For those experienced guys and trail camera users. I'm playing around with using a trail camera on two sets and have experienced now 2 reds and a coyote going by, clearly noticing the sets, but not working them remotely close. The dirt holes are typical bait, lure, and urine at the set. The three animals have all gone down wind the sets and at most got to within 3-4 ft but them turnaround and move on. The area is private and as far as I know relatively left alone. Obviously, that's not saying the critters have never seen anything though.

I'm interested in hearing some folks thoughts or experiences with similar things. Part of me would like to do a simple flat set with minimal scent now to see if there'd be a difference but I'm kind of committed to see how long until something actually works, works the set... I did refresh scents after 2 days of rain and something digging the one from behind some. (wasn't caught on camera for whatever reason).

Build new sets. Cut back on your odor and blend all sets. Try again.

Are the sets constructed where they will have to turn their back to the camera to work the sets? I believe that can possibly deter them from working a set with a camera on it

I have 5 cell camera that I believe are blackout. Tacticam 2.0. In many of the pictures the coyotes will stare at the camera.

Low glow, still has some visible IR light (I have 2)

The coyotes around here can't stand a camera with red IR lights (visible to you), they will leave quick.

I have had better luck if I put them about 8'+ above the ground, does not seem to bother them near as much.

Same here. I have video that starts with a coyote facing away, turns and sees the camera and abouts sets the grass on fire cutting a trail out of sight. Also been my experience that putting them up high - I go 15 feet up - helps a lot with that but I have still had them spook. And I have had it happen with red glow and blackout cameras, so not sure if they can see the blackout glow, hear some high frequency of the camera, see the camera itself or what, but coyotes around here definitely don’t like cameras. I would strongly suspect that the camera is why they did not work the sets. Coyotes may be like electrons - somehow the very act of observing them changes how they act…. Coyotes follow quantum physics, and quantum physics does not always seem rational or even possible.

I have a couple supposedly ir invisible cameras and soon as they cut on the coyotes haul (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) out of there! So I guess the company that makes them is a lier because they supposedly are invisible! But I no the coyotes can see them no doubt about it!

How close are your cameras? All mine are backed off a ways I haven’t seen where they’ve “refused” because of a camera. I’ve had them come through and ignore for 2 straight nights, then the third night it’s like they knew the set was there and walked straight to it and got caught. Can’t say I’ve had any stare at the camera either.
BUT…these are just pics and not video.

When the camera interfears with the animal I think it has more to do with sound than the red light. I have daytime animals stare at the camera the same as at night. That click the camera engages probably is what gets them. More confident animals don't seem to worry about it, but when a coyote is already on edge because of the new hole or rock in an area, and new odors, the click probably puts them over the edge.

My experience is it can b both the sound and the red light. Never found a LG camera that didn't spook the coyotes at a set. If your going to play with cameras on coyotes you better to it during the off season until you get the kinks worked out and some experience with them. I tried about 6 different cameras before I found a model that some what worked.

What is the model?

Mudcat

This particular spot has had a camera on it for years and the year I decided to put traps there , this went from a place to mark to a place they walked right past without stopping.

This camera has also been in place for years and I have no intention of setting a trap there, lol. As you can see these coyotes don’t seem to have a care about the camera as this is about the fifth picture I got of this group.

P.S. All coyotes in this picture have been harmed.

My camera was about 10 to 15:yards away! As soon as the camera cut on the coyote tuked it's tail and tore outa there! Hasn't been back! I can't hear the camera cut on with my ear next to it! So I no an animal can't hear it yards away

I wonder if a guys put a ELECTRONIC SQUEAKER near the camera set up...would that help offset the noise factor at all?

Did u check it during daylight or while dark?

Browning Spec Ops. They got their flaws but they work best

I check the traps in the evening I don't go check the camera for 3 or 4 days I don't get close to the camera! I walk by the sets everyday tho

I was asking if u checked the camera for noise during daylight or during dark? It makes a difference. On some m9dels the noise is on all the night pics/videos and on some its just the first night pic or video

Here’s a cat last night…Spartan camera

I'm running 6 cameras all the same, some coyotes spook some don't. I believe the resident coyotes are not bothered . I think the ones traveling thru are the ones that get spooked, but have no way to prove it. I have never had a bobcat spook I get bobcat pictures every other night.

The camera has no sound in the dark when it comes on either it's a wild game innovation WR16 blackout! But form what I have seen the coyotes do they see the blackout! And are gone! So they are seeing some kind of light!

This is exactly how I feel.

Only camara i used was snow issues i had was over using lure in milder temps another time it was new boots i bought after seeing circles of coyote tracks around my sets i found i couldn't stand the smell myself I check sets from the truck seat / binoculars but when you see sets worked 6 weeks after luring probably overloaded the senses

Some cameras are noisy and pretty obvious to us but others I don’t necessarily hear anything. However I’m not convinced that those cameras aren’t putting off noise but just in range or decibel level which doesn’t register to humans

Every digital camera requires infrared light to work in the dark. But there are lots of versions of IR and the manufacturers generally just call it black out etc. Comes in Various wavelengths and intensity which makes difference in how much they are detected. It’s not super uncommon to see a coyote stare at camera from the light. You’ll See same stare at night if turn on digital scope

Are y’all using video mode or just pics? I used a Browning that would take vids, but it had 4 lights that glowed red. I’ve seen coyotes notice it and not stick around, then I’ve seen coyotes notice it and come up to the camera to check it out. I never used it on a set, just scrapes and rub trees when deer hunting.

All my cams now are Spartans and pics only. There is no glow or sound on these cameras that I can see or hear. I think if a critter looks at it, it’s because it’s out of place. It wasn’t there last time through but is now. I can honestly say I’ve never had anything spook that I can tell. Have coyotes and cats walked right past a set like it didn’t exist? Yep, it happens. Has the same or different coyote/cat come back the next night and make a beeline for the set and get caught? Yep again, lol. Now if I ever get a critter investigate and look at the camera and bolt with a Spartan is the day I’ll quit using them. So far in 5-6 years it hasn’t happened.

I don’t have a lot of areas to see tracks, so cameras are my “eyes” so to speak. They’ve actually caught me a few critters by telling me exactly where they’re stepping vs my sets. The biggest issues I see with cameras are people going to mess with sets when one passes by. I was guilty as heck, but I’ve learned to just leave them be and let it ride. Sets get pulled on pull day, maybe lure added after several inches of rain, but normally they ride it out from day one until time to move on.

I always have my camera on video! They notice it every time! I've never put it on pictures because I wanted to watch the animals work the set! The WGinvations camera I have says blackout but if animal seems to see it when it comes on! But I can't hear when it comes on! So I guess they are seeing the blackout lights lightup ! Lol! So idk I haven't got a good video of a critter working a set yet! So I guess I'll back up and punt and try something else

I put my cam on 0 seconds and can pretty much see them working the set. I don’t want to spook them, just want to see if I’m in a good area or not. I’ll generally put up cams a week before I even set to get an inventory of what might be there. Some spots are just known producers. Some cameras are put on sets off the beaten path to save me some time.

Game cameras generate several internal voltages off the battery. To save lower this happens just during taking pictures or video. This explains the delay on many cameras between trigger and first picture which is always a big advertising point. During internal voltage generation high frequency sound can get emitted inaudible to humans. It depends on the design how big an effect this undesired high frequency audio is. The noise level goes down squared with distance, so 10 feet would be 4 times louder than 20 feet. It happens day or night. All this is in addition to undesired IR glow at night. If a critter looks at the lense of a camouflaged hidden camera, something is up.

I think the science is that while they cant actually see the light, they can detect the light from the camera.

If i do put a camera on a set, its downwind so hopefully unless the animal approaches from the back side of the set, it doesnt see it. Also put it as high as possible so its not eye level to the coyote

Lens filter for night pictures can also make a noise when it moves into place. Some models are quiter than others.

I’ve played with them for coyotes in trapping/snaring situations.

I think most figure out somethings amuck before they ever get close to the squeaker.





As for cameras, I think it’s sound as much if not more than seeing the IR. I say that because I have five brands of cameras in my arsenal. All are IR. Some the coyotes seem to notice, others they don’t.

I also say this because it seems breezy nights are better for capturing coyote behavior than dead calm nights.

Older cameras seem to noticeably spook (or effect behavior of) coyotes more so than new ones. Most older cameras have a noticeable shutter click.

I’ve currently got a few cameras out on some M44s trying to get some video footage. I haven’t screwed with them purposefully for coyotes for some time but I run a pile scouting deer and cats.

I'm using the Tacticam Reveal 3.0 cameras. If I have the camera low and/or in a Coyote's line of sight. I'll get 1 pic the 1st night and then nothing for days. However if I have the camera up and back aways (10 yds or more) I get regular pics of coyotes. They definitely see or hear something if the camera is too close.

The tactacam Reveals except the pros are "low Glow" camera's. You end up with red lights, like eyes staring at you, ever want to scare a big buck put it out at 5 feet or lower on a trail. The tactacam pros are "no glow", absolutely no light detectable, you can run them at waist height and not spook animals once the smell is gone.

Best setup is always to try and get above the object looking down.

The first thing I would suggest is setting-up your cameras at a different location and NOT put in a trapped-set, Drill a 1” hole 8” deep and add your lure or bait and nothing else! Setup your cameras just like you have been for height and distance and see if your canines have a different reaction. I’ve found by eliminating one major component of a set at a time the canines will show you if there is a problem or not.

I had cameras set within 6 feet of my bobcat cages, the cats would stare at them for a bit, but most still went in the cage. If I did it again I would set it high and farther away but I did get some good close videos.