THE ALMIGHTY TRAIL CAMERA
There is no doubt that technology has made the Trail Camera a basic neccessity for us hunters. I personally own 4 and can honestly say that I have let them get the best of me. Its almost like Christmas each time that I go and retrieve the SD cards, I get that great feeling of anticipation of what it is that I might see. Even though quit often it's the same dam Does and Bucks, there is always that one or two pictures that keep you Trail Camera hunting!
Here are a few Trail Camera tips & strategies...
* Not setting the Trail Camera close enough to the desired subject is a common mistake. All camera's aren't created equally so make sure you read your manual, but try 10-15 feet at first and see how that works and adjust from there.
* I have found the height that works best for me is about 4 feet off the ground. That being said you can go up higher as some folks want the flash point (if applicable) to be above the deer's line of sight.
* It's best to have your Trail Camera facing Northward or Southward, thus protecting it from facing into the sun which will lessen the quality of the photo's.
* Be discreet when placing your Trail Camera. The biggest mistake we can make is to overuse the Trail Camera and to place it in an area that would be considered intrusive to the deers environment. Don't get lulled to sleep over the power that the Trail Camera posseses, place it in an area that is easy to get to and check it in moderation. Take precaution with your scent on the camera. Spray the camera with scent free spray, taking care not to spray the lens.
* Use quality batteries (trust me) and use the settings on the camera that are less taxing to the batteries. Don't worry, most any Trail Camera (digital) will take great pics on the average settings.
* Understand that just because you are getting quality pictures of animals at the Trail Camera's location doesn't mean that is where you should place your stand. You will most likely find that the bigger bucks show up well after dark for their photo opp. Use the camera for viewing pleasure and inventory, not for reasons of stand placement neccessarily.
* Take advantage of the Trail Camera's resources. Most models have different features such as time/date/ moon phase etc...Get a note book and keep a running jounal. The records you keep could really serve you well from year to year. You will definitely find trends.
* It's fun to get creative with your Trail Camera and hang it near "scrapes" or "rubs" but be careful. Don't let the camera get you busted, set it back about 30yards from scrapes/ rubs and you will have less impact on the deers senses and it will give you a better idea of the bucks travel route.
* Make sure you take along an extra SD card when you go to retrieve your photo's. That way you can grab and replace without skipping a beat. Always check the battery indicator for life expectancy.
* If your Trail Camera serves no other purpose but keeping you in the tree stand on that cold and rainy day because you have pics of a Big Buck- It was worth every penny!!!
NOW IS A GREAT TIME TO HAVE YOUR CAMERA'S OUT-THE ANTLERS ARE FORMING!!!