Questions re: trail cams spooking "the big one"

[swordtine]

Hey all,

Just a quick question for those of you who may have experienced a similar scenario..

So I am wanting to hang trailcams near my tree stand set-ups to dial in their patterns, but am a little nervous that this may turn away some of the older, wiser bulls from continuing to use these specific spots...

I am wondering if anyone has some good advice/experience with this problem because I have noticed a couple of the biggest bulls I have ever got on camera have acted very wary of the camera once they notice it. Basically, I want to do everything I can to pattern them in the spots close to where I want my treestands, but don't want to do it at the cost of spooking them out of these specific spots as far as their travel routes/routines...

What's your guys' experience with the wiser bulls wariness and trail cams spooking them (I don't currently have any "no-glow" or "blackout" cams FYI) ??

thanks in advance!!

[PlateauNDN]

Depends which side of state. On the eastside, I'd say if you're finding them on cam now then they will be in a different spot come fall as they depart their bachelor groups in search of cows.

[swordtine]

Thanks for the response, Plat...I'm talking primarily about the Wet-side;

Bachelor groups or no, I've seen some good evidence that some of the bigger bulls tend to shy much more away from areas where they've seen a trail cam..but I'd really like the additional scouting/info from having cams there through this summer!   

[skeeter 20i]

One question that comes to mind is:  Are they shying away from the camera or are they shying away because you are checking the camera too often?  How often are you in there checking your camera?

[jackelope]

I wouldn't expect it to be an issue that they've "seen a trail cam". I mean, they're not going to see that camera and think... "oh crap, there's a trail cam".

IR flash?

I've had the same large bulls on the same cameras from June till November multiple years and multiple bulls. Everything from cows and calves to spikes and raghorns to 400" bulls.

[jackelope]

One question that comes to mind is:  Are they shying away from the camera or are they shying away because you are checking the camera too often?  How often are you in there checking your camera?

Checking too often, populated area, bright flash, human scent, bait they don't like, etc.

[skeeter 20i]

One question that comes to mind is:  Are they shying away from the camera or are they shying away because you are checking the camera too often?  How often are you in there checking your camera?

Checking too often, populated area, bright flash, human scent, bait they don't like, etc.

I've made that mistake of going in too often and it, for lack of a better explanation, muddies up the area.  I've changed some animals behavior more than the camera did I suspect.

[jackelope]

I think once a month is a good number. You might be ok doing once every 2 weeks if you're careful about the impact you're having.

One of the areas I had a camera in in the past is an area that has pretty regular farm traffic. I think if the traffic is regular, it will condition the animals to be more ok with it.

[emac]

One thing that I have done that seems to help is i leave a unwashed shirt that I have worn around my trail cam to keep my scent in the area. And it seems the animals get use to it. I usually check mine every 2/3 weeks. Depending on how hard they are hitting it. I have had to do it weekly when they are hitting it hard. I haven't noticed any change in their patterns or mudding up the area

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[ML_Hunter]

If your setting the cameras now, you should be good to go. I pack in a sent eliminator spray as well and once its placed i spray down everything I had touched in the area. I often have to trim a branch or two as well, so I'll take the branch (typically a fir tree) and rub the limbs on my camera along with the general area I was working in.

I've had elk and deer look directly at the camera, walk up to it, lick it, and be back the next day.

[jackelope]

This one is in a lock box stuck to a T fence post in the middle of a wide open CRP field.
They're 15-20' from it.

[coachcw]

If I was hunting a giant I wouldn't leave any scent , theres a reason he got big.

[emac]

This one is in a lock box stuck to a T fence post in the middle of a wide open CRP field.
They're 15-20' from it.

I know those elk haha

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[swordtine]

Thanks everyone for the responses, appreciate all of the good info!! Great pics as well. ^ that bachelor herd is real fun to look at. And that's good advice on the scent Coach, thank you.


I think that pretty much answers my questions, thanks to all. If I can find some pics I'll post up examples of elk that I've seen spook from cams..I now believe that it was mostly due to being scared by the flash, but I'm not taking any chances on the couple big ones i've been watching for this year.

[grundy53]

I've never really had them shy away from the camera. They get used to it. I have tons of pictures of bulls really close to my cameras. I even had one stick an eye guard through the sensor once.



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[Bango skank]

Ive never seen any indication of cams spooking elk, but if youre worried about it then hang the cam up about 12 feet

[Bean Counter]

The notion of wiping the camera off to remove human scent before leaving the site is kinda silly to me. More times than not I get my elk on camera chewing on my cords, cables, locks, and even the box itself. Its not a bear box--its an elk box 

[jackelope]

This one is in a lock box stuck to a T fence post in the middle of a wide open CRP field.
They're 15-20' from it.

I know those elk haha

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Yes you do. And you know where the camera was.