Trail Cameras and Bears

[CT.HNTR]

I have had a terrible time this year with black bears destroying my trail cameras. They can't resist ripping them from the tree and busting them up. Anyone know why they do this and are there any tips or tricks for preventing this from happening? Do the metal boxes help?

[AJ01]

I have heard it is because of the smell of the camera.
Also, some speculate that the Bears can see the IR at night, and this draws their curiosity.
As far as I know, no Bears were interviewed for the answers to this question.

[Boo]

This will take your cams well out of nose level.
https://www.spyhighmounts.com/

[Normous]

Yup, hang your cams high and for additional security use metal bear boxes offerered my most cam vendors.

[CT.HNTR]

This will take your cams well out of nose level.
https://www.spyhighmounts.com/


Hi Don,
This system looks pretty interesting and clever. I will check it out!

[Boo]

This will take your cams well out of nose level.
https://www.spyhighmounts.com/
Hi Don,
This system looks pretty interesting and clever. I will check it out!

I get the occasional bear through my hunting property every year but so far they have only destroyed one cam because it used the cam as a step to beat up a feeder that was high up on a 6X6 pole. They've only been interested in the corn. I wrapped the 6X6 with a couple of stove pipe section so if I decide to buy another feeder it will be safe. I don't think anything is 100% safe from bears so you have to decide to either go for armour or put it where it's not likely to be smelled by the bear. I had a raccoons climbing up onto the box blind platform and crapping all over it. I used barbed wire around the legs, ladder and the adjacent tree that they could have used to access the platform. Problem solved. Raccoons are just small bears, I hate them both for the damage they are capable of.

[CT.HNTR]

I lost 7 out of 16 trail cameras this year to bears. It got pretty expensive.

Can't believe how many bears we see while hunting. Big bears 400 and 500 pounds. The DEEP in our state is begging for a bear season but our very liberal legislature won't pass a bear season. Someone is going to get mauled or worse killed before they do something sensible!

Don

[DuckHunt]

This will take your cams well out of nose level.
https://www.spyhighmounts.com/

Mounting the cameras higher is the only thing I found that worked. The Spy High system worked great for me last year. You do give up some detection range when you mount them high, so I would only do it if/when necessary.

This season I didn't have a bear problem, so I moved my cameras back down for better detection.

[IronNoggin]

Had serious issues with one particular massive blackie.
Took out a half dozen of my best cameras.
Once, he did climb the tree to get it while I watched 100 yards out with the 380 in my hands. Cursing.

He ended up paying the piper for that.
And I did a real dance of joy when that happened!



Seven feet seven inches - 22" and change skull.

Cheers,
Nog

[janesy]

Clean your camera thoroughly with rubbing alcohol before you take it out, and hang it high. I've had good luck with spypoint swivel mounts. Cheap and easy.

Get to be a pain to change batteries, so it's worth investing in either 12v or lithium options. LiPo is my personal preference, except squirrels like to chew the cords. So a week before they go out, wipe the cords down with turpentine.

[amythntr]

This will take your cams well out of nose level.
https://www.spyhighmounts.com/

SpyHigh system works great!

[amythntr]

I have had a terrible time this year with black bears destroying my trail cameras. They can't resist ripping them from the tree and busting them up. Anyone know why they do this and are there any tips or tricks for preventing this from happening? Do the metal boxes help?

….it happened the first year on our property….they seemed to go after the one with the paddles on it to send pictures back to our phones!