When using trail cameras.....

[jonsimoneau]

Like many of you guys I like using trail cameras. One thing that has really surprised me though is the number of guys who dont do this simple thing that will help you get more pics. This works like a charm. Anytime I put a camera out I rake out the ground in front of the camera about the size of your car hood. I think I first learned this from Bobby Worthington. You don't even need to put scent in it. Just pick up a stick and really tear up the ground in front of the camera. Believe me any deer cruising through the area will walk over and check it out and you always end up with a great pic. I know this is nothing new, but it only takes a minute to do it and it makes a difference. I usually try to use a big long stick from a distance to minimize scent. Then I carry the stick out with me. Its kind of a mock scrape. The deer will not come to it on purpose but they will come and investigate it when moving through an area.
The same thing works wonders when you are in a stand. Rip up the ground in front of your stand...from a distance, and any deer moving through will stop to investigate it giving you a close standing shot. Works for me!

[Southern Man]

I know this is nothing new, but it only takes a minute to do it and it makes a difference. I usually try to use a big long stick from a distance to minimize scent. Then I carry the stick out with me. Its kind of a mock scrape. The deer will not come to it on purpose but they will come and investigate it when moving through an area.
The same thing works wonders when you are in a stand. Rip up the ground in front of your stand...from a distance, and any deer moving through will stop to investigate it giving you a close standing shot. Works for me!

New news to me, thanks for the tip

[Black Squirrel]

Great info.

[jonsimoneau]

Trust me it works great. Of course here in Illinois we are not allowed to use bait or anything even outside of season. Getting deer on camera can be a little tougher if you don't have a food attractant to stop them. But once I started doing this my number of good pictures went up dramatically. It also helps compensate for cameras with slow trigger speeds. I try to avoid cameras with a trigger speed much less than one second, but if you use this simple tip the trigger speed matters little.

[Brandon]

ill try that... thanks!

also get to see tracks in the dirt possibly... a BIG track gets me REALLY excited!

[rutnbuck]

Never did it with the camera but I do it all the time by my stand. I was told by an oldtimer few years back. He killed a lot of bucks. Not neccessarily the largest bucks but he was consistant. It was more for the shot position. Curiostity kills the whitetail!!!

[Czabs]

Good tip...however you have to keep in mind, if your trying to hide your trail camera from people or the deer themselves its probably not the best idea.

Usually when I put out a camera I don't want ANYONE knowing its there and I want the deer to be oblivious as well..

[DEERSLAYER]

Deer always seem to be attracted to freshly disturbed dirt and you can use this to start a mock scrape without using scents.