How can I handle carpenter ants?
Ants, and particularly carpenter ants, in wooded areas with plentiful food will be ubiquitous. If your property is sufficiently wooded it's likely that there are multiple colonies.

Carpenter ants are crafty, too. They are also hardier against poisons and pickier with baiting than other ants. When we had a problem with them I asked a few entomologists I know about their control. Their recommendation was that you must use multiple poison bait types. Carpenter ants will take protein (granules) or sugar (gel) baits based on their mood and the needs of the colony. You should supply both, regularly, around areas they frequent and around your home. 

Look for products featuring Abamectin such as Advance Carpenter Ant Bait (that's "advance", not "advanced")

In sugar/gel baits look for products featuring Fipronil such as MaxForce Carpenter Ant Bait Gel

These products worked very well for me after vigilant application for a few weeks.