You place the camera like you would place a stand someplace you haven't been before. You look around for signs and try to guess were the deer will come in, then place the camera facing down the suspected trail. Try not to place perpendicular to the suspected trail. It takes the camera a second to turn on and take the picture. If the deer pass by perpendicular you might have a picture of nothing. I usually leave mine in place for a week or 2 before I take it down.