Wildlife Camera Hints & Tips For Better Nature Footage

Wildlife camera, usage has become very popular recently, with nature lovers everywhere spending their spare time during lockdown, getting closer to the natural world around them. I have been no exception to this and purchased my first trail cam, as they are aslo known, days after going into lockdown.

I am lucky enough to have areas of small woodland, bridleways and meadows just on my doorstep. And I have been going out every day, filming the wildlife, plants and insects that I discover during my daily walks. By way of documenting my encounters, I have also been producing a wildlife and nature lockdown vlog, which I published on my Youtube Page - JesterBushcraft

It was during my daily walks, that I began to spot signs of fox activity, strong scent, tracks etc. And so I made the decision to invest in a wildlife camera. After considerable research, I went for the Victure HC100, which was reasonably priced for a first camera, small and compact, provided a respectable 16Mp image and only required 4 x AA batteries, compared to the usual 8 in other trail cams on the market.

With my new camera and brimming with optimism, I ventured out to locate the trail cam, hoping to catch a glimpse of the fox, that I was convinced was roaming my woodland.

Amazingly after my first night of placing the camera, I captured the faintest image of a fox, wandering through the woods.

As you can imagine I was elated at this initial encounter, unaware that this would lead me to weeks and months of tracking the fox and capturing it (any many others) on film, using my now trusty Victure HC100.

Over the next couple of weeks, placing the camera in the evening, collecting again in the morning and checking what footage I had captured. I quickly began to learn, even as a novice wildlife film maker, the best places to locate the camera, angles, heights and signs to look for when tracking the fox. I have since gone on to produce videos, featuring the foxes, spanning over 100 days, along with a whole host of other animal species.

Knowing the trials and errors I went through, tracking a filming these animals, I thought it would be beneficial to other wildlife camera users to offer some hints and tips. And so I put together a video highlighting my experiences and lessons I learnt, in the early stages of owning a trail cam.

After months of capturing the foxes on video, I soon realised that a second camera would be beneficial. Allowing me to monitor both the woodland, where the fox would venture whilst hunting. And also the area around the den, which I discovered using my new found tracking skills and behaviour patterns highlighted on film.

And so, I purchased a second wildlife camera. Although completely satisfied with my Victure HC100, I felt I should trial a different camera with different features. Again, after a lot of research I opted for the Apeman H55, which I continue to use on a regular basis to this day.

If you decide to purchase a wildlife camera, my advice would be this... Do your research Learn the behaviour of the animal you want to film Use on a regular basis, to learn the features of your camera Be persistent Don't be discouraged by little or no footage Enjoy it

Going out on a daily basis, during lockdown, to place my wildlife cameras, has opened my eyes to far more than just a single fox sighting. It has taught me how to track animals, learn their characteristics, discover new animals, witness new life and appreciate the amazing wildlife and nature we have around us.

Get out there, enjoy it...