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Post by parkerbow on Jan 26, 2019 20:00:28 GMT -5
I run a few trail cameras on my land every year. One on a mineral lick site, a few on on food plots and a couple either on scrapes or trail crossings. I always have some decent bucks on my cameras 130's to 150's each year. I usually can get these bucks on camera during the daylight hours before the season right up to the 1st of October but then after that they go nocturnal and I only usually get night pics even during the peak rut times. My question is do any of you guys put your trail cameras up high and point them down instead of at hip level. Most of the mature deer I notice will look at the camera and maybe this is why the shy away from them or turn nocturnal. I use Browning cameras and they seem to take really good photos. Any pointers or help would be appreciated. I am getting frustrated over seeing good bucks before the season on my trail cams but then never seeing them in daylight during the season.
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Post by swilk on Jan 26, 2019 21:22:51 GMT -5
This will be my first year running regular trail cameras and I do intend to put them at head height and angle them slightly down. I also made some plastic enclosures for them to shield them from rain and try to keep the cmeras and lenses clean and dry.
When I put them out I'll carry some wooden shims with me as well as a card reader....make sure they are covering what I want them to cover before leaving them out.
Had to do some playing with the enclosures to get them just right...if they shielded the infrared flash too much it washed out the night pictures.
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Post by HuntMeister on Jan 27, 2019 8:32:13 GMT -5
When I place cameras around 6'above the ground the deer tend to not see them nearly as much as when the cameras are at or below their eye level.
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Post by genesis273 on Jan 27, 2019 8:32:15 GMT -5
I also use Browning cams and have wondered if they're getting spooked by them. Video and images are great though. I think I'm going to try putting them up higher next year as well. Not sure if they sense something with them or if it's a visual thing.
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Post by esshup on Jan 27, 2019 8:37:42 GMT -5
I'm too lazy to carry a ladder to the cameras to change the SD cards.
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Post by alduflux on Jan 27, 2019 12:51:59 GMT -5
I have had a trail cam in the woods every year since 1999. If your camera runs quality video, then I suggest you use it. I will never run photos again. Run lithium batteries (buy them online, you can usually find deals around $1 a piece or less instead of $4 dollars a piece like on the shelf.) This past season I ran 14 cameras. All Brownings running 20 second videos (day and night). I do not use mineral sites. All my cameras are on trails or scrapes. I get around 150 videos max in a week during the peak rut Usually each camera has around 10-30 videos per week outside the rut. I run 32G cards in them, which can handle 260 videos.
I set up all my camera's around waist high pointing level. If you are on a trail you will get a lot of coons, squirrels, etc.. pointing at the ground.
As to the spooking the deer question. My experience with the mature bucks is 90% of the time they don't notice the camera. Occasionally one will be alarmed by it. Occasionally if they see it they will come over and sniff it then go on their way. Overall I feel the risk is worth the reward of knowing what's out there. Coyote's have the most negative reaction to the camera...especially at night.
This past season during October/November I had zero mature bucks on camera during daylight hours outside of the first week of November.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2019 19:49:57 GMT -5
Each time you check the deer know. Even cutting a few branches they know. By mid to late August I stay out and try not to over hunt an area.
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Post by subzero350 on Jan 28, 2019 14:59:31 GMT -5
I could see where a trail cam with a conventional (white) strobe flash could spook a deer. But studies show deer can only sense colors toward the violet end of the spectrum, so they can see blues and probably even ultraviolet (UV) light. The same studies say that while deer show a slight sensitivity to yellow, tests indicate that green, orange, and red appear to them as shades of gray. So they shouldn't be able to detect a true infrared flash since it is even lower in the color spectrum than visible red.
The cheaper infrared trail cams give off a very dim red glow that we as humans can perceive, but I doubt a deer would be able to see it. Even if they could, it would probably appear to be a very dim grey light. Honestly I think what impacts the deer more is human activity near the trail cam. I've got several night trail cam photos showing deer "playing" in front of the trail cam. Apparently the infrared flash didn't bother them. (Full disclosure: I only visit these trail cams once every couple of months to read the memory cards.)
That being said, I think the reason why deer go nocturnal once hunting season starts is because of the increased human presence. I don't care what you shower with or what kind of masking scents you bathe in before hitting the woods - deer are going to know something else (besides other deer) have been in there. And the more you visit your stand, the bigger presence you are going to impress upon the deer.
Something else to ponder: there is a nature preserve (no hunting allowed) near one of the lakes I frequently visit and you can spot deer on it day and night, year-round. During hunting season, I usually see MORE deer on it than any other time of the year. It is like they "know" they are safe on that property and won't be hunted.
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Post by oldhoyt on Jan 28, 2019 16:31:23 GMT -5
I recall seeing cameras that can send photos to your phone, and I think you can delete photos from your phone to free space for more photos. These sound like the best option to avoid going into the woods to check cameras. Probably pricey, but maybe worth it.
I hunt public areas, so I don't worry about cameras. I don't shoot little bucks as a rule, and when a nice deer comes by I don't waste any time trying to get a shot.
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Post by thebellcompany on Feb 3, 2019 9:10:39 GMT -5
i spent a lot of time thinking and observing this very issue this year. observations:
1. trail cams draw a LOT of negative attention so hide them super high (8' plus) and brush them in.
a. videos draw less negative reponse because they only "click" once to turn on, camera clicking is super loud to deer. use videos for less negative reaction from deer.
b. during the season only check sim cards the morning you hunt. i was checking mine too often and i noticed every time after i checked sims, no pics of deer on my cams for the next 2 weeks.
i use moultrie cams fwiw.
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Post by medic22 on Feb 3, 2019 10:33:21 GMT -5
They're likely not seeing the flash but hearing the click. I hang my cams over 8 feet high amd angle them down. I do this for a couple reasons:
Ive noticed deer dont hear/see the camera as easily
Youve taken a large majority of people that will mess with it out of the eqaution
I'm less likely to check it every time I hunt that area
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Post by esshup on Feb 3, 2019 11:25:02 GMT -5
I only use them on private property and have not had any issues with deer avoiding them. I have many pictures of deer a few hours after I hung the camera, and MANY pictures of deer noses and eyeballs in the camera lens. I guess since I'm hunting property where deer smell humans, and hear farm equipment, they aren't spooked. I have mine about 30"-36" off the ground.
Only one time have I had a picture of a deer that was spooked by the camera and that was either a Moultrie or spy point that took a 3 picture burst. I run black flash Cuddieback cameras.
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Post by tynimiller on Feb 3, 2019 17:56:42 GMT -5
Each deer is different....however wiley old does and mature (actually mature) bucks will at times DESPISE the things...than you'll have another old brute that pays them no mind.
Few things I do that has minimized it over the years is:
-hanging them at minimum my forehead or higher to my reach. The pictures are not the best but 'eyeballing' at the cams occur far less for me.
-I prefer to hide the cam some if at all possible...either by the size of the cam itself being small, or actually attach a fake leaf or two to the exterior case of it.
All that said I'd strongly advise you to consider what is most likely the reason, which is not the cameras, the deer simply start to feel unsafe.
This security factor is immense BUT for the most part can or does typically fit in one of the following:
-Habitat quality is lacking -Sound hunting/camera checking tactics are lacking -Sound entrance/exit routes and plans are lacking -Unnatural activity occurring
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Post by parkerbow on Feb 3, 2019 21:36:25 GMT -5
This year I think I will try hanging them higher and not check them but maybe once a month before the season and maybe only during times when it is raining to wash scent away. Do any of you think it is better to check the cams using an ATV or is it better sneaking in and checking them on foot?
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Post by jbird on Feb 4, 2019 13:14:16 GMT -5
I have started placing my cams as high as I can and tilting them downward to try to keep the cam out of the deer's view. I personally think it depends on the deer and the situation. I find that thru the summer I check my cams less frequently and thus disturb the area less. Once hunting season starts things fall apart as I am simply in the woods more. The older deer know this and thus adapt....they pattern us. I have no idea if moving the cam higher or lower helps...I do seem to get less "close-up" of deer whiskers and the like with the cam being higher.
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Post by omegahunter on Feb 4, 2019 13:42:45 GMT -5
This will be my first year running regular trail cameras and I do intend to put them at head height and angle them slightly down. I also made some plastic enclosures for them to shield them from rain and try to keep the cmeras and lenses clean and dry. When I put them out I'll carry some wooden shims with me as well as a card reader....make sure they are covering what I want them to cover before leaving them out. Had to do some playing with the enclosures to get them just right...if they shielded the infrared flash too much it washed out the night pictures. That high enough the flood waters won't get them?
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Post by tynimiller on Feb 4, 2019 13:54:59 GMT -5
I check cams the most between early August and mid september. Every two weeks BUT only when I'm there doing other work and not wasting a trip. Rarely do I just go to the property to check cams, just educated them more.
In season checking is something I truly just don't do unless a few things make me:
-suspected or known trespassing -recovery of deer disturbs property already and I will check cams on or around recovery path. -few days prior to firearms season I like new batteries and ready cams for potential trespassing season...er I mean firearms season.
Otherwise I've gone away from in season checks unless incredibly non intrusive in nature which typically aren't high deer activity spots by nature.
Intel cameras give me in season is more useful to me the next season than the current...outside of maybe catching a hot doe movement the very morning she hits and you know to go that evening or next day, you're playing response to cold movement not known current movements.
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Post by swilk on Feb 4, 2019 20:14:27 GMT -5
This will be my first year running regular trail cameras and I do intend to put them at head height and angle them slightly down. I also made some plastic enclosures for them to shield them from rain and try to keep the cmeras and lenses clean and dry. When I put them out I'll carry some wooden shims with me as well as a card reader....make sure they are covering what I want them to cover before leaving them out. Had to do some playing with the enclosures to get them just right...if they shielded the infrared flash too much it washed out the night pictures. That high enough the flood waters won't get them? For moderate floods yes...we just had a 21.5' crest and water surrounded one camera but it as maybe 3' from getting it wet. With the rain we are expecting this week I went ahead and pulled everything out today.
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