I wish I could make a living hunting everyday. I wish I could sit in the woods and observe the movement, life patterns, and activities of whitetail deer. Unfortunately, there are things to do around the house, places to be, and people to see. Since I’m unable to live out a life of hunting everyday, trail cameras have to live that life for me. Modern trail cameras eliminate the need for SD card checking. Utilizing wifi technology, solar panels, and apps downloaded directly to your phone, trail cameras are in a new era of capability. Getting notifications on my phone keeps me going until the first legal days of bowhunting and rifle season here in North Carolina. Here are some ways to maximize using one to get the most out of trail cameras before, during, and after hunting season..
Understand Light
Any photographer will tell you about the importance of light. While we want that 10 point to be the star, the light surrounding it actually is. The sun rises in the easterly sky and sets westerly. Orient your camera northerly or southerly to avoid bleaching. That is when the sun’s rays overpower the optics and make all images appear white. Take multiple test photos and especially at dawn and dusk. If your camera has night capability, don’t think it is crazy to visit that camera when the sun goes down to see if it is working correctly in low-light or no-light conditions.
Placement Placement Placement
The greatest camera in the world won’t capture the best image if nothing walks into frame. Think about transition areas, locations near water, food plots, and of course, where you can spot tracks. Also, make sure you place your camera where it will not be triggered falsely by moving branches. Cut those away if you can. Set up your camera in a location where the light (there it is again) is consistent and there aren’t dark or bright spots. Set your camera up for success to send you a photo you’ll be excited to see.
Aim
We’ve all seen photos of people with the top of the photo cutting off their head. The same can happen with a trail camera. Think of the height of the animal you’re trying to photograph and match it. Photos taken from a top-down or bottom-up perspective will provide a distorted idea of our subject. Bring a hiking pole or cut a branch and place a glove over it to simulate the height of the animal you’re trying to capture on camera.
Keep it Juiced Up
My favorite camera, a Moultrie Edge Pro, has a 16 AA Battery double tray along with a solar panel. I know it will have battery life for quite some time with that setup. Don’t settle for budget store batteries. Get strong lithium batteries that you know will endure and think about swapping them out if a cold snap comes through. For solar panels, make sure they remain dust free and they have as much of a 180 degree view of the horizon.
Minimize Impact
When staging your camera, minimize the impact to the area around it. You can leave your scent inadvertently and it takes days for it to go away. While cutting branches away is a good practice, leaving hacked branch nubs and wood chips everywhere is not. Be smart about where you set your equipment down and camouflage your camera with natural materials and colors as much as you can while maintaining its ability to function.
One is None
Even the best modern trail camera can’t take more than one angle. Think about the best produced videos you’ve seen and there is usually a collection of footage from multiple cameras pieced together. Think of spreading out multiple cameras around a field. Don’t put all your cameras in one area and look for potential new spots in the “off season”. Multiple cameras get expensive but when you spread out the purchase of them over multiple seasons, the pain isn’t so bad.
Hunting season is short but admiring your favorite game species can keep your attention year round. If you’ve been on the fence about trail cameras, time to get off of it and take a deep dive. Since you can’t spend all of your days in the field, set up something that can. Much like the experience of taking your first animal, seeing one on a camera you set is almost as exciting.