What features are "must have" and which ones are gadgets? Any brands to stay away from?
Thanks
David

Hi David-

Welcome to the forum.

The subject of trail cameras is pretty dynamic and seems to change by the minute, but I guess that's true with any electronic technology. I would suggest some of the cameras made by HCO. They made one this past year for Bushnell called the Trophy Cam that has a bunch of features for around $200 or less.

However, I've seen pictures and heard of new models coming out this month. HCO doesn't sell to the big box stores (Bass Pro, Cabelas, etc) yet, but there are a handful of dedicated dealers.

I hate to steer you away to yet another forum for information, but as I said above, this stuff seems to change by the minute.

Try this out for more details:
http://www.chasingame.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1

Good luck and let us know what you find out.

David, Those are some great questions, but I'm also completely confused by trail cameras.

Like so many other products it looks like no two people agree on which brand much less on which model/features.

The budding technology of sending the photos like text messages or emails is really tempting.

Just so clients would quite asking... I really should have a few for my guiding business, but the choices (and cost) are pretty frustrating.

Bottom line - at least for my pig hunting business - is that I'm not convinced it would ultimately enhance the experience or success of my clients so I haven't been able to justify the expense. Pigs are almost everywhere at night and in the heavy cover during the day, I have a hard time spending thousands on electronics to confirm that. Now I guess if I were primarily analyzing the gross scores of bucks hitting various food plots I would have a different take on it.

Kyler

I have 5 Camera's ranging in price from $100.00 to $400.00 I would look at spending $200.00 a piece. You would want a fast trigger speed.(The time it takes once motion is detected untill the camera wakes up and take's a picture)1 second or less is good 3 seconds or more and you would need something to hold the animal until the Camera can take a piture.(bait) If an animals runs by and you have a 3 second trigger speed the animal will be past the camera before a picture is taken.
Infared or flash? Again I have both. I don't think it really matters? It's more for personal taste. One good thing about Infa red is their is no flash that someone might see. So less chance of getting it jacked? If you have question's I would be more than happy to answer them for you. I have been running them for 6 years.

I have 5 Camera's ranging in price from $100.00 to $400.00 I would look at spending $200.00 a piece. You would want a fast trigger speed.(The time it takes once motion is detected untill the camera wakes up and take's a picture)1 second or less is good 3 seconds or more and you would need something to hold the animal until the Camera can take a piture.(bait) If an animals runs by and you have a 3 second trigger speed the animal will be past the camera before a picture is taken.
Infared or flash? Again I have both. I don't think it really matters? It's more for personal taste. One good thing about Infa red is their is no flash that someone might see. So less chance of getting it jacked? If you have question's I would be more than happy to answer them for you. I have been running them for 6 years.

I have about 15 of the Moultree I40 cameras. I have had a couple problems with them but they have been great cameras and the cost is right for a camera of this quality. The problem I was having was the LCD screens would go black and not work. I have had 2 camera screens go bad and I sent them back in for repair and they were back in less than 2 weeks. I have since found out it is the sun that makes the screen go bad. On the rest of my cameras I have taken a piece of black tape and covered the screen so they will last longer.
Jeremy Gugelmeyer

www.sagebrushhunts.com

Reconyx or Buckeye cameras are really the only two high quality mass produced cameras out there. They're big $$$$$ though, running about $550 for their standard models. All the others are made in china crap and will fail sooner or later. Some, of course, are better than others and will serve you adequately, but Buckeye and Reconyx are the only ones you can really count on.

In my opinion, Camtrakker USED TO be the "best", but they have gone the way of the Cruddyback.

When the day comes that I have to replace my Camtrakkers, I don't know what I will buy.

quote:

I have about 15 of the Moultree I40 cameras.

+1 I have a couple of these, and I am really pleased. The only knock on them is the slow trigger time. Coming out of sleep mode when first detecting movement, they take about 7 seconds to take a picture. So you'll want them on a feeder or looking down rather than across a trail.

But that is really the only knock on them. Everything else is great. And the price is right too. I paid about $200 but you can occasionally find them on sale for $40-50 less. You can't come close to more camera without spending double or more the money.

Also 4 megapixels is plenty. These are critters not the grandkids.

LWD

I'll echo the comments about Reconyx. I've used trail cams for about 10 years and the ease, dependability, and rapid trigger speed of the Reconyx cameras sets them apart from others. They can take a pic about every second or two, which can effectively let you take a "movie" of what happens near your camera without consuming massive amounts of memory.
I have their RC55 and RC60 models. The RC60 has no visible red light, which makes it undetectable to the game. I used one of these in Africa on lions and leopards.
The RC55 has a modest red glow when it takes a pic, but enjoys a bit more range. For a big old buck, the ability to be undetectable with the RC60 has appeal.
I love both models, and the camera's rapid pic ability without having to wait a minute or so like most cameras on the market, sets these apart from most options out there.
Best place to buy one? Ebay. You can get new ones there well below retail.

RC55 RapidFire™ Color IR camera
•Infrared Night Vision with a range of 60 feet.
•Full 1080P High Definition Imaging in a Widescreen Format.
•Color Images by Day, Monochrome Infrared by Night.
•Insta-On Motion Sensor with a 1/5 second Trigger Speed.
•RapidFire™ NearVideo™ can take 1,2,3,5 or 10 photos per trigger with speeds up to 1 frame per second.
•Image capacity of up to 10,000 photos on a 4GB Compact Flash card.

This is a Pic from one of my Moultri I40's

Another one.

One on IR.