Young bull elk starting antler growth

Looks like the lowland elk are starting to put on some new antler growth. I know other people have seen some nice bulls, but this area has mostly young bulls and cows. Thinking if I get some time I'll set a few cameras in the higher country to get some larger bulls.

I think the mosquitoes are going to be large this year by the way the flash picks them up at night.

Photo showing camera position

I took a picture to show how I set up the camera on the previous two days of deer photos. The camera is about 2 feet off the ground and gets a good angle by aiming it level to the ground. At 6 feet from the farthest trail it gives a good 6 feet high field view on the picture. I use those figures on most of my close trails settings.

This view shows the 2 trails coming together in front of the camera which I have outlined in red.

I personally believe that a camera set low to the ground gives better closeup pictures of the animals, works great from deer to bobcats and is easier to hide so you can get a more natural movement from the animal. I took the moss off the camera so it would show in the picture, but normally I have the camera hid with moss or ferns, any type of natural vegetation works fine.

Night picture on the same trail

It always has amazed me the difference on the background from a day picture to one taken at night in the same location. Sometimes it's hard to tell if it's the same trail.

Here's a couple of deer using the farther trail in the same location as shown yesterday. Will check the cameras today and still hope for a predator at night. Really like this location for a night picture.

Deer on closeup trail

I set this camera up for coyotes or bobcats very close on a trail. Camera was about 2 feet off the ground and 6 feet from the farthest trail. It's at a junction of 2 trails with the closest at maybe 3 feet, this would give a great picture of a predator.

But as with all my trails sets I aim the camera level and that makes the field of view just enough to show a deer at that distance. This picture is not cropped and shows the deer centered just barely enough to get it's head in the picture when using the closest trail. This doesn't always work this well, but sometimes the plan works.

Mallard and ducklings

Mama and seven little ducklings, sure is a sign of spring. Finally getting some nice warm weather instead of rain so this should get the animals moving and some daytime photos.

I've been working on an RF camera setup where the sensor is a remote and triggers the camera using radio frequency. Should give me more options on how and where to set the camera for different angles of the animals without the sun triggering the sensor. Will post more on this when it gets completed.

My first baby geese of the year

This goose brought three newly hatched babies in front of the camera at night where I get mink pictures. Pretty brave or maybe that's why she only has 3 left.

Wish it had been during the day, but sure I'll get more in different locations as spring grinds along. Been wet and cold so everything is late this year.

Another Mink on my log

Finally found the time to check a few cameras and had several nice pictures on mink in this log. Placed another camera down the log in some open water to get a few ducks crossing and maybe some baby geese.

Hard to get into this swamp to place the cameras without getting soaking wet.