Trail camera-How close is too close?

[longbow fanatic 1]

Can a trail camera cause deer to change their trail use? I have a small Wildlife Innovations camera and was wondering if anyone has noticed deer change their patterns due to camera placement, if the camera is placed too close to the deer trail. I've noticed the deer are well aware of the camera's location, however, they don't seem alarmed by it.

[Mint]

I saw an article on the web where they had video going on the trail cams and they found out some deer were scared of the camera and took off after their picture was taken. They said putting your camera up at about six feet high solved that problem.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Just like the article on the web your over thinking it. We've been running cams flash and IR since 05 never put a cam more then 4ft of the ground if your spooking deer it's not because your to close. There jumpy animals and spook them selves half the time just run the cams and enjoy the picks, stop believing everything they tell you. Let the cams tell you!

Tracy

[creekwood]

How close is too close? I do think IR (no flashes) cameras are helpful to not alarming deer at night.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

I miss the old flash cams and just got two of my old ones back out, man they take much better pictures I hate the black and white night time picks.

 

 

From what we've seen they are more spooky around the IR cams around here most of the time. On scrapes they never even look at the flash cam, IR you bet but it still dosent bother them. Even the B/C bucks

I like the up close and personal picks      

 

Tracy

[Wannabe1]

I think those pics pretty much answer the question for me!   :D

[longbow fanatic 1]

Originally posted by Wannabe1:
I think those pics pretty much answer the question for me!    :D  

X2

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Same close up buck at night he was a camera hog!

 

Yep, flash cams scare them, lol! A few other bucks

 

 

 

 

 

I'm glad I still have those flash cams around to use. Don't get me wrong we have our IR cams too they will get plenty of use to. I just like the color picks better

Tracy

[creekwood]

This is what this coyote thought of my camera.  

[Mint]

I don't know if you can compare Kansas unpressured deer with pressured deer. Pressured deer are a whole nother animal for sure. Amost a different species.
When I hunted Kansas I could have done jumping jacks in my stand and the deer wouldn't notice while here on Long Island the deer will pick you up a forty yards if you move an inch. The deer are wired here and they do react.

[Sawpilot 75]

In my opinion all Mature bucks have different personalities and should be perused accordingly. Some may react to a close cam and some may not. They all have common ground when it comes to survival instincts etc. But I have never hunted two old deer the same way. I am very conservative as well when it comes to hunting old deer. I don't use scent or call much or use cams much. I rely on sign on go with that. Probably why I have never killed a Booner..    

[doeboy]

Scent control while checking cams is super important. I have thousands of pics from all types of cameras and have seen zero change in patterns. Always wear rubber boots, spray the camera when im done and never linger around.Always check cams on off times not to spook deer. Grab the S card, change batteries and check the pics at home.

Red

[Tree Killer]

Originally posted by doeboy:
Scent control while checking cams is super important. I have thousands of pics from all types of cameras and have seen zero change in patterns. Always wear rubber boots, spray the camera when im done and never linger around.Always check cams on off times not to spook deer. Grab the S card, change batteries and check the pics at home.

Red

Scent control???  I pee on posts to attract the bucks and get them to rub their antlers in front of my cameras!        Check out these videos...

     

   

[hnt2mch]

 

 

[juneaulongbow]

Tree Killer, that Blacktail is awesome! I miss my Sitka blacktails from when I lived in Juneau.

[elkken]

The only thing my old flash camera scared was my hunting partner, he truly believed they scared the deer ... yet I have hundreds if not thousands of pictures from them ...    

[elkken]

[jonsimoneau]

I'm with you Tracy. The old flash cameras spooked less deer than the IR ones. The red light on the IR cameras stays on too long. Not only that but the full color pics of the flash cameras are so much better. I believe Covert might have a new flash camera out.

[tracker12]

KS Trapper
Moultire M880C is a white flash camera and takes great color photos at night.  Someone finally realized that IR is not all that is wanted.

As for the OPquestion.  I have never a problem with my camera spoking deer.  They do notice the clunk of some models.  But that usually helps in a good profile picture.

[mwosborn]

I agree with Muzzy.  Deer are like any other species in that they have a variety of "personalities".  Most deer get use to the flash and it doesn't seem to bother them.  With that said I have observed one particular doe walk down the trail and when she nears the camera, she walks out and around it - off the main trail.  I have seen her do it several times.  Just wonder if there are others that do the same thing that i have not seen?