Calling All Trappers (camera and otherwise...)

Tomorrow begins my final semester at Finger Lakes Community College. I've had an amazing, rejuvenating experience learning from some of the most wonderful faculty and staff, and now I'm being set free and allowed the opportunity to run my own independent study in the field. I will be using five camera traps- Cuddeback Attack IRs.

For more info on all the background stuff...: Research Methods in Biology. And this is what the study site looks like from above (thanks Google Earth!):

Anyway, I'm studing circadian rhythms of medium and larger size mammals (like...opossum, racoon and up to black bear) and documenting peaks and lows of activity periods. Not sure how it's going to go...but I'm giving it a go.

What I want to know is, what are some tricks of the trade when it comes to trapping? I am interested in learning more about:

• Scent lures
• Baits
• Methods of deploying both        AND
• Any other 'lures' that are used (visual lures?)

Three species I'm particularly bent on camera trapping are river otter, bobcat, and black bear.

Hopefully my fellow camera trapping bloggers can offer some suggestions? By the way, I'm in Upstate NY...if that has any affect on trapping strategies.