elk messing with trail camera

[ridgefire]

Has anybody ever had a problem with elk messing with your trail camera? I went and checked one of mine this weekend and the elk beat the heck out of it. I have pictures of them licking it and a couple with a hoof right in front of it. They managed to spin it 180 degrees and work it open. I am certain it was not a person and pretty certain it was not a bear. I had like 2400 pictures in two and a half weeks. Thinking i need to hang it higher.

[Woodchuck]

Like this?

[Bean Counter]

Yes, elk will do it, a lot. I have tons of pictures of eyeballs and antlers filling almost the entire frame. Its funny that some say to wipe it down before leaving the area to remove human scent so it doesn't scare away the elk 

[Jonathan_S]

It is crazy how hard they push with their noses.

[WapitiTalk1]

Yes sir, I have a good handful of elk snouts, tongues, eyeballs, ears, antlers, shoulders, etc., on trail cams.  The trick is to place your cameras higher than elk eyeball level whenever possible.  Carrying a few tree steps or even one section of climbing stick with you when cams are put out is the key.  This also helps prevent other types of critters from messing with you cams.  To get the proper angle downward, you can either just place some sticks behind the top/back of cam, or, take some pre-made pine wedges with.

     

[BULLBLASTER]

I have one that is all gnawed on by elk. All the corners are rounded over and gnaw marks all over it.

[greenhead_killer]

ive had this problem and built a log wall in front of the cam to keep them off it.

[huntingfool7]

I have video of one licking the camera while there is another one in the background working over a No Trespassing sign.

[fishnfur]

A couple of years ago I happened to be talking to the DNR wildlife biologist about elk rubbing saplings to death during mid-winter, when you wouldn't expect them to be rubbing at all.  He compared young bulls to teenage boys - "they just like to break trees and tear them up for fun", just working off some nervous tension.   I've also had many, many videos of elk licking and eyeballing the cams as well, and several of just the cams being pushed around by some unknown force.   They're mostly limpers around here. so I quit trying to capture them on cams.  Too depressing.

[buglebrush]

Yes sir, I have a good handful of elk snouts, tongues, eyeballs, ears, antlers, shoulders, etc., on trail cams.  The trick is to place your cameras higher than elk eyeball level whenever possible.  Carrying a few tree steps or even one section of climbing stick with you when cams are put out is the key.  This also helps prevent other types of critters from messing with you cams.  To get the proper angle downward, you can either just place some sticks behind the top/back of cam, or, take some pre-made pine wedges with.

     

 . I also screwed a lock box into a tree for one of my cameras. 

[BIGDOG253]

Never had any elk mess with mine, but I have lost two cams to bears chomping down on them 

[_DarkTimber_]

They have managed to get my cam open and pushed around the tree so your not the only one haha


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[grundy53]

Elk are the worst. I've had them spin my cameras. I've had them lick them. I've had them kick them.  I've even had a bull poke one of his eye guard's right through the sensor .

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[Old Man Yager]

I have a lot of close ups, antlers, noses, eyeballs, and asses. Had mine knocked loose. Deer don't seem to bother it, but the elk sure do

[Antlershed]

Just checked my cams after a month long soak. I've had elk up close and personal with cameras before, but none quite this bad. I got the following three shot series of a cow who managed to find the camera strap, after her boyfriend pushed the camera around with his antlers. 

[Bigbuckoholic]

I just checked a cam today that I've been battling cows rotating the camera. I put that thing about 12 feet up on the tree this time angled down. If they some how touch it again I give up haha.

[Dan-o]

Somewhere I have a series that I've posted here before.....   Cow elk walking toward camera.....licking camera.....   nosing camera...... knocking camera (on stake) over.......   dropping elk pellets on camera.    There's literally a shot of the sphincter opening.... and then a shot of pellets on the way down......

[elkrack]

I've got a five point bull that is in love with my camera!

[hoyt2002]

Mine was beaten on this year abit. When I got to the cam on my last check it was open and had elk hair in it and on it. I did get a picture of the suspect. Elk and bears mess with them a lot.

[Quackwhacker]

Elk and bears are definitely the worst. I spray all mine with scent blocker now. Seems to help alot.

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[Fish4Fun]

So what is it about the trail cams that the elk like ?  I have all of the pictures everyone is talking about, I have one velvet antlered bull that makes his tines look like an X-Ray of it. Pictures of the lens all steamed up from them breathing on it. I was curious if it is the in fared flash or maybe the smell of the batteries   

Sure it puzzling though, I have the cams bolted to the tree or I think they would have knocked it off already.