Salvelinus
01-05-2017, 01:49 PM
I have never used trail cams before, but I'm thinking of catching some off-season sales and incorporating them into my hunting and scouting for next season and have been putting some thought into how to go about it. I have been concentrating most of my efforts the last few years around tree line or alpine, and it would be really nice to see the seasonal patterns of use for critters in the high country, especially in pinch points and trails that look like they are seasonal highways for game, or else around high use/feeding areas or good game trails to these during hunting season. I could take a pre-season trip into these spots early in the season, then check them in the hunting season and potentially battery swap so they last through the following year and can see the following spring just how late the deer and elk are up in the high country before moving down.
Any tips for set up or cameras that work well for this application?
Particularly, some things have come to mind:
- Since it's around tree line where the snowpack is huge, I'm assuming that there's a good chance they'd get buried in snow over winter, esp. if all that's around are larches where you don't get a tree well. Will getting buried in snow kill the camera? Would a lockbox weatherproof it some more? Seems like a good idea anyways to deter theft or a grizz knocking it down. Easy to pack a cordless drill in and hardware too. What's about the highest you can get away with mounting on a tree?
- Battery life and durability are probably the most important things to consider since I'd potentially check only once a year in the really remote spots. Solar might help, but seems like there are cameras out there that will easily run over a year anyways (trailcampro tests) so not sure if needed.
- Ideas of good sites so it gets animals migrating in and out of the high country. Some areas I hunt seem obvious, with heavy trails moving into and out of tree line but any tips for site selection or any success with getting animals that are on the move between summer and winter range?
- Timing also important if trying to get out there before the game move up. I was thinking of basically being on the heels of the snow line in late spring/early summer. Mostly elk (subalpine) and mulies where I'm hunting, but possibilities of goat or sheep as well.
- Getting your camera set up to get the best pictures.
- There are some spots I can think of that are above tree line that might work well. Anyone anchor lock boxes into rock to set up a camera, or have any other suggestions for setting up something where there are no trees?
Any tips for set up or cameras that work well for this application?
Particularly, some things have come to mind:
- Since it's around tree line where the snowpack is huge, I'm assuming that there's a good chance they'd get buried in snow over winter, esp. if all that's around are larches where you don't get a tree well. Will getting buried in snow kill the camera? Would a lockbox weatherproof it some more? Seems like a good idea anyways to deter theft or a grizz knocking it down. Easy to pack a cordless drill in and hardware too. What's about the highest you can get away with mounting on a tree?
- Battery life and durability are probably the most important things to consider since I'd potentially check only once a year in the really remote spots. Solar might help, but seems like there are cameras out there that will easily run over a year anyways (trailcampro tests) so not sure if needed.
- Ideas of good sites so it gets animals migrating in and out of the high country. Some areas I hunt seem obvious, with heavy trails moving into and out of tree line but any tips for site selection or any success with getting animals that are on the move between summer and winter range?
- Timing also important if trying to get out there before the game move up. I was thinking of basically being on the heels of the snow line in late spring/early summer. Mostly elk (subalpine) and mulies where I'm hunting, but possibilities of goat or sheep as well.
- Getting your camera set up to get the best pictures.
- There are some spots I can think of that are above tree line that might work well. Anyone anchor lock boxes into rock to set up a camera, or have any other suggestions for setting up something where there are no trees?