This is an article for hunters that use a game trail camera. Buying the camera is half the fun. Mounting a game trail camera is the other half of the fun.
Mount Analysis
I suggest a potential game trail camera purchaser give some thought to how the camera will be mounted prior to purchase. The mounting method and placement may affect the camera that’s purchased. Also give some thought to the duration of weather exposure. Will it be outdoors for a few days or a few months?
Since the game trail camera will likely live in the woods, a tree is the likely location where it will be mounted. It’s suggested the location be waist-high. Why is that? Well most game trail cameras do not pivot or swivel. My example camera, the Moultrie Mini Game Camera straps to a tree. A deer isn’t much taller than a human. A camera that’s strapped to a tree is going to catch the wildlife perfectly. A camera that’s strapped to a tree 20 feet in the air is going to take video of the other trees.
Wherever you decide to place the camera, be sure to take some test video or photos. Nothing worse than checking the video in a week and it not being aimed properly. Also be sure to clear away any brush or foliage that could potentially block the lens or blow in the direction of the camera kicking off false motion photos.
Placing the game trail camera waist-high presents two problems. First are bears. They are curious animals and I’ve seen them try to remove the camera from the tree with their claws. Use heavy duty straps to attach your game trail camera to the tree.
Some Mount Recommendations
You could use a strap like the Moultrie Camera Strap for attaching a game trail camera to a tree. Run the strap through the opening on the back of the camera and securely fasten it around a tree. These are 8-feet long which is large enough for almost any tree. The negative is that they are also the simplest to remove by you or anyone to walk past the tree.
That brings me to the second issue with a waist-high mount which are thieves. Sure, it’s an unwritten rule that hunters don’t steal from other hunters. Unfortunately, here in New Jersey, that book is out of print.
That’s where a game trail camera lock comes into play. The Master Lock Python Cable is an excellent choice to do this. The lock itself is camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings and the cable is the right diameter to fit most camera cases. This has a six-foot cable and a keyed lock. This cable is made from cut resistant steel but I suppose someone with the right tools could still cut through it. Nevertheless, it makes it much more difficult to steel the cameras.
I mentioned earlier in the article about duration and location of the camera. Another type of camera that I have seen used as a temporary game trail camera are action cameras that are normally used for sports. If it’s an action camera, you will use a different mount such as the one that’s in the photo that accompanies this article. This mount has a standard tripod mounting screw and most action cameras have that mounting pattern. This type of mount can be placed higher on the tree as it swivels and pivots to capture the action beneath it.
So there are a few options and some advice. I advise against using some of these very expensive game trail cameras as it’s too easy for an animal to damage these or a human to steal them. It just hurts less when it’s a cheap camera versus one that costs several hundred dollars.