How long do you still run cameras after season closes?

[BigJohnJTP]

I'm picking up that a few interesting bucks are still walking around. (West Knoxville). Nice to know they'll be around for next year. Once all the camera's batteries run out in February/March I usually just take them home until August because deer roam around so much I can't really tell what's going to be there for the Fall until about that time. It's not worth taking a chance on getting them stolen which I have had happen more than once. And discharged batteries can leak.

This guy went through one of the properties I hunt last night. Depending on what I see this Fall I might consider him to be a shooter.

 

[.243 Deer]

I run 3 cameras year around because I enjoy watching wildlife such as coyotes, fawns, and bobcats. I hope to see a mountain lion on camera some day. I know they are here despite what TWRA says.

Awesome buck ! He'd be a definite shooter for me.

 

[knightrider]

Year around

 

[TNGunsmoke]

I keep mine out all year.

 

[deerhunter10]

I'm taking my cell cameras up now will get this rest this weekend. No since in paying for them out of season for me. My regular cameras I'll take out the end of January I have no good reasoning really. I've got pictures of all but one of the deer I wanted to survive and I lost him before Christmas and assume he is dead. So I'm good til July.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I still have 4 cameras out and will run them until the majority of bucks have shed...then I'll pull them.

 

[waterman]

Year round

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Year round for 15ish cameras

 

[Crappieaddict]

Year around.

 

[backyardtndeer]

I used to run cams year round. I will pull my cell cams soon, and probably leave my non cell cams until mid to late February.

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

Normally would take mine down end of January. This year I already have them all down. I have so little luck following a buck from one year to the next I've about given up on even trying. Didn't really have any deer this year I was hoping would survive so I'll just put them back out next August and hope to be surprised.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

As soon as season is over. Well, as soon as I can get around to them all. Still have 9 more out and I'll have some hiking to get to them.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I'll leave them out and move them around until the batteries go dead. Then, I start the next year off with fresh batteries in all my cameras.

 

[BigJohnJTP]

I've been buying and using Walmart/Duracell batteries because nothing else but Lithium is said to last very long. I'm only getting about 1 to a month and a half with them at best requiring constantly inspecting and replacing batteries through out the season for non-cell cameras. A pain except that my cell cameras that can notify me when batteries are getting low. Next year I'm going to shell out for lithium batteries. Any advice? I would use solar charged external batteries but most of my cameras are in the woods and I don't think they would receive enough sunlight to keep them charged. Are you using alkaline, lithium, or solar for power? Observations appreciated.

 

[TNGunsmoke]

Been using Rayovac Alkaline in mine. Second best I've tried were the blue Thunderbolt Alkaline from Harbor Freight. Both have held up better than Duracell or Energizer. Think I'm going to try the Amazon Basics just to see how they do. I am only using non-cellular cameras, just haven't bought a cell one to try out. Thinking about one to put on the pond for duck season so I can see when the ducks/geese hit it so I might can slip up on them if I'm close.

 

[ImThere]

I'm getting ready to buy the 12v feeder batteries and a solar panel and just wire mine in permanently. The battery would probably last a year without the solar panel my guess.

 

[tree_ghost]

I have pulled the majority of mine already with the exception of 4 that are a couple hours away. I don't find that pictures of survivors help me much the following year to get a particular buck on the ground. IMO mature bucks don't move much this time of year and when I do get a pic, or maybe two, of a buck it's usually because he's moving from his breeding range back to his home range and I don't find that information to be very helpful except to know your not hunting a ghost if it's a buck you have pursued for multiple seasons. What I have found to be highly effective for me is locating sheds from a particular buck especially if I can find 2 or more consecutive years of sheds in the same general location.

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

Been using Rayovac Alkaline in mine. Second best I've tried were the blue Thunderbolt Alkaline from Harbor Freight. Both have held up better than Duracell or Energizer. Think I'm going to try the Amazon Basics just to see how they do. I am only using non-cellular cameras, just haven't bought a cell one to try out. Thinking about one to put on the pond for duck season so I can see when the ducks/geese hit it so I might can slip up on them if I'm close.

Amazon alkaline batteries have performed incredibly well for me. Amazon Basics AA is the one I've used. It's white. $55 got me 300 batteries and I've still got half of them left after the season is over. Ran 9-10 regular cams and three cell cams for $28 for an entire season. I can't complain about that.

 

[270MONTS]

I need to check my cam and put new batteries in it now. But I keep mine going year round. Just to see what roams through. Not just deer but just cool to see. I'm going to try the Amazon batteries as mentioned above.

 

[tn24]

Year round.

 

[DoubleRidge]

I've been buying and using Walmart/Duracell batteries because nothing else but Lithium is said to last very long. I'm only getting about 1 to a month and a half with them at best requiring constantly inspecting and replacing batteries through out the season for non-cell cameras. A pain except that my cell cameras that can notify me when batteries are getting low. Next year I'm going to shell out for lithium batteries. Any advice? I would use solar charged external batteries but most of my cameras are in the woods and I don't think they would receive enough sunlight to keep them charged. Are you using alkaline, lithium, or solar for power? Observations appreciated.

I've never tried solar power but have a coworker who has several. I had a similar concern about shaded areas and having enough direct sunlight. He said his cameras charge fine with indirect sunlight. Believe he said he's ran a few of his cellular solar powered cameras for a year straight without ever going to them. No issues. That got my attention and has me traveling down the solar power rabbit hole. And yes eliminating battery cost would be nice but not having to intrude into certain areas, especially during the season, would be great.

 

[BigJohnJTP]

Guess I'll try the Amazon AA batteries. Sounds like a great deal. Thanks! I hate arriving to pull a card and finding out the batteries were dead and wondering what I missed. Also - I gave the grandkids several AA powered flashlights over the years and they always seem to be leaving them on and killing those batteries too. The Amazon AA's will work in both. Although I may have solved that problem because I gave both of the boys rechargeable flashlights that use USB/phone/tablet style charging cables. Which they also often seem to be misplacing as well! Unfortunately for US most all the batteries, chargers, phones, tablets, laptops, trail cameras, etc. cause us to send billions of dollars to China.

 

[tellico4x4]

Until all the bucks are bald.

 

[redblood]

Guess I'll try the Amazon AA batteries. Sounds like a great deal. Thanks! I hate arriving to pull a card and finding out the batteries were dead and wondering what I missed. Also - I gave the grandkids several AA powered flashlights over the years and they always seem to be leaving them on and killing those batteries too. The Amazon AA's will work in both. Although I may have solved that problem because I gave both of the boys rechargeable flashlights that use USB/phone/tablet style charging cables. Which they also often seem to be misplacing as well! Unfortunately for US most all the batteries, chargers, phones, tablets, laptops, trail cameras, etc. cause us to send billions of dollars to China.

100 aa batteries for 22.00

Pretty good

 

[deerhunter10]

I've always had good luck out of energizer max.I don't run lithium either. I've had the worst luck out of Duracell. I know several people that run their camera with dg batteries don't know anyone who has used Amazon's or harbor freight.

 

[Speedwell-Hunter]

I run 3 cameras year around because I enjoy watching wildlife such as coyotes, fawns, and bobcats. I hope to see a mountain lion on camera some day. I know they are here despite what TWRA says.

Awesome buck ! He'd be a definite shooter for me.

LOL on the mountain line quip, we shall b waiting for the clip

 

[Andy S.]

Year around

Ditto! I reduce the number, but keep several out year-round.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

I've always had good luck out of energizer max.I don't run lithium either. I've had the worst luck out of Duracell. I know several people that run their camera with dg batteries don't know anyone who has used Amazon's or harbor freight.

I've used DG batteries for years. But, they've gone up in price over the last couple of years. I'm going to look into Amazon batteries for next year.

 

[DeerCamp]

I am currently running 12 cameras on 5 different properties.

I typically leave them out because they're also useful during turkey season, and by the time turkey season is over, antlers are starting to grow.

I think I'm going to do a total refresh this year, take them all down, clean them up and put them out in different spots

 

[DMD]

I've always had good luck out of energizer max.I don't run lithium either. I've had the worst luck out of Duracell. I know several people that run their camera with dg batteries don't know anyone who has used Amazon's or harbor freight.

I've used both Amazon and harbor freight as batteries and had good success with both.