Get the most out of trail cams

For several seasons we had trail cameras put out well ahead of deer season anticipating capturing deer. To put it mildly we had mixed results. Most of the time the shots were of deer behinds walking away from the camera.

In the process, I queried a friend of mine that uses a lot more cameras on his place a lot more throughout the season than we do. He immediately asked me if we were using cameras over a feeder.

Duh! So, now you know the rest of the story.

Camera stations

So, our registered trail camera expert at deer camp, Dr. Drew Dulaney of Byram, began creating feeder-camera stations last season. We had two battery powered spin feeders in place five feet off the ground on tripod legs. Away from the feeder stations, we attached a trail camera to a nearby tree. We immediately stated getting those “ah-ha” moments.

“When I pulled the data cards the first time and plugged them into my laptop back at deer camp, I could not believe the photos we had,” Dulaney said. “Frame after frame were filled with does, small bucks, bigger bucks, numerous raccoons, a bobcat, a coyote, and a couple wild city dogs we see on the property from time to time. It was cool.

“The season before last I caught 10 bucks on one series of photos on a mowed field we call ‘Dove Field.’ There were a couple of pretty nice 8-point bucks on several of the frames. I never would have believed it, but later that season, I managed to take one of those 8-pointers.”

Proper set up 

Putting up a feeding station with a camera nearby is really no rocket science, but there are a couple tips to follow. Make sure the feeder is off the ground and keep fresh batteries in the spin-cast mechanism or get a solar panel for power.

You can pour a sack of corn on the ground, but first must obtain a permit from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks, good for 21 days. The feed must be removed 10 days prior to hunting.

Camera set up is critical. The camera must have the feed spread in focus, but mounted so the southern sun is not directly in the camera lens. Place the camera far enough away from the feeder so you can capture a wide-angle view of the feeding wildlife.