How to Build Your Own Trail Camera

Choose the trail that often shows heavy wildlife traffic. Consider areas where wild animals feed, including bait sites, watering holes, mineral flicks and fence crossings.

Fasten a motion-triggered digital camera on top of a tripod. Use the screws of the tripod to attach the camera on it. A tripod has a threaded rod sticking up on the mount while a cameras has a threaded hole on its underside. Fit the hole of the camera to the threaded rod of the tripod.

Find a well-concealed area next to the trail. Angle the camera so it looks down at the trail, not straight out at it. Set the camera shoulder height. Clear any twigs or brush that could move in the wind and set off the camera's motion detector.

Cover the tripod and camera with camouflage netting that can also repel water and won't flap in the wind. Put the netting over the camera and tripod and secure the loose netting material using your camouflage duct tape.

Erase all hints or traces of the presence around your camera, such as removing any footprints by smoothing out the dirt. Make sure the camera's flash setting is turned off before leaving it. Come back and check the camera later for wildlife photographs.