Too late to put a cam out?
 

Hi all. I hunt public ground and have never put out a camera because of the fear it would grow legs and walk off. But I just got a camera that was given to me and I no longer have that same fear. Here in IL, the season opens on Oct 1. I'd like to put that camera out this weekend and then retreive it 2 weeks later. That gives another 2 weeks till the start of season. Am I going to ruin the area or is that enough time to let things settle back down?

Thanks for the input.

You will be fine as long as you are just slipping in and getting out of there

You will be fine, if you want more consistent data you can come back opening day and retrieve it since you will most likely be there already or more than likely.

Had a camera stolen 2 weeks ago lock and cable cut just sitting on the ground I know how it feels but if I have a trail camera it does me no good to leave it in the garage so its a chance anytime you put one out on public land. Will say I have come across others trail cams and stand and left them alone. May have waved at a few and showed them the white side of the moon a few times but always left them. Why steal from another individual who probably worked his ass off for what he has.

If possible, put it about 10 feet high facing down on a heavily used game trail. The added elevation might keep it out of the line of sight of most people. Also, if you can put it up and take it down right before a rain, it will help wash away some of you scent. I wouldn't worry about spooking any deer, you still have plenty of time to let the area rest.

its never to late to see whats goin on in the woods. just limit yourself to how much you go in and out. instead of going and checking on it every couple days or a week like you would do in summer leave it as long as possible.

I agree with everything posted so far. One more thing, is the public land you hunt heavily used or fairly remote (not much of the latter in Illinois)? Most public land near me is so heavily used by hikers, mushroom pickers, bird watchers, equestrians, and others that I have to believe the whole place stinks like human most of the time anyway. If that's the sort of land you're hunting, I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Thanks to all of you for the input. The area isn't likely used a ton as there are no trails through it that I'm aware of, but there is a river that gets used. Regardless I'll take my chances with the cam and see how it goes. Hopefully will be posting pics of my first deer in a few weeks.

Thanks again.

It's never too late to put a camera out, Specially if you live in deer country. And ot live by a deer trail like I do, You can bait early as long as you don't HUNT!

Me too says never too late !

I move mine around all the time.

Hopefully it's an IR camera so You don't have a nice bright white flash,a black flash camera would be even better and make sure You can camoflauge it so hopefully no one see's or finds it?I use the magnetic Ameristep Ladder Stand Camo strips that look like leaves/ivy to cover up my trail cameras and the silly black strap that holds the camera onto a tree plus it helps hide the cable and lock on the trail camera!

I put mine out two weeks ago, and just went out to check it for the first time yesterday. I just go out and swap memory cards so I'm not walking through the woods twice.

I bought one of the steel "bear boxes" for mine, and use a Masterlock Python rope lock for it. I realize they're easy to cut with a good bolt/lock cutter - but some casual dude walking through isn't going to get it.

Here's my first video off my trail camera - took a couple of the clips and put them together. The bucks are still in velvet here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zbwgffU5bMA

Thanks for the input to all of you. I put my cams out and got 2 of the 3 back. I guess I should count my blessings....

Actually, the worst part is that I didn't get any good pictures. The cams were triggered. I got pictures, but whatever set them off was already gone. I'm really not a fan of the 60 second timer on my cheap camera. Oh well, I did at least get proof that SOMETHING is walking by every morning. I'm gonna find out what it was come October 1.

Just a heads up i have one camera that takes pics. Everytime i go and swap out the cards it has several hundred photos on there but very few of deer. Most of the pics though are of nothing. I you got a good photo program go through the pics one by one back and forth. If you see trees or branches moving just the slightest it may be your camera is picking up these movements from wind and triggering. Its what one of mine does. Will help you eliminate whether a slow trigger speed or just ambient motion being the reason.

That's a really good idea that I had not thought of. However this camera didn't get too many pictures at all. Of the ones it did get they were almost exclusively 24 hours apart. Either way I'll know in a couple of weeks. Thanks again.