I have some minerals out behind the house and2 bucks came into the set this evening. One was a fawn from last year (this falls 1.5 y/o) anda last years yearling(thisfalls 2.5 y/o).... I have agame cam up monitoring these minerals....
I was looking out the rear sliding doors and saw the twocoming into the set so I grabbed the binos and watched. Theyshowed about 20 minutes before the light was low enough to cause thecamera to flash for the first time.... The older of the two (currently a 2 year old) jumped and ran 10-15 yards straight away from the cameraonce if flashed the first timeand stood there for 20-30 seconds looking back towards the camera.... Hethen slowly and cautiously made his way back to the minerals... By the time hecovered the 10-15 yards back to the mineral sitethe cam flashed again... He thenjumped and ran again.... This same scenario went onover and over again for at least 15 minutes....(The camera is set on a one minute delay)
You could tell from his body posture he was on pins and needles committing back to the minerals each time as his body was visually very tense....He tried to stay back as far as he could while stretching his neck as far as possible towards the minerals.... Then theflash would go off and off he went.. Only to come right back in again....
The younger of the two did not spook from the flash each time as theolder of the twodid. Although he would react and run a short distance each time following his companion....
I was just talking about putting out my cameras again this year.. I haven't done it in a couple years now.. then I read stuff like this again and remember the troubles I had.
I just can't bring myself to do it. Thanks Buckeye.
From my experience a flash will not bother deer at a destination....such as mineral lick or food source. It will bother them at first, but they get used to it. But, a flash on a travel route can make them change their pattern and begin using different trails.
From my experience a flash will not bother deer at a destination....such as mineral lick or food source. It will bother them at first, but they get used to it. But, a flash on a travel route can make them change their pattern and begin using different trails.
I would tend to agree with this for the most part.. Although, I do have one buck from last year who would hang up15 or so yards from the camera at night for one or two pics and then disappear, he would not commit to the set at night... Although, he would commit to the set during daylight hours.
That is interesting. I'm convinced also that the flash spooks deer. While I've never witnessed it such as that, I had my camera on a very well used trail. I got 10 or 12 pics quick fast, then nothing. Upon closer exam, I noticed the deer would approach the cam on the trail, then cut around the back side of the tree, and then back onto the trail to cross the creek.
I was convinced right then and there.
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From my experience a flash will not bother deer at a destination....such as mineral lick or food source. It will bother them at first, but they get used to it. But, a flash on a travel route can make them change their pattern and begin using different trails.
I would tend to agree with this for the most part.. Although, I do have one buck from last year who would hang up15 or so yards from the camera at night for one or two pics and then disappear, he would not commit to the set at night... Although, he would commit to the set during daylight hours.
Right on man.....I've also had the same experience. I guess I meant it tends to bother them a whole lot less.
I have no doubt that flash cameras will spook some deer, but not all. I've gotten many a series of photos over the years of bucks who couldn't seem to care less about the flash going off in their faces. And then I've had one picture of a buck never to be seen again. IMO it's all about the personality of the individual deer.
However with that said I will be picking up some IR cameras this year that will go into my better spots. My flash cameras will either be set to day-only photos or put on the outskirts of areas that I don't normally hunt as more of an inventory tool than anything.
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I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor's dog.
I have no doubt that flash cameras will spook some deer, but not all. I've gotten many a series of photos over the years of bucks who couldn't seem to care less about the flash going off in their faces. And then I've had one picture of a buck never to be seen again. IMO it's all about the personality of the individual deer.
However with that said I will be picking up some IR cameras this year that will go into my better spots. My flash cameras will either be set to day-only photos or put on the outskirts of areas that I don't normally hunt as more of an inventory tool than anything.
Justin....I thought buying no flash cameras were the way to solve the problem. I bought 4 Moultrie IR40s last fall and used them quite a bit. I actually had more deer looking at the camera when the picture was taken than I had with the flash cameras. I thought maybe the camera was making a noise before it took the pic. I ended up walking in front of one of the cameras on night and noticed that before it takes the picture all the "no flash bulbs"(what ever the real term is) turned red and stayed red for about 3 seconds.
Personally, I don't know that No Flash is the answer. It may be more subtle, but the deer still notice it.
From what I've read each no-flash camera is different with the amount of visible light you see before and during the photo being taken. Some are much better than others. I plan on experimenting a bit before making my final decision on what to do. I will publish all of my findings on trailcam.com
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I don't have a lot of experience with vampires, but I have hunted werewolves. I shot one once, but by the time I got to it, it had turned back into my neighbor's dog.
Cam flash and bucks... Observations...
