I don't run many cameras but the few I do are in very specific locations. These are primary scrape locations in dense cover. I try to find these spots in February up through turkey season. Once I find one, I walk it out thoroughly. Plan the tree I need to be in and access, etc. This time of year, you can tromp that spot down and stink it up and it does not matter one bit. On a new spot, I come back mid to late summer and slap up a $40 camera and let it soak all through the season. I will check it if I happen to hunt the spot but usually, I let it soak and go pull the camera post season. That way I have the activity on that spot for the following fall. That way that spot is dialed in and I don't have to have a camera out there anymore. I can go find the next spot.
I checked a camera yesterday I had out for months prior to this season. I got great intel for next season, but I knew going into this season it would be a pre rut location. I just never got around to hunting it until yesterday. I did not need a camera in there, but it was nice to see what was coming through. It confirmed what the evidence from the past year was telling me.
Early season I am looking for feed trees and hunting on the fly adjusting to what the deer are doing on an almost daily basis.