Trail Camera Location Advice

[Truedouble]

I've read several posts about guys getting frustrated b/c all they are getting on camera are does. Well after almost 10 years of putting out cameras I have finally learned that during the summer if you are getting pictures of a lot of does and this continues for a couple of weeks, then move your camera. Don't be stubborn and leave it there b/c there are tons of tracks, worn out mineral site, etc. I've known for years that bucks have small core areas during the summer, but for some reason it took me this long to figure out that regardless of how good the area is (minerals, corn/ bait, cover, etc.) if you are getting pictures of does then you will likely continue to get pictures of does. BSK pointed out that during the summer does will often times push bucks out of the preferred habitat (beans/ corn, mineral sites, thick cover, etc.) and into less than ideal habitat (open hardwoods, etc.). I reluctantly moved a camera from a spot where 2 years ago I got a bachelor group on camera almost every day. For some reason over the past 2 summers I've mainly gotten pictures of does. I couldn't figure it out b/c it's the thickest spot on our property and there is a 20 acre bean field 100 yds away. At any rate I moved the camera over a mile away to an area near the top of the mountain. Guess what, after a 2 day sit the camera started taking pictures of one of the best bachelor groups I've ever seen. Since then (mid Aug.) I've continued to get pics of this group almost daily, but have only gotten pics of a couple of does. 3 of my camera sites have been visited by mostly does with an occasional buck and then my other camera site has been mostly bucks as well.

Long post short, move your cameras until you find a bachelor group and don't assume those bucks are going to be living in the best habitat.

 

[BSK]

Good post Truedouble.

In addition, the fall range shift is just now beginning. Those areas that held only does during the summer should soon see an infiltration of new bucks as bachelor groups break up, bucks "spread out," and does stop being territorial.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Good post Truedouble. I have ALWAYS gotten pics of bucks after bucks after bucks during the summer months, until this year. Due to all the habitat improvements in logging we have done and our neighbors that last 2 years, all I am getting (mostly) are does. This is the 1st year this has happened, so not getting over 15-20 decent bucks on camera is new to me. Hopefully, everything holds true and the bucks start moving in during the fall range shift. Only time will tell.

BSK, I know that I have made aware to you my frustrations before of camera placement this time of year from about mid-September - mid-October. It is the hardest time for me. I will be putting my cameras over mock scrapes, come October. There is just SO many things going on right at this specific time with velvet shedding, range shifting, bucks being the more dominant gender, food sources changing, acorns dropping, etc.... During this time period, I have put them over White/Red Oaks that were dropping, field edges, our fruit orchard, everywhere you can imagine. But I am thinking my best bet is to just leave all of my cameras over salt right now. Do you see that salt is the best location for the latter part of September?

 

[BSK]

But I am thinking my best bet is to just leave all of my cameras over salt right now. Do you see that salt is the best location for the latter part of September?

In my opinion, the mid-September to mid-October period is THE toughest time for trail-camera placement. If food plots were planted early and had enough rain to be up to browsable levels by this time, food plots are generally best (until acorns begin to fall). But this year, with such dry weather and few people getting good plots in early, I'm leaving at least half my cameras on salt for now. The other half are being moved to travel corridors.

 

[Andy S.]

The other half are being moved to travel corridors.

This is where most of my cameras will be from this point until scraping starts. I have had luck on sole water sources this time of year as well.

 

[Pic IN the Casa]

Here is my problem:

I am afraid to put cams along my travel corridors for fear of permanently spooking deer when I check them. All are at least a 100 yard hike into the woods.

Last year I set a stand up in the region and got busted every time I eased in. So I just left the area alone.

Where my cams are now I at least get does and am hoping that eventually the bucks will begin to trail the does to these spots. I did put a cam on a food plot on Monday just to monitor it- we'll see.

 

[MUP]

Three good bucks taken from our property last season, and not one of them showed up on a trail cam pic from my cams. Lots of does mind you, but those bucks stayed somewhere outside the vicinity of those does during the summer for sure. Good post.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Good post. I run anywhere from 4 to 6 trail cams on my 85 acre place all year long, its the best habitat around. During Summer, I have gotten exactly 3 mature bucks pics in 4 years. During Fall, I have alot coming through and several residents. My other place is all mature hardwood, and guess what, lots of mature bucks during the Summer.

 

[Truedouble]

"Good post Truedouble. I have ALWAYS gotten pics of bucks after bucks after bucks during the summer months, until this year. Due to all the habitat improvements in logging we have done and our neighbors that last 2 years, all I am getting (mostly) are does. This is the 1st year this has happened, so not getting over 15-20 decent bucks on camera is new to me. Hopefully, everything holds true and the bucks start moving in during the fall range shift. Only time will tell."

Sounds like the does have moved in on the new and improved habitat and pushed the bucks out. Good news is bucks will surely be back soon to where the does are. Should also see more day time movement where you have a thick understory due to the cut overs.

 

[wayers]

good post

 

[BSK]

Good post. I run anywhere from 4 to 6 trail cams on my 85 acre place all year long, its the best habitat around. During Summer, I have gotten exactly 3 mature bucks pics in 4 years. During Fall, I have alot coming through and several residents. My other place is all mature hardwood, and guess what, lots of mature bucks during the Summer.

Classic example. Unfortunately, if your property holds the buck bachelor groups during summer, that's an indication you have the worst habitat in the area!

 

[BowGuy84]

Good post. I run anywhere from 4 to 6 trail cams on my 85 acre place all year long, its the best habitat around. During Summer, I have gotten exactly 3 mature bucks pics in 4 years. During Fall, I have alot coming through and several residents. My other place is all mature hardwood, and guess what, lots of mature bucks during the Summer.

Classic example. Unfortunately, if your property holds the buck bachelor groups during summer, that's an indication you have the worst habitat in the area!

Mine must be great! I can't get a mature buck picture until Oct. to save my life. Now I just have to keep it from growing up everywhere while helping to make more of it huntable.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Good post. I run anywhere from 4 to 6 trail cams on my 85 acre place all year long, its the best habitat around. During Summer, I have gotten exactly 3 mature bucks pics in 4 years. During Fall, I have alot coming through and several residents. My other place is all mature hardwood, and guess what, lots of mature bucks during the Summer.

Classic example. Unfortunately, if your property holds the buck bachelor groups during summer, that's an indication you have the worst habitat in the area!

Oh yeah certainly. But I loved buying that habitat for very cheap and then it having twice what I paid for it in timber LOL Besides that its an absolute goldmine when acorns are falling. some timber is going to have to fall though.

 

[Pic IN the Casa]

How often do ya'll check your cameras during A/M/F season?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

How often do ya'll check your cameras during A/M/F season?

In general....

Around mid October - start of November, usually every week or 2

When the rut picks up, weekly. I want to move them around to as many terrain features and mock and/or real scrapes as I can. (the most as possibly)


Later in the season, it just all depends....usually every 2 weeks when the foodplots are getting hammered, scrape usage is dampening, and I am just trying to get a few pics in other terrain features

 

[BSK]

Good post. I run anywhere from 4 to 6 trail cams on my 85 acre place all year long, its the best habitat around. During Summer, I have gotten exactly 3 mature bucks pics in 4 years. During Fall, I have alot coming through and several residents. My other place is all mature hardwood, and guess what, lots of mature bucks during the Summer.

Classic example. Unfortunately, if your property holds the buck bachelor groups during summer, that's an indication you have the worst habitat in the area!

Oh yeah certainly. But I loved buying that habitat for very cheap and then it having twice what I paid for it in timber LOL Besides that its an absolute goldmine when acorns are falling. some timber is going to have to fall though.

I know exactly what you mean. Those big trees produce some great acorns, and are pretty to look at, but some of them need to hit the ground!

 

[BSK]

How often do ya'll check your cameras during A/M/F season?

I check mine weekly, but I have the luxury of checking mine from an ATV. I drive right up to the camera. It doesn't appear an ATV lays down the type of scent that deer avoid.

In your situation, I would be very hesitant to walk in 100 yards where you are constantly jumping deer.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

How often do ya'll check your cameras during A/M/F season?

I just check mine when Im hunting. Most all of them are around some field or some route that I will take getting into stands, etc. SO i guess there really isnt a timeframe, just when Im i the area. I wont go just to check cams during season, Ill at least be hunting. I end up checking alot at night coon hunting as well.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

How often do ya'll check your cameras during A/M/F season?

I check mine weekly, but I have the luxury of checking mine from an ATV. I drive right up to the camera. It doesn't appear an ATV lays down the type of scent that deer avoid.

In your situation, I would be very hesitant to walk in 100 yards where you are constantly jumping deer.

Does the sound of a 4-wheeler tend to scare your deer. Where we are, it seems that for some reason, if they hear a 4-wheeler, they are GONE. Thats the only reason I dont like to ride on the property during the season.

What about when yall hunt...do you ride to within a couple hundred yards or so from the stand your hunting, or walk from your cabin? We have made it a point to not use a 4-wheeler unless we are going to get a deer out that someone shot.

If I could get away with riding the 4-wheeler to check cams, I would . Just seems I would do more harm than good. Maybe not?

 

[BSK]

Yes, the sound of an ATV will scare deer in my area. But for some reason, that type of "scare" doesn't seem to produce long-lasting effect. I'm getting deer back in front of the camera within 30 minutes of me being there on ATV. And checking cams via ATV has definitely reduced camera avoidance problems.

Until I can come up with a better idea, the ATV is producing the fewest long-lasting negative reactions.

The real answer is eventually migrating to black-flash cams that somehow transmit images from a distance or to a central server device.