Hunting With Trail Cameras

I recently gained access through a business acquaintance to a property that held potential for wild dogs. After an ATV run with the owner, I commenced studying the property layout, boundaries and water points via google earth and Qld Globe. He ran cattle and along with two main dams, there were close to a dozen water troughs scattered throughout the hilly 2500 acre property.

DURING two 8 km walking reconnaissances, I found pig and dog sign and began the process of positioning trail cameras in key areas. The price and quality of trail cameras has improved drastically over the last five years and so I’ve had my use of them. On this occasion, I chose more affordable units, which allowed additional camera placements to achieve improved surveillance and reducing the amount of time required to establish target species' movement and patterns.

CAMERA LOCATIONS. Time needs to be taken when positioning cameras. I believe they need to be placed in areas where there is both fresh and old sign. Feral animal movement can vary depending on many factors and having a camera capture no images can be as beneficial as a full SD card to establish what you are dealing with.

“Attempting to ‘pattern’ a wild dog is something I had attempted many times.”