Trail cam suggestions

[squirrelsplitter]

Thinking about getting a couple trail cams. What better way to narrow it down than to ask the guys that are using them.
Likes, dislikes? Would you buy it again? Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[hogpatrol]

For cell, we trashed a half dozen Spypoints. They were either dead in the box or lasted less than six months.
Had others, Bushnell wireless and they were bulletproof but with the discontinuance of 3G, no longer worked. Have since gone to Bushnell CellUCores and the first one died in six months. Jury is out on my other two.

 

[JFrank]

I think mine are Stealth

 

[Gary in MD]

I’ve used a couple brands, so far I like the Browning the best. Not using the cellular, just the ones that you have to go pull the SD cards.
Gary

 

[nwmnbowhunter]

For regular trail cams hard to beat browning. Good battery life and pretty simple.

For cell cams you really need to learn how to use them. They are hard to trouble shoot, very finicky, but when working are very awesome.

Have used spypoint, tactacam, covert and buddy has a browning. They all have worked but all have taken some time to get working or keep working. Have thrown away some as well.

 

[5spd]

Snagged 3 wild game and 2 tasco trail cams from wally world all under 30 bucks each on clearance.
Not a single issue, been out in rain, covered in snow and they keep on ticking.
Darn good pictures and vids from both.
I have a bushnell as well.
Can't see dropping 60+$ on cams when these do great.
Cows and bird's using them for scratching or perching, still work like new

 

[Mark W]

I picked up a couple on non cellular units from Wildgame Innovations for around $50 bucks that I’ve been very happy with. I think they takes pretty good pics. This was a cellphone pic of a computer screen.

 

[284winner]

I've gone to cell cams a couple years ago. Tactacam Reveal X is the model I have. I use 4 of them. I love them. Unlimited pics and pay 49.00 a month for 4 cameras. 13.00 for the 1st and 12.00 for every camera after that first one. I can program them from my cell phone. I only return to the actual camera when the batteries die. That's not very often. They take HD pics and have fast trigger speed. They now offer upgraded models but the X is plenty good enough of a camera. If I was going to use a non-cellular camera, it'd be a Moultrie. I have a dozen of them and there excellent cameras. Both Tactacam and Moultrie have excellent customer service also.

 

[CaptainMal]

Just use multiple regular SD cameras I have to physically check. Browning is very reliable. Moultire ones have failed me many times and I have had to junk them. In contrast to the note above, mine were rejected for repair. Cheap $30 Tasco ones at Walmart work if you do not expect to view clearly over about 60 ft.

Have used and still use other brands as I have four around the house and 6 used at camp all the time. Trust Browning ones before all others.

As for cellular models, my hunting property in Georgia has literally NO cell coverage from Verizon and a teeny bit with AT&T. That's if I am on a hilltop. All my valley and bottom areas are worthless for cell coverage, so bad I can barely get a simple text message out let alone a call. Never a picture. I mean never a picture from my phone. Searching kills my phone batteries. Bet it destroys camera batteries also if the signal sucks.

 

[6fatrat]

Don't spend a ton, some states are making them illegal.

 

[chutem]

Have had good luck with Browning as well.

 

[ken158]

If you have cell service I would recommend Tactacam Reveal. There are several models and some come with a Verizon and AT&T SIM card. No cards to pull and you will get addicted to seeing what comes through your hunting area. Be sure to take some test pics before you leave the site so you can be sure you have the camera adjusted properly. Many guys that complain have their cameras pointed too high. We usually don't care what the tops of trees or the sky looks like… Also, save yourself some aggravation and use the SD card that is recommended. You are not going to out engineer the engineers or prove anything getting a SD card to work - until it stops working.

 

[X-Caveman]

ReoLink. Not a trail cam, but can be used as one. A fantastic waste of time & data.

 

[338 dude]

Just use multiple regular SD cameras I have to physically check. Browning is very reliable. Moultire ones have failed me many times and I have had to junk them. In contrast to the note above, mine were rejected for repair. Cheap $30 Tasco ones at Walmart work if you do not expect to view clearly over about 60 ft.

Have used and still use other brands as I have four around the house and 6 used at camp all the time. Trust Browning ones before all others.

As for cellular models, my hunting property in Georgia has literally NO cell coverage from Verizon and a teeny bit with AT&T. That's if I am on a hilltop. All my valley and bottom areas are worthless for cell coverage, so bad I can barely get a simple text message out let alone a call. Never a picture. I mean never a picture from my phone. Searching kills my phone batteries. Bet it destroys camera batteries also if the signal sucks.

I have the same situation on my property. I have purchased some Cuddeback cameras called CuddeLink ,the one camera up at my house relays pictures to email or text all the other cameras down in hollows daisychain back to that base camera and even better than that there’s only one cell bill instead of one for each camera I believe it will support up to 24 other cameras. Also I have solar panels to keep them charged any setting can be done through your cell phone and their website

 

[SmokinJoe]

I have Browning and Covert. Like the Browning best. Browning has very good battery life, Covert takes 50% more batteries and eats them like ice cream. Probably going to replace the Covert with another Browning during the summer. Also like the Browning plan better than Covert, especially as I add cameras. BTW, have had water intrusion problems with both brands and factory took care of it with no hassle. After the second water intrusion problem I made rain covers for them from split 5 gal lube pails and no more problems.

 

[MikeT49]

Public land or private? I would weigh the risk of theft against the amount you are willing to lose. Private land is no guarantee you won't get ripped off. Ask me how I know. Bottom line is how many Jackson's are you willing to light on fire? That being said, I have run Bushnell's since 2009 no issues. I just picked up a couple of their Cellucores but have not deployed them yet.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

Tactacam for cellular.
Browning for standard trail cams

 

[MikeT49]

Something else to consider is whether or not the cameras run on rechargeable batteries. Big time savings if they do.

 

[std7mag]

I don't have cell service where i hunt, so those are out.

I've bought Wildgame Inovation cameras for quite a while now. Mostly for their low costs.
I have 1 that is 3 years old, another that is 2 years old. From my experience, they are both near the end of their lifespan.

I bought a couple of cheap Moultries 2 years ago.
I really like these!
Smaller, physically than the Wildgame. And with the 3 pic per trip, they capture stuff the Wildgame missed.

Last year my friend bought the Moultrie M900.
I liked it enough that i bought 2.
Plan on 2 more this year.

Battery life...

My neighbor & i experimented with a lot of different batteries in game cameras.
Best we found are the Dollar General branded alkaline batteries.
These batteries are lasting us 18 months.

 

[spaniel]

For manual check cameras I've had good luck with cheap Wildgame cameras.

My primary hunting property is 80 miles from home, I run a Cuddelink system with a single transmitter up on a ridge -- 8 cameras on one cell plan. It works great. I've got the external packs that hold 12 D batteries, so I only have to visit the cameras twice a year on average (unless I'm moving one). Three of the cams provide surveillance around my cabin there, set to send pics instantly. It's an investment upfront but worth it to me. I've only had trouble with one of the cameras, burning batteries 2X as fast as the others regardless of pic count.