Winter Trail Camera Setups

With deer season coming to a close, it may be tempting to pull your cameras and store them until next season.  However, I enjoy knowing what’s going on during the entire year, including the predators that roam the location, if bucks are shedding their antlers, and the number of deer that frequent that spot.  I usually opt for the annual service on trail cameras and pay for the cell signal whether the camera is posted or not.

Learn from Your Cameras

Each of the small saplings in this picture has been rubbed by deer during the rut.  It’s part of a saddle where I have a Stealth Cam 360 Revolver to cover the entire crossing.  Once the rut ended and the firearm season opened, that hot spot became as cold as the white covering you see.  In January, only two deer crossed this saddle.  On the positive side, only one coyote was seen, indicating a low number of predators in the area.

Consider a Solar Panel

If you are considering buying new cameras, I strongly recommend paying extra for ones with a built-in solar panel.  Frigid winter temperatures heavily tax batteries; some won’t last a month in freezing weather.  Moultrie sells a small solar panel with a built-in battery.  This way, the sun charges the panel’s battery with your camera batteries as a backup.  Using an auxiliary panel, you can position the cell for maximum solar exposure without facing the camera into the sun, which will cause false triggers and poor image quality at sunrise.  For Moultrie products, click here.

Tips on Camera Placement

This YouTube video offers excellent tips on camera placements.  Additionally, followers added theirs in the comments: