Using Motion Detecting Cameras, IR lighting, Game Cameras, other electronics

Modern electronics should be leveraged to improve your success rates on taking coyotes out of the ecosystem.

Use motion detecting cameras by placing them in areas of traffic or what you suspect may be high use areas to learn and monitor key spots where coyotes may travel.

The cameras I prefer can alert my cell phone to any movement they detect. One of the first decisions you may have to make is getting one of the following types of cameras:

1. A home security system camera which connects to local WIFI
2. Off the network trail camera 
3. Cellular connected trail camera

Cell based cameras have their own SIM card and data pipeline separate from a cell phone. You will pay for this data to a cell provider just like your cell phone bill. Cellular trail cameras are a very solid choice because they are waterproof and have a very reliable network they tap into where WIFI is not available. Most cellular cameras are battery powered inside the case among the onboard computer but some will have the option of taking a larger external battery. These kind of cameras are usually static with one lens that points in a single direction, without the ability to rotate the lens in a different direction.

A more diverse camera has the ability to swivel around by remote control from your phone to view the immediate area around it. Getting a camera in 1080 to 2K resolution range should be clear enough image to identify coyotes and easily available to purchase online or at local stores. Any camera that can swivel 360 degrees and tilt horizontally about 120 degrees is going to cover a lot of area surrounding it. If you are alerted and have remote controls from your phone you can watch live activity.

Camera below can be remote controlled, rotates 360 degrees left and right as well as 120 degrees tilt vertically. 

Getting power wired directly to a camera is going to provide less maintenance than battery powered options and charging duties that come with them. For battery powered cameras, if you have adequate sunlight and a good place to mount a small solar panel then any sort of solar recharging option is going to benefit you. Take a look at power options and how long any battery is supposed to last according to manufacturers. I find those manufacturer estimates to be exaggerated.

For WIFI cameras the quality of the network connection at the distance between the camera and the network router is going to be important to pay attention to. This factor could dictate whether or not this is a viable option. In today's market there are many IP6 waterproof WIFI home security cameras at less than 100 dollars which I would consider. 

Most cameras use at least one PIR sensor (Passive Infrared Sensor) to detect heat, then the local computer will initiate filming activity and even send alerts to your phone if that feature is available on it. I found that the sensors work better when the objects are passing from one side to the other as opposed to straight at or away from the camera. This is well known in the industry and you should apply that knowledge when placing your camera in the field. You should also take that into consideration when you read product reviews. There will be a lot of complaints about them not operating properly unless something is 5-10 feet away. Position and proximity of the lens and sensor to a target are very important. At this point in time, it's what we have available to us on a large scale. Your expectations may exceed what is available and affordable on the market. 

Place your cameras in an elevated position off the ground with these items in mind:

1. Avoiding splatter and mud from raindrops hitting the ground around the camera. They can obstruct and impair sensors or the camera lens
2. Prevent animals becoming curious and then damaging the camera.
3. Get a better view of the surrounding area.
4. If possible, point the camera at a 90 degree angle and within 10 yards of where you expect the animals to travel.

Other items you may want to consider are going to be:

1. Driveway style motion detectors. 
2. IR lights external to your rifle and mounted in an elevated position. These help to shine a beam in the shooting area at angles you cannot achieve from your shooting position. 

Use all of these tools to track activity and get an idea on any patterns that can develop or to filter out animals you are not interested in.

See A Guide To Controlling Coyote In Urban Environments for more tips on coyote control.