A lot of “experts” will tell you where to put your trail cameras based on what you are trying to achieve and what time of year it is. There are opinions on what brand to get. No matter what, I can promise you this: if you buy one trail camera, you will buy at least one more.

I keep my cameras out year round and spread across three different pieces of property. I capture moments of time in the woods and fields that reflect the behaviors of deer, coyotes, porcupines, bobcats, turkey and moose. For the first time in five years, I didn’t get a bear on any of my cameras this spring.

I am not an expert, but here are some things I have learned about trail camera placement. A disclaimer: all of my cameras are cellular cameras. I have a two-minute delay from when the cameras are activated to when I get the picture on my cellphone.

• Find a well-worn trail. Some of my most active trail cameras have come from finding well-traveled trails in the woods in the middle of winter and putting a camera there. If deer are using it regularly, chances are coyote, turkeys and bobcats do, too. One lesson that I learned recently is that some trails are one way. I get lots of photos, but all of the animals are heading in the same direction. There is not much land between my house and the camera … it is now a puzzle to figure out where they are coming from, and where they are going.

• Take a few test shots. I have a camera right now that I placed too low and I am getting a lot of great photos of ferns. I also got the legs of a moose walking by. I knew better and didn’t take my time to think through the fact that grass would be growing and the ground sloped. That camera is solar-powered, so when I moved it, it was to ensure the sun would hit the solar panel. It has 100% power but the photos are useless.

• Watch for patterns. In the spring, I could set my watch by the coyote passing by at 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. It was mating season. For more than a week, that animal followed that pattern before disappearing from the camera. A couple years ago, I was able to pattern a buck for the first time. He showed up in front of a camera in the middle of the night and came back a number of hours later. I woke up one Saturday morning during hunting season and saw him on the camera at midnight. I have never gotten into my stand so fast to ensure I was settled and quiet. He was an hour later than the first time, but I was in the right place. Having trail camera photos of the buck you shoot is always a cool bonus to your season.

• Enjoy the photos. When photos start coming in, you will learn something new. It could be the animals that you did not know where on your property, or it could be seeing the first fawn of the spring, spindly legs and white spots. You may see a young moose or bear, cast out by its mom. No matter what you see, you have to appreciate the ability to get a sneak peek into the world.

Trail cameras can be controversial but are so fun to have. They take upkeep to make sure the system is updated regularly, and you do have to replace batteries once or twice a year, but they give you a glimpse into a world that we would not see otherwise. The cameras can help you spot trespassers or new spring babies. If you have the space to put one up, I highly recommend it. I don’t think you will regret it.

Erin Merrill, an award-winning writer based in central Maine, writes “Hunt & Harvest” monthly. She welcomes emails at [email protected].