Trail Camera strategy

[Dewfus]

I bought a trail cam the other day, and am planning on using it for scouting purposes for my late hunt in Nov. Having never used a trail cam, can anyone give me some pointers on where I should place the camera? What have you guys found to be the best strategy?

 

[KILLSHOT]

It really depends on what kind of area you will be hunting and what kind of species. Elk or muleys?

-KILLSHOT Productions Guides & Outfitters-

 

[travishunter3006]

OFF OF TRAILS THAT OTHER PEOPLE USE!!! if you dont follow this piece of advice, you will post somehting in a few weeks about someone stealing your camera off the tree. i like to hike somewhere where i think others wont be and place it there about 10 feet away from the trail making sure to stay out of the direct rays of sunlight. and rule number one of placeing the camera is you have to share the pictures you get on here!

 

[Dewfus]

Good point. I'll be hunting elk in November in North Cache in Utah. It's pretty nasty, rough terrain up there.

 

[Dewfus]

I've read the stolen camera threads on here. How lame is that? Seriously. It's sad that there's so much dishonesty out there that you have to worry about this. Unbelievable.

 

[Broadside_Shot]

Just a couple of pointers that I have learned.

Set the camera up where the sun won't shine directly in it, Face it north so it puts the sun behind you for most of the day and on the side of you in the mornings and evenings, the glare can be pretty bad with the sun.

I set them up to take two photos on every triggered shot. And I have it reset every minute so if an elk is drinking for 5 minutes I will get ten photos.

Always use the best resolution, With a 2 Gig card and a 5 megapixel camera you can get about 2500 photos. Ive found that on my best setups I will get 2500 photos in about three weeks.

Always have fresh batteries, even if you are at 65 to 70 percent battery life still left, replace them with new ones. Why it works better, I don't know but it does.

Remove and weeds and brush that may blow in the wind in front of your camera because they will trigger you camera and you will get alot of wind photos.

Screw them into the trees with wood screws to keep them secure from when a bear or elk try to mess with them. That seems to help the camera survive when the critters get curious.

I like infared over flash, I think they give you just a little better photos at night.

Just some food for thought

 

[Dewfus]

Great info! Thanks!

 

[huskyhunter25]

like what everybody else said. for sure put it facing north or south. cause the sun will set off the camera when rissing and setting in the mornings and evenings. and also try and put out some natural salt blocks. the ones that looks like rocks at cabelas or IFA. and Deer Cane works really good too. i use both cause the deer cane smells really strong so they come and find it quick. and than the salt block just lasts a long time. the elk love them both. o and you have to post the pictures when given advice. good luck.