When to start feeding-

[BDAHMS]

I am going to set up some trail cameras on feeders this year on a few properties- when is the best time to truly start doing this to get photos of your big bucks- should I get the feeders out asap so they stay around or do I wait until June or July or even later for pics?

 

[StickersNKickers]

I usually put out cameras in August. Maybe I'm slow to get them out tho.

 

[eiowaarcher]

I am going to set up some trail cameras on feeders this year on a few properties- when is the best time to truly start doing this to get photos of your big bucks- should I get the feeders out asap so they stay around or do I wait until June or July or even later for pics?

Depends on what your looking for with pictures. If you just want the fully developed velvet racks and into season I'd wait until August. If you want to watch the antlers sprout, develop, and shed velvet I'd say start running cameras over mineral or feeders the first of April. I don't use feeders except in the winter months (jan-mar) but I run mineral year round. Jan-early Sept I hang cameras over the mineral. Sept-Jan I put most cameras throughout the property but still leave a few on mineral. I run mine year round just so I have something to do. Very cool to watch a buck grow from little nubs to a full rack throughout the summer months.

 

[skyleralan]

I put out mineral now, but won't put cams out until July.

 

[nemohunter]

I also run my trail cameras all year, I like to see when the fawns start to show up, can get an idea of when a lot of the breeding took place in your area

 

[AIRASSAULT]

I also run my trail cameras all year, I like to see when the fawns start to show up, can get an idea of when a lot of the breeding took place in your area

For some reason, ive never thought of that.. back track the gestation period to figure out when that particular doe came into heat and i would think it would be close to the same year after year.. good tip!