Tuesday, June 05, 2012

Still learning


This morning I went back up the mountain to collect the trail camera that I had left a week ago.  I’m obviously still learning how to best position the camera for the best results.  The cam was strapped to a root of an old down tree, aimed right up an old logging spur that is no longer used.  I assumed that any animals in the area would be walking up or down the old road.  There was still the possibility of animals crossing the road, but this didn’t take into account animals crossing very close to the camera.  Unlike sitting on a calling stand with a camera at the ready, there is no way to reposition the trail cam to cover the action.  Live and learn!

The first thing I learned was that some of my supposedly secluded spots aren’t as secluded as I thought they were.  The experience with the guy using a metal detector should have taught me that.  This time I had another visitor. Bike rider

The camera was tripped a couple of times where no animals were visible in the still photos.  Watching the videos, I believe it was caused by wind blowing vegetation; weeds, leaves, etc.  Then I got a night time blurred shot of a deer crossing in front of the camera.  Call it a near miss.  The video didn’t pick it up at all. IR deer

Another near miss, but as least I came close to capturing the kind of wildlife I was hoping for.  You may have to kick the video up to full screen to make it out, but very near the tail end of the clip the back of a bear can be seen as it crossed the road very close to the camera.  

4 comments:

David R. Reid said...

The bear is amazing Bob. He looked like he was on a mission. He wasn't hanging around. Makes me wonder how many trail-bike riders disappear mate :)

Keith said...

Good one Bob, hang in there mate. Love the shot of the windy night & the bear.
Regards, Keith.
PS: Looking forward to more.

Bob Mc said...

Dave - I'm having the same problem you did at first; learning how to best position the camera to catch the action. I'm going to have to take another look at that spot. There were deer tracks coming right down that old road just as I would have expected them to, but why did both a deer and a bear cross the road at just about the same place? I must have missed something.

Keith - I'll keep trying. You know they say practice makes perfect. You guys are a little short of native predators over there, but we have lots of them. The icing on the cake will be when I catch a cougar with the trail cam.

David R. Reid said...

Can't wait Bob you have some very exciting animals over there as your quarry. I love this stuff.