catching big bucks on the properties I hunt. It also helps my discipline later in the season knowing what's out there. My neighbors whom I usually go elk hunting with every year took a couple cameras with them to Colorado this year and set some up over some wallows and trails while they were roaming the mountainside elsewhere -- and learned a valuable lesson: Check the cameras while you've still got hunting time left, not at the end of your hunt. They had a couple MONSTER bulls on camera -- in daytime. And no one ever hunted those spots. I'll be taking a couple cameras out to Colorado with me when we go back next year.
I have 4 on my 85 acre farm in IL and 1 at home in MO. Like Greg I like to get an inventory of what is there and if I see a huntable pattern so much the better. So far they are being difficult to pattern with my cameras.= NO PATTERN at all. I'd also love to catch a huge non-typical on film some day that just makes you say WOOOOOOOOW. Their also there to also to catch any would be tresspassers on film.
Greg this is what I'm after too. Ideally I would like to own 12 or 13 cameras. That way I could pretty well cover every main hollow and field edge on our farm. Although my budget makes it hard to buy that many Cuddebacks at $200 a pop.
Have a friend in north AL that got a pic 2 wks ago of a man with a hammer walking through the woods in the middle of no-where. Dang fine trophy he was. Anyone would be proud...lol
I have 2 right now on 260 acres. I would love to have three and might make that jump this offseason. But during the summer mainly for fun and inventory. But during the season trying to pattern a buck once I've found him, or gathering a better idea of what bucks use certain areas.
I have 2 cameras (looking to add a 3rd after season) on a couple small tracts of land. My objective is more of an inventory of what the property holds.
running 2 on 43 acres lots of does and a 6pt. and 4pt. so far so good over the last couple of months.
