Trail Cameras: How to enjoy in the field

ENJOYING TRAIL CAMERAS IN THE FIELD

19 October

Hunting and Wildlife Magazine - Issue 216 Autumn

WORDS BY: TERRY AUSTIN

I started to consider the use of trail cameras back in 2011 after noticing some good stag marks in an area I had frequented over the years near the Southern Alps. I wanted to know more about what was about that I wasn’t actually seeing during a stalk. Trail cameras were starting to make their presence felt here in New Zealand for a variety of tasks such as farm security, Department of Conservation bird/pest monitoring and for outdoor enthusiasts and hunters like me.

My first trail camera purchase was made online in 2012 after comparing camera data with other similar products. I settled on the Ltl Acorn model that cost about NZ$300 for a basic model which was comparable to others in the same mid-range. Also, the Acorn cameras are rated weatherproof. I can now attest to this as being accurate. I have had all my Acorn cameras in rain and snow, and it was only recently that one camera decided enough was enough after many years of service. I now have five Acorns which have been various upgrades of the first model. My latest trail camera is another brand, the Browning model which has a nice easy menu and a compact size without losing picture quality. One thing I did make sure before purchasing was that they would take the common AA lithium battery. Some models don’t. My cameras take between 8-12 batteries depending on the model type. Most trail cameras take SDHC cards which is great for reviewing on my digital camera. Most recommend SD class 10 of 8 GB or more, especially when recording video. I generally use 16 GB cards. My Acorns are usually programmed for a three-photo burst, i.e., one after another when activated over a few seconds and then 30 seconds of video footage. A good combination I find but the user can vary this on the menu settings, which include a time elapse mode. Not all trail camera brands can do both photo/video in one session, some either have to be pre-set for taking photos or video only.  Though you can review on most trail cameras, I find this a bit tedious working with the menu functions on the Acorn models. It doesn’t help that I need reading glasses to read the tiny menu but that must be an age thing! There are pros and cons with each model, some have better functions, while some run good pictures but poor video. I decided after getting my fourth Acorn camera and comparing others online that video was still lagging behind in most trail cameras, but colour pictures were quite acceptable with black and white reserved for poor light/darkness. One positive aspect I was looking for and found in the Acorn models was an invisible flash known as ‘black flash’ with no glow. This meant that when an animal passed the target area of the camera lens there would not be an obvious white flash from the many infrared LED diodes coloured purple/black that might spook the animal. This feature is even more important if used for farm security, a person would not realise that they are being photographed/videoed with the no glow LEDs. 

One of the best places I found to set up a trail camera was where deer were known to frequent, like a well-used deer trail, wallow or clearing. Do your research first to minimise setting the trail camera in a dead area. Locating a tree in the right spot to attach the camera strap or screw in an attachment to support the camera body spot is always the hardest part. About one metre off the ground is standard and you need to take into account the ground sloping away, down-hill especially, otherwise you might just get a number of head shots or worse still a glimpse of tantalising antler. Once the trail camera is turned on to record, you usually have about 10 seconds or longer to get clear before the camera will start taking images.

There have been some funny, frustrating and surprising moments when reviewing the pictures on the SD card. One of those funny moments was when a red hind, with the camera on video mode, slowly walked up at night suspiciously eyeing and sniffing the lens. When the black flash went off, you could see through each eyeball. The deer ran away only to return to the camera for another photo session. Deer can be very curious. I find human scent does not appear to be a big factor with the trail cameras. I have had some deer walk close by on the same day I set the camera up but take a leak nearby and it will clear the area.

So how many deer have I taken with the rifle that were first seen on the trail camera? Well very few to date. During the velvet period more stags congregate together to feed in the same spot then move away to their own areas closer to the roar – I am talking about potentially big stags here. One time during the roar with a colleague, I shot a heavy timbered stag that later I compared to a photo from one of my trail cameras that showed him to be the same animal. I have also seen a good stag in hard antler from an earlier photo in velvet but mucked up the stalk. This has happened a few times over the years. I am hunting public land so other hunters share the area where stags I have seen previously may have been shot by another recreational hunter or WARO.  On another occasion one of my cameras recorded a three-legged hind in the snow. The following year about a kilometre away from the trail camera I saw it while hunting. I decided to take the animal having watched it for a while. Aside from a smaller left shoulder, she appeared in good health.

In the end using trail cameras for deerstalking or for other game species can become a hobby in itself and starts to consume a bit of time but also gives an appreciation of what is actually happening while you sit at home. You will also get a better understanding of deer habits and how far they move between areas, especially if they are seen on other trail cameras you have in the hills. It’s great fun.

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