Post by: Bookworm007 on March 14, 2013, 10:30:51 PM
The reason I ask is this spring break my brother and I are going to do some scouting and set up my new trail camera. I know to lock it up nice and tight and off the beaten trail. What are some other first time trail cam tips you guys have?
Post by: hunterrcc on March 14, 2013, 10:57:19 PM
What bait do you use in front of your cameras? I have heard of using mineral blocks from the feed store. What kind should I get?
The reason I ask is this spring break my brother and I are going to do some scouting and set up my new trail camera. I know to lock it up nice and tight and off the beaten trail. What are some other first time trail cam tips you guys have?
Apples/ontop of your mineral site will help them find it quicker. Trace mineral and salt bag loose bag about $7-9 at any feed store for 50lb bag. Dig up the dirt in a circle about 2'x2' and pour into dirt and cover with a little dirt or pour into an old log or stump that they can dig at for the minerals. It works great!
Post by: Bookworm007 on March 15, 2013, 07:52:59 AM
Do I want to set up that salt in a spot that will stay fairly dry? or is putting the small log over it enough to keep the minerals from washing away? Also how often do you generally have to refill a station of this type?
Post by: 100 grain on March 15, 2013, 07:55:56 AM
Post by: Bookworm007 on March 15, 2013, 08:05:50 AM
That being said this is my first time setting one up so everyone come poke holes in my plan please.
Post by: h20hunter on March 15, 2013, 08:26:39 AM
Post by: 400out on March 15, 2013, 08:42:02 AM
Post by: h20hunter on March 15, 2013, 08:42:30 AM
Post by: buckfvr on March 15, 2013, 08:56:24 AM
Post by: Bookworm007 on March 15, 2013, 09:07:06 AM
Buck: Okay so mineral blocks for now or the bag of minerals placed in the dirt. Would apples just the first couple times be good to attract the deer? One plus to the spot I plan to set up is I have seen a dozen deer using this trail......they were all does :bash: but where there are does there must also be bucks theoretically.... On the water source end of things. What do you mean by "water hole" as in do the deer prefer slower moving water or would a faster year round stream be sufficient?
400: Wow that is quite the stockpile!!! Did costco have a sale or something? :chuckle:
Post by: bobcat on March 15, 2013, 09:12:34 AM
Another quick thing that I think gets overlooked and will really help you get better pics all day.....try and get the cam facing north. You will get less glare and splash from the sun if it ever comes out.
Very often I have seen this same recommendation, and for fall/winter it would be correct. However in the spring and summer if you want your camera facing away from the sun, you'd want it facing south, not north.
From the beginning of spring to the end of summer, the sun rises to the north of due east, and it sets north of due west, and by quite a bit. For most of the month of June it is about 37 degrees north of due east or west.
So if you have your camera facing north, you'll have the sun shining directly into it in the morning and evening, which of course are the times when you'll get most of your wildlife pictures.
Here's a chart that shows the azimuth of sunrise and sunset in June.
(remember, due east is 90 degrees, and due west is 270 degrees)
Post by: bobcat on March 15, 2013, 09:19:59 AM
Post by: h20hunter on March 15, 2013, 09:25:06 AM
Post by: et1702 on March 15, 2013, 10:00:04 AM
As "Hunterrcc" recommends, use loose salt. Trace mineral type from a feed store. It will be red or reddish brown just like the Block salt. Don't really need to worry about keeping it dry. Deer and Elk will come and lick at dirt. I've had some spots for several years and always see activity in the spring at my old sites (i.e., before I start dropping more for this season). For deer and Elk, alfalpha cubes work great too. Again, feed store will have weed free cubes in 40 to 50lb bags. Easy to strap to the pack frame and haul into back country. I also get lots of bear pics in the summer time too.
ET
Post by: 400out on March 19, 2013, 05:45:04 PM
I remember you stocking up on that. Much left?YEah I'm sitting on about half
Post by: Transka on March 19, 2013, 06:32:37 PM
Post by: 400out on March 23, 2013, 10:09:52 AM
400 your still bragging about that purchase!well yeah! I would have more in stock if you didn't end up with some ;) :chuckle:
Post by: Maverick on March 23, 2013, 11:46:23 AM
Post by: jackelope on March 23, 2013, 12:43:20 PM
As "Hunterrcc" recommends, use loose salt. Trace mineral type from a feed store. It will be red or reddish brown just like the Block salt. Don't really need to worry about keeping it dry. Deer and Elk will come and lick at dirt. I've had some spots for several years and always see activity in the spring at my old sites (i.e., before I start dropping more for this season). For deer and Elk, alfalpha cubes work great too. Again, feed store will have weed free cubes in 40 to 50lb bags. Easy to strap to the pack frame and haul into back country. I also get lots of bear pics in the summer time too.
ET
Won't the alfalfa bring in rabbits if they're in your neighborhood?? You'll end up with hundreds of pictures of rabbits? Just a thought.
Post by: huntnnw on March 24, 2013, 10:03:16 PM
Post by: 400out on March 25, 2013, 07:43:35 PM
Post by: huntnnw on March 25, 2013, 10:25:43 PM
Post by: Fishmasterdan on April 07, 2013, 06:28:58 AM
Week one mineral trace. Little to no affect.
Week two. added salt blocks. Little to no affect.
Week 3 added 8 apples. Gone the first night and lots of pictures all does.
Week 4 added 12 apples. The deer are coming in eating the apples every couple of days. Have a new buck (tiny horns bulging).
My conclusion. Bait with apples in the spring for blacktails.
Post by: bobcat on April 07, 2013, 08:52:39 AM
Post by: huntnnw on April 07, 2013, 10:16:40 PM
Post by: Fishmasterdan on April 11, 2013, 05:37:21 PM
I put 2 cameras on one tree. The cheapy did not pick up anything while the better camera has 2 deer. 2 coyotes and some various possums.