Deploying Your Trap in the Field

You've assembled your OcuTrap and added it to your account — this guide walks you through actually setting it up on site: where to place it, how to set your capture distance, and how to confirm everything works before you leave.

Before you start, make sure you've done:

Hardware Set Up — trap assembled, POD attached, battery charged
Adding a trap to your account — trap paired and visible in the app

Where the camera and sensor are (why placement is what matters)

The camera and the distance sensor both live inside the POD — the module that attaches to the trap. They sit in a single fixed position, so there's nothing to aim or point. You don't adjust the sensor angle or the camera direction.

What this means for setup: getting a good result is about where you place the whole trap and how you set the capture distance — not about aiming anything. The steps below cover both.

1. Choose a good location

For the best captures

Put bait behind the sensor, near the back of the cage, so the animal has to walk through the detection zone to reach it.
Set the trap on level ground. A level trap avoids nuisance tilt alerts once it's armed and helps the door operate cleanly.
Give it a stable base so wind or a struggling animal won't shift it.

For the best connection

Avoid metal buildings and dense structures that block cellular signal — poor signal also drains the battery faster.
Leave a clear view of the sky where you can, so GPS can update your trap's location.

For more placement and battery tips, see Tips and Tricks.

2. Set your capture distance

Capture distance is how far inside the trap an animal must be before the door closes. In the app you pick a preset from 6 in to 18 in (default 8 in).

8 in (default) — a good starting point for most setups.
Smaller (6–7 in) — the animal must be deeper in the cage before the door closes. Use this to reduce false triggers from rain, debris, or movement near the opening.
Larger (10 in and up) — the animal can trigger from farther inside the cage.

Targeting smaller animals? The sensor's detection area is naturally a little wider the farther it is from the POD, so a larger capture distance can help a small animal fall within it. Because smaller animals are harder to detect reliably, confirm your target actually triggers at your chosen distance using Scouting Mode (Step 4) before you rely on the trap.

Full details on presets and the sensor error messages you might see: Distance Limits, Sensor Alerts & Errors.

3. Power on and confirm the connection

Power on the trap.
Watch the status LED. A breathing cyan light means the trap is connected to the cloud and ready.
Check that the trap shows as online in the app.

If you don't see breathing cyan, give it a minute to connect, and check signal in the area. See the LED Guide for what each color means and Connectivity & Coverage if it won't connect.

4. Test it before you walk away

Never leave a trap deployed without confirming it fires:

Arm the trap from the app (see Arm & Un-arm Button).
Wave your hand slowly through the detection zone, at about the depth your target animal would reach.
Confirm the door closes and you receive a capture alert.
Open the door and disarm, then re-arm for real deployment.

Optional — validate with Scouting Mode. Scouting Mode watches for animals and sends alerts and photos without closing the door. It's the best way to confirm your placement and capture distance are actually catching your target — especially for smaller animals — before you commit to arming.

5. Before you leave — final checklist

LED shows breathing cyan (connected)
Trap shows online in the app
Battery level is enough for how long you'll be away
Door opens and closes properly
Capture distance is set for your target
Bait is positioned behind the sensor
Trap is level and stable
Trap is armed (or in Scouting Mode)

After you deploy

Turn on Pre-Capture Notifications to get an alert and photo when an animal approaches — useful for confirming your target is showing up.
When you get a capture, follow Handling & Releasing a Captured Animal.