Trail/game cameras

[Ale-8(1)]

I'm developing an interest in trail/game cameras. I note that there are about a gazillion models available. Is there some website that discusses the various capabilities and features of these things without being a not-so-subtle advertisement for one particular brand/model or another? All I have found are pretty slanted one way or another.

I'd also really like to find a general discussion of the technology and features that might help sort out the important basic functions/features as opposed to the bells and whistles.

Thanks for input.

 

[GunnyGene]

Day or nite capability. High resolution. Minimum 50' detection range. Weather proof. Good battery life. Anything beyond that is gravy. I've had a Wildgame low end camera (Model t5i3w) for a few years. Does just fine, cost about $50 @ Walmart.

That said most of the new ones will have video and WiFi or some other means to connect to a cell or laptop without opening it up and pulling the memory card out.

Typical still pic from mine:

 

[CGDustDevil]

Gunny - I paid double that for one that doesn't look half as good, although it was a couple years ago!

There are some VERY nice cams out there so it really boils down to exactly what anyone wants from one.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I'm developing an interest in trail/game cameras. I note that there are about a gazillion models available. Is there some website that discusses the various capabilities and features of these things without being a not-so-subtle advertisement for one particular brand/model or another? All I have found are pretty slanted one way or another.

I'd also really like to find a general discussion of the technology and features that might help sort out the important basic functions/features as opposed to the bells and whistles.

Thanks for input.

Check this link out ...

http://www.trailcamerareviews.net/best-trail-camera-reviews-buying-guide/

 

[Sturgis270]

I've got two of the Wildgame Innovations cameras. Think I paid around $85- $90 a piece. Great night time/day time pictures and each is powered by AA batteries. If memory serves 8 batteries , and they last a very long time.

 

[GunnyGene]

Gunny - I paid double that for one that doesn't look half as good, although it was a couple years ago!

There are some VERY nice cams out there so it really boils down to exactly what anyone wants from one.

Something to keep in mind with any of these is can you afford for it to grow legs? I would not be comfortable setting out a high priced camera on public land. Which is one reason I went for the cheapie. I know some folks will set up 2 or more aimed at each other to hopefully catch a picture of one of them walking off, but that seems a little chancy to me. You might end up losing both.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Something to keep in mind with any of these is can you afford for it to grow legs?

Good point!

:shock: :mrgreen: :shock:

 

[CGDustDevil]

All my 'cammin' is done on my property or close by. But that's a GREAT point Gunny!

 

[H.H. Hipshot]

I have a poacher on a neighboring place (maybe mine also) who turns off the cameras while he is hunting, and then turns them back on when he leaves. Neighbor has yet to get a photo of him.

 

[GunnyGene]

All my 'cammin' is done on my property or close by. But that's a GREAT point Gunny!

Glad I could be of help. It's real easy to sink several hundred dollars on a game cam just because you want to find out what color eyes the critter has. A cheapie takes gudnuff pics to tell the difference between a cow and a deer.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I have a poacher on a neighboring place (maybe mine also) who turns off the cameras while he is hunting, and then turns them back on when he leaves. Neighbor has yet to get a photo of him.

That'd be time for a concealed cam REAL close by the one the poacher can see. You can get a spy cam that's as small as a quarter... A little clever cammo and you'll have your poacher!

 

[Ale-8(1)]

I don't know much about them but Sportsman's Guide sent me an email today with a bunch of them on sale.

Yeah, me too. That silly ad caught my eye, and reading the offerings revealed to me how little I know about the subject. Then I hit the 'net and got completely confused.

:roll: :wink:

 

[powder smoke]

I got a Moultry about 2004 never worked right kinda soured me on them.
I'm ready to try again. They were expensive back then and had nothing but trouble. ps

 

[contender]

As noted,,, there are many options & prices reflect the options.
Flash, IR, or Black IR are the 3 basic types. I use them a fair amount on my property, and have an order in for 5 more to add to my stable. I use different types for different purposes. But, overall, I have chosen Cuddeback as my brand of choice. It's my PERSONAL choice, and there are others out there that are good ones too.

 

[Aqualung]

I have a Moultrie M-990i that I like very much. It came recommended by the guy at Cabela's. I like the fact that it has a pretty good range and the "dark" flash. It takes both video (with sound) and stills.

Daylight shot..."Holy Cow! It's Bigfoot!":


Night shot of the same spot:


Aqualung

 

[Colonialgirl]

I have a Moultrie M-990i that I like very much. It came recommended by the guy at Cabela's. I like the fact that it has a pretty good range and the "dark" flash. It takes both video (with sound) and stills.

Daylight shot..."Holy Cow! It's Bigfoot!":


Night shot of the same spot:




Aqualung

I don't know about the foot, but that is sure one big belly on him !!

 

[Aqualung]

I have a Moultrie M-990i that I like very much. It came recommended by the guy at Cabela's. I like the fact that it has a pretty good range and the "dark" flash. It takes both video (with sound) and stills.

Daylight shot..."Holy Cow! It's Bigfoot!":


Night shot of the same spot:




Aqualung

I don't know about the foot, but that is sure one big belly on him !!

Er....um....the camera adds ten pounds...and since its wide-angle, maybe 20...

I've lost some of that since that was taken...and still working on it.

Aqualung

 

[Scout943]

I Use this one works great http://i5.walmartimages.com/dfw/dce07b8c-bd33/k2-_aa14ddac-e086-4750-9850-e7e4cf644006.v1.jpg?odnHeight=450&odnWidth=450 stealth cam p17-7

 

[Pyromike]

I've been using Wildgame Innovations for several years and get great pics. You can find them under $100 and the batteries will last 6 months +. I check them about once a week as it gets close to hunting season. I have extra SD cards so I can slip in; switch the cards and slip out. Don't want to spend time bothering the area.
When I hunt, I switch the cards on my way out.

If we leave the house for vacation or weekend, I have one pointed across the front of the house so I know who stops by. My biggest requirement is how fast it takes a follow up picture and Infrared so there is no flash to scare off animals. Also if someone is trespassing they might not see the pic being taken.

I use cable ties to mount them and also run a steel locked cable around them. Have only had one stolen from a friends house. Someone destroyed it trying to get it removed.

 

[mikewriter]

I have all my cameras - I think I have about 8 out at all times, a couple more I use at the house - in locked metal boxes, that are also chained and locked to the tree. A few years ago the kids across the road took a rest from breaking in my camp trailer, cabin, and deer stands and stole all my cameras - at that time I just had the plastic boxes locked. I found them all, and one still had the SD card in it, was still turned "on", and had really nice pictures of the thief! Theft problems went down after that, although I did have one camera on the edge of my property that got shot up, lock box and all. I normally "make" the boxes out of electrical breaker boxes, and they work well. Find a wasp nest in one occasionally, had a small snake in one last fall, but mostly only lizards and frogs.

I have tried several brands, usually stick to Moultrie. I sent 6 old cameras back to them for repairs a couple of years ago, they said the model was discontinued, sent me six brand new ones.

 

[7p's]

I've had a couple and a few of my friends have had many others and most worked fine for a year or three and then experienced troubles of some sort. I've always wanted to own a Reconyx and now I do own one, the professional one, PC900. Paid $500 for a new one off ebay either last year or the year before - CRS.

Now that camera does everything it says it will do - battery life is unbelievable but the picture quality doesn't really stand out from others costing half as much. Hopefully this camera will last 10 years and I'll feel I got my monies worth.

Would I pay that much for another trail camera? Not on your life, as I worry about it every minute its out of my sight. Takes all the fun out of "scouting" but you do get a great feeling when you go out to take a look at the pictures and discover your camera is still there and wasn't stolen or destroyed.

 

[Rook]

I have a Moultrie D-444 Low Glow Game Camera that I've been using for the past 3 years that does ok. It take good videos. I paid about $110 for it but I would imagine there's cheaper cameras on the market these days that do just as well.

 

[msinc]

I have had 4 or 5 trail cameras set constantly for about the last 5 years. I can tell you this, Primos is junk, most others don't last but about two years and the best bang for the buck is a Cuddeback. I have about tried them all and the Cuddeback last longer and captures what you want to see.

 

[caryc]

I don't know much about them but Sportsman's Guide sent me an email today with a bunch of them on sale.

Yeah, me too. That silly ad caught my eye, and reading the offerings revealed to me how little I know about the subject. Then I hit the 'net and got completely confused.

:roll: :wink:

I bought one of the Sportsman's Guide cameras just to use on my own property. It works quite well. It has the infra red flash so no animal see's it. No wifi but I just take the card from it and plug it into the card reader on my computer.

Worth what I paid for it in my opinion.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Thanks, Cary.

Do you happen to recall which one of their offerings you bought?

 

[caryc]

Thanks, Cary.

Do you happen to recall which one of their offerings you bought?

Looking at the camera, it's made by "Hunten Outdoors" GSC35-501R It says item number but I take that to mean a model number. If I remember right I had to purchase the memory card separately, also offered by them. It's an SDHC 32 Gig card made by SanDisk.

It takes 4 "C" batteries.

 

[VonFatman]

This is the best place to read impartial reviews (that I know of). Good site.

Bob

https://www.chasingame.com

 

[Ale-8(1)]

This is the best place to read impartial reviews (that I know of). Good site.

Bob

https://www.chasingame.com

Nice. Thanks.

:mrgreen:

 

[ranch23]

Not a review, but, one of my buddies was robbed a while back. He said they'll be back and bought a Game Camera, fastened it to a fence post, permanently. They came back and it worked wonderfully, they have recovered his firearms and some other belongings. They pried his safe open with a fencing bar.