Camtrapper

The purpose for this set is to watch the bucks and bulls antler growth this summer. It will also be a good place to get pictures of new fawns and calves soon. Two years ago on this set, twice I got pictures of a cougar's tail as it passed by the camera. I am using a fawn decoy and lures this time. When a predator does walk through, this should cause it to stop long enough for a picture or two. The fawn decoy is sitting in the tall grass against a wild rose bush. You can see the decoy in the first pictures. The decoy is about 13 feet from the camera. The camera is a W230 set on ISO 200. This makes for a very weak flash, but these are the kinds of pictures I prefer. I have added corn at the mineral lick. It took a few days before the deer and elk found it, but the lick is a very busy place now. I had over 2,200 pics on week one







I planned on checking this camera on Sunday, but my neighbor told me my decoy had been moved overnight. So, I went to check the camera this evening. The lure and decoy did exactly what I had hoped. It stopped this bobcat for a picture. I only had one picture of this cat, but without the lure and decoy, I am sure I would have missed this one also. In this picture, the bobcat has stopped and is looking directly at the fawn decoy. This bobcat did not move the decoy. I am still looking at pictures trying to see what did move the decoy last night.

I have a bunch of good pictures from this set already, and I have not been through all of them yet. This is my favorite so far. Not sure what is going on here, but I think he is trying to scratch his balls with his antlers. Maybe by July, they will be long enough to reach that itchy spot.
Bob

great pics Bob. I hope to have my W220 out this weekend for test pics.

I can't believe how far along the bulls are in your area.

Pretty cool pics. The antler growth on the bull this early is pretty amazing. He's going to be a dandy.

Bullie 2 Out

tbass wrote:I can't believe how far along the bulls are in your area.

2X's I was going to comment on this already last week, That's going to be a decent bull for sure, He sure is dark in color compared to the Rocky mountain elk we have here

These are Rocky Mountain elk. I had pics of five different bulls last week. The largest bull has been around here for several years. He is always darker than the others. He lost his antlers on March 3rd this year, so he has 2 1/2 months of new antler growth. I have trailcam pics from July 1, 2008, and his antlers were fully developed then. He was a 6X6 then, and a 7X7 this year. In late June, we will know what he will be this year. I have lots of pictures of this bull. We have bulls around here that are larger than this guy.
Bob

Great pictures and story as usual Bob. Great spots on that cat and good antler growth.

Great shots Bob! I can't wait to get some new bull pics -- it might be a month before I get my cams in the right spots...

Those are some great elk!! nice cat too!