-Camera Setting Location Basics-

[Smossy]

Ok, Looking for some insight on determining where to sacrifice a trail camera(s) to scout out an area for game.
This thread should be a how-to for all people looking on how to better set up their camera's for optimal result's with of course everyone's own personal opinions and first hand based knowledge.
Being as I have very limited to no experience with the subject lets hear from everyone on here.

1. How do you determine "This is the spot"?
(What do you look for - Game Trails, Rubs, Edible Vegetation, etc.)

2. After camera's are placed, what do you do/place in the general area?
(As far as pruning, placing bait or salt licks, scenting, etc.)

3. In general, what direction - and at what height do set your camera's?

4. How long of a soak do you give them before checking?
(To in which you feel you wont contaminate the site, or interfere with the balance of whats local)

5. After determining that this is a good spot, whats next?
(After you have already established there is game in the area that you want to target, what do you do next as far as plan and attack)

[rtspring]

Smossy,

I just went through this whole thing myself two weeks ago.

1. Camera placement-  a known path or trail that is used frequently. I have a spot that is kinda like a funnel, rock outcropping where deer and elk must go down the trail to get down. I have searched for a spot like this for years, I finally came across this place 5 years ago. Its not a honey hole, its a path that leads to a honey hole.

2. I put out corn, just to get the game to stop so more pics can be taken.

3. I put my cameras about waist high

4. To me I look at cameras as a time frame of scouting, your camera is always working 24/7. Unlike us humans we cannot do that. My belief is that all elk and deer are creatures of habit. Same trail, same time frame. Unless something like humans or predators change their routine.  I already know the parterns of deer and elk where I hunt. The camera will just be reassurance that the game is still using the trail even though we think they have vanished. I am stoked about checking my cams for the first time here in a few days.  Im totally hooked on trail cams, its hunting without a gun in my eyes. 

5. Just like hunting, I see placing trail cams as learning from mistakes. Some things work out and some don't.

Good luck. 

Rtspring

[Smossy]

Smossy,

I just went through this whole thing myself two weeks ago.

1. Camera placement-  a known path or trail that is used frequently. I have a spot that is kinda like a funnel, rock outcropping where deer and elk must go down the trail to get down. I have searched for a spot like this for years, I finally came across this place 5 years ago. Its not a honey hole, its a path that leads to a honey hole.

2. I put out corn, just to get the game to stop so more pics can be taken.

3. I put my cameras about waist high

4. To me I look at cameras as a time frame of scouting, your camera is always working 24/7. Unlike us humans we cannot do that. My belief is that all elk and deer are creatures of habit. Same trail, same time frame. Unless something like humans or predators change their routine.  I already know the parterns of deer and elk where I hunt. The camera will just be reassurance that the game is still using the trail even though we think they have vanished. I am stoked about checking my cams for the first time here in a few days.  Im totally hooked on trail cams, its hunting without a gun in my eyes. 

5. Just like hunting, I see placing trail cams as learning from mistakes. Some things work out and some don't.

Good luck. 

Rtspring

Good advice, I have one very old tasco, I think it is... That was passed down to me from another member on here. I haven't really found anywhere to place it so its mounted to a tree right now in my girls yard to check for yard critters Nothing yet.

[NWBREW]

 Rule #1  North facing South or South facing North. This way you avoid washout with the sun.         

[huntnnw]

theres alot to determine with every set and time of year and what exactly is your cam sitting on..Bait, trail, rub or wallow and etc...and specie. Almost none of my cams till Sept and on are on trails, rubs etc...way to early to waste my time trying to see what animals are doing in June as opposed to Oct. My spring/summer cams are locating animals within the area and see the quality. My cams are striclty over salt first and then Ill move to apples and sweet mix in Late July as salt consumption declines. Once I have located a buck Im after then cams will get placed on trails, rubs mock scrapes..this is where placement is critical..most of the general cams out there have a wake up time and a slow trigger so they need to be placed in area where u will get them in view of the sensor for a period of time..down a trail or up the trail or put the cams farther back than u normally would for a larger sensor area.

 I place my cams level with whatever I am trying to capture..I know some guys go high and aim down, but you lose the field of view that way.I also try to place all my cams facing to the north if possible, sometimes you cant. Facing them to the north will avoid whiteout pics even in the wide open in mid day.

I check salt cams every 3 weeks to month and half..soley bait cams once a week as they eat alot and cards will fill up fast. Trails,scrapes and wallows it varies if I am activley hunting the area could be everyday in or once a week or month.

I put my cams on salt or bait on 1 pic setting and trails,scrapes etc 3pic burst as u may get a bach group of bulls, bucks coming by or a hot doe being followed by a buck.