Question for those smarter than I

[Pilchard]

I have been getting a lot of activity on my salt lick. Many does and a couple different bachelor groups. There is a deer that is obviously older than his buddies in both groups based on body size. Some of the younger deer are more impressive but the older ones seem aware of the camera. The younger ones never are captured looking at the camera but the older ones always seem to look at the camera for a few of the pictures. Is this odd? To be expected? Here is an example of one of the less impressive older guys staring at the camera.

 

[Crappieaddict]

I notice the same, but they seem to stay as well as return. My cameras are cheap, so they probably aren't as stealthy as others.

 

[TheLBLman]

Not sure just how close your cam is to this buck, but there are several possibilities,
all of which are common:

1) He may be hearing the cam take pics
2) He may just "notice" something there that doesn't appear natural
3) At night, they will do this with anything other than true invisible "black" flash.
4) Possibly he's getting a faint whiff of human scent
5) May just be seeing something else way behind your cam that has his attention.

He doesn't seem "spooked", but just more wary.

Oh, I doubt many on here are "smarter" than you, certainly not me.
Just may have more experience with trail cams than some.

 

[TNTreeman]

Not smarter than anyone but I like to place mine high and angled down.

 

[Ski]

He doesn't look unimpressive to me! Good looking buck!

I've noticed certain bucks pay attention to cameras and others don't much. Not really sure why. Maybe it's just an individual curiosity thing? I'd guess it's one of those things that once noticed, stick out like a sore thumb and always seem to draw the eye.

Due to mineral sites being a place deer spend a lot of time and visit regularly, I put cams as far away as possible while still being triggered. They still get noticed from time to time and once they are, the deer who see them look at them constantly.

More alarming was something I didn't expect. Deer are on high alert as they approach the site. They're super nervous and often they turn away before reaching it. Once there they are relaxed, but they're very timid in the approach. I never saw that until I pulled my cameras way back. Now I'm perplexed wondering why deer would be so nervous of a mineral rock.

 

[Pilchard]

Thanks guys! The camera is about 5 yds from the mineral block. Out of dozens, if not hundreds of pictures over the last few weeks, the only deer to be looking "at" the camera are the two oldest bucks.

I did notice what you said, Ski. I have a series of pictures where the bachelor group noticed the lick for the first time and they deer stayed still and stared at it for 3-4 minutes before relaxing.

I haven't been there in over a month so I doubt it's a scent thing. I was thinking a sound the sight of the camera.

 

[TheLBLman]

The camera is about 5 yds from the mineral block.

Good chance the one staring is hearing the cam,
as well as noticing "something" sitting on the side of the tree,
that normally shouldn't be so stationary so long (unlike a squirrel).

Older deer can be acutely aware, without necessarily spooking.

I would normally prefer to have a cam farther from the lick than 5 yds,
but sometimes you have to place them closer than ideal.

If they are staring like this on the very 1st pic,
the deer are probably just staring at the cam, not hearing it.

I often set my cams to take 2 or 3 pics per triggering event,
and it's sometimes obvious they hear the 1st pic, throw up their heads,
and are staring by the 2nd pic.

Coyotes are more sensitive than deer, in that they will often take off running
when they hear the cam, or see a red-glow infrared flash.

 

[East TN Bowhunter]

What camera is it?

 

[Pilchard]

Reveal XB.

 

[Ski]

Older deer can be acutely aware, without necessarily spooking.

Older bucks are insanely aware of their surroundings. They go slow, stopping to sniff and look at everything. I think every buck is OCD by 3yrs old. They don't survive otherwise.

 

[SSlater]

I really need to get a camera

 

[BSK]

I never cease to be amazed at how quickly deer spot a camera, even small, camouflaged ones. When I move a camera to a new location, I'm guaranteed to get deer staring at the camera box the first few times they encounter it. And it isn't the flash, it's the camera itself, as deer that first encounter the camera in full daylight also stare at it. Many does will even slowly approach, stretch their neck out and sniff the camera. I've got plenty of videos of does with their noses pressed against the camera. I've even had to clean the lenses a few times to get nose-prints off them. But once the camera box "doesn't do anything threatening," the deer learn to ignore it. I have camera locations that are so consistent throughout the season and from year to year, that after moving the camera to that location in September, I just leave them there until January. Deer will look at the camera for the first few weeks, and then ignore it the rest of the season.

 

[TnKen]

I have a possible theory. Maybe they can smell the electronic signature? We know that K9s can be trained to search for electronics such as cell phones, thumb drives, and even Sd cards. So could they smell that odor and get their attention?

 

[BSK]

I have a possible theory. Maybe they can smell the electronic signature? We know that K9s can be trained to search for electronics such as cell phones, thumb drives, and even Sd cards. So could they smell that odor and get their attention?

Anything is possible, especially when it comes to a deer's nose. But again, I find it interesting that they will eventually stop being interested in anything that doesn't pose a threat. Even people in suburban environments.

 

[TheLBLman]

And it isn't the flash, it's the camera itself, as deer that first encounter the camera in full daylight also stare at it.

In daylight, can't be the flash.
But at night, it often is the flash.
I believe you exclusively use true "black" flash models,
so with these, the deer shouldn't be seeing the flash.

I also mainly used true "black" flash as well.
For scrapes & mineral licks, I believe they're a much better option.

Am thinking the Reveal XB is a black flash unit,
so if so, deer shouldn't notice its flash at night.
But at 5 yds or less, they might.

 

[BSK]

Exactly TheLBLman. I only use true black-flash. A low-glow, or worse yet a red-glow, they certainly notice the flash.

 

[TheLBLman]

A low-glow, or worse yet a red-glow, they certainly notice the flash.

I've been using some low-glow cams on large fields for a couple purposes:

1) They have a greater flash range;
2) As an attempt to "herd" some deer farther out into some fields.

By "herding", I believe some of the older deer start somewhat distancing themselves farther from the flash, so instead of their crossing right at the end of the field, they've started crossing maybe 50 yds from the end, which is better for my hunting opportunities in some of these situations. On the downside, they can start walking behind the cams as well, so am mainly doing this in locations it would be less likely they go behind.

 

[BSK]

I've been using some low-glow cams on large fields for a couple purposes:

1) They have a greater flash range;
2) As an attempt to "herd" some deer farther out into some fields.

By "herding", I believe some of the older deer start somewhat distancing themselves farther from the flash, so instead of their crossing right at the end of the field, they've started crossing maybe 50 yds from the end, which is better for my hunting opportunities in some of these situations. On the downside, they can start walking behind the cams as well, so am mainly doing this in locations it would be less likely they go behind.

That's a fascinating concept Wes.

 

[Specializedjon]

I'm definitely not chiming in on this one. I'm on the short bus when it comes to cameras and deer.

I have noticed a lot of deer cruising around in the heat of the day lately. One spike walked right out in front of me 20 yards away while I was on the mower. He just stood there and we had a moment. I whispered, "keep eating and getting big...make yourself at home...I'll see ya in November"

 

[Specializedjon]

I have been getting a lot of activity on my salt lick. Many does and a couple different bachelor groups. There is a deer that is obviously older than his buddies in both groups based on body size. Some of the younger deer are more impressive but the older ones seem aware of the camera. The younger ones never are captured looking at the camera but the older ones always seem to look at the camera for a few of the pictures. Is this odd? To be expected? Here is an example of one of the less impressive older guys staring at the camera.

View attachment 140772

He's gonna be a dandy. That's a pretty impressive rack this time of year.