What is good trail camera activity?

[JohnD]

Hello all,
I'm a noob here... this is my first post. :-)
I just started bow hunting again last year after about 15-20 years off. I bought a permit to the Snoqualmie Tree Farm in 2013 and 2014 and have been moving one camera out there a lot. I finally found a couple of places with somewhat regular activity. Does most every day and a buck once or twice a week. Is that a good place to hunt? I've heard that if there are does, there will be bucks starting about now till after Thanksgiving. I just bought a second camera and am excited to see twice as many results but I sure would love to see more daily activity.

[BABackcountryBwhntr]

Thats good enough to hunt.. but you can find more active areas assuming the deer numbers are high.

[LeviD1]

If you have deer every day farely frequent at least mornings and evenings I would say thats decent to pretty good activity. Also though about 3 weeks ago I put out another cam on my property  and its about 120 yards away from where my feeder is that always has does on it and a couple small bucks that have been there since i bought the place in august. Thing is the same week I put that new cam up I have 3 new bucks 4x4 or better on it and the small ones also. The new bucks have never been on my other cam and still havent after 3 weeks but I get a picture of one of the 3 at least every day. I do not see the does as much on that cam though. I wouldnt have thought 120 yards made a difference but I gues it does. Another cam in another locations might just surprise you like it has me.

[jackelope]

Is the Hancock camera baited?
The bucks will be where the does are right now this time of year. If you're getting those results right now, I'd personally look elsewhere.
I think in order to judge blacktail activity on a camera, you need to compare apples to apples. Whitetails on a camera where a feeder is involved, etc is going to not even be in the same ballpark as blacktail activity even if it was baited.
I also believe that baits attract differently at different times of the year. I know this for sure really based on my cameras. Activity really dies off once the velvet comes off if you're only using salt for example.

[bobcat]

If you're getting blacktail deer pictures during legal hours, you're in a good spot! Most of my pictures are not. Except for the first two weeks of November. That's about the only time I get good blacktail bucks in the middle of the day.

[JohnD]

Is the Hancock camera baited?
The bucks will be where the does are right now this time of year. If you're getting those results right now, I'd personally look elsewhere.
I think in order to judge blacktail activity on a camera, you need to compare apples to apples. Whitetails on a camera where a feeder is involved, etc is going to not even be in the same ballpark as blacktail activity even if it was baited.
I also believe that baits attract differently at different times of the year. I know this for sure really based on my cameras. Activity really dies off once the velvet comes off if you're only using salt for example.

I have not tried baiting at all. I was thinking about getting a salt lick but have no idea if that would help. I guess it can't hurt.

[JohnD]

If you're getting blacktail deer pictures during legal hours, you're in a good spot! Most of my pictures are not. Except for the first two weeks of November. That's about the only time I get good blacktail bucks in the middle of the day.

I have had the camera in the same place off and on for almost a year and I get some of the same 2 point in the late afternoon and after dark. He seems to be gone now and other larger bucks that I have never seen are chasing does during the day... but it is early November. And only a couple of times a week.

[JohnD]

I get so excited when something is on my trail camera. I know my odds are slim to see a big fat buck in person compared to a trail camera but it's still really cool.

http://youtu.be/ipAcr9Q-vW0

[jackelope]

Is the Hancock camera baited?
The bucks will be where the does are right now this time of year. If you're getting those results right now, I'd personally look elsewhere.
I think in order to judge blacktail activity on a camera, you need to compare apples to apples. Whitetails on a camera where a feeder is involved, etc is going to not even be in the same ballpark as blacktail activity even if it was baited.
I also believe that baits attract differently at different times of the year. I know this for sure really based on my cameras. Activity really dies off once the velvet comes off if you're only using salt for example.

I have not tried baiting at all. I was thinking about getting a salt lick but have no idea if that would help. I guess it can't hurt.

I'll hazard a guess that salt won't do much for you. Especially not this time of year. Try some apples or pumpkins, a mock scrape, etc. Salt doesn't work as well on the westside as it does on the eastside, and even over east, they're not too interested in it this time of year.
Good luck, it's addicting.

[jackelope]

I get so excited when something is on my trail camera. I know my odds are slim to see a big fat buck in person compared to a trail camera but it's still really cool.

http://youtu.be/ipAcr9Q-vW0

That buck is a horse. Cool video.

[idahohuntr]

I get so excited when something is on my trail camera. I know my odds are slim to see a big fat buck in person compared to a trail camera but it's still really cool.

Its addicting! 

[Jonathan_S]

Is the Hancock camera baited?
The bucks will be where the does are right now this time of year. If you're getting those results right now, I'd personally look elsewhere.
I think in order to judge blacktail activity on a camera, you need to compare apples to apples. Whitetails on a camera where a feeder is involved, etc is going to not even be in the same ballpark as blacktail activity even if it was baited.
I also believe that baits attract differently at different times of the year. I know this for sure really based on my cameras. Activity really dies off once the velvet comes off if you're only using salt for example.

I have not tried baiting at all. I was thinking about getting a salt lick but have no idea if that would help. I guess it can't hurt.

Salt or bait might increase your activity but don't expect it to change it from nighttime to daytime.  Just my  :two cents:

I think you have a good general area right now   

[Skyvalhunter]

Salt block will help it will bring in does even this time of the year. Where there are does the bucks will come. I had some of my largest blacktail bucks this time of the year when the does came in to feed and the bucks followed. The Hancock holds some nice bucks that will be moving down. However a those big boys will be at the higher elevations until the rut is on.