Getting more from your trail cams - Ideas & TIPS

[gil1]

The only conclusion is that we are doing something differently. Is it possible that you stink???

GOOD ONE, GIL!!! :grin:
And actually, seems I once heard David Jolly tell BSK he wasn't going to do any good one morning because of that stink!

Yeah, I'm all full of myself right now, and I've got some pics. of some nice deer where I hunt. Unfortunately, most of those bruisers are on my computer but not on my wall! :sick:

 

[BDS05]

If at all possible, face your cameras north. If that isn't possible, face your cameras south. Unless you want lots of pictures of the rising or setting sun, don't point your cameras east or west.

Look for cameras or camera mounting brackets that allow the camera to be tilted up and down. This can be an image-saver when placing cameras on steep hillsides or if placing cameras on trees with tilted trunks.

The directions are very simple things often overlooked.. great advice.. As for the brackets, I just use extra bark off another tree or sticks under the cam. Tighten the strap and you're good. Could save plenty of money if running several cams that would need this.

 

[BowGuy84]

I only wrote two chapters. But the book is available through the QDMA.

Quite good...I got it for my future FIL for Christmas. Now I just have to get a copy of my own.

 

[BSK]

On the other hand, traditional "white" flash may seem no more than distant lightning (from a deer's perspective). Deer experience natural lighting flashes on a very regular basis, and are not spooked by it.

I have many, many picture sequences of deer running away from white-flash cameras. Not all deer react the same way, but for many deer, white-flash scares the heck out of them!

In the QDM cam book you talked about, I wrote about a coyote I named "Paris Hilton" because it seemed to almost model for the camera while eating persimmons I put in a pile. Other yotes are more skiddish. Same with deer, so I know at least some of them know something's up. But I've seen the exact same deal during the day with no flash and with infrareds, so that doesn't prove anything concerning types of flashes.

Deer shying away from the camera box itself is one thing. Deer running for their lives from the flash is another. Now I do agree, avoidance of the camera box is something ALL cameras will suffer from, but camera box avoidance appears to decline over time, while camera FLASH avoidance increases.

I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of photos I have shot of deer. There have been some instances of just one or a few pics., and that's it. I don't have a clue why they didn't stay. It might be the flash, and it might not be - impossible to prove either way.

If you're using some true black-flash cameras, simple compare the number of repeat visits by individual deer compared to white or red illumination. Now again, deer may avoid the camera box of a black-flash camera (or the human scent around the camera), but from what I've seen black-flash makes a HUGE difference in the number of repeat visits by individual deer over white-flash or red-glow.

I can't think of a single photo off-hand in all those tens of thousands that looks like a deer is running away.

I have tons of night-time flash-spook pictures. The deer is walking in front of the camera unalarmed in the first picture, and then in the second picture taken seconds later the deer is way off in the distance staring back at the camera. The deer was obviously spooked by the camera, ran away, and then stopped to look back at what scared it.

 

[BSK]

I have many, many picture sequences of deer running away from white-flash cameras. Not all deer react the same way, but for many deer, white-flash scares the heck out of them!

I agree, and by no means did I mean to imply that SOME deer aren't spooked by white flash. Just stating that in my experience, deer were more likely to avoid "red-glow" infrared flash, after their first encounter.

I too see more simple "avoidance" from red-glow over white-flash.

 

[BSK]

If at all possible, face your cameras north. If that isn't possible, face your cameras south. Unless you want lots of pictures of the rising or setting sun, don't point your cameras east or west.

Look for cameras or camera mounting brackets that allow the camera to be tilted up and down. This can be an image-saver when placing cameras on steep hillsides or if placing cameras on trees with tilted trunks.

The directions are very simple things often overlooked.. great advice.. As for the brackets, I just use extra bark off another tree or sticks under the cam. Tighten the strap and you're good. Could save plenty of money if running several cams that would need this.

The one problem I've had with jamming wood (bark or sticks) under the camera to tilt it up or down is that when it rains, the stick or bark swells--stretching the strap--and then shrinks as it dries, allowing the bark/stick to fall out of place once the strap has been stretched.

 

[gil1]

On the other hand, traditional "white" flash may seem no more than distant lightning (from a deer's perspective). Deer experience natural lighting flashes on a very regular basis, and are not spooked by it.

I have many, many picture sequences of deer running away from white-flash cameras. Not all deer react the same way, but for many deer, white-flash scares the heck out of them!

In the QDM cam book you talked about, I wrote about a coyote I named "Paris Hilton" because it seemed to almost model for the camera while eating persimmons I put in a pile. Other yotes are more skiddish. Same with deer, so I know at least some of them know something's up. But I've seen the exact same deal during the day with no flash and with infrareds, so that doesn't prove anything concerning types of flashes.

Deer shying away from the camera box itself is one thing. Deer running for their lives from the flash is another. Now I do agree, avoidance of the camera box is something ALL cameras will suffer from, but camera box avoidance appears to decline over time, while camera FLASH avoidance increases.

I don't know how many hundreds of thousands of photos I have shot of deer. There have been some instances of just one or a few pics., and that's it. I don't have a clue why they didn't stay. It might be the flash, and it might not be - impossible to prove either way.

If you're using some true black-flash cameras, simple compare the number of repeat visits by individual deer compared to white or red illumination. Now again, deer may avoid the camera box of a black-flash camera (or the human scent around the camera), but from what I've seen black-flash makes a HUGE difference in the number of repeat visits by individual deer over white-flash or red-glow.

I can't think of a single photo off-hand in all those tens of thousands that looks like a deer is running away.

I have tons of night-time flash-spook pictures. The deer is walking in front of the camera unalarmed in the first picture, and then in the second picture taken seconds later the deer is way off in the distance staring back at the camera. The deer was obviously spooked by the camera, ran away, and then stopped to look back at what scared it.

I getcha, my friend. Obviously, photo quality is not as vital in your research, and you perceive white flash cameras spooking deer. It only makes sense that you would go with the black flash.

Camera flash avoidance would only increase over time if there were such a thing as camera flash avoidance. If they aren't frightened by it, they just plain aren't frightened by it no matter how many times it flashes. I'm not saying it's 100% nonexistent because I can't prove that, but I just don't buy it because I haven't seen it.

I haven't seen any evidence of deer spooking from white flash, and I just really dig quality color photos, so I'll stick with my recipe.

Again, you gotta dance with who brung ya.

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

 

[gil1]

If at all possible, face your cameras north. If that isn't possible, face your cameras south. Unless you want lots of pictures of the rising or setting sun, don't point your cameras east or west.

Look for cameras or camera mounting brackets that allow the camera to be tilted up and down. This can be an image-saver when placing cameras on steep hillsides or if placing cameras on trees with tilted trunks.

The directions are very simple things often overlooked.. great advice.. As for the brackets, I just use extra bark off another tree or sticks under the cam. Tighten the strap and you're good. Could save plenty of money if running several cams that would need this.

The one problem I've had with jamming wood (bark or sticks) under the camera to tilt it up or down is that when it rains, the stick or bark swells--stretching the strap--and then shrinks as it dries, allowing the bark/stick to fall out of place once the strap has been stretched.

I don't think I've had that problem. Maybe the Tupperware cover that I sort of fit over the top of the box prevents the stick from getting wet. I have had coons hit the box and knock the stick out, though, mostly because I have sprayed an attractor scent on the box to try to get some interesting shots.

 

[TheLBLman]

Re: Getting more from your trail cams - Ideas & TIPS

I agree, and by no means did I mean to imply that SOME deer aren't spooked by white flash. Just stating that in my experience, deer were more likely to avoid "red-glow" infrared flash, after their first encounter.

I too see more simple "avoidance" from red-glow over white-flash.

[size]THIS is just the opposite of what most advertising has led us to believe.

And if high-quality (less blurring) vivid color nighttime pics are a priority, you do not want ANY "infrared" cam, regardless of whether "red glow", "low glow", or "black flash". Again, no type flash spooks anything on that 1st pic, as they already have had their picture taken by the time they might be spooked by any type flash.[/size]

 

[gil1]

Re: Getting more from your trail cams - Ideas & TIPS

Speaking of attractor scents...

I've tried a bunch. Mostly, I've interviewed trappers on their favorite lures for different species. I've bought a bunch of bobcat pee and beaver castor oil and all sorts of junk from Minnesota Trapline Products.

I've accidentally run across tips through trial and error. For instance, I got very few photos of deer when I put out Buck Grub. The coyotes, however, seem to like it.

Another great product for attracting deer's curiosity is anise oil (oldest trick in the book). This stuff in very small bottles can get expensive, though, and I can't find it anywhere except on the internet. It also works well on predators.

Last year, I won a spray bottle of Code Blue "Urge" at an outdoor writer's conference. It's supposed to attract deer, and it does. Mind you, I've never used a single Code Blue product in my life. I don't use any attractants when I hunt, so I never buy this crap. I have no idea what's in it, but it smells like our ace in the hole, anise oil.

No, I don't think it would really help a hunter much. It's just a strong scent that brings coyotes, bobcats, and deer in for a look-see if they happen to be walking by. I just need them to stop in front of the camera. This is what I spray on the camera box to get photos of tines, tongues, and whiskers. After they get sucked in, I keep them in front of the camera with another scent or bait. Just a tip for camera nuts, and I have no idea what it costs.

Great and interesting thread, by the way.

 

[BSK]

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

I still find uses for my white-flash cameras. They are the only camera that can project light a great distance into the dark while still taking clear pictures. Until someone invents a super-powerful black flash, and can speed up the exposure times for black flash (two things I don't think are physically possible), I'll still use my white-flash cams to monitor large open feeding areas, especially food plots. The white-flash definitely chases deer away from that part of the food plot covered by the camera, but they generally just use the other end of the food plot, and by moving the white-flash cameras frequently to different locations around the edge of different food plots, I continue to get good pictures.

I too still use some red-glow cameras. If they can be positioned to point downward, or at a distance from a trail, I can get away with red-glow without causing too much avoidance.

But when it comes to monitoring scrapes--and that's what most of my trail-camera work involves (because that's where you can get the best buck inventory)--black-flash is the only way to go.

 

[gil1]

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

I still find uses for my white-flash cameras. They are the only camera that can project light a great distance into the dark while still taking clear pictures. Until someone invents a super-powerful black flash, and can speed up the exposure times for black flash (two things I don't think are physically possible), I'll still use my white-flash cams to monitor large open feeding areas, especially food plots. The white-flash definitely chases deer away from that part of the food plot covered by the camera, but they generally just use the other end of the food plot, and by moving the white-flash cameras frequently to different locations around the edge of different food plots, I continue to get good pictures.

I too still use some red-glow cameras. If they can be positioned to point downward, or at a distance from a trail, I can get away with red-glow without causing too much avoidance.

But when it comes to monitoring scrapes--and that's what most of my trail-camera work involves (because that's where you can get the best buck inventory)--black-flash is the only way to go.

Wonder if my having the flash turned down as low as I do spooks less deer? I bet it does. Back before you used IRs, did you set your white flash cameras low for closer shots like monitoring scrapes?

 

[mr.hicks]

ive noticed a lot of camera avoidance with my white flash, i had a hunch one day and went back and there it was, countless pattern's of one good pic of deer looking at the cam then second shot of the butt. then rarely get that buck from that cam any more. i get same results from i norm infra red cams too. this if from different makes of cams too.

 

[TheLBLman]

Re: Getting more from your trail cams - Ideas & TIPS

ive noticed a lot of camera avoidance with my white flash . . . . . get same results from i norm infra red cams too. this if from different makes of cams too.

Is it possible that you stink???

:grin: :grin:

Actually, to a deer, we all stink, stank, and stunk.

 

[BSK]

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

I still find uses for my white-flash cameras. They are the only camera that can project light a great distance into the dark while still taking clear pictures. Until someone invents a super-powerful black flash, and can speed up the exposure times for black flash (two things I don't think are physically possible), I'll still use my white-flash cams to monitor large open feeding areas, especially food plots. The white-flash definitely chases deer away from that part of the food plot covered by the camera, but they generally just use the other end of the food plot, and by moving the white-flash cameras frequently to different locations around the edge of different food plots, I continue to get good pictures.

I too still use some red-glow cameras. If they can be positioned to point downward, or at a distance from a trail, I can get away with red-glow without causing too much avoidance.

But when it comes to monitoring scrapes--and that's what most of my trail-camera work involves (because that's where you can get the best buck inventory)--black-flash is the only way to go.

Wonder if my having the flash turned down as low as I do spooks less deer? I bet it does. Back before you used IRs, did you set your white flash cameras low for closer shots like monitoring scrapes?

Cameras are usually 24-30 inches off the ground, pointed horizontally.

 

[gil1]

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

I still find uses for my white-flash cameras. They are the only camera that can project light a great distance into the dark while still taking clear pictures. Until someone invents a super-powerful black flash, and can speed up the exposure times for black flash (two things I don't think are physically possible), I'll still use my white-flash cams to monitor large open feeding areas, especially food plots. The white-flash definitely chases deer away from that part of the food plot covered by the camera, but they generally just use the other end of the food plot, and by moving the white-flash cameras frequently to different locations around the edge of different food plots, I continue to get good pictures.

I too still use some red-glow cameras. If they can be positioned to point downward, or at a distance from a trail, I can get away with red-glow without causing too much avoidance.

But when it comes to monitoring scrapes--and that's what most of my trail-camera work involves (because that's where you can get the best buck inventory)--black-flash is the only way to go.

Wonder if my having the flash turned down as low as I do spooks less deer? I bet it does. Back before you used IRs, did you set your white flash cameras low for closer shots like monitoring scrapes?

Cameras are usually 24-30 inches off the ground, pointed horizontally.

No, I meant the flash setting. Like on the P41s, I think you have the option of turning your flash on low, regular, or high. Mine are always on low so I don't blow out the closeup photos. If you had yours on high, maybe it scared more deer. Just a thought.

 

[Tiny]

I only wrote two chapters. But the book is available through the QDMA.

Title Please. As I didn't know anything about this,let my QDM expire and haven't got around to re-upping yet. :crazy:

 

[BSK]

Hey, do you have any white flash cameras you want to sell? I'm serious.

I still find uses for my white-flash cameras. They are the only camera that can project light a great distance into the dark while still taking clear pictures. Until someone invents a super-powerful black flash, and can speed up the exposure times for black flash (two things I don't think are physically possible), I'll still use my white-flash cams to monitor large open feeding areas, especially food plots. The white-flash definitely chases deer away from that part of the food plot covered by the camera, but they generally just use the other end of the food plot, and by moving the white-flash cameras frequently to different locations around the edge of different food plots, I continue to get good pictures.

I too still use some red-glow cameras. If they can be positioned to point downward, or at a distance from a trail, I can get away with red-glow without causing too much avoidance.

But when it comes to monitoring scrapes--and that's what most of my trail-camera work involves (because that's where you can get the best buck inventory)--black-flash is the only way to go.

Wonder if my having the flash turned down as low as I do spooks less deer? I bet it does. Back before you used IRs, did you set your white flash cameras low for closer shots like monitoring scrapes?

Cameras are usually 24-30 inches off the ground, pointed horizontally.

No, I meant the flash setting. Like on the P41s, I think you have the option of turning your flash on low, regular, or high. Mine are always on low so I don't blow out the closeup photos. If you had yours on high, maybe it scared more deer. Just a thought.

My flash intensity is set on automatic, so the camera will adjust the amount of flash,depending on how much light is bouncing back.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I just never have had the problem of deer avoiding white flash. I leave alot of mine in the same spots in food plots for the entire year and will still accrue 100's of pics of the same mature bucks in the same and different locations. I think they just get used to it, deer on my places are pretty well use to cameras flashing at them right from conception But seriously I will still get alot of repeat pics in the same locations even on mature rut range expanders. Everybody has different experiences.

 

[BSK]

For those who experience no white or red-flash camera avoidance: do you have any black-flash cameras?