How long do you let your cameras soak?

[jrebel]

I went to a new location (Public land) and found some heavily traveled trails.  I followed them to a natural choke point and placed a deer block and camera.  Species I expect to catch are mule deer and maybe a bear / cougar.  How long would you leave it before checking on it?

Thanks

Johnny

[Button Nubbs]

i leave mine 2 or 3 weeks.

[bobcat]

A lot of times when I first set up a camera, I like to go back in a week and check it. Just to see if the set up is good, and the animals are centered in the picture. Once I'm sure it's producing good pictures, then I like to check them every two weeks, at the most. I think three weeks is better, but often I don't have the patience to wait that long. I've noticed that a lot of times, I don't get any pictures the first two or three days, and I think that's because of the human scent factor. That's why I feel a week is not enough time.

[jrebel]

Bobcat

Fatastic advise.....and trust me it is hard to be patient.  I work the next two days so that will be easy....after that I will have to find things to keep me busy for a few more days, just to keep my mind off it. 

[bobcat]

What you need is to have several cameras out at once in different locations. I have six out right now and it seems I always have at least one that needs checked when the weekend comes around. If none of the cameras need checked then there is always one that is only in a mediocre spot, so I go out and scout for a better spot, and when I find the time I move it to the new location. They keep me pretty busy and that's how I like it. I don't think I could handle only having one camera out at a time, and having to wait three weeks for new pictures. 

[carpsniperg2]

When I use cameras I check them around 4-6 days because I get a ton of pics and the cards will fill up or batteries die.

[huntnnw]

lots of variables... what can the camera hold for images? how long do batteries last? over feed? salt? or just a trail? is there lots of game in the area?  My cams over feed in whitey country get checked once a week due to the high volume of pics. I have left cams in Mt's for Long periods..bad thing is if they unexpectedly die or a bear,elk moves it and now it has been sitting and doing nothing for a long period.

[bobcat]

I typically only get 20 to 30 pictures a week with my cameras, so filling up the memory card is not an issue. That's why I like to let them go three weeks. However if the batteries are getting low I will check more often to be sure I don't have one sitting out there for a week or two not getting any pictures.

[jrebel]

The camera will hold 8000 pics and is in an area I expect will get low to moderate use.  The batteries should last 6 months (bushnell).  I am looking for the big bucks that use the area so I can set a stand.  It is over a deer block and next to a stream.  There are multiple trails that lead to this stream crossing so I may get more pics than I expect, but they are mule deer and they kinda wonder.

Bobcat

I need to buy more cameras.  I can already tell I'm addicted.

[wilywin]

Well from my driveway to where my camera hangs is 220 miles i let em go for a month or so! Altho i am heading over this weekend to check it and its been hanging since June 9th!  almost 60 days!  My longest soak so far!  We shall see!!!

[piledup]

If you really feel the need to go check it then just go ...but I'd wait at least a week before I go check it.

I think the human scent doesn't matter much this time of year because the animals know we can't do anything to them right

But I've put out my trail cam before and had animals come that same day after I left the area.

[TheHunt]

My cousin put up three cameras on our relatives property to see what was there.  Lock boxes were used and put mineral salt etc...  There were people on the property with "No Tresspassing" signs all over the place.  I ended up printing the pictures of the individuals and went knocking on the doors below the property to see who they were.  Sure enough a neighbor friends using their place as an access point. 

Interesting conversation that followed but with out those cameras we would not have ever known.

[RuttinWapati]

Not trying to Hijack this thread but I thought it was related to the main topic.

If I'm rifle hunting elk, do I remove my camera's before bow season begins?

(on the West side)

[alwinearcher]

I usually check my cameras once a week sometimes I will wait 2 weeks if it is a new spot or a high country location with less traffic..
I dont like leaving cameras for long sets because there are to many things to go wrong.. Bears, batteries, formatting error on the SD card, ect, ect and if I leave a camera 3 weeks only to check it and find it failed on day 1.. That's 3 weeks of scouting time
I can never get back

[brianmtsinc]

I like to give them 2 - 3 weeks, but it does suck when you go back 3 weeks later and find out that on day one and elk moved it or there was a malfunction (SD card / batteries / etc)... plus I just get too anxious to see what is happening!

I just returned from checking mine and had 864 great pics!  The problem was that on day #1, a bull moved a bungee cord and covered the bottom of the lense, so 700+  pics are all cut in half  ....