Trail camera's and Bears.

When I used to run trail cameras a lot they sold steel cases for the Bushnell ones. I was using that screwed right to the tree then you just put a padlock on them. Only thing getting at those cameras was bolt cutter or huge pry bar.

I guess one day I should ride the quad up and take those down… thanks for the reminder!
 
I usually mount 15 feet up in trees and angle camera downwards but have had bears climb up the tree to investigate. I dont know if it's the clicking of the camera, the IR lights (even no glow), but they seem to be attracted to the cameras.

Using the metal boxes for the cameras screwed into the trees with 3 inch deck screws (like pic below) do provide some protection, but I had one big bear sink teeth into one box, camera survived!


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These are $20 on Amazon and can be modified to fit a variety of cameras by bending or cutting some of the metal so that your PIR and camera lens are unobstructed. They have worked for me.

https://www.amazon.ca/Spypoint-SB-2...779326509&sprefix=spypoint+box,aps,233&sr=8-2
 
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I make bear boxes out of electrical boxes for any cameras that I’m planning to leave out for a few months. Inevitably I get videos of bears messing with or trying to bite the box. So far no damage to any of the cameras in boxes.
 
I am using Tactacam reveals on my bear baits and they make a decent "bear box" for the camera.

Also, try to keep any bait smell off of the camera. I actually wear clean rubber gloves when putting my cameras up when I'm baiting.

Chas has a good idea also about getting them up higher.
 
starvin said:
Bears are arseholes, so are elk.
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And moose! I've had more cameras damaged by moose than anything else.

As for bears, I will often put the cam way up in a tree and inside a security box. As someone else mentioned, they will still occasionally climb up to check them out but it stops the majority of their tinkering.
 
Mount them high when the bears are out. Usually it's the smaller bears that are the curious ones so I usually just mount them as high as I can reach to change out cards, etc. Seems to work, mostly.
 
wear gloves when setting them up, especially if you have been baiting. I find that if a bear is going to mess with a camera its in the first week or so, after that they are fine. But I go out of my way to keep any scent off of them.
 
I’ve had several cameras vandalized by bears over the years. My strategy:
1) use no-glow cameras
2) use cameras that are silent (some click or whine when they come out of sleep mode or when they take a photo)
3) make sure that your cameras and straps are clean/free of human odours. Be careful of odours when transporting. Wear neoprene gloves when handling.
5) Set up high (12’+) in a non conspicuous spot and point downwards.
6) Set up further back than you normally would,
7) When setting up in a tree with a bare trunk, attach evergreen trees upside down at the base of the tree extending 8’ upwards. The small brushy branches of the evergreens works to deter bears from climbing. Simple but effective.
8) If possible avoid bait, focus on travel routes and game trails.
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I mount mine high enough that I have to stand on the quad rack to switch out the sd card and I will also put a 3’ chunk of steel stove pipe screwed around the trunk just under the camera. It has seemed to stop them from climbing up and tearing my cams down.
 
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