Trail cameras can be very effective when scouting, no doubt about that. However, you can easily go out hunting with false expectations simply because you set up your camera wrongly, or perhaps lazily. The results would not be as expected. You, therefore, end up having poor scouting results.
How will you use your camera to ensure you are scouting correctly?
Avoid Facing Your Camera in the Direction of the Sun
You have probably used the advice for long now. It is still the same for trail cameras. You see, with trail cameras, you have no control over them while in the field. So nothing is frustrating as picking your camera only to find hundreds of pictures with nothing but very invisible images due to light and heat. Facing your trail camera directly to the direction of the sun will cause a change in temperature.
When summer vegetation sways due to the summer breeze, the trail camera combines the two and think that a wild animal is around. You eventually lose a considerable amount of space in your card with little or no trace of wild animals. The sun rays also affect the quality of the pictures. So, it always advisable that you face the camera north. This way, the sun’s heat and rays will not damage your picture quality.
Have a Way to Camouflage your Trail Camera
If you leave your trail camera out in the woods without properly concealing it, chances are, you won’t get it the next time you go check it out. So it is important that your camera is completely out of sight. Place it somewhere you cannot easily trace. The hard it is for you to trace your camera, the harder it is for anyone else to see it. You do not want a situation where your trail camera is tampered with, or probably stolen. You can make it blend with the environment to prevent other hunters from seeing it. You can also hang them high and make them quiet and invisible. This way, your trail camera will be intact, and your scouting will be more effective.
Cover Your Smell
Bucks are sensitive to smell and may affect your scouting. When placing your camera the bucks should have no knowledge that they are being trailed. You should avoid stenches like cigarette smell, biscuit smell, petrol and any other item that may have an odor. The ducks will react accordingly and move to new surroundings. To fix this, you should be very careful with what you bring with you to the forests, this means that everything should be odorless. It includes your body, your clothing, and boots.
Avoid Checking Your Camera Regularly
Checking your camera regularly is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. It may be exciting to pull out the SD cards and view the animals that passed by that day. Not bad either, but if you are making frequent trips to the woods to check your camera, then expect a reduction in the number of bucks passing by. Regular movements scare the bucks off. Reduce the number of times you check your camera if you want your scouting to be effective. You will reduce the pressure on having to check your target buck. Bucks don’t respond well to any pressure.
Get the Right Batteries
Since it is not a good idea to check your camera regularly, you would want powerful batteries to last you long enough till your next visit. Lithium batteries are definitely the best for your trail camera. They last here to four times the alkaline batteries. They also have a better performance in both extreme cold or hot weather plus it gives you a little more array from your flash. Long battery life allows your camera to take pictures and videos longer so you will have fewer visits to the field making your scouting more effective.
Conclusion
Trail cameras are an effective scouting tool. But how you use it is important so as to have more effective scouting. Make sure that your camera has the right accessories to keep it longer in the field with a few visits as possible. Also, ensure that your camera is nicely concealed and can’t be tampered with, or stolen. With the above tips, you can be sure of having a successful hunting experience.
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