First time setting up a trail cam... need advice

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scaleguy

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Ok folks, Ive got my ground blind built in a great spot at the intersection of two deer trails. I just piled up some brush etc... so nothing unnatural present. Even laid out a bit of corn about 15-20 yards in front of it. I was going to go back in this week end to see if the deer gobbled the corn up, and put up my trail cam (that i bought last night).

The only real reason i wanted the trail cam was to see if they were coming through the location in the mornings, evenings or if it was used at all during the day. So last night i was reading and watching some videos on cam placement, and it seems that cameras can really spook those white tails!!

It seems to me that a lot of guys dont put the cams near their blinds/bait sites, they are more out along the trails that the deer run. anyone find that this is the case? Any advice on where to place it to best judge time of day movement on the deer? I kinda wanted to be watching the bait site to see how many coyotes were coming in as well... we coyote hunt the property as well... so there would be some interesting info there too!
 
What kind of camera are you using? IR/black flash, white flash? I have used a few different cameras and got good performance out of the bushnell trophy cams, but any shooter bucks I have ever got a picture of were looking right at the camera when it took the picture, and I usually don't get more than 1-2 pics and they're gone. Last couple years we bailed on the cams and just hunted, then last year we put them out in august for a couple weeks, got some buck pics and pulled em. The nice one I shot last year, I had not seen on camera or visually before I got him. It's nice to know what's in the area and when they are coming but you can get too hung up on it.

That said, I just bought and put out a browning dark ops camera, fantastic reviews on trailcampro.com, NO sound, no lights or visible flash, and plan on leaving it over a feeder I have out. Camera looks good so far, easy to set up and use.
 
Ive got a homebrew white flash and have it set at my bait pile and have had the same deer look right at it every other night for a whole season. I have even had one sniff it and knock it down and still come back. I think it depends on the deer and the area.
 
Looks like a decent camera. Put it about 15-20 ft away from your bait or the intersection of the trails. Take your laptop with you. Allow the camera to take several pictures of you walking by. Then you can can ensure it is working and taking pictures of the right spot.

I am curious about the "invisible LEDs". Please post some pictures that it takes at night if you get any. It would be interesting to see if it is as good as IR, or better.
 
I always try to point the camera up or down the trail so you get the deer coming or going .not just as thy pass the camera.pointing it at food works as well .good luck Dutch
 
dutchhunter said:
I always try to point the camera up or down the trail so you get the deer coming or going .not just as thy pass the camera.pointing it at food works as well .good luck Dutch
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Only do this if your camera is a black flash. My IR flash camera alerts them just as much as you waving to them from your stand. I have pictures of a big 12 and big 9 point coming down the trail with nose to the ground. See's the flash and stops mid stride, Turns around and high tails it out of there. I was pretty pissed.
 
Try to point your camera facing North or South as much as possible. It cuts down on the "phantom" shots with nothing in them. Move as much brush, grass, and small trees away from the front of your camera. The wind can make them trigger the cam. Nothing worse than sifting through 3000 images of nothing. Keep the cam a minimum of 4' off the ground. I have had great success with mine at 12' but most people don't have easy accessibility to go that high in the bush. The higher the better. Deer don't typically look up unless there is a good reason for it.
 
My experience is that it doesnt matter if it alerts them... if they set it off and then dont get chased they are cool with it..... they get used to the flash... I have several series of big bucks doing what they do and getting photo'd..... even with regular old flash cams.....
 
Looks like a pretty solid camera you picked up. You'll come to love going to check the camera to see what you caught on film .. I know I sure enjoy it. Lots of good advice on here already for sure. The one thing I'd avoid is going in there too often to check it. I find seeing all the pictures of bucks to be awesome to look at but discouraging at the same time when you never see them in daylight!!

Another good way to survey your property with your camera and add to your enjoyment, can be done over a mineral lick. I get tons of pic in the spring through summer - it's almost as good as a pile of bait in the fall really. Lots of different critters come in as well. Have fun!
 
deerfarmer said:
Looks like a pretty solid camera you picked up. You'll come to love going to check the camera to see what you caught on film .. I know I sure enjoy it. Lots of good advice on here already for sure. The one thing I'd avoid is going in there too often to check it. I find seeing all the pictures of bucks to be awesome to look at but discouraging at the same time when you never see them in daylight!!

Another good way to survey your property with your camera and add to your enjoyment, can be done over a mineral lick. I get tons of pic in the spring through summer - it's almost as good as a pile of bait in the fall really. Lots of different critters come in as well. Have fun!
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Much agreed, I only visit mine 4 times a year.
 
MAKE SURE NO SMALL SAPLINGS OR PLANTS GROW IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA! 5 pictures of deer 7 coyotes and a moose, were photographed by my camera and also 1100 of the stupid leaves from a sapling waving in front of the camera........
 
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