Questions for the Trail Cam users

[Chasinracks]

In your experience, would using a trail cam with a flash scare those animals and never go back to that spot again?

Second question is, if the cam captures them at night(if you have an infra red instead of flash), do they hang out around the vicinity during hunting hours?

Lastly, did it help you get your game this year?!!!

Thanks in advance for your input!

[Ron.C]

In general I think no, but who knows how every deer will react. Last year, I got 6 pics of the same blacktail buck in a two week period. I know it was the same buck as he was a fork on one side, and a spike on the other. Two pics were taken with the deer facing the camera with the flash on.

[Jagermeister]

First question. In my experience, the flash does not seem to bother them.
2nd question. It depends where you place your camera. Some are just traversing trails which the animals just pass through. Other areas are where the animals congregate. Basically, if you are getting multiple photos of the same animal, then it is hanging around the vicinity and could be quite probable. I have a preference for flash because it gives a good color photo. The downside of flash is the limited distance it can be used. Of course, you could use slave flash to increase the light. Another downside of flash is that when it goes off, 2 legged critters have a better chance of locating it. IR is distance limited too, but not to the extent of flash. I'm not that impressed with IR photos because of color rendition which is lost. The up side of IR is the lack of a brilliant light going off to identify it's location.
Last question. No, I did not hunt this year, but I do not rely on trail cams, I just like to play around with them. I think that they are an effective scouting tool but only in areas not scouted by someone else.

[UWAY Outdoors Canada]

1) I really think it depends on the set-up for cameras scaring animals and it depends on the animal. Also, I think noise from a trail camera will scare more deer than the IR or white flash together. If used on a bait, most deer will likely become conditioned to the camera; however, I have seen some definetly shy away from cameras based on the deers temperment. Secondly, if used on a trail, most deer seem OK, but some will shy from that spot over time. I have not used the White Flash type, but only "Red Glow" IR and "Black" IR. I have deer look at the "Red Glow" type all the time, but have not had deer look at the "Black" IR. Now whether "Red Glow" vs "Black" IR will capture more deer and consitently is up for study. I personally like the "Black" IR.

2) As for deer hanging out during hunting hours...I think this depends on the deer and area. In my hunting areas, I captured deer from June-Sept primarily during daylight hours. In Oct-Dec the deer primarily came by during night hours. They were in the area, but difficult to find during day.

3) Did it help me get my deer this year...yes and no. I could have shot many deer, but I wanted the mule deer and whitetail I had previously found on the cameras. I had been following the Mule Deer I shot this year since 2009 on trail camera. I have pictures of the Whitetail on trail camera from July until when I finally shot him on the last day of the season in Dec. Attached are a few pictures.

http://www.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/TC_1a.jpg
http://www.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/TC_3.jpg
http://www.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/WT_1.jpg
http://trailnsecuritycameras.ca/mule_deer_1a.jpg
http://www.trailnsecuritycameras.ca/mule_deer_5.jpg


In your experience, would using a trail cam with a flash scare those animals and never go back to that spot again?

Second question is, if the cam captures them at night(if you have an infra red instead of flash), do they hang out around the vicinity during hunting hours?

Lastly, did it help you get your game this year?!!!

Thanks in advance for your input!

[bearass]

I have tested to see if the flash scares the animals away, by setting up two camera's.One with a flash and one with infrared. I found some occasions when the flash would scare the elk, and would catch this with infrared video footage. Some animals care some do not about the flash. Keeping in mind most pics I have are of elk. I would suggest you go with a non flash camera.Lastly no it has no aided in my success but it sure looks like it has for scoutguard sweet pics and congrats.

[Chasinracks]

Thanks for the info guys! I think i'll be getting the IR. I've seen the 'white flash' advertised but wasn't sure if it's an IR or just a plain bright flash. Never heared of the 'black flash' before, it could be better yet if it doesn't get noticed by the animals.
By the way, nice pictures you got there Scout!