A second ( different ) bear  quickly checks out the torn snag

It’s been a busy week of hiking and bringing in many of my trail cameras. In October, the Massachusetts woods fill with outdoor enthusiasts, and my cameras are triggered by more people now than at any other time of year. To limit camera exposure and avoid other potential problems, I scale back the number of cameras in the field each fall.

Collecting them gives me a chance to inspect the cameras and clean the security boxes.

 

I also looked back at my camera-trapping goals that were set last March. The results weren’t perfect, but I did reasonably well.

                 2026 Trail Camera Goals

-          Capture bears walking along a pond shoreline or stream.

-          Find new spots where logs cross water – “log bridges.”

-          Set trail cameras in new areas.

-          Frame shots with visually appealing backgrounds.

-          Monitor a wider variety of bear-bite trees.

 

Jim

-          Bear(s) walking along pond shoreline or stream                          -                                         Not quite what I was looking for.

 

-          New Locations with logs spanning over water – “Log Bridge.”

pic above is previous location with new fallen log bridge

-          Deploy TC’s in new locations. 

       Aesthetically pleasing backgrounds

-          Set up on different bear bite trees