Prep for on-water trouble by stowing some help aboard
HEIGHT
Mounting the camera four to five feet ( metre and a quarter to metre and a half ) high is a good rule of thumb . It should also be angled slightly down , which you can do easily by wedging a small branch behind it . This is just a starting suggestion . Depending on the size of the animal you are targeting , raise or lower the height .
CAMERA SENSITIVITY
Setting the camera on its highest sensitivity results in better image or video captures . However , if you ’ re in the midst of long vegetation or dense tree cover , lower sensitivity helps prevent false triggering . Keep the setting high in wide open , uncluttered areas .
TRIGGER SPEED , MEGA PIXELS AND EFFECTIVE RANGE
A trail camera with the quickest trigger speed and highest MPs combined with the greatest effective range will produce the best images and videos . Keep these in mind if you ’ re in the market for a new one . As with most hunting aids , you do often get what you pay for .
ANGLE THE CAMERA TO THE TRAIL
Always angle your camera at a 45-degree angle to a trail , if not hunting over bait , a scrape , or rub . Doing so will increase the trigger time exponentially , allowing you a greater chance to capture the complete animal in frame .
NEUTRALIZE YOUR SCENT
A whitetail deer ’ s sense of smell can be anywhere from 500 to 1,000 times more acute than a human ’ s . Best practice when setting up your trail camera is to wear gloves to lessen the chance
of transferring scent . At the least , use a scentneutralizing spray or wipes before walking away from your unit . And keep that spray off the lens .
GO FOR A BIG CARD
Ever retrieved your camera only to discover that the memory card is maxed out ? It ’ s happened to us all . So go with the biggest memory card your trail camera will accept . For my Stealth Cam unit , that ’ s 32 gigabytes . A reputable , brand-name card is also your best bet . No-name cards can be attractive because they ’ re cheap , but they increase the chance of card errors and lousy images and videos .
UPGRADE TO BLACK FLASH Typical flashes on cameras produce white light that can startle animals . Standard infrared cameras use a burst of red light to illuminate subjects at night . A black flash or no-glow flash is best . In my experience , coyote , wolf , and red fox are very aware and skittish when confronted by a standard infrared camera .
TAKE A TEST SHOT
Most of my trail cameras have a built-in viewing screen . This means the ability to check images or videos in the field , but also to get a test shot after setting up your cam . A test shot ensures that height placement is right while also giving you a general idea of what is contained in the coverage area . If your unit doesn ’ t have a screen , put your cellphone on top of the camera and take an image .
Game cameras are essential to a successful hunting season . Give these tips a go the next time you hit the woods – and reap the rewards of some picture-perfect captures .
Prep for on-water trouble by stowing some help aboard
By Justin Hoffman
Keep these items on-board when you head out on the boat this season . They may help salvage the day – or possibly save your life .
SPARE CLOTHES
Carry extra sweaters , flannel pants , socks , a toque and gloves in a storage compartment , neat and tidy in a waterproof bag . On late fall trips or cool summer evenings , extra clothes can be a lifesaver if someone falls overboard .
HAND-HELD SPOT BEAM
Even with GPS-enabled finders , errors or malfunctions still occur . Keep a hand-held spot beam onboard . One once allowed me to get safely up a small creek to the ramp after getting disorientated after dark . It ’ s a permanent fixture in the boat now .
BASIC TOOLS
A small tool kit should be standard in your boat . Fill it with screw drivers , wrenches , pliers , electrical tape , fuses , and spark plugs / remover .
LOCKING ZIP TIES
Available in various sizes , these plastic ties can be counted on to fix a variety of on-board issues . They can enable you to secure a reel to a broken reel seat , cinch up a gas line to a loose fitting , or secure transducer wires to bow mounts . They ’ re a handy fix for when things go wrong – and as we all know , they do .
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