Trail cam flash?

[IMshooter]

We bought a digital trail cam this fall and have had fun placing it in various spots around the farm.

A couple of things I have noticed are 1)  the deer notice the camera; and 2) those deer whose picture are taken with a flash, never come back.  At least not yet.

So, do you hunters with trail cams turn your flash off and just record the date/time something comes through at night?

Your advice is appreciated!

Mark

[billy_56081]

I guess i've had ALOT of deer stand around for several pics on a one minute selay and they seem to come back again and again.

[deerhuntertyler]

I got a cuddyback capture IR so there is no flash. before i had a cheap one that I noticed the same thing with. if you can, get one, you won't be disapointed

[Graybeard]

My friend Barry up in PA has a Moultrie G40 with flash set up on his farm and sends me photos almost daily. Same deer seen in several night images so they clearly didn't run away and stay away. He has now bought one of the I40s Matt is selling via the classifieds and GBO Store which is on its way to him. It has no flash just IR.

Me I don't like flash really as it calls attention to your camera when seen by others who might decide they'd like it to be theirs not yours. We have a I60 set up here at my place which like the I40 has no flash just IR. So far I've gotten a possum and a fellow I think was marking the water line along the road with it.

[snapcrackpop]

I forgot to change my camera to "no flash" from "automatic" while bear hunting this past weekend.  The doe sure didn't like her picture being taken!  I think the IR is better for that reason alone.  However, she did let me take a couple more pictures before she stormed out of there.....

[BrianB]

I set one out last season and got the same deer night after night.  Didn't seem to spook them at all.

[Buckskin]

I have a Moultrie 5.0 with infared flash.  I've had deer spook from it, but obviously they must hear it. Most don't notice it.  It makes a very small sound when taking a picture.  I had it in a wooded large pasture that I didn't realize my uncle had put the cattle in.  And I got several pictures of polled herfords.  Also have pics of the bull somehow picking up the camera.  Pics of it 20 feet away then just his eye.  He beat the hell out of my camera.  So I wonder how you can fool big bucks when you can't even fool a walking domestic bag of hamburger. The cows never noticed it.

[Dinny]

Animals are just as much individuals as humans are.  Some of each are bright and observant and some aren't so much. I don't know if that explains it, but it seems like there's plenty of folks that can argue either side of this debate.


Thanks, Dinny

[nodlenor]

I've had trail cameras for 4 or 5 years and have noticed that the flash does spook some deer but they usually come back. I have multiple pictures of the same deer. I have 2 flash cameras and 1 IR. According to the pictures the deer still notice the IR camera and the pictures aren't nearly as good at night. I prefer the flash cameras but like a lot of other things it boils down to personal preference.

[Lost Oki]

Bought a Moultrie last weekend at Gander.  4 days out at the corn pile and I must have 50 pics.  The deer seem to
realize the camera is there but they keep coming back and staying for up to an hour and a half.  Also have pics during the day of deer and crows.  Night time pics I have at least 3 coons, 2 3 legged deer, 3 bucks that still have at least one horn.  IR does not seem
to bother them.  Camera is set up 150 feet behind the house and they are within 20 feet of the camera.  If we are right, we have at 8 deer coming in.  Looks like its time for a feeder....any suggestions ?