Let me get this out of the way, “POOH!!!!” That is as strong a language I suppose I should use here on the blog. Why POOH? Below are pictures of the auxiliary battery and solar panel after a recent check of my Moultrie D40 game camera. Some varmint, likely a deer judging from the pictures although the battery and solar panel were located too close to the camera to capture the action, shredded the cables. Previously something chewed the solar panel connector off that cord, but I was able to apply a “field-expedient” fix with some electrical tape. This time there was no field-fixing. I’ll have to obtain new cables and a new connector. It will give me the opportunity to add the second 1.5 watt solar panel I’d been dragging my feet on.
Shredded solar panel and battery pack cables.
The following sequence of pictures shows a rascally raccoon or raccoons pulling the D40 off the tree it was mounted on. Although the camera was fixed to the tree with bungee cords and a Master Lock Python cable the raccoon’s weight was enough to dislodge it and ensure any future pictures would be of a single plant.
Several young raccoons approach a mineral block.
The raccoons abandon the mineral block and head towards the game camera.
A raccoon dislodges the game camera.
This next picture shows Camp Pug member Hunt Master’s game camera after the outer case was infested with ants. The folks over at Chasingame have indicated that ants can sometimes get into the internal portions of the camera and ruin the electronics. Luckily the ants stayed in the outer case. I was able to brush them and their eggs out with fern fronds as I despise being bitten by these little Herculean pests.
Ants in a game camera – not your pants…
Two-legged scum bags and large predators pose a much greater threat to game cameras. Below are security boxes I’ve made for my two cameras from relatively inexpensive materials. First is a security box for a Moultrie D40 game camera (see my review here). It is fashioned from a surplus 7.62 NATO ammunition box that cost about $5.00. I chopped the box in the appropriate places using an angle grinder fitted with a metal cutting blade. Two eye-bolts were added (the ends of the threads were “peened” over to prevent removal) for the addition of a chain or Master Lock Python cable and two riser blocks were added to the back for proper camera positioning. I primer painted the box to mitigate rust and added camouflage tape. I like the look of the tape, but over time it starts to peel off. In the future I’ll stick to my “compost” camouflage shown below. A major detriment to this arrangement is that the box must be removed from the tree to swap out SD cards.
A security box made for the Moultrie D40 game camera.
The completed security box along with some un-shredded cables.
The diminutive size of the HCO ScoutGuard 550 (see my review here) required a much smaller box than that of the D40. I modified an air conditioner electrical cut-out switch box to fit this camera. A Dremel tool was used to cut and grind the opening, hardware cloth was wired in to position the camera correctly and an eye bolt was installed to aid security with a chain or Python cable. Foam buttons and a small bungee applied to the camera also helped position it correctly. I also pop-riveted some small “L” brackets to the sides for use with bungee cords. I primer painted the box and used sticks and grass from my compost pile along with three colors of paint for camouflage. This set up allows me to swap out SD cards without removing the box from the camera.
A security box made for the SG550 game camera.
A close up of the foam buttons and hardware cloth.
The finished security box.
I am sure I haven’t encountered all the things that pose hazards to game cameras, but I’ll tell you I enjoy this hobby very much.
happy hunting, dv
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