Trail Cameras

[Scooby Doo]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if any of you were interested in owning a trail camera?
My friend and I have been trying to build a homemade one and we finally got it figured out.We were thinking about selling some of these,but were wondering if anyone would be interested in them first.We would sell them for around $250. A CamTrakker costs $459.We have got alot of comments from our friends.Ours has time date stamp rechargeable battery and charger and an optional day only sensor if you would like.
Well thanks alot!! Ill be glad to hear what you guys think about this. Maybe you wont even be interested.
TTM

[scout]

Make it theft proof and I'll take a two of them. That is the main reason I have not thought about getting one.

[This message has been edited by scout (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Scooby Doo]

Scout,
There is no way that it can be totally theft proof. You could put a cable lock on one but all that is going to do is slow a thief down. All I can say is dont tell a soul where you have placed it. But if you hunt public land (or even private for that matter) there is someone going to be wondering around and could see it. So I dont blame you for that.
TTM

[scout]

A metal box with a place to attach a heavy cable and good secure lock that could house the camera would be a good accessory perhaps. I would think that the auto wind would tip off anyone passing buy even if it was not initially seen. Imagine a coon hunter passing by it at night. After it freaked him out he would take it because it is evidence of him tresspassing. Mushroom hunters,ginsing hunters,coon hunters, alot of people are in most of the timber around here. Having permission or not.I'd be suprised if it would last one season without a good theft protection.

[Scooby Doo]

The camera is in the case with insulation all the way around it. Believe me you would have to be right up next to it to hear the film advance. But yeah if someone walks buy it at dark they will definitly see the flash and it would come up missing for sure some how.
TTM

[Chipguy]

Hey guys I have a question about how they would work when it is this cold? When batteries get cold they lose there power, wouldn't this cause a problem getting the camera to work? Would the lens get frosted over?

later
Doug

[Scooby Doo]

Doug,
The camera works fine and the lense dosnt get frosted over.I was worried about that also but my friend and I have had ours out for the last week. We went and got his film out of his yesterday and he rewond the film early so we can see how the pics turned out. They were fine, it works great. We were worried that the snow might have piled up around the camera lense but it didnt.He didnt get any pics of any bucks yet but got some nice pics of does.
I went and checked mine on yesterday and I had 12 pics taken so I moved it to a better trail and I hope I am developing some film on Sat. or Sun.I cant wait! As for the battery the way we figured it out the battery should last about 2 months but I dont know what this cold weather will do to it. Even if it lasts a month that will work fine for me.The battery in the camera should last 1 year.Well thanks alot!!
TTM

[Scooby Doo]

Scout,
I was doing some thinking about how to get the camera locked to a tree and I came up with this... I can put a steel frame around the box and then weld a piece of steel to the frame and a chain welded to that. After you attach it to the tree you put this steel frame around it and paddle lock the other end of the chain to it. It will slow someone down anyway.Well talk to you later!!
TTM

[rescuebill]

FYI, I had a treestand stolen that was locked on with a chain. So this year I used a cabel lock I use on my bike (about 3/8 in around) in the same tree and someone tried to steel it again. I said "tried to steal it".

Consider using cabels. They wont give to bolt cutters and are extremly hard to cut with hack saw.

[Scooby Doo]

Here is a picture of the unit and a picture of a deer taken with the unit. http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1419704&a=10622766&p=36285358&Sequence=0&res=high http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1419704&a=10622766&p=36286298&Sequence=0&res=high

[Dog]

Hey Scooby Do I get A cut? I think I have mine working better but it only had one picture. so I am going to move it. Send me more pics. I think you should know who this is.

[scout]

ScoobyDoo, I also suggest using cable. Just crimp it on one side and let the proud owner choose the lock to use. You could also provide a lag bolt and wrench that have a goofy shape, as to not be tampered with. (like you see in the mens jon only bigger) It could be screwed to the tree AND cabled. All accessories sold at extra cost of course http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/images/icons/wink.gif
How well would it work if placed about 10 feet off the ground? Any way to aim it or use a view finder?
You would think I live in a high crime area! Good luck with it!
What is the weight and size?

[This message has been edited by scout (edited 01-12-2001).]

[Iowa1]

I got an idea for those of you who think your camera might be stolen. What if the first picture on the roll was a photo of you holing a sign that said something like this:

"If the person who brought this film in to be developed did not inform you that this photo was on here, this camera has been stolen. Please call the police and inform them or call the camera's owner at [insert your phone number here]."

Then just make sure you inform them when you take your film in to be developed. Maybe the thief woldn't develop your film, but if he did, you might just catch him and get your camera back. Just thinking out loud. It might work.

[Scooby Doo]

Iowa1,
That is a pretty good idea! You would defineitly get your camera back if the thief developes your film. Chances are pretty good that they would develop the film just to see whats on it. Thanks alot for the idea.
TTM

[scout]

I like that! http://www.iowawhitetail.com/ubb/images/icons/smile.gif

[Scooby Doo]

scout,
You can aim it,but it dont have a view finder.It has a LED that will illuminate when you walk down a trail. You set it up in the tree then walk down some trail to see where the LED will illuminate and when it does that means that it would take a pic.After you get it set how you want it turn the LED off and then turn the camera on and your set. The box we have them in now is 5x7x3 but we are looking for a smaller one.Im not sure exactly how much it weighs but its not much.
TTM

[BW]

These poor animals, we pester the dickens out of them during legal shooting hours and then we want to invade their only peace and quiet time by flashing a light in their face when they are trying to relax a bit.

I hope it makes them wiser.

[MN Slick]

I listed my Camtrakker on my homeowners policy. If I remember correctly it was $10.00 per year. If it's stolen they will replace it.

[Jim Wilder]

It sure sounds like you guys have a alot of thieves up in Iowa. And the worry about non-resident bowhunters killing all their deer

[scout]

I have only had one stand stolen. That was out of my yard! Never lost one in the woods. A "trail camera" is much more likely to be stolen than a tree stand, due to its size and value. I'll put our crime rate per-capita up for evaluation with any other state and expect to do very well.
It's prudent to secure any item of value that is left unattended. No since creating a thief!

[DC]

BW,

Looked at your profile. That's one dreadful occupation! Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you escape to the timber more frequently.

I agree with your last post. Deer hunting and scouting should be done in daylight hours. If you can't figure them out then, your trail cam isn't going to help. Get rid of the gadgets and get back to the basics. (It would be different if we were hungry and were doing it to survive, but we're not - Hy-Vee is just down the road.)

I will say that I have no problem with using a trail cam just to get some pictures after you located the deer. But I believe there is a trade off for those pictures. I have harvested several mature bucks and have learned from experience that the more you frequent a specific location, the more infrequent a mature buck will visit that same specific location.

Randy Willey (DC)

[bundy]

I think the trail cameras are great. It is very helpful for people who don't have as much time as they would like to be able to scout. I can also find out if the deer are only using the trail at night. I don't want to sit in a stand that only produces deer after shooting hours do you?

[scout]

The topic has taken a twist I see. The technology issue has come to the surface.
I also think it's a good idea to approach tech-equipment with a raised eyebrow. Now we have cameras that scout for us 24-7. Rangefinders that make judging distance foolproof. Bows with 85% let off. I even seen one that stays drawn for ya! Just point and shoot!
As far as not having enough time to scout out a big-un...well maybe you should be satisfied with less. We can put people on the moon. I'm sure we can out-wit a deer is we reallt try!
This is exactly why guys go back to traditional equipment.
If we make this easy it won't be any fun.

[bundy]

Hey scout, why would you want to buy two of them if the technology will make it to easy for you? I also see you use a compound bow, what other gadgets do you use?

[scout]

Put back into context, my words - "make it theft proof and I'll take two of them" was to figuratively suggest the inventor would sell more product if it was theft proof. "That is the main reason I have not thought of getting one" Is to say, If it's may initial thought of the product others will feel the same. As for my 01-25-01 post about technology, it seems you took it personal. I did'nt say that you should'nt use one. Or that you should find the time it takes to scout. I was pointing out that the feeling of success is greater when the method is most challenging. I said "This is exactly why GUYS go back to traditional exuipment" I would have used "I" if I claimed to the a traditional archer. (I do hunt with a recurve also) So as for the compound? you bet! I have a big bag "gadgets" I use. I even have some extra TACT, need some!

[Scooby Doo]

Check out this picture i got of a FAWN still with spots with my camera.This picture was taken on January 30th at 1:08pm. I saw this deer several times through the bow season and I was hoping that it was still alive. Thanks to my BUCKAM I know that it still is. I posted a topic in November called "a fawn in November" under username BUCK. I cant believe that it still has spots!!How is this possible? http://albums.photopoint.com/j/view?u=1419704&a=10622766&p=39896352&sequence=0&res=high

[scout]

Thanks for eliminating the garbage.

[Scooby Doo]

What do you mean "garbage"?

[spectr17]

If you guys want free plans and schematics on how to build your own game camera for about $75.00 in parts, I have them on my webpage at http://www.geocities.com/spectr17/homebrew-cams.html

Scooby, at least you could have given credit where you ripped the plans from.

[scout]

The flames.

[gobbler]

lots of project plans including the trail cam can be found here. Enjoy..
http://buildgear.cjb.net/

[JohnnyP]

Not cool Scooby Doo. We all pitched in and made an effort to help one another, for you to try and make a buck or two with our ideas isn't right. At least let others know where they can get the information for free and if they still want you to build them one then no problem.

We all had a hand in making the cameras work, do you plan on splitting your profits? Please reconsider what you're doing.

[JohnnyP]

Also, check
www.TNdeer.com (http://www.TNdeer.com)

go to "deer talk forums" and look under "do it yourself"

[Scooby Doo]

Hey guys I knew nothing of this web site. We really did make this camera from scatch. I wish that I had known about it because it would have made things alot easier. Believe me I would never try to make $ off of someone elses idea. Im sorry if some of you guys are mad but you can believe me or not. If I would have known I would have told you guys. Im an honest guy and try to get along with everyone. Hope this helps. Good bye!
TTM


[This message has been edited by Scooby Doo (edited 02-08-2001).]

[spectr17]

<cough> BS. Let's see, the same PIR sensor with the same tape job to narrow the beam and I bet, just out of coincidence right, you discovered the same camera and wiring. A Canon Owl camera right? This info was posted on many public hunting forums last summer and fall for free and you just happened to post this a month later. Hmmmmm.

Feel free to drop by the TnDeer forum and post your pic of your cam and try and blow your smoke up their skirts. There must be at least 10 other cams pictured on the website that look exactly like yours. Wow! More coincidences.

I could give a rats butt if you want to sell these cameras, but spare us the insult of saying you and your bud figured this out. The only thing you guys figured out was how to load the printer paper to print out the webpage once you found our game camera website.

For the record, here is some cams from our webpage

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/cam-hb-robnhood-regent-owl-PF.jpg

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/cam-hb-ron-shealer-1st.jpg

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/cam-hb-gizz-regent-ms20-2cams.jpg

And here is Scooby's cam which appeared a few months later after the above cams were made and posted to several hunting forums like Hunting.net, Hunt America, The Bowsite, HuntInfo.com etc.

http://www.jesseshuntingpage.com/images/cam-hb-scooby-ms20.jpg

Rut row Shaggy,

Adios,




[This message has been edited by spectr17 (edited 02-14-2001).]

[Welby]

Further proof that Scooby was stealing ideas for his camera. Here he is checking out my homebrew trail camera

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1543581&a=11702835&p=42291166&Sequence=0&res=high

[This message has been edited by Welby (edited 03-16-2001).]

Ha, you guys don't cut eachother much slack do you!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Staff