Trail Camera – Custom Design for Bigfoot

UPDATE: http://bigfootfinder.ca/2021/04/28/trail-camera-update/

So my plan for getting info on footprint hot spots is working. I’m getting my baiting materials together. Now it’s time to focus on making my own Trail Camera system that is specific for attracting and getting good photos of Bigfoot.

The design I’m working on hasn’t been completed yet but I figured I would share my research and details of what and how I’m making these cameras.

The idea is to create a network of wifi enabled Raspberry PI cameras that have motion sensors and audio capture as well as the ability to generate sounds.

Here’s a run down of how the cameras would operate:

• Multiple bait sites in an area with confirmed foot prints
• Four cameras facing the points of the compass away from each bait site
• All cameras use wifi to send images captured to a mobile hotspot that will upload them to my server. This allows me to monitor remotely and if a camera is damaged or stolen I will know pretty quick and still have the photos.
• The cameras will play at random times Bigfoot sounds to attract him (gotta work on what that sound will be)
• Motion sensors and audio sensor on the camera will trigger capturing bursts of photos and capture audio as well.
• If the area is generating good info I can ask the camera to start recording video as well.
• Sit back and wait and watch the data roll in.

So that’s the how it will work. What I’m making is a Raspberry PI camera system based on this article from Tom’s Hardware. The image above is an idea on how to camo the camera from Dave Mullins.

I’ve already got a Raspberry Pi kicking around to prototype with. It’s this one that already has wifi: Element14 Raspberry Pi 3 B+ Motherboard

Thinking of this for the camera power: Pisugar2 Pro Portable 5000 mAh UPS Lithium Battery Power Module Platform for Every Raspberry Pi 3B/3B+/4B Model Accessories (Not Include Raspberry Pi)

For a mobile hotspot I’m looking at the Nommi: Mobile Hotspot but I will use a old cellphone for testing.

This is the higher end camera module I will use: Raspberry Pi Camera Module V2-8 Megapixel,1080p (RPI-CAM-V2)

A wack load of these motion sensors, at least 3 per camera pointing outwards: Stemedu HC-SR501 PIR Sensor Infrared IR Body Motion Module for Arduino Raspberry Pi(Pack of 5pcs)

And I’ll use this for my sound sensor, audio recording and to playback Bigfoot attractor sounds (I’ll figure what audio I’m using and post that later): RASPIAUDIO Audio DAC HAT Sound Card (Audio+Speaker+MIC) for Raspberry Pi Zero/A+ / B+ / Pi 3 : Pi 4 Model B/Better Quality Than USB

One thing I can’t figure out but would like to add is an EMF sensor just to see if that will record any sort of data for me when something is around.

Also if this works out well the other thing I will look at is upgrading to IR cameras but it’s not a priority as most of my research shows that he really doesn’t like stumbling around in the dark any more than we do.

I’ve got a large Amazon package coming and some work ahead of me 🙂