Trail Cameras

Nebraska Outlander

Active Member
Sep 6, 2011
160
0
Who uses trail cameras to locate pattern mule deer? Where and what do you look for when placing your cameras? Looking at getting to set some in the areas I'm looking to hunt next year since I live 6 hours away would like to be scouting 24/7. Any tips would be appreciated.
 

TimberJunkie

Active Member
Feb 13, 2015
167
4
Central Point, OR
Interesting question. I have used trail cameras for mule deer several times. They are much less consistent than Whitetails or blacktails. It seems as the bucks would be there 2 or 3 days straight, then gone for 2 weeks and then back again for a few days. if you have the ability to throw salt down, they will come more consistantly. I hunt deer in the high desert of Oregon and missouri breaks of Montana. Both places have limited water depending on the year. Water holes are aleways a good bet, but finding a trail next to water to put the cam by is a better bet. fenceposts seem to work pretty well actually. In the late summer and early fall, mule deer seem to like grassy shady areas, so i have put cams in creek bottom areas with cottonwoods and brush. If you hunt them in September or October, they will likely be close to those areas. However by the time November hits, paterning Muley Bucks can be very tricky and frusterating, I have seen bucks move 3 miles in a day looking for hot does and not come back for a week. In mountainous high country type terrain, you will likley be able to isolate a buck to a single drainage or even a small area in thay canyon that makes finding them a little easier.

good luck, share some pictures we would all love to see them.
 

Roboz

Active Member
Mar 10, 2011
196
0
I have tried before and like everyone else says it is very difficult, one day they are there and the next couple of weeks nothing shows up, i have had better luck at water near oak brush in the early fall and summer. Got a new Bushnell, set it out and went back a week later and it took 1300 pictures in the first 2 hours it was there, i still don't have the confidence to put it out again.
 

Nebraska Outlander

Active Member
Sep 6, 2011
160
0
I talked to trail camera pro about the primos proof 2 and after talking to them it was the strikeforce or the proof 2 well they were sold out of the strikeforce so I bought the proof 2. It has a trigger speed of .22 and the reconx has .21 so I am hoping the proof will be good camera to set up on trails. I will use my older stuff to set up on water. Thanks guys for the info I'm looking for springs on Google earth to try to locate on the ground.
 

swampokie

Veteran member
Jul 29, 2013
1,166
93
46
Haworth Oklahoma
I feel your pain! I have 5 bushnells and 2 of them take scenery pics uncontrollably.
I have tried before and like everyone else says it is very difficult, one day they are there and the next couple of weeks nothing shows up, i have had better luck at water near oak brush in the early fall and summer. Got a new Bushnell, set it out and went back a week later and it took 1300 pictures in the first 2 hours it was there, i still don't have the confidence to put it out again.
 

Bitter24

New Member
Apr 18, 2015
15
0
I think a lot has to do with what state and what time of year for placement. Here in AZ during the early season June-Sept, I focus on springs and water sources mainly. Then come Dec I put them where the travel routes are for the rut, or where the does are hanging out at. Harder since mule deer typically "wonder" more vs say a whitetail. Though I have had luck, on rubs for mule deer. Though I would agree with what other guys stated best bet is water. Just my 2 cents
 

Travisitguy

Member
Sep 9, 2014
128
1
Bend, Oregon
I am looking into trail cameras as well and read that 2g service is being terminated by AT&T which will affect many Cameras that use this service. Anyone hear of whom will be producing the next gen camera's with the latest tech so images can be emailed and so forth reliably? I unfortunately run into time constraints that keep me from the woods as much as i would like thus the need for remote access.
 

badgerbob

Active Member
May 18, 2015
397
72
Eastern Oregon
you really need to have knowledge of your area before placing a trail cam. Put on your boots and find where animals are watering, where they feed and bed. Now look for the travel routes between these areas. Place the cam in a good spot and I like to get the sun behind the cam. I also like to pull the cards weekly because sometimes the critters nose it around and you will get a bunch of shots of a bush blowing in the wind. I remove all of the dead branches and taller grass in the shot zone. This makes for better night photos because the night flash will create white out off of these obstacles. I have a Browning and a Moultre, good luck with both. Battery life is great and so is the photo quality. Good luck. BB
 

NE69

Active Member
Jan 6, 2013
372
59
66
Southwest Nebraska
Outlander, did you have any success with getting some muley bucks on camera?

I haven't found much that works consistently in our crop/pasture mixed area. Disappointed in results and would like to do better job of seeing what is in the area. So far for me, time behind the glass is the best way to find out what is there. And the first 15 minutes and last 15 minutes of the day are worth more than everything in between.