Trail camera strategies for skittish bucks

If you are anything like me, your investment in trail cameras is nearly the cost of all of your other hunting gear combined. Trail cameras are fun, useful and borderline addicting, and are perhaps the greatest contribution to archery hunting since the arrival of the compound bow. When used properly, trail cameras gather quick, invaluable intel. But no matter if you hunt a low-pressure property in Iowa, or a high-pressure, small-acreage parcel in Pennsylvania or Michigan — your trail cameras can contribute to undue pressure on deer, when used improperly.

After using modern trail cameras intensively for about 10 years now, I have tweaked and manipulated my approach many times. After finding what works and what doesn’t, my trail camera strategies have not become more complicated or elaborate. In fact, my approach has been drastically simplified to catch movement of pressured deer. Finding ways to properly hide trail cameras, and operate them on the appropriate settings, will result in more efficient use of them for gathering intel on skittish bucks on the property where you hunt.

HIDE ’EM TO FIND ’EM

Finding the right locations and properly hiding your cameras is the first