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Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

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Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby WapitiTalk1 » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 1]

So, you're heading over to Wallahoochie, (insert elk state here) to do a mid summer scout and put some boots on the ground in your elk area. In addition to your four day scout trip, you'll be dropping some trail cameras so you have some pics and/or videos to review once you head back over for your fall hunt. Now before I ask the question, I will say that I have seen some game cams hunters have put out in some very, very odd locations (more on that later). For the purpose of this ultra scientific thread, we're talking just regular game cams, not the ones that beam images up to Scotty and back to you.

OK, what are some tips and tricks for setting out game cameras?
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Re: Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby Swede » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 2]

Place the cameras up high so the curious elk and stupid bears don't play with them. Up high they may also not be readily seen by other hunters that use the area. I have found that steel security boxes help keep the critters from knocking your camera around. I doubt they do much to protect from a serious thief.
I have found my camera on the ground or upside down on the tree with just a bear or bull picture on it right before my camera was abused.
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Re: Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby ishy » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 3]

+1 on height. Saved lots of abuse since we did this. We will even screw in a couple tree stand steps now to get a little higher than we can reach.
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Re: Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby Lefty » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 4]

Sunlight reflection and angles will wreck some pic locations. I try to keep the camera always shaded or facing north. or the direction I want the good pics for the time of day.
In bear country keep your camera clean,..Like Swede mentioned bears can be a real problem. I have a cool video of a bear eating my camera :shock:
Face the camera down the trail maybe aimed at a location 20 foot away.
Clear all the branches , grass, twigs, anything that can trigger your camera
For me simpler is better. my $89.00 and $59.00 cameras work great.
Check and recheck that your camera is working. SD card all the way in,. decent batteries in place, correct settings. know your camera. Ive gone to a non working camera too many times.
I have had SD cards popped out of place, batteries out of place the camera turned off. SD cards and a camera taken,.. then returned, honest thieves?
Neighbor said he would help make security boxes
Ive made short ladders to place them up higher Camo the boxes and camera, I place branches in the straps


One hot day I left the blind and this boy did show backat 1:05 PM upper 90's
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tallest post was a fence post

This was up a tree a ways,.. the bear tore down the camers, turned on the vidio then killed the cameras 50 feet away
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bear ear


Daughter and a friend left school early . It was too nice to be in school
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Afternoon ride Julie and S
PICT0985 (Small).JPG (77.69 KiB) Viewed 2105 times
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Re: Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby Lefty » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 5]

set your clock and date, it really is helpful
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Re: Trail Cam Setup Tips and Tricks!

Postby Deanmac » 05 20, 2019 •  [Post 6]

Point North or South if possible, will get less ghost pictures.
I always put a wedge in the back to angle the camera down.
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