Need an Idea for Scouting With Cameras

[jjaimes]

My dad has a 150 acres of land in Newton that we hunt on and it will be my first time actually scouting it this year. It's a little later than I wanted to but better late than never I've been to busy scouting and working at our farm to. The place is an hour drive from me and its a little tough driving back and forth for the cameras every week so I'll probably be going every two weeks until season gets close. I wanted to pretty much put some cameras up this weekend to see what's in the area. I was thinking of running a few feeders to keep the deer in the area but what would you guys recommend for setting up the cameras to get the best idea possible of what deer are in the area? Should I set cameras at the feeders or should I just dump a bag of corn near a feeder and set the camera there? Problem is I wont be able to hand feed every day or every week it will probably be every two weeks at the moment what do you guys recommend?

[centex85]

We set ours up at feeders and also natural funnels, and game trails to see what was traveling around the property

[jjaimes]

We set ours up at feeders and also natural funnels, and game trails to see what was traveling around the property

Thanks for the input I was thinking about trails as well. I got my work cut out for me this weekend but that's what huntings about can't kill'em on the couch!

[backwoods]

I hunt in Jasper County and I get far more pictures of bucks on game trails and natural crossings than I do at feeders. I dont even hunt over feeders any more. I used to hand throw corn out and found that attracted more deer than a feeder, but it also just brings in hogs.

[jjaimes]

I hunt in Jasper County and I get far more pictures of bucks on game trails and natural crossings than I do at feeders. I dont even hunt over feeders any more. I used to hand throw corn out and found that attracted more deer than a feeder, but it also just brings in hogs.

Where's a good place to start looking for trails at this time of year with so much to eat in the woods? Maybe along the creeks since its so hot and dry right now? Yeap we got a lot of Hogs too but last year they were gone we didn't have hogs on the property which was odd we got 2 pictures one night late in December of a small bunch at a feeder but after that they disappeared again. It was odd we also had no deer coming to feeders all I can think of was the acorns had them in the brush and woods so now that I know I will not hunt over feeders anymore as well!

[whitetailfanatic]

If you don't have livestock on your property
Then pretty much every trail come across is a game trail.
Any ponds or creeks this time if year would be good locations or buy a tube style feeder not one that throws so your no wasting money dump a little around the base and set up a camera no need for trail if you get on classifieds and order Gunnyart camera mount its great,might also try looking at aerial pic of y'all's place and see if any neighbors woods connect to yours as a travel corridor remember game don't want to be out in open unless need to, also they dont have to eat everyday but do need water, good luck wear snake boots!

[jooger17]

If you're wanting to get a basic inventory of the deer you have on the place, putting the cams on feeders is a decent place to start. You probably won't see all of your deer, and I wouldn't put the feeders directly in areas I want to hunt, but pretty close to them.

Where's a good place to start looking for trails at this time of year with so much to eat in the woods? Maybe along the creeks since its so hot and dry right now? Yeap we got a lot of Hogs too but last year they were gone we didn't have hogs on the property which was odd we got 2 pictures one night late in December of a small bunch at a feeder but after that they disappeared again. It was odd we also had no deer coming to feeders all I can think of was the acorns had them in the brush and woods so now that I know I will not hunt over feeders anymore as well!

This time of year try to find a place that's shaded all day long with a thin understory. 10-15 year old pine plantations that join some thicker areas are great places to start. Small water holes aren't a bad place to start either.

[jjaimes]

If you don't have livestock on your property
Then pretty much every trail come across is a game trail.
Any ponds or creeks this time if year would be good locations or buy a tube style feeder not one that throws so your no wasting money dump a little around the base and set up a camera no need for trail if you get on classifieds and order Gunnyart camera mount its great,might also try looking at aerial pic of y'all's place and see if any neighbors woods connect to yours as a travel corridor remember game don't want to be out in open unless need to, also they dont have to eat everyday but do need water, good luck wear snake boots!

Thanks I will keep this in mind and snake boots are a must at this time of year lo!

[jjaimes]

If you're wanting to get a basic inventory of the deer you have on the place, putting the cams on feeders is a decent place to start. You probably won't see all of your deer, and I wouldn't put the feeders directly in areas I want to hunt, but pretty close to them.



This time of year try to find a place that's shaded all day long with a thin understory. 10-15 year old pine plantations that join some thicker areas are great places to start. Small water holes aren't a bad place to start either.

Thanks for the advice I will be looking out for this as well. All the neighboring properties is type 2 archery only public land that has pine thickets that have to be over 4 years old. On our property, we planted a lot of pines but there aren't many pine thickets like on the neighboring properties. We have a lot of hard woods that's clean under and we also have hardwoods covered with under growth by creeks a lot of the rest of the property is mostly filled with brush and youpan with pines and other trees. I'm going to try putting up an aerial photo of the property so you guys can check it out!

[SamCollins]

Find game trails, and use your feeder

[jooger17]

Thanks for the advice I will be looking out for this as well. All the neighboring properties is type 2 archery only public land that has pine thickets that have to be over 4 years old. On our property, we planted a lot of pines but there aren't many pine thickets like on the neighboring properties. We have a lot of hard woods that's clean under and we also have hardwoods covered with under growth by creeks a lot of the rest of the property is mostly filled with brush and youpan with pines and other trees. I'm going to try putting up an aerial photo of the property so you guys can check it out!

That changes things a little. Doesn't sound like you'll have a lot of bedding on your place.

[jjaimes]

That changes things a little. Doesn't sound like you'll have a lot of bedding on your place.

https://scribblemaps.com/create/#id=WoUlse7cZx&lat=30.95514684220503&lng=-93.71848108872984&z=16&t=satellite

That's my place the red around it is the property the yellow lines are the trails we have to drive through the property the blue is a bayou that passes through our property and all around it are creeks that break from the bayou all through the property are creeks. The surrounding areas you see are not clear cut anymore the pines are grown and a lot of underbrush through it. Looks like the pines were planted about 4-6 years ago which is all public hunting land.

[jooger17]

This is where the link took me with my phone.

[Krenek SkullMts]

Look for natural funnel areas, draws or tree lines, close to bedding

[jjaimes]

This is where the link took me with my phone.

Here you go its not the best picture but if you need more information I can PM you if you cant see it good there. Anyone else is also welcome to provide me on advice based on the picture.