UK Trail Camera Footage From 2 Weeks In The Woods
UK Trail camera footage video
Discovering Dragged Into Sunlight: A Trail Camera Adventure in the Deep Woods
Welcome back to the wild side! Today, I’m sharing a new adventure from a dark, chaotic part of the woods that I’ve affectionately named Dragged Into Sunlight. The name is a nod to one of my favourite bands, and it perfectly describes the mysterious, densely packed woodland where shafts of sunlight barely penetrate through the tangled mess of trees. While filming my last video, A Peaceful Day in the Murk, I stumbled upon this captivating spot, where I was simply enjoying a coffee and photographing the beauty around me.
The woods here are dense, dark, and almost claustrophobic, with thin, scraggly trees creating a haunting and mesmerising atmosphere. It’s the kind of place where nature’s chaos feels alive, and every rustle or shadow seems to carry a story. But what intrigued me the most during my first visit were the unmistakable signs of deer: patches of disturbed ground, antler rub marks on trees, and plenty of deer prints scattered around. So, I knew I had to come back with a plan.
Setting Up the Trail Camera
Armed with my trusty 4K trail camera, I returned to Dragged Into Sunlight, hoping to capture some wildlife action. This isn’t your average camera; it has two separate lenses for day and night recording, 4K resolution in the daylight, and 1080p infrared at night. The PIR sensors ensure it only records when movement is detected, and the infrared illuminator lights up the area when the sun goes down.
To protect my camera from any curious passersby (human or otherwise), I camouflaged it well with leaves and ferns. I even took some extra precautions, writing “Do Not Touch” and fabricating a small fib about it being GPS-tracked for a school project. You never know who might stumble upon it!
But the camera alone wasn’t enough. To tempt the deer into range, I left a small pile of “deer food,” a simple but hopefully irresistible mix of oats and peanut butter. I know it breaks the Leave No Trace rule, but sometimes, capturing wildlife on film calls for a little bending of the guidelines. With the camera and bait in place, I wished the setup luck and left it to work its magic.
Returning to the Scene
Almost two weeks later, I made my way back through the woods. As I approached Dragged Into Sunlight, I felt that familiar nervous anticipation: Would the camera still be there? Did it capture anything exciting? To my relief, the camera was exactly where I left it, camouflaged and intact. The surrounding area seemed quieter than before, with fewer signs of deer activity, but I did notice some large prints and chewed berries scattered around.
Reviewing the Footage
The big reveal: The trail camera had recorded 226 clips over the course of 10 or 11 days! I couldn’t wait to check out what it had captured. The first few clips, predictably, were of me setting up the camera and rambling on about my YouTube video. But soon after, the real stars appeared.
One of the first sightings was a majestic stag at night, standing boldly in front of the camera. Even in the dark, you could sense its presence, powerful and regal. There were more clips of deer during the day, too, including one particularly large stag whose legs and body were perfectly framed in the footage, though the lens had gotten a bit muddy. Still, the excitement of seeing these creatures in their element was more than worth it.
The Wildlife Footage
Instead of me rambling on, the best way to experience this adventure is to watch the wildlife footage for yourself. I’ll link the video above so you can see these incredible moments unfold. This trail camera has proven to be a fantastic tool for capturing the secrets of the woods, and I can’t wait to set it up again in a new location.
Thanks for coming along on this woodland adventure with me. Until next time, enjoy the beauty of the wild, and remember: Leave No Trace… well, most of the time!