Trail Camera Competition

[mike martell]

Going to move the start of the competition thread back up to the Forum Photo Gallery

Thanks for all the input...Wished we could do a conference call but at some point, you just got to roll with it!

Thanks!

[LBell]

Mike the rules look great This should be fun if only i could find what the kids did with all my batteries.......

Unreal, thats a cool bull pic. A friend shot a nice bull a few years back came out weird like that but only for a little ways then turned and ran a main up and I think forked on top. He had a euro mount done and you could see where sometime before his antler/growth plate had been busted and turned and then where it had healed back solid. Pretty cool just a testament to how tuff they really are.

[mike martell]

Thanks Lance

This will be a starting point and adjustments can be made for the following year...I did have lots of interest and feed back and simply hope this fits best for most of the competitors involved...I'm checking out clb and his home made trail cameras, his supplier and the use of way fewer batteries has caught my interest...Mine use 6 D cell batteries and I can burn through a bunch real quick....I know some will not like the starting date but this makes for a real fair point for all to start...

Take Care!

Mike Martell

[jcutler]

I agree I think the setup looks great. Thanks Mr. Martell for taking the initiative and getting this going. And thanks to Buddy and DU as well.

[FullCryHounds]

Some tips for better trail cam pics. To help some of you that don't have as much experience with these things, here are a few tips to help get the most out if your cameras.
Use the highest MP camera you can afford. The difference between a 4MP cam and an 8MP cam is very noticeable.
Always set the camera up with the sun to the back of the camera.
Make sure there are no branches, leaves, etc in front of the camera that will move in the wind. This will help prevent hundreds of pictures of nothing.
Make sure you're date and time is set correctly, especially for this competition that you have to have you're pictures date stamped.
Make sure your camera is ON! I've set mine up before and came back only to find it was on but not set to take pictures. Test it out every time you set it. (This is more of a problem with several of the older models that weren't as user friendly as most are today.
If your camera has an SD card AND an internal memory, make sure the internal memory is turned off or you will not get any pictures. This was a problem with some Moultrie cams.
If your taking pics on public land, lock your cam, set the security code and don't leave tracks leading to your camera (snow). Don't use a chain to lock your cam, they can be cut too easily. Always use a cable, much more difficult to cut.
Have an extra card for you're camera so all you have to do is replace the card when you go to check your camera. That keeps the camera working all the time. Or take your laptop or iPad with you and immediately download your pics so you don't have to pull you're cam to look at the pics.
Feel free to ad any other ideas here if you have them, good luck everyone.

[mike martell]

Dean
Good advice...I find the trail camera to be a valuable tool and incorporated them into my bear management program...Just when I think I have all the answers about wildlife, I learn something new and these cameras help in this process, mainly by debunking some of my theories....Placement location is everything and Dean offers the best tips on how to prevent accidental firings and hundreds of blowing leaf shots....I like locations that are natural path ways for animals and find all animals like the path of least resistance for traveling and keep that in mind if you are on public ground, you place your equipment in easy locations for thieves. Food sources offer opportunity for camera placement going too or from...





Several years ago, I had a sow with twin phase cubs on one of my ranches and the above picture are twins and had a chance encounter with the sow when I walked up on her within twenty feet before we knew either of us were there...She sounded off and both her cubs treed while she pinned her ears back and proceeded to make short runs at me and a buddy...I kept my buddy from killing her since I knew this sow from previous encounters, it was tense for several minutes. I snapped a few pictures of her cubs in the tree from a new found safe location and captured the same bear on one of my cameras last fall as an adult...Over the last eight years, she has raised four sets of twins and the phase bear in the trail cam picture is one of these twins...I plan on making two location set ups and see what she has this spring-summer and will report my findings later on the other thread if I capture any pictures worth posting...One of these cubs had started out as a phase and transformed into a more black color and only due to the trail camera did I figure this out with a torn ear.



This is the same bear a few years later....Use this competition to advance your knowledge while making it a fun activity at the same time...I plan on keeping after trail cameras after I'm no longer able to follow the hounds...

I captured many bears using this same trail system going to and from food...This is not the normal finding but in an area loaded with game you would be surprised what you find..


One of my skid road location placements and the transformed phase color to black bear.


I ate too much....gimmmeee a push.............Hey bobo!

[Unreal_tk]

Food and water are big spots. For ungulates its all about the minerals! If you know where a rancher has salt out setup on it or nearby and you'll find deer and elk. I setup in timbered areas which are bedding areas that transition into a feeding or watering area.