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trail cam suveys
#6812762
07/05/17 11:03 AM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 495
fishbait
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 495 |
I survey our lease by trail cams...wondering how many others have gone to trail cams to help manage harvesting.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6812766
07/05/17 11:16 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 185
MrWhite87
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 185 |
Doesnt everyone use cameras, for multiple reasons?
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6812780
07/05/17 11:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773
Big_Ag
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,773 |
I use trail cams for surveys. Much more accurate than other methods in my opinion.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6812789
07/05/17 12:19 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 127
surfcowboy
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 127 |
I use to survey also. you see way more deer. I set a camera on a scrap and saw about 12 bucks use the same scrap which was crazy.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6812814
07/05/17 12:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,785
Mr. T.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 7,785 |
I put trail cameras on feeders, fence lines, food plots, tanks. I get photos of deer in the day time that have never been seen while hunting. If you want to know what is really on your property, you need to use multi trail cameras spread out across the property.
Cabin rental in Pagosa Springs, Co. Sleeps 10, If interested please PM me.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: Mr. T.]
#6812891
07/05/17 02:00 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091 |
I put trail cameras on feeders, fence lines, food plots, tanks. I get photos of deer in the day time that have never been seen while hunting. If you want to know what is really on your property, you need to use multi trail cameras spread out across the property. x2
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6812914
07/05/17 02:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,533
redchevy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,533 |
We use trail cameras for surveys as well.
In my opinion and how we were taught to do it, using them for surveys and having them up on a feeder are two different things.
There is a method to spreading them out across your property in areas away from feeders etc. to estimate population density and sex ratios. It works best for us because our property is not conducive to spot light surveys and its easy.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6813997
07/06/17 02:31 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091
Wacm
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091 |
On my iPad and mac book you can arrange your pictures in different orders i.e. By location or tiMe. So you can upload all your sd's and then sort them by time. Then you can go through your pics and see how the deer move on your place as the day goes on. I made files for each of the deer we were after and dumped all the pictures of each buck into their own file and the organized it by time and plotted them onto a map of the place and wow you can see how each buck travels your place throughout the day. Then I knew exactly where to sit and it wasn't even near the feeders. I could tell they were using the edge of this field that was so thick as a highway. It was cool to know this by studying the pics and then go there in the field and find a solid solid trail through the woods. I put a bow blind there and saw more deer there then on any feeder. As well as all sorts of other animals. You could sit that blind all day it was so busy.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6814861
07/07/17 12:13 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 111
slippinaround
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 111 |
I just spoke to my biologist about doing camera surveys for my MLDP this year. My ranch is located in east Texas and I feel the vegetation is way to dense for spot light surveys alone. I wanted to add camera surveys in conjunction with the spotlights and observations as I hardly ever see the nocturnal mature bucks that are out there. He sent me some info on how to do the surveys, per the department, and now I'm not sure if I'm able to include this in my data. The main reason is you have to check/apply corn daily for 10 consecutive days--I would not be able to stay out at my ranch for that long. It also states: "Recent research suggests that camera surveys may underestimate the number of does and fawns in a population. Where this occurs, using camera surveys alone may incorrectly estimate doe-to-buck and fawn-to-doe ratios (herd composition) and underestimate the total population." Meaning that bucks will run off the doe and fawns and will not let them feed, thus you will not get an accurate count. I still would like to do this type of survey in conjunction with the others, but again I can not be out there checking and applying corn for 10 days straight.
Now personally, I find cameras as an excellent hunting tool to let me know what bucks are out there and where to hunt. Putting them on scrape lines has helped me so much to know what mature bucks are working in an area. I asked my biologist if I could use this data as part of my survey and he said no because it's considered a scent location.
It gets a little frustrating with the MLDP surveys as far as bucks are concerned. Every year I see SO MANY bucks on my cameras that we never see with our naked eye (hunting or spotlights) So I can never count them in my surveys/stand counts even though I know they are out there.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6814889
07/07/17 12:54 PM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 574
texasgal
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 574 |
I have been using cameras for several years and submit for my tags. So far this method seems fairly accurate and even with the new MLD changes coming I will continue to use for permits as I like knowing what is on the ranch.
I found that does/fawns tend to favor certain cameras/bait piles and bucks others. I will bait for one week and then survey for the second and hope the pigs don't find the bait piles too quickly. Usually the deer will find first. I then pre-bait second areas for a week and then move all the cameras to second area for census.
The frustrating part is seeing bucks during the census that will never see during season, even on cameras!
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6825123
07/17/17 05:50 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 495
fishbait
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 495 |
I have used trail cams for 9 years now. The first thing I found was that you have to count fawns like your independent bucks...by this I mean you have to identify and compare to others to come up with a number...counting fawns like does will give you a low number for a ratio...and fawn number. If ya run your survey at least 12 to 14 days the process is generally very accurate as you will find. To help fight off the hogs I will start with only 2.5lb. corn every other day at each station. The deer will learn fast to get the corn first...as the number of deer in the area grows I will add another 1.5 lbs. corn for every deer expected. I also use feeder pens(2 each) ...one is 150 X 80 the other is oval with 50X80. The two pens will be your best information ...although the satellite stations will add a lot of information. I have used 2 cameras on 600 acres and also used as many as 9 cameras and guess what ...I got the same results...believe it or not. Now, near my pens I will put a camera in the pen and also one outside the pen...this will help capture more does and fawns. Using cameras is a full time hobby for me as I run them all year and run as many as four surveys a year. This has brought a new and exciting way to enjoy the deer lease. I highly recommend it.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6828184
07/20/17 03:05 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,156
Phantom
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,156 |
I have used cameras for some time and I use rely on them more than the numbers I get from spot light. I know each deer in both our high fence and low fence operations. I learn which protein they use corn feeders etc. I can not do my job without them. If you are on MLD you need to get a relationship with your biologist. they need to know your intentions. Often times we are at odds concerning numbers of does that need to be taken, or the carry compacity of a property. They look at worse case most of the times. I trust the camera more and my visual scouting more than anything else.
Good is the enemy of Great
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6828185
07/20/17 03:06 AM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461
rifleman
Sparkly Pants
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Sparkly Pants
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 44,461 |
I survey our lease by trail cams...wondering how many others have gone to trail cams to help manage harvesting. It's pretty much a requirement for me
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6828235
07/20/17 03:45 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 111
slippinaround
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 111 |
Are you guys doing the camera surveys for MLD starting this month? The info my biologist gave me states to do it in Sept and Oct.---so the camera data is not available for this hunting season's permits.
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6828243
07/20/17 03:53 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,156
Phantom
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,156 |
I go year round so I have an idea on the deer numbers. for MLD they are a little antiquated so I lead them in the best way I see. Sometimes I will tell them we are wanting to increase our numbers and I dont want to shoot as many does. sometimes it is the other way around. the cameras are my backup and proof. I trust it more than any spot light survey.
Good is the enemy of Great
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Re: trail cam suveys
[Re: fishbait]
#6829684
07/21/17 10:00 AM
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,322
Dave Davidson
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 8,322 |
I use cams at feeders for my wildlife mgt. permit. I feed corn but also dump rice bran. I see HUGE nocturnal bucks on the 6 cams until the rut and bow season starts. Mostly I see way too many nocturnal hogs that I would like to target but it seldom works out that way.
Without a sense of urgency, nothing ever happens.
Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley, Rancher Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP
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