You gotta have a trail cam

[DryFly]

Earlier this year I purchased a Cuddie/Back trail cam. Although a little expensive, this by far is one of the best hunting investments that I have made. The digital camera will take and record many pictures. You can push a button and the lcd will inform you of how many pictures were taken. You can also set various time delays between pictures taken. What I just learned is that there is also an event counter. This counts only (does not take pictures) of events or things that pass in view of the camera while the preset delay is in process between pictures being taken. (will count how many images you missed).

I have about 8 tree stands, most of them permanent, on 3 different parcels of land in the same general vicinity. I spend a lot of time scouting to get ready and get a feel of what is happening by my stands.

My 2 older sons were planning their annual trip north to where I live, for our week long hunt. A few days before their trip, my oldest son Chris said he wanted to hunt one of my older stands. I told him it was not such a good idea as there is not much sign. The old run is being used a little where they cross the river but very little action.

To prove my point (fathers are always correct), I put my trail cam in position over looking the trail near the tree stand, a couple of days before he arrived.

The deer population is way down in lake county due to the past years of doe over harvest. We have been seeing very few deer.

Here is what my camera caught over the last 2 days.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3041/medium/CDY_0006.JPG http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3041/medium/CDY_00021.J http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3041/medium/CDY_00091.JPG http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3041/medium/CDY_00011.JPG

Pictures tell the truth. Without the camera, I would have not really known what was hapening in the area. Now we know that if we wait long enough, the big 10 pointer might come along.

I'm still trying to convince Chris he doesn't want to hunt this old stand..

I WANT TO HUNT IT ;)

[Ranger Ray]

The only three deer left in Lake County and they are bucks. :lol:
Nice picks and heres hoping the next one you post is one of you guys standing over that 10 point with a big smile. ;)

[Salami]

the first one looks to be 2.5 years a rare find indeed ! good job;)

[FixedBlade]

Great pics

[TheApprentice]

DryFly those are some awesome pics. I love to see the pics that those game cameras take. It's funny all of the sudden an area that you thought was a bust could be the best spot to hunt. I appreciate you posting these pics and would appreciate if you could email me some of the new ones that you get further into the season. I am thinking about picking up a cam myself, although I don't own the land I hunt on and would be afraid someone would steal it. Good luck getting that nice buck in the first pic!

[Termie33]

My question is, do you think the flash will cause them to avoid the area? Or do you think it has no affect at all?

I have a cam that i dont use, because im paranoid that it will scare off the deer. I have one deer that is tearing up scrapes in front of my dads blind, and i would like to see what it is, just dont want to stop him from coming around.

[maxemus]

great to have a visual confirmation of deer in your hunting area :)

[Backwoods-Savage]

My question is, do you think the flash will cause them to avoid the area? Or do you think it has no affect at all?

I have a cam that i dont use, because im paranoid that it will scare off the deer. I have one deer that is tearing up scrapes in front of my dads blind, and i would like to see what it is, just dont want to stop him from coming around.

Termie: Don't worry about that flash bothering the deer. I have several pictures that pretty much prove that the flash does not bother the deer; bucks or does. I had to laugh one time when I got a picture of a buck heading to the scrape, pawing, and then going to the overhead branch. These pictures are 1 minute apart. Well, if the flash bothered that buck, then explain why he kept on with his rutting routine.

I also have one of a buck that apparently got curious and appears to be going to check out that camera. Must have satisfied him because we went back to the scrape. I've caught does smelling the camera and then going back to eating fallen apples. Nope. Can't convine me the flash bothers but those 35mm cameras make a noise while forwarding the film and that certainly might scare them off. My bet is they think of that flash like a lightning flash.

[jimmyboy]

The Drury bros. feel that the flash may become bothersome after several encounters and switch to infra-red video cameras after photoing a buck w/a digital.

[ishootdeer]

this is the first year that I've used a trail cam. I have a Stealth Cam 35MM. It has it's drawbacks. First, the expense of film and developing. It is limited on the number of pics (only 24 exposures). I have it positioned in a high volume area. I check it weekly. It will keep count up to 99 times that it gets tripped. Every week, it has a count of 99. I would reccomend a digital for anyone. But if cost is a factor, compare a 50 dollar investment as opposed to a few hundred. Then the cost of film and developing. As far as quality, the Stealth cam takes Great pictures. I will post some pictures when I figure out how to do it........

[DryFly]

[QUOTE=Termie33]My question is, do you think the flash will cause them to avoid the area? Or do you think it has no affect at all?

I have not found this to be a problem.
Here is a picture of that 10 point buck. His picture was taken with a flash 2 nights in a row.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/3041/medium/CDY_00021.JPG

[jimmyboy]

For all really into trail cams might be worth yure while to read the series"Trail Camera Know-how" by Bobbie Worthington beginning w/ the July 05 issue of NAW(no amer w/h).

[Rondevous]

The deer population is way down in lake county due to the past years of doe over harvest. We have been seeing very few deer.
In regards to that statement, what deer would someone want to harvest to insure the future of the herd, regardless of the management type practiced.
The big one? or one of the other two or maybe all of them?
Just curious.
btw I like the big 10 point and I'll go as far to say that if my son shot it I'd have a full body mount done to honor him :)
Come on Dad cough up the $$$$$$$ ;)

[DryFly]

Come on Dad cough up the $$$$$$$ ;)

The boys are both working with good paying jobs. I'm retired on a fixed income..
He can get his own deer mounted.

The good dad part is done I bought each of them new Oneida bows, acc. and arrows last year. ;)

As far as the deer herd, probably leaving the big breader would be best, but....
I have let many less that 6 point go by. I will assume that they are carrying his genes and will continue the blood line.

If he comes within range of me, he is going to get shot at. :corkysm55

[Steve]

Dave if you are thinking about not hunting that stand the week of Nov 6 let me know ;)

[DryFly]

I will be there around the clock.
I wonder if the Irons Cafe delivers meals?

[Dedge]

These threads are killing me. I know I need to get a trailcam, I just have not had the extra money, with buying a bow this year and all. Somehow.....



Dan

[yooperkenny]

I know I need to get a trailcam, I just have not had the extra money, ...Dan

Dedge - I'm in the same boat, and decided to get the entry level Stealthcam 35mm which can be had for around $50. Had some rewind problems but it's ok for starting out. I agree with others though that long term a digital will pay for itself, so maybe birthday or Father's Day ....

[Dedge]

Dedge - I'm in the same boat, and decided to get the entry level Stealthcam 35mm which can be had for around $50. Had some rewind problems but it's ok for starting out. I agree with others though that long term a digital will pay for itself, so maybe birthday or Father's Day ....

Yeah I am thinking Christmas this year too.


Dan

[Trophy Specialist]

My question is, do you think the flash will cause them to avoid the area? Or do you think it has no affect at all?

I have a cam that i dont use, because im paranoid that it will scare off the deer. I have one deer that is tearing up scrapes in front of my dads blind, and i would like to see what it is, just dont want to stop him from coming around.
I'm with you. I will not use trail cameras because I don't want to spook the deer. It's hard enough to harvest adult bucks consistantly without putting additional presure on them. Spooking them with cameras going off will not help your efforts. Also, people check those cameras periodically. The disruption and human scent left by those pit-stops will cause mature deer to take notice and react negativly. I know of several noted deer hunters that have used the cameras in the past and will not use them now because of adverse reactions by the deer. This is especailly true when hunting Michigan's highly presured deer. If you must use trail cameras, I'd suggest confining their use to Winter and Spring in areas where you do not plan to hunt that year.

[JAHUNTER]

I have not invested in a digital camera, but do have a 35mm. I have not been setting it very close to my stand, because I have seen the reaction by several deer. Last December I had a several deer get within 30 yrd, heading straight towards my stand and they passed within 15 feet of the camera and it flashed and the film advanced. The deer jumped back and stood there looking around for several minutes. They then started moving forward again and the camera took another pic and they jumped back again. This time after looking for several minutes they walked off a different direction. This could be a result of the film advance motor noise, rather than the flash, but I do not want to take any more chances with the 35mm version.