A trail camera can be a hunter’s best friend if they are using the device to its full potential. This blog post focuses on some of the best practices/ tips to get the maximum benefit out of your trail cameras year-round!

Created from the need of hunters everywhere, a trail camera serves the role of recon for hunters. Allowing them to better understand multiple aspects of the animal they are hunting. If you are not already using trail cameras, this may serve as your first introduction. However, if you have been using trail cameras your whole life, then hopefully, you can learn something new and use it in the field!

  1. Placement

Best Spots for Summer Hunting Trail Camera Setup

Knowing exactly where to put your trail cameras in the summer can be tricky if you have never done it before in this season. You will not be able to find many, if any, rubs or scrapes, which is the spot moist hunters would use for cams. Here are some of the best places to put your trail cameras.

Food Plots

A seemingly obvious choice for summer trail cams is your summer food plot! The benefits of them, however, go beyond just a food source for deer. The shorter stature of the plants makes it an ideal place to put a trail camera that allows you to see everything going on. A prime spot would be up in a tall tree, pointed down, at either entrance to the plot.

Mineral Licks

Before considering a mineral lick, check your state’s guidelines on the use of them.

Mineral licks are great at attracting deer to one spot and keeping them there for a period of time. So if there is a specific area you want to be recorded, or you are low on cameras and can only cover so many spots. Using a mineral lick is a great upgrade to your summer trail camera setup.

Water features.

It should come as no surprise that an easy place to see deer is the local watering hole. It becomes even easier if you are in a summer drought or water access is few and far between.

Like a mineral lick, this is a great spot if you do not have an abundance of cameras at your disposal.

 

  1. Timing of Trail Cameras

Timing can mean a multitude of things when it comes to trail cameras. Of course, where to put a trail camera up is easier said than done, but WHEN you should put up a trail camera and how often you check it is a battle on its own.

One huge mistake people make when they begin to use a trail camera is using it too much. Of course, like anything new and shiny, you will want to use it and check it as much as you can to see if that big buck is where you thought it was. But, unfortunately, the more you disturb the area around your trail cams, the more likely animals will pick up on you have been around.

The actual time that you place your trail cams is almost as important as where you put them. There is a variety of opinions on this subject. With some hunters believing you only need to put them up weeks prior to hunting season. At the same time, others think that summer is the optimal time to get your cameras hung up.

Personally, I believe the best time to put up cameras is  January-February. I believe this will give you the most solid information on the deer in your woods. As well as let you check on things like shredded antlers. Which are some of the best indicators of what deer are still on your property from last year. Or any new ones that have made their way on your land.

  1. Type of Trail Cameras

Now, getting into the best type of trail camera can get tricky. Factors like price and brand loyalty come into play for a lot of hunters. So I am not going to tell you the best brand or model of trail cam, but the general things to look for when in the market.

Some of the major things to consider when buying a trail camera would be:

  • Cellular Trail Cameras
  • Camera Picture Quality
  • Detection circuits
  • Recovery Time
  • Detection Zone
  • Battery Life

Each of those things can play a major role in how successful your trail camera is at capturing the images you want. The more important certain things are to you, the more worthwhile it would be to buy a model that does it well.

If you don’t plan on checking them for extended periods of time, a camera with an extra-long battery life could be what you need.

If you live far from the area you are trying to record, cellular data might be necessary. Whatever your needs are, these are the things to focus n in the buying process.

Conclusion

Trail cameras are an awesome addition to any hunter’s arsenal. But the difference between them being extremely successful or just fill up with pictures of leaves is slim.

 

Focusing on the right practices of placement and time can make a huge difference as well as utilizing the right camera that fits the need of your property and goals.

Happy Hunting!

And if you are looking for a great way to put your new trail camera knowledge to the test, a high-quality hunting lease from Base Camp Leasing is the perfect way to hunt. Pressure free!