I leave them out year around in the hill country of Texas.

I have been using Bushnell for years but they have been getting troublesome and not lasting very long.

What do y'all recommend?

I think my cheapo Wildgame brand last the longest.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
I leave them out year around in the hill country of Texas.

I have been using Bushnell for years but they have been getting troublesome and not lasting very long.

What do y'all recommend?

I have a home just south of Flagstaff AZ. I used to have 4-5 camera's out all the time, just to observe.

AZGFD passed a "No trail camera law" a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if I can even use them just for fun, and not around any seasons.

They passed the law due to the outfitters competing for trophy Deer and Elk. There are/were private individuals in area's around the Kaibab Plateau and Arizona strip, like Kanab Utah that were finding Mule deer in the 220-240 range and selling the information to the highest bidder.That essentially pushes out the DIY Arizona residents that don't feel the need to hire a guide service.

The big outfitters such as A3 hire literally DOZENS of spotters to re-locate the deer the camera guys find, crowd out DIY hunters and bring their paid clients in.

I'm not a huge advocate for more control, but the regular joe's like myself just cannot compete with the likes of guys like Jimmy John.

The video is a sample of how it works. Just look at the size of the crew. A local found it and lost it to commercial hunters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf0JXZqzsyE&t=969s

Steve, you can't have cameras on private property? I thought the issue was to keep them off public land to keep the cheaters in check?

quote:

Originally posted by Aspen Hill Adventures:
I think my cheapo Wildgame brand last the longest.

I'll agree with Ann, my cheapo WildGame cameras have been out continuously for the last three years and are working perfectly.

I use a cuddyback thats at least 5 years old. Still going

I knew that bears can be hard on all of them.

They like to crunch them.

quote:

Originally posted by Walker:
I use a cuddyback thats at least 5 years old. Still going

I also use Cuddeback game cameras here on the farm. I have 6 infrared cameras that have been used for security the past 8 years. Only have had to replace the batteries.

I think Reconyx is likely the best out there. No-glow infrared, and very long battery life, one year or so. Expensive, but likely the best one I have out of 4 different brands I’ve tried and currently use. Bushnell, Gardepro, Browning, and recently picked up a Minox cheap. The Reconyx is the best IMO.

quote:

Originally posted by JTEX:
I leave them out year around in the hill country of Texas.

I have been using Bushnell for years but they have been getting troublesome and not lasting very long.

What do y'all recommend?

For year-round durability in Texas heat, Browning and Moultrie are tough to beat. Their mid-range models like the Browning Dark Ops or Moultrie M- series are built well and have great battery life. They tend to hold up better than recent Bushnells in my experience.

Another solid option is Cuddeback. They're known for a fast trigger speed, which is great for catching game on the move. The image quality is usually very good too.

Stick with a model that uses standard AA batteries for easier replacement in the field.