We all love running cameras through the summer, I don’t think there’s any question about that but running them effectively and efficiently through the summer is an evolution. We want to help shorten your learning curve of running trail cameras through the summer months with some of the tips and strategies we’ve learned over the years of running a massive amount of cameras. Let’s GOOO!
Utilize Scrapes There’s a lot of people who only think about scrapes during the fall but the truth is scrapes are used by whitetails year round. While deer may not be using their hooves to dig out the ground or even urinating in the dirt they still are using the licking branches. With that said running cameras on scrapes through the summer months can definitely provide some intel for bucks you plan to hunt come fall.
Insect repellant One of the biggest reasons why some folks do not run cameras through the summer is worry of damaged cameras. This can come from flash flood events if you have cameras in or around creeks and other low lying areas and then the big one is insect infestation. While the concern is definitely valid, there are some really easy precautions to eliminate this worry.
In flood prone areas you can elevate your sets to give you some additional insurance and then the obvious is to just watch the weather for any major rain events.
When it comes to insects, the easiest solution and something we’ve preached over the last several years, is the use of permethrin. You can spray your camera straps and even spray it on the tree around the camera. Permethrin will last well over a month on fabric. When you are out pulling cards or changing batteries you can reapply once throughout the summer and be good until fall.
Eliminate False Triggers We all hate false triggers. It’s one of the most frustrating experience you can have as a trail camera user and often times summer months are the worst because of the harsh lighting contrasts, summer storms, and the explosion of vegetation.
So to combat false triggers you can do the following items - Avoid harsh lighting contrast. Point your cameras North when it’s applicable. - Clear vegetation in the cameras detection area - Keep your camera above ground vegetation - Lower the PIR sensitivity on your camera Learn More about False Triggers: https://bit.ly/FalseTriggers
Let Them Soak Let your cameras run and do their job. If you’re still running standard non cellular trail cameras, running out and checking them every week is working against you. Let the deer and wildlife acclimate to the camera. Not only are you going to get better and more accurate trail camera data but you’ll also save yourself time. To do this you have to make sure the set it on point before you leave….make sure you have the correct settings, proper power, proper SD card, and the camera location is right. Otherwise when you come back in a month you’ll be cussing yourself out for listening to me.
Avoid Harsh Lighting for Better Photos Personally photo quality isn’t that big of deal for me but in the same breath I do get frustrating if I have to look at photo or video and try to guess on what the buck actually is. And I also know photo and video quality is something that a lot of people do care about. The fact of the matter is” general speaking” there isn’t that big of a gap in photo quality between cameras. Yes some are definitely better than others but how you set the camera up has more to do with the outcome than you think.
For better day photos avoid direct sunlight at the camera and those harsh lighting contrasts. At nighttime look for opportunities for camera sets that provide a background for retro reflection. Better Nighttime Photos: https://bit.ly/BetterNightTimePhotos
Limit Your Footprint Ask any successful whitetail hunter what the most important variable is and 99% of them will say pressure. Human pressure changes the behavior of whitetails, plain and simple. Pressure in the summer is no different than pressure during the season. Whitetails don’t have calendars, they don’t know season dates, the only thing they know is their instinct to stay alive.
Keep your non cellular and short term cameras out of areas that are high impact. These locations look like inside corners of ag fields with easy access, they could be mineral site locations, creek crossings, any place where you won’t be a major disturbance.
