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Trail Camera Placement Tips

The invention of the trail camera has been a boon to hunters, wildlife enthusiasts and game managers. Most often used to watch deer, these specialized digital cameras track the movements of wildlife and help people determine species, size, sex and trophy potential. Motion activated and housed in weatherproof boxes, trail cameras can be placed in areas throughout the habitat and left unattended. There are a few tricks to getting the most accurate picture of animal movements.

Mounting
- The most popular method of mounting a trail camera is to attach it to the trunk of a tree. While this is convenient, a problem occurs if the tree is not large enough to be able to resist swaying when the wind catches its branches and leaves, causing the motion sensor to trigger. To prevent a memory card filled to capacity with empty images, be certain the tree has a minimum circumference of 10 inches. If there are no suitably sized trees in the area, commercial metal stands are available. Mounting the camera on a fence line or driving a free-standing post are also viable options. Place the stand or post next to, but not touching, a tree so as to be close enough that it will be out of the way and not be knocked over by game, but far enough away so the tree will not bump it when the wind blows. If you are on public land be mindful of where you place the camera so it does not get stolen.
Location
- Look for areas of heavy game traffic such as trails and feeding areas. Select spots where trails intersect, cross fence lines or rivers and enter cultivated food plots or natural food sources such as areas with high-yielding oak or apple trees. When patterning deer, place cameras in areas with high numbers of scrapes and rubs, spots where a buck digs the ground and rubs trees with his antlers to mark his territory. Place the camera at least 30 yards up or down the trail, as bucks will often visit the area after dark. This will help determine which way the deer is traveling, instead of just taking photos of the animal tending his scrapes.
Coverage
- Even if you have multiple cameras you should relocate them every few days to every week to cover as wide an area as possible. Animals have large home ranges and they may avoid certain areas at certain times, especially during the hunting season when they are being pressured. They may prefer one food source over another at certain times or one water hole to another. During breeding season the males will be in the areas with the most females. To find out where they are you need to cover as much ground as possible.

Animals & Science