game camera | Buck Manager

Game Camera Tips for Deer Hunters

Earlier this week I touched on how game cameras and deer management go hand in hand. Not only do digital scouting cameras work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week taking photos of deer on your property, but they also give you a good idea of quality. What could be easier? Here we go.

Camera Placement – I’ve written extensively regarding tips for camera placement, so I won’t go into as much detail here. However, for the beginners out there, the easiest way to photos of white-tail deer is to have something that attracts them. Food, minerals, and water are obvious and good choices. However, although these sites are great for getting deer photos they may not necessarily be the best for collecting deer survey data using your camera.

Game Camera Tips for Deer Hunters

Rechargeable Batteries – This sounds simple, but you can save yourself some heartache and money if you pay attention here. Digital cameras (and make sure you are using digital) are great because they can work around the clock. The problem is that they are motion activated and that requires power.

Each time they are activated and take a photo, the camera uses battery power. This increases with photos taken in the dark. The more photos you take, the more battery power you will need. Invest in rechargeable and be done.

Solar Panels – You have to love the sun! Sure, it’s not all that great when your sweating your butt off setting up feeders and stands in late summer/early fall, but it can take your game camera to the next level. If at all possible, buy a camera that allows you to hook up a solar panel. If you already have a camera, get it converted so that it will work with a solar panel. Then, when you get the chance to check your camera, all you have to do is change out the SD card.

Pattern Bucks with Game Cameras

Time and Date-This a no brainer, but many hunters fail to set the time and date when they place out there cameras. Or when placed out, the user simply fails to set the time. Let me tell you, it is extremely frustrating when you check your photos and the times are wrong. Make sure to set the date and time because it, if nothing else, it will give you the exact time when animals were in the area, regardless of whether they return or not.

Locks – Scouting cameras are not cheap. Even the cheapest cameras aren’t cheap enough to just give away. If you place your camera in an area where someone could steal it or if you even suspect that someone could take it, make sure it is lockable. Option number two is to buy an after-market locking system that works with your camera. It’s very exciting to get a nice photo of a monster buck, but it’s also exciting when you arrive to check your camera and it’s gone. It’s just a different kind of excitement.

Great Game Camera Photos

Game cameras are commonly used by hunters to inventory and pattern white-tailed deer. And although deer are typically the animal of primary interest, a lot of other critters get captured in the photos taken by trail cameras. In addition, motion-triggered cameras work 24-7, so a number of interesting wildlife photos get downloaded each year.

I’ve published photos of some very strange wildlife camera photos in the past and those were a big hit. Then I put together a group of some neat game camera photos to follow along that line, but I figured it’s time I started publishing great game camera photos on a regular basis. With that said, these photos may not be life-changing, but by posting them it allows hunters to see some of the things others were lucky enough to see.

In addition, everyone gets to enjoy wildlife a little bit more, because none of us gets to be outdoors as much as we’d like! And I find that last photo just a little bit scary!

Also, if you have taken or come across a unique game camera photos, send them in and I will publish them after I get a few. Thanks!

Patterning Areas with Game Cameras

Every hunter would love to pattern a big ole monster buck prior to hunting season. Knowing when and where to be set up come hunting season would be worth a mint! But what about those areas where you put up your game camera and don’t see any bucks? Is there any value in that information? Yes.

Believe it or not, many areas are rarely or never visited by white-tailed bucks. Eliminating areas where you should not be is hunting is of great importance and actually increases your chances of taking a buck on any given day — assuming you aren’t hunting “dead space.” Continue reading “Patterning Areas with Game Cameras”

Digital Game Cameras – Importance of Effective Flash Range

The flash of a digital game camera can be an important thing to consider when looking for a new trail camera. The most obvious reason is because deer move most frequently after darkness settles in. The flash of your camera must be strong enough to cover the subject area, but no so strong that it causes “white out” on the pictures. A good starting point would be to research the “effective flash range” as stated by the manufacturer of all the trail cameras in your price range. And remember, these are still “stated” ranges.

If you plan on using the trail camera on the edge of a crop field you will most likely need a longer effective flash range than say 20 feet. On the other hand, if you set up the deer camera over a bait pile in heavy brush, then a short flash range will be all you need. Why? Well first, the solid background of brush will reflect light back into your picture, so the short flash range works fine. And obvious, the deer will be much closer because of the confined space.

Conversely, the distant tree on the other side of the agricultural field will need a much brighter, more effective flash. Regardless of where your trail camera goes, make sre to clear out the area between the camera and where you expect the deer to be. The most obvious reason (coming from a seasoned camera user) is because if the camera is set out during periods of high temperature then even minor moments in brush and weeds in front of the game camera could trigger “false” pictures. This close brush will also cause “flash back,” resulting in “white out” of your night photos as well.

“Flash back” can be spotted on your scouting photos as looks like a very hot spot on the game camera photo that may or may not be bright enough to white out the entire photo. In short, if you have brush, dead limbs, weeds, or other obstructions close to your digital game camera’s flash, cut it down.

And lastly, when purchasing your scouting camera, make sure to research the available cameras to find one that meets your needs. And of course, price varies based on picture size, opitical quality, memory, options, and effective flash range. Do a little scouting before your camera does some scouting and you will get the deer photos you want without the headache.