Trail camera set up question

[huntncoach]

I know it's way too late for this season really, but what is the best way to set up my trail cameras to get good pictures? We have a few set up over mineral/salt. That works pretty well until the deer stop using the licks. Some are set up on small food plots - again, this works, but we don't hunt over the plots as much. Just use them to hopefully hold some deer in our areas. I want to set up a couple of cameras along trails leading to some of our areas. We have done this some with a low number of pictures. What do you guys do to get pics along trails? I have also tried mock scrapes, but still trying to "perfect" that strategy. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[TheLBLman]

I know it's way too late for this season really . . . .

Simply not the case at all.

Set your cams up on trails, fields/food plots, and scrapes.
IMO, right now thru November is much more important than summertime pics.
Many of the deer pics you get during summer are of deer that leave your hunting area come October.

For less experienced trail cam users, it's common to overly intrude your hunting spots simply by messing with trail cams, particularly by checking them too often, and at the wrong times (and/or wrong times of day). The least intrusive may be to set them up on fields or food plots, then only check them during mid-day when deer are typically not around. Most of the deer in the area will visit those fields/food plots during the night, so you can get a pretty good idea of what's using your area.

Over scrapes, I would only use true black-flash cams, and the common mistake is setting them up too close.
Over trails, usually need about a 45 degree angle placement to the trail, rather than perpendicular to it, and here's where cams with faster trigger speeds work noticeably better.

 

[Rob-HC Hunter]

I know it's way too late for this season really . . . .

Simply not the case at all.

Set your cams up on trails, fields/food plots, and scrapes.
IMO, right now thru November is much more important than summertime pics.
Many of the deer pics you get during summer are of deer that leave your hunting area come October.

For less experienced trail cam users, it's common to overly intrude your hunting spots simply by messing with trail cams, particularly by checking them too often, and at the wrong times (and/or wrong times of day). The least intrusive may be to set them up on fields or food plots, then only check them during mid-day when deer are typically not around. Most of the deer in the area will visit those fields/food plots during the night, so you can get a pretty good idea of what's using your area.

Over scrapes, I would only use true black-flash cams, and the common mistake is setting them up too close.
Over trails, usually need about a 45 degree angle placement to the trail, rather than perpendicular to it, and here's where cams with faster trigger speeds work noticeably better.

Really good advice here!!!!



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[rem270]

This is getting to the fun part of the year to run cameras. I keep 2 up over minerals through fall and winter and run 3 or 4 more over scrapes. I've hunted my property for 22 years and know where the main scrapes are going to be each year and generally have them in the same spot each year once I start finding scrapes.

 

[Mike Belt]

Dead wrong in your assumption it's too late. If I only had 2-3 weeks out of the year to run cameras it would be 1.5 week of pre-rut into the next 1.5-2 weeks of the rut and I'd run them over scrapes. Figure it this way. Scrapes are generally made in areas that may contain high traffic by both does and bucks using that area during that time frame and any roaming bucks.

 

[Urban_Hunter]

I set mine on scrapes and even better are funnels. I love to find a fence crossing where the fence is down due to a tree or something. Good way to get a bunch of pics!

 

[Smo]

I like to place mine up in the tree looking downward at an angle.

I place them over my water hole and small green fields.

Old logging roads are another favorite spot where I like to install cams.

Especially if there's a pinch point along the ridge road.

Scrapes are always good locations, it will let you know what's on the property.

I believe with the cam up higher there less chance of it spooking deer and being ripped off.

I use my tractor with front loader to install and check my cameras.

The deer are used to seeing and hearing the tractor year around and don't pay much attention to it.

 

[Poleaxe]

In the fall when they've split up and are hitting the acorns hard so much their not traveling one single trail more than the other, (no lie) I scrape the leaves back with my boot and pee in the scrape. Last year I had 3 different bucks come and scent check the scrape and rework it in less than 24hrs. If you're still sceptical throw a camera out and try it. What do you have to loose? I learned this from one of our site veterans BSK and after confirming it now instead of my pee bottles taking up room in my pack I hold it til I climb down.

 

[fairchaser]

Another good location for a camera is ditch or creek crossings. It's easier to tell which tracks are the freshest to place your camera due to the softer ground. Look for places where the creek makes a sharp bend or natural saddle. It's also a good way to penetrate the area without contamination as you can travel the creek and either check a camera or sneak into a stand.

 

[GreyGoose]

good advice,i have never used them but bought a few and plan on setting asap

 

[huntncoach]

Thanks for all the replies. I have created mock scrapes before - and peed in them - with some success. I have several cameras out, just wanted to know if I am doing something wrong to not get many pics. One location (mock scrape) I just don't think many deer are using the area in recent years. Another, I just created to scrapes and had pics there last year just because it is great trail intersection. I will continue to play with some setups to see what I can get to be more productive. Thanks again! As always, a big help from the members here.

 

[Mike Belt]

Make sure if you're making scrapes you have the overhanging branch. They work it more than the actual scrape.

 

[huntncoach]

Thanks, Mike. I do have the "licking branches" on all my scrapes. Hope to get some good pics over the next few weeks

 

[infoman jr.]

Now is the time of year when I transition almost all of my cameras to scrapes.


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[grouser]

I start mock scrapes in the place they used previously to jump start them, it works sometimes......