AZ8 Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Set out my first trail cam on a well traveled game trail. Exicited to see some animals, only to find 4503 pictures of nothing!!!! Yes, that's 4 thousand!!! What the heck??? I got 4503 pictures of a patch of ground near Tonto creek! UGH!! Obviously, I made some mistakes...discovered it was set to 3 shot burst....one error I made. Any tips? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZLance Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Try adjusting the sensitivity of the motion sensor... 3 burst is a good option...make sure there is not alot of grass or branches directly infront of the camer to create false hits. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Elkhunter1 Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Try adjusting the sensitivity of the motion sensor... 3 burst is a good option...make sure there is not alot of grass or branches directly infront of the camer to create false hits. +111111 I have made all of the above mistakes. Each location will give you different headaches, also aim the cam towards the north so the sun doesn't blind the cam. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted December 24, 2012 any vegetation movement can trigger it to take pics....so just try and pics spots that won't have waving branches or grass in the view of the camera. I recommend keeping it on the 3 shot burst.....many times you can get better looks at bucks at different angles using three shot burst. Sometimes you also can get just the nose of an animal triggering the camera and then it steps into view, so the next two shots get it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ8 Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Ok thanks! I noticed as I was going thru them, a mesquite tree was swaying pretty good, so I'm guessing that was triggering it. So the 3 shot burst is ok. Good. Will check the sensitivity. The cam was facing north. Did get a couple coyotes and some foxes!! So not a total waste! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coach Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Also, I've found it's best to try and keep the camera in the shade facing North whenever possible. Sunlight directly in the lens and shifting shadows also trigger them, especially when facing toward the sun. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
'Ike' Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Yes, don't forget the sun... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted December 24, 2012 How long did you have the camera out? On cameras that I use, I keep the sensitivity on high and use three shot photo burst because I like to look at everything that might come in, from elk and bears to small birds and squirrels. I just posted a video of photos from a camera that was left out for a year. I always get some blank shots because of the wind, but have reduced those signficantly by thinking about where I place them. here is the video in case you didn't see it.....I think it's fun to see all the critters out there! Hopefully you will have just as much fun when you figure out what settings work for you! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oz31p Report post Posted December 24, 2012 There is definitely a learning curves. But it seems every time i check my cameras i find and correct a technique mistake. Every time the pictures get better and better. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JLW Report post Posted December 24, 2012 I think BML had some spiders hatch in his 1 time and the spiders crawled on the sensor setting it off and killing his batteries. some stuff is unforeseeable.... keep at it it'll come together. James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arn243 Report post Posted December 24, 2012 I like to use large capacity cards like 8 GB so if I have alot of vegetation I still have room for the good pictures. I have gotten as much as 10,000 pictures due to wind, Bugs, Birds, Spider webs and even my own strap flapping in the wind, it is a live and learn situation. Saddles always have high winds and you need to take in mind the range of your motion sensor along with the range of a night flash or infra red light. I have also made the mistake of putting a camera too high in a tree on a smaller branch and when the tree moves or sways, motion is detected. Practice makes perfect but the perfect tree is not always available Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted December 24, 2012 Also, April and May seem to be the worst months for wind, so if you skip those months you can cut out a lot of the problem windy days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ8 Report post Posted December 25, 2012 Thanks for all the tips! It sure is a learning curve. Amanda, the cam was out for 3 months.....but unfortunately my card filled up in just one week!! It was taking 3 pics every minute of the day until dark. Clearly the sun and shadows were wreaking havoc. LOL Another lesson I learned: I need a bigger SD card! haha Your video clearly shows you have everything going right with your setup. So time to try again! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Willyhunts2 Report post Posted December 25, 2012 Avoid strapping your cam to small trees. Even if there is nothing setting it off in front of the cam the tree can sway in wind and set it off. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seeker88 Report post Posted December 25, 2012 Not trying to take over his thread, but if anyone has any advice on this I'm sure it could help others out as well. I've had my game camera up for a couple of months and have gotten some great pictures of bucks, but every single one of them has been at night. I also only have a ton of does, but even then, very few times were they taken during the day. Are the deer in this area nocturnal during the hunting season, or is my camera just on the wrong side of the mountain? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
