Here is a great video from Bowhunting World Magazine.  It outlines their 3 step plan for effectively scouting for deer using a digital game camera.  The concepts are pretty basic, but helpful.

I checked on my Scoutguard SG550 this morning, and man has the undergrowth really taken off in the woods. The whole landscape is changing and the area I have my game camera placed in has taken on a whole new view.
If you have a game camera out now, consider taking a pair of pruners with you the next time you go to pull your memory card or check your batteries. There is a strong chance that the clear view your camera had a few weeks ago, is now obstructed by the undergrowth.
Trim away any undergrowth or low hanging branches that might interfere with your pictures. This is really important, because some lower cost game cameras might trigger false activations from branches or plants swaying in the wind.

If you are using a trail camera to survey a piece of land, focus on high traffic areas.  I like to walk a piece of property with my GPS in hand and look for signs of activity.

1. Those ‘highway’ trails.  Trails that are just tore up from traffic.
2. Places where trails intersect.
3. Downed fences used a crossing points.
4. Crossing points on creeks and ditches.
5. Rub patterns.

Walk the active trails.  Determine where the deer are coming from, and where they are going?  You can typically find bedding areas and feeding areas on either end of a hot trail.  Determine which is which.  This can help you determine the deer’s direction of movement depending upon the time of your hunt.  Placing a scouting camera on a hot trail can help you figure this out.

Areas where deer trails cross are ideal for game camera placement.  These intersections increase your opportunity to score with your game cam.

Crossing points at downed fences, ditches, and creeks are an ideal location for a trail camera.  These crossing points serve as funnels, and can draw numbers of deer right past your camera.

While scouting, watch for rub patterns.  Dominant bucks can mark territory with rub lines.  They can work these areas repeatedly to make these presence known.  These areas are a great place to get an image or clip of that big buck.

Watch for natural food sources.  Areas of oaks dropping acorns can bring deer to feast in that area.   Keep your nose peeled for honeysuckle.  This is like candy for a deer.  The same goes for persimmon.

Survey the land for these type of spot, and then place your game cameras accordingly for increased success.

Where is the best place to set up a digital game camera?

Game cameras are designed  to help make your scouting job easier.  They work 24 x 7 to help you pick the right hunting spot to ensure success when you head into the woods with your gun or bow.  I’m definitely partial to bow hunting, and proper placement of your deer stand can make the difference between making a good kill shot, or watching that deer walk by just out of range.

I like to place my game cameras on well travelled trails, near food sources, or on trails that lead to bedding areas.  Look for evidence of deer tracks to help guide the placement of your camera.  I love to find a spot where two or more trails intersect.  These crossroads can be a gold mine.  Hot does leaving scent on well travelled trails are a recipe for success when the rut kicks in.

I will often leave corn, and apple block, or some other feed or treat in range of the camera to encourage the deer to stop and pose for a picture.  If there isn’t a good tree close by to mount the camera on, I’ll use a game camera post mount. These are ideal for ensuring that you have good camera placement and get the proper angle.

If you are placing your camera in an area that is not heavily wooded, you need to take into account the rising and setting sun.  Place your camera in a position that will not be pointed in the direction of the sun.  This can cause your pictures to be washed out by excess sunlight.

Ensure that you camera lense and sensor are clean from dust and dirt.  Make sure that the area in front of and around your camera is free from debris and branches.  Branches blowing in the wind have been known to trigger some motion sensors on cameras, resulting in deerless photos.

Scouting with a game camera is a sport in itself.  It is a great way to extend your time in the woods.  Please post a reply if you have some game cam photos or videos that you would like to share and we will post them on our website along with your story.