Baiting camera traps on public land (Scotland)

[David Martin]

What are the dos and don'ts of 'encouraging' visitors to camera traps placed in land to which the public has access through right to roam?

Any thoughts?

[Jaded]

Is this a well-known dogging site near Dundee?

[David Martin]

No. Why wood you have thought that? My mind is a Temple of pure and innocent thoughts.

[Jaded]

I thought splashing out on a new camera was a laudable and probably upright aim.

[David Martin]

Now you are taking the mickey..

[T42]

My first thought would be that some bugger will pinch the camera.

[David Martin]

The intent is that the cameras are well out of the beaten track.

[Poly Hive]

I am probably being thick but I honestly don't understand the question.

PH

[David Martin]

One can place a camera trap to point at a region of interest where a wildlife may meander into shot. The odds of getting a nice shot might be enhanced by the careful positioning of 'bait' such as a freshly roadkilled rabbit translocated to a high corrie where it would be spotted by an eagle or similar.

Or peanuts in front of one in woodland to encourage squirrels. Or a salmon to encourage otters.

[Kim]

Or tools to encourage Blodwyn Pigs?

[matthew]

One can place a camera trap to point at a region of interest where a wildlife may meander into shot. The odds of getting a nice shot might be enhanced by the careful positioning of 'bait' such as a freshly roadkilled rabbit translocated to a high corrie where it would be spotted by an eagle or similar.

Or peanuts in front of one in woodland to encourage squirrels. Or a salmon to encourage otters.

So what you are saying is you are as interested in the background and ascetics of the photos of the animals as in picturing the animals and are therefore choosing the locations of your camera traps on two criteria rather than just the probability of animals being present.

[Andrij]

Or tools to encourage Blodwyn Pigs?

 

[David Martin]

One can place a camera trap to point at a region of interest where a wildlife may meander into shot. The odds of getting a nice shot might be enhanced by the careful positioning of 'bait' such as a freshly roadkilled rabbit translocated to a high corrie where it would be spotted by an eagle or similar.

Or peanuts in front of one in woodland to encourage squirrels. Or a salmon to encourage otters.

So what you are saying is you are as interested in the background and ascetics of the photos of the animals as in picturing the animals and are therefore choosing the locations of your camera traps on two criteria rather than just the probability of animals being present.

Ascetics? No - the camera traps are set where they are most unlikely to be found by random ramblers. Any baiting is to encourage wildlife to meander within shot. And hopefully to remain for long enough to get a clear picture. Aesthetics are not a consideration, though the potential angle of the sun is.

[Cudzoziemiec]

Presumably the Scottish Wildlife Trust would be able to give you advice on how to do this in a safe, legal and biofriendly way (and without getting your camera nicked).

[David Martin]

Here are a bunch of pics - some deer, a few mice.
https://www.flickr.com/gp/davidmam/5PE518

..d