Game cam tactics

[Lonnie]

What do you guys look for in a good game cam set up. And explain how you set your cam up.

I usally walk locked logging roads and look for crossing where the elk are making lots of tracks, then head off in the brush and look for a clear spot that I can get good pics off my game cameras.

I have learned in the past not to point my game cam into the sun that's east and west. I also carry 550 cord because the straps they give you don't always go around the tree that best fits where you will get good pics.

So let's hear what you guys look for in those prime game cam set ups.

[WapitiTalk1]

If you have the ability to hunt "early" in the year, say end of AUG - very early SEP, wallows are good but for the most part, wallows die out after early SEP. Water points in obvious hot/not so much water available areas, can be money. Known travel routes, escape routes, trail crossings/intersections, saddles between two major draws (love the saddles, the bulls like to hang there and locate bugle while the cows are digging the rare flat ground; remember, elk love flat ground in otherwise steep areas for many reasons), and obvious feeding areas are good also. Gotta play the odds and place cams where the elk are known to travel/hang out. What I've had superior luck with is throwing out a few mineral bricks and, digging some water softener pellets into the ground and/or putting said pellets under some big rocks at the site (makes them work at it and the pellets last a bit). Bring a couple of tree steps with you when you set up your cams and get em up off the ground! That helps prevent snoopy yogi's from screwing with your cams and keeps at least "some" thiefs from getting your cams.

[Swede]

I agree with RJ's approach, but you can set cameras out for the rut period. Watch trails especially where some come together. Elk travel around in mid to late September and cover a lot of ground. If you set up on a trail, use your cameras with the fastest trigger or have the cams facing up or down the trail.

[Lefty]

That helps prevent snoopy yogi's from screwing with your cams ,......

Bears really do find cameras. I had one get chewed up enough last fall it was done for. Hight hasn't stopped little Boo-Boo from climbing the trees after them. Im building a metal box and placing my one cam on a metal pole

[olympushunt]

I actually have elk screw with my cameras far more than bears. Although bears will mess with them (aka eat them) the elk are very curious and will push them and nose them around.... a lot. So for many reasons I prefer metal boxes that bolt to the tree from the inside. A nice pad lock on the box and you are set. I build my metal boxes from 60 amp A/C disconnect boxes you can get at Home Depot for $7.54, just take out the guts and they work well for my smaller cameras. My bigger cams require a bigger disconnect box.
I rarely put cams on trails that cross a road..even an old logging road. Even 200 yards off the road is risky. That is a great way to have the two legged critters get them. My father in law had that happen. People tend to see a trail and follow it for a ways to see if it goes anywhere.
If I am not being lazy I prefer to put them up a tree and point them down. I keep a few screw in steps in my pack. I have had people walk right by not knowing they were there. If you put them on a trail put them parallel to the trail so there is more "trigger" time. Check to make sure the sun angle won't give you trouble (sometimes it takes just experience in that spot) and check to see there are not a bunch of limbs or grass that will trigger it when the wind is blowing. Lastly make yourself a small kit that goes in your backpack for dealing with your cams. Extra batteries, keys for your locks, extra SD cards, tools to remove camera boxes and a SD card viewer. Nothing is more frustrating getting to your cam and not having what you need.

[lamrith]

In terms of physical hardware here is what I recommend for when you go out scouting and to setup your cams.

Get yourself a bunch of these, one for each camera. They make installation a breeze, and allow you to mount high off the ground and angle to get pictures of what you want.
https://www.amazon.com/Slate-River-Game ... B004CR1T5M


Then get some climbing steps, either the bar ones that strap to a tree or the screw in kind. I find that 3 screw ins work for me and are small/light to carry. Me being tall helps also. Goal is to get yourself a few feet off the ground, then using the above mounts install the mount as high as you can reach.

Doing these things helps in a number of ways.
1. Less cow/calf nose pictures. I mean I am all for healthy elk herds, but need to start charging for all these Dr visits and scans...
2. Less chance of two legged mischief. out of reach, out of sight. so more likely to be there when you come back.
3. Less issues with sun direction, since the cam is pointing down, still have to be mindfull though.

[ishy]

If you have the ability to hunt "early" in the year, say end of AUG - very early SEP, wallows are good but for the most part, wallows die out after early SEP.

I hear this all the time-maybe the wallow I've been watching is an anomaly, but I'm pretty sure I have a minimum of one of the better bulls of the year will hit it the last week of September. I think it gets a tad better after the first week and then doesn't have a regular drop off in over all numbers of elk till October. I'll dig up some evidence when I get my home computer back to life-it's been circling the drain for 3 about weeks.

[Swede]

Wallows can be used throughout the archery season and beyond. The usage drops off quite a bit after about September 7th. Still elk drink so sitting at a water hole with a wallow can be productive.

[oldnovice]

I use something similar to these that I got at Cabelas: https://www.amazon.com/Moultrie-EZ-Tree ... mera+mount