How to Use a Trail Camera for Hunting

Trail cameras are an essential tool for many hunters, especially those who want to track deer movements and understand their behavior. What makes them so great? Trail cameras allow you to monitor wildlife activity in an area even though you may be miles or even states away. Used correctly, they can give a hunter valuable insights for planning a hunting strategy.

Step 1 in using a trail camera for hunting is selecting the right one. Here are some factors to consider:

• Trigger Speed and Detection Range: Fast trigger speeds and long detection ranges are crucial. A camera with a slow trigger speed may miss the perfect shot, especially if the deer moves quickly. Look for a camera with a trigger speed of less than 0.5 seconds and a detection range of at least 60 feet.
• Resolution: High-resolution images can provide detailed insights into the size, health, and behavior of deer. Video capabilities can also be useful, especially for tracking how deer move through an area.
• Battery Life: Choosing a trail camera with a long battery life just makes sense, especially if your camera will be placed in a remote area. Some cameras can last several months on a single set of batteries, which is ideal for monitoring deer during the pre-season. Even better? Use a rechargeable battery pack or hook your cam to a solar panel for near-limitless power.
• Night Vision: Since deer and most other game animals are most active during dawn, dusk, and nighttime, a trail camera with good night vision is essential. Consider cameras with infrared (IR) flash rather than traditional flash, as IR is less likely to spook deer.
• Cellular vs. Non-Cellular: A cellular trail cam can send images directly to your phone, allowing you to monitor deer activity without physically retrieving the camera. This feature is convenient for the owner and helps protect the feed site by limiting human intrusion.

Now that you’ve got the perfect camera, you need to decide where to place it for optimal action. Follow these tips for effective placement:

• Food Sources: Deer need food, and they often follow the same paths at the same times of day to get to feeding areas. Locate these places and set up cameras near them. Smart spots to monitor include cornfields, acorn-laden oak trees, and berry patches.
• Water Sources: Like food, the same goes for water, especially in dry seasons or arid areas. Streams, ponds, and marshes are excellent locations to set up your trail camera.
• Game Trails: Deer follow established paths between bedding areas and food sources. Look for signs of heavy traffic, such as worn-down trails, droppings, or hoof prints. Place your camera along these avenues to capture animals as they move.
• Bedding Areas: While you should not disturb a deer’s bedding area, setting up a camera near one can provide valuable information about deer movement. Look for thick cover where deer may bed during the day and set the camera nearby.
• Rubs and Scrapes: During the pre-rut and rut, bucks create scrapes and rubs to mark their territory and attract does. These locations are superb spots for placing a trail camera since they can tell you where bucks are traveling and when they are active.

When it comes to actually setting up your camera, make sure to mount it at an appropriate height–if you are after deer, that usually means waist level. Make sure the camera is angled slightly downward and keep in mind the sun’s position–you don’t want backlit photos or too much glare. Also, keep in mind how far your camera is from your target location–even though your camera may have a range of vision of 60 feet, that does not necessarily mean you will get great pictures of something 60 feet away–in general, try to place your camera 30 feet away or less.

Good cameras will let you customize camera settings to get better images and significantly improve the quality of the data you collect. Here are some settings to consider:

• Picture vs. Video Mode: While pictures are often sufficient, video mode can capture more detailed behavior. For example, it can show how deer move, where they are looking, and whether they are agitated or calm.
• Burst Mode: This feature allows the camera to take multiple shots quickly. This mode is particularly useful in areas where deer might move quickly or where there is dense cover and one image might not show everything that is happening.
• Delay Between Shots: Setting a delay between shots prevents the camera from taking too many images that are basically the same. In high-traffic areas like feeding sites, a 1-minute delay can ensure that your images are distinct. You can also use delays in low-traffic areas to conserve battery life.

Is your camera set up and sending you images? Now it’s time to analyze the images. Once your trail camera is set up, the next step is to analyze the data it collects.

• Identify Patterns: See if you can identify consistent patterns in deer activity. Are they there in the morning or evening? Does activity increase when it’s hot? What happens during rain or snow? All of these can become clues that tell you about the wildlife you are tracking.
• Bucks vs. Does: Targeting bucks? Pay close attention to their movements. Bucks are generally more reclusive than does, so learning about them can give you an edge during the hunting season.
• Pre-Rut and Rut Behavior: During the rut, buck behavior changes significantly. Hunting cams can capture movement, chasing, and marking. Keeping track of when this activity starts can inform your hunting strategy.

Where are you placing your cellular trail cam? Improper placement can get you in trouble! Before setting up a trail camera, familiarize yourself with local laws and regulations. The use of trail cameras on public land may be restricted. Plus–are you sure that land is not private? If the land is not your own, make sure that you study land boundaries carefully to avoid placing a camera on someone else’s land without permission.

Trail cameras have brought hunting into the modern era, and their low cost and ease of use means almost anyone can put these tools to use. By choosing the right camera, placing it properly, and using the data they send to learn about your game, you can reshape your hunt and improve your chances of success.