February Wildlife & Trail Camera Tips for Hunters

Many hunters pack up their gear when the season ends in January, but seasoned outdoorsmen know that February is one of the most critical months for deer management. The woods are far from quiet; this is the time for post-season scouting, predator control, and the beginning of "shed season."

If you want to be successful next fall, the work starts now. Here is your guide to utilizing trail cameras effectively in February.

1. The "Did He Survive?" Inventory

The most important question a hunter asks in February is: "Did my target buck survive the winter?"

Deer Dynamics in February:
Following the stress of the rut and winter, bucks are in "recovery mode." They are focused entirely on food. This makes them predictable.

• Focus on Food Sources: Place cameras over high-carbohydrate food sources (corn, soybeans, or late-season food plots). Bucks are desperate to recover the 15-20% body weight lost during the rut.
• Take Census: Use this time to build a "hit list" for next year. Identify which bucks made it through hunting season and assess their health conditions.

2. Monitoring for Shed Antlers

February marks the beginning of Shed Hunting season in many regions. Finding a buck's shed antlers is like finding gold—it confirms he is alive and gives you a tangible trophy.

• Use Time-Lapse Mode: Set your camera to Time-Lapse mode overlooking large fields or food plots. You aren't just looking for motion; you are looking for the specific day a buck drops his antlers.
• Strike Quickly: Once your trail camera captures a photo of a "half-rack" buck (one antler dropped) or a "bald" buck, you know it's time to hit the woods and search that specific area before squirrels destroy the antlers.

3. Predator Control: Saving Spring Fawns

February is often the peak mating season for coyotes. They are highly active, vocal, and territorial. Removing predators now is often considered the most effective way to increase fawn survival rates in the spring.

Camera Setup for Coyotes:

• Territorial Marking: Coyote marking points increase dramatically in February. Look for tracks and scat at crossroads or field corners.
• Water Convergence: Observations suggest that a significant amount of predator activity occurs within half a mile of water sources.
• Height Adjustment: Place cameras slightly higher (about 4 feet) and angled down. This wider field of view helps capture fast-moving predators that might otherwise slip past the sensor.

4. Critical Camera Setup Tips for Winter

Location Strategy: The Triangle Setup

Don't just rely on one angle. If you are monitoring a key food source or bedding area, try a Triangular Layout (3 cameras facing a central point from different angles). This ensures that if a buck walks behind one camera, another will catch him, giving you a 360-degree view of his rack.

Battery Management in Freezing Temps

February is often the coldest month in many areas. Standard alkaline batteries can fail when temperatures drop below freezing.

• Upgrade to Lithium: Lithium batteries perform far better in extreme cold and maintain consistent voltage.
• Use Solar Panels: With cold weather draining batteries faster, adding an external solar panel is the best investment to keep your camera running maintenance-free for weeks.

Long-term Strategy: Low Pressure Scouting

The biggest mistake hunters make in February is checking cameras too often. Bucks are physically stressed and weak. Bumping them now can push them onto a neighbor's property or cause fatal stress.

The Solution: This is the perfect scenario for cellular trail cameras. They allow you to monitor the "Shed Drop" and "Survival Inventory" from the comfort of your home, leaving the woods undisturbed until you are ready to make your move.

Summary: Don't let your gear gather dust. Use February to take inventory, protect future fawns, and start your shed hunting season. The intelligence you gather now is the key to success next season.