Trail cams. when?

hey everyone, when do yall start putting trail cams out and checking them? was thinking about putting mine out this week already and starting to keep an eye on the deer in my area. anyone think its too early? i know i wont be able to tell what the bucks are going to be quite yet but i figured ill atleast be able to know the deer are there and the bucks should have some nubs on by now i think. anyone else got any opinions?

Yes I would for sure start runnin cameras. I run mine all year. This is great time of year to start seeing bucks with nubs and to keep track of does and fawns. I checked my cameras yesterday and had few bucks with nubs and 8 different fawns outta 4 cameras. Pretty soon I will be able to tell which ones r twins and maybe sex of them. I'm in Lasalle county il and if u wander into woods I suggest a lot of bug spray. Good luck. Have fun

Just a heads up. I put a camera out last week, took some "new" batteries out of an unopened package that were dated 2023. Checked the camera Saturday to make sure it was working and it was not taking night pics. Checked the batteries and they were only at 10%. Switched out with 8 more from the same package and they read 15%. Tried some other batteries momma just bought and they read 95%. These were all duracells which is what I usually use. Moral of my story is even if the package says they are good for 20 years, check them before you put them out or you may be disappointed.

ok thanks for the advice. that's a good idea to check to see if they are working or not out there. will be going out either tomorrow night or Thursday night to see if they are working. made the mistake of putting them out and wasn't scent free..put them out right from work yesterday but we have rain coming this whole week so im thinking it should wash the scent away. just gotta remember from now on to stay scent free as much as possible. but I really appreciate everyones input and ideas and advice. im still kind of new to this trail cameras thing so im learning as I go and instead of making some crucial mistakes, its nice to have people to let me know things. so thanks again everyone!

These early camera sets I always like to check them a day or two later to make sure they are working. Then I will leave them for a while. I think unless your camera is in a very remote area checking them every couple weeks is fine. Wear your hunting boots and don't touch anything but the cam and you should be fine. On a side note it is refreshing to have some civil conversation around here.

went and put the cams out tonight. put them on the edge of my green field since that's the only green food source around there right now. TONS of tracks in and around the field edges and corners. going to leave them alone for 2 weeks before I go see how many pics I have

Usually end of July early August. Got a new spot close to home I may put them on a bit earlier this year.

My cameras haven't been out of the woods all winter. I checked them on May 9th and put fresh batteries in them. I then checked them again on Memorial day and I had over 300 pictures including one buck from the 19th that was past the ears already. The rechargable batteries I use will usually last about 2-3 months in the summer weather. I don't plan on checking them again for a couple months.

I wouldn't put one on a well used runway unless you leave it alone until the day you go hunt by it. the deer will get your scent being there and use it at night or avoid it. (mature animals anyway). field edges are best. deer will still not like your scent but will tolerate it as it is away from their bedding area. if you know the deer use it, there is no need for it to be there right?

Put all mine out last weekend. Wont check them for 3 weeks. Nothing you can do right now but stink up an area with human scent so no need to check them that often till mid to late august in my opinion.

thanks for the advice and info everyone. im going to be going to put mine out tonight after work. I hunt an 85 acre square just about 5 miles outside of city limits. how long would you guys leave the cams out before you check them? im going to have one on the edge of a field that was planted but im not sure what it is yet and the other on a good runway that I noticed that deer took a lot last season inside the woods. how long are you guys thinking? a week? 5 days? thanks for the info everyone

I keep one out all year and one about 8 months. My BIL keeps one or two out all year up north. We get bears, and bobcats every year.

Get them out now. Deer get used to them, the batteries last forever in the summer, and what could be more exciting than checking a camera. You checking your camera alarms deer not the camera.

trail cams can be fun, but you have to be careful where you put them. most people don't place them in the right places and wind up wrecking there spot before the season even starts. (if they are after a mature animal). you can put them out any time of the year though.

seen a dead buck on the side of the road last week with 3 inch nobbers poken out already