Multi Shot vs. Rapid Fire and trigger delay

[Bean Counter]

Ok so two of my trail cameras gives two options for bursts: multi shot standard, which can fire off 1-8 shots per activation, spaced 3.0 seconds apart. Then there's rapid fire, which can fire 2-4 shots at an interval of 0.3 seconds. I'm going to put up a total of three cameras and two with salt. So I'm thinking the ones with salt can probably have the multi shot with about 3 shots per burst. I'm using 16 GB cards and will be back up in about a month.

Also, what's a good time delay? 10 seconds? 30 seconds? 1 minute? I'm guessing if one elk falls in love with the salt I may fill up the bulk of a card in one afternoon with him sitting there, tonguing it to death.

[billythekidrock]

I check my cams every few weeks and use large cards with good batteries so I prefer video or multi burst with very little delay.

I like to catch as much as I can and have learned of way more critters in areas by doing it this way.

I often run my Bushnell's at 5-10 second delays for both video and 3 shot pics, even over bait.

[bobcat]

The rapid fire would be great if set up on trails with no bait. In that case I would go with the maximum number of shots it will take per trigger. But on salt I'd probably go with the standard multi shot burst set to two or three shots per burst with maybe a 30 second delay. You may end up with more pictures than you really need but it's better than not enough. The 16 GB cards will hold a LOT. So filling them up shouldn't be an issue.


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[Bean Counter]

great.

Billy,
would you say that you can better urge trophy quality with video than  still pics? its so early in the season right now that this won't be my primary concern--just knowing where the bulls are and what's out there.

[billythekidrock]

I don't understand the question, possibly due to auto correct.

Knowing "what" is out there is exactly why I prefer more images or footage when a camera is tripped.

Lots of times you will get one animal hogging the camera for 15 minutes and if you have it set for 1-3 shots every 1-15 minutes you will often miss other animals that only come into frame once or twice.

Several times I have identified new/additional bucks or bulls in an area because the very short delay caught them the one time they came through, while the "regulars"
were around.

A great example is the buck below. I had a couple does, three spikes, a trike and a two point hanging out and in one soak of 7 days I had over 2,200 pics and the cam delay was set to 20 seconds.

This week I was able to verify a second doe, a third spike and this 4x. The time he came in, he hovered nearby and the first three pics were blanks, He was caught seconds later on the next set of pics. If I had a 30 second or longer delay, I would have never known he was in the area.

This buck only came by a few times and was always seconds behind the two point and was never there for more than a minute or so. I am sure I would have never gotten a good look at his rack had I not shot volumes of pics.

[Bean Counter]

auto correct indeed 

would you say that you can better judge trophy quality with video than  still pics? its so early in the season right now that this won't be my primary concern--just knowing where the bulls are and what's out there.

[billythekidrock]

I don't care about trophy quality. I want to know how many animals are in the area.

I do find that video helps when identifying individual animals by being able to see them from different angles.

That helps when trying to keep track of newcomers.

[Bean Counter]

Ok great. i'm with you for now--I just need to know what animals are in the area. I'll probably switch to video later on. I have a trophy elk tag and I want to assess the various opinions as to whether a 370-380" is going to be a possibility.

[bobcat]

The only bad thing about video is it takes a lot longer to look at all your videos than it does pictures. Well, actually one other disadvantage is it will suck your batteries down a lot quicker.

[Bean Counter]

I'm going to stick with standard batteries for now. I'll consider rechargeables or an external pack next year or thereafter. One step at a time