How to Hide a Trail Camera Without Spooking Bucks
If you're a hunting enthusiast, using a trail camera is essential for monitoring your hunting grounds, tracking buck activity, and capturing great wildlife shots. But improper camera placement can do more harm than good—alerting bucks, changing their behavior, or even driving them away.
As the GardePro Outdoor Research Team, with over 15 years in hunting and wildlife observation, we’ve seen firsthand how improper camera placement can reduce success rates. Here’s what we’ve learned about hiding trail cameras the right way.
Why Proper Camera Hiding Matters
Bucks are incredibly alert and sensitive to anything unnatural in their environment. A trail camera that’s too obvious can trigger avoidance behavior, leading to fewer sightings and missed hunting opportunities.
We’ve experienced this ourselves—early on, our cameras spooked bucks enough that they avoided trails completely. Since then, we’ve refined our methods to ensure minimal impact on their behavior.
Expert Tips for Hiding Trail Cameras
1. Pick the Right Location
Place your camera near:
Food sources
Water points
Scrapes or rubs
Mating zones
Avoid placing the camera directly on game trails—this increases the risk of detection. Instead, set it to the side or at an angle, so bucks are less likely to spot it.
2. Use the Right Height
Mount your camera:
Above head level (6+ feet): Keeps it out of the buck’s line of sight.
Low to the ground: Surprisingly, bucks rarely look down.
Just ensure the camera angle still captures the full body of the animal.
3. Choose a Low-Profile Camera
Look for:
Dark casing
Small size
Silent shutter
No-glow IR LEDs
The GardePro X60 PMB Cellular Trail Camera is ideal, featuring:
940nm no-glow infrared LEDs
Adaptive lighting technology (prevents over/underexposure)
Built-in rechargeable battery & 32GB SD card
0.1s trigger speed & 120° detection angle
4. Use Natural Cover Wisely
Camouflage your camera with:
Leaves
Branches
Bushes
Rocks
But avoid overdoing it—don't block the lens or sensors. The GardePro X60 PMB’s compact size makes it easy to conceal in most environments.
5. Minimize Human Scent
The more you interact with the camera, the more human scent you leave behind. Some tips:
Set up and check cameras at midday, not during prime activity hours (dawn/dusk).
Limit visits to once every 2–4 weeks.
Use gloves or scent eliminators when handling the camera.
The GardePro X60 PMB’s cellular function lets you:
View photos remotely via the GardePro app
Avoid frequent on-site visits
Monitor from anywhere, just like using a smartphone
6. Optimize for Longevity
Frequent battery changes increase disturbance. Choose a camera with:
Long battery life
Solar panel support (like GardePro SP300)
Large internal storage
These features reduce the need for physical interaction and extend time between maintenance.
Final Thoughts
By choosing the right location, height, and gear—and minimizing your presence—you can capture more natural, relaxed behavior from bucks without alerting them.
A well-hidden trail camera not only improves the quality of your footage but can also boost your hunting success by keeping deer patterns intact. The GardePro X60 PMB, with its stealth features and remote access, is the perfect tool to help you stay invisible while observing everything.
Ready to upgrade your setup? Check out the GardePro X60 PMB and make every shot count—without ever being seen.
