When to use Trail Cams?

[HDwild]

When do you guys put up trail cams and when do you go check/retrieve them?

I use them as mostly another hobby, they have yet to aid me in killing a game animal, I just really enjoy seeing what’s out there. However, I’d love to start using them in areas I plan on hunting. I’m just not sure of the best time to set them in order to actually help me find and kill.

Thoughts?

 

[ianpadron]

I dump most mine once the high country is accessible, typically early June, and pull them 1 week before the archery opener, last week of August

 

[SouthernCharm]

Where and what are you targeting? Elk, trail cameras only show wintering and summer, not archery as much nor fall hunt. Texas whitetail corn feeder, all year. I run cameras all year, but move them. Currently on south facing slopes for bear. I’ll hunt other slopes, then check those for hits and maybe move those to others. Later, I’ll do ridges and saddles to see what critters are using them and what time of day and direction. Lots and lots of variables.

 

[HDwild]

Where and what are you targeting? Elk, trail cameras only show wintering and summer, not archery as much nor fall hunt. Texas whitetail corn feeder, all year. I run cameras all year, but move them. Currently on south facing slopes for bear. I’ll hunt other slopes, then check those for hits and maybe move those to others. Later, I’ll do ridges and saddles to see what critters are using them and what time of day and direction. Lots and lots of variables.

Good point, mostly targeting September elk and October mulie bucks.

 

[ianpadron]

Where and what are you targeting? Elk, trail cameras only show wintering and summer, not archery as much nor fall hunt. Texas whitetail corn feeder, all year. I run cameras all year, but move them. Currently on south facing slopes for bear. I’ll hunt other slopes, then check those for hits and maybe move those to others. Later, I’ll do ridges and saddles to see what critters are using them and what time of day and direction. Lots and lots of variables.

Elk are in the same zones from green up until snow is too deep around here, certainly no change by archery season.

 

[SouthernCharm]

Elk semi easy, find where the cows are concentrating for feed and or water. The bulls will find them. Oct mule deer is hard. Depending on your state, hit remote alpine and far away, they have moved from summer pattern and staging for migration. I would look more to the north facing slopes for feed or maybe a spring. Mule deer for Oct hunts are hard but doable. They will be somewhere in the same basin as summer. Place cameras out in spring, check back last summer to see if something catches your eyes. Hope that helps. You’re finding the pattern. Good luck.