Use a trail camera to track deer and other wildlife.
Hunting has changed significantly in the past several years. The availability of satellite imagery, GPS navigation and digital imaging has turned the woods into a year-round recreational destination. Hunters, with the use of infrared-triggered cameras -- also known as game cameras, deer camera, trail cameras, trail cams or scouting cameras -- have the ability to study the behavior patterns of wildlife and learn to predict the animals' movements. With a bit of planning, the outdoor enthusiast with a love for electronics can build his own trail camera installation.
Instructions
1. Choose potential camera locations. Hunters position cameras strategically along trails, at food plots or feeders, at scrapes and rubs, at salt or mineral licks. By monitoring deer or elk, hunters learn when they begin to grow their antlers, strip their velvet, drop their antlers, breed or fall prey to forest predators. Because deer will return to the same rutting sites, scrapes or mineral licks season after season, hunters can anticipate the locations where specific deer will be found. Trail monitoring with cameras has become an indispensable tool for many outfitters wishing to ensure their clients a successful hunt.
2. Compare camera models and options. When purchasing the components to build a trail or game monitoring camera setup, consider the setting in which the camera will be located and choose the model best suited for the types of photos you are trying to achieve.
3. Determine the motion range required for your installation. Infrared sensors used for scouting cameras are able to detect motion from 10 feet to over 100 feet away. Research sensors to determine how quickly they fire after triggering and their level of sensitivity to movement. What is the range of the camera flash? Determine the life of the batteries you will use in your camera setup. Battery longevity will determine how long your can leave your camera unattended.
4. Purchase a kit or order components for assembly. There are dozens of types of controller boards, Fresnel lens, weatherproof cases, digital cameras, cords, batteries and mounting hardware available from outfitting stores, online, or at local camera shops. Follow the manufacturer's package assembly instructions or follow the guidelines offered in installation manuals available online. A typical trail cam will be composed of a controller card, camera shutter and flash hole, flash gasket, gasket seal, optical glass, lens and lens holder. Research the market and choose the components or kit suitable for your assembly. Trail cam kits will have all the electronic components included for you to install. Camera, case and wiring are purchased separately. A case can be readily constructed from a recycled tackle box or metal first-aid kit. Any weatherproof case can be recycled as a trail cam case. Paint with camouflage colors prior to installation.
Tags: build trail, camera setup, deer will, mineral licks, scouting cameras, their antlers
