infrared vs. White flash

[Columbia Scott]

I have had several cameras and I always get the ones that do video and still photos, black and white/Infrared at night and color during the day. I have had the same problem with different brands of cameras. The IR emitters come on, but the IR lens does not deploy so you get black videos and black pictures or, the thing gets stuck in front of the lens and you get great night shots, but white-out daytime pics. I am considering buying two pacs of just regular white flash still only cameras. I have yet to find a dependable brand of Infrared camera. Have any of you been using white flash/still only cameras without freaking out the deer?

 

[BSK]

I used to use exclusively white-flash cameras. I could get very good pictures and a good inventory of bucks using a property by simply moving the cameras frequently. Even if the flash is freaking out the deer in one location, regularly moving the cameras the new locations will provide a continious flow of good pictures. The flash doesn't scare the deer out of the territory, they simply avoid walking right in front of the camera.

As I'm slowly swapping all my cameras to black-flash, I use my remaining white-flash cameras in locations that take advantage of their strengths--long distance night pictures. I primarily use white-flash cameras around the edges of food plots and agricultural fields, shifting the position of the camera weekly so that deer can't learn to avoid the cameras.

 

[gil1]

I think there are many factors that might determine if your white flash will scare some deer. Even in the worst case scenario, I don't see it affecting many deer at all.

A lure or bait gives deer the incentive to stick around (unlike just a set-up over a trail). I believe a low or high camera angle is helpful. I also try to use a low flash setting because I'm not trying to get crumby photos from a distance. I want close-ups.

IMO, there is zero reason not to use white flash. The picture quality is so much better that is uncomparable. It may well be that a very few specimens are affected by white flash, but I have found no evidence that deer are concerned at all by white flash.

If it were me, I would use the other cameras for security only.

 

[Hogbear]

I'm convinced they avoid the white flash cameras. There's a trail through our pasture they've used for years to get to a small green patch. I put a white flash camera there and within 10 days they had stopped using it and started a new trail around behind the camera.

I used to get one or two pics of a nice buck and then not see him for months with a stationary white flash camera. With my Uway black flash, I get the same bucks week after week. The white flash doesn't seem to bother the females as much for some reason.

I haven't tried BSK's suggestion of moving the white flash cams around, but it sounds like a possible way to avoid the cost of going black flash and still see what's there.

 

[cecil30-30]

All I use is white flash cameras and I've not noticed deers avoiding it.But I always put my cameras over mineral sites.The way I see it is that the white flash of light in the dark,is alot like lighting in the dark,and deer can relate to it,but when you put a camera out there that glows red,deer can't relate to that. Now the black flash cams are a different story i'd say.

 

[Boone 58]

I have many photos where it is obvious the deer have learned the camera and are wary of it triggering......no doubt it aggravates them to some extent and they will start avoiding it, esp older bucks.