Game Cameras

[WayBeau]

So my father-in-law, who I do the majority of my hunting with, has decided that it's finally time to set up some game cameras. I've read the manufacturer's take on why their particular camera is the best, but I'd like to hear some 'real world' opinions and thoughts.

I'm not interested in bashing of cameras, just why you like the one you use.

 

[Rembrandt]

Get cameras with infrared technology....half the action is at night.

I'm using three Moultrie's, work for my purposes. Here's some recent shots.

 

[a-sheepdog]

I found a good deal on some remington game cams after the season was over so I will be trying them. I would try and find something that uses 6volt rechargeable batteries and attach a solar charger to them as most game cams eat c or d cell batteries up pretty quick, or at least in my limited experience. I have had good luck with the moultries, but they took 8 D cell batteries so the cost was rather prohibitive.

 

[The Termite]

Get cameras with infrared technology....half the action is at night.

What he said. And a standard flash spooks the game.

Natchez Shooters Supply has several decent game cameras on special.

The Stealthcam I530IR has 5.0 mp daytime and 3.0 mp nighttime IR resolution, will shoot video, and is $59. I have 3. They take excellent pictures, and have decent battery life IF you keep them out of direct sunlight when it's hot. They do have two issues: when the batteries die, OR when you replace the batteries, they dump your settings and you have to reprogram them. They also won't support an SD card bigger than 2 GB.

The Primos Truth Cam 35 3.0 IR costs $69, has 3.0 mp resolution, supports up to an 8 GB SD card, retains your settings when the batteries are replaced, and better battery life than the I530IR. My bro-in-law has several, and he really likes them.

A tip for using game cameras: try to place them so that they face NNW to NNE to avoid having the sun shine on the front during the daytime, because it will "wash out" with excess light any pics taken during that time.

 

[FLAvalanche]

I also agree to spend the extra money on IR cameras. I would also spend the extra money to get a solar power setup.

I run 4 cameras on my hunting spot and it's getting to the point where the batteries are killing me. If it's a deer spot the less your in there changing batteries the better.

Another recommendation is to avoid the WalMart Bushnell cameras like the plague. I've yet to have one live through it's first set of batteries.

 

[WayBeau]

Thanks for the advice. I talked to him last night and he said that he was leaning toward a Cuddeback. Anyone have any experience with those?

 

[bison]

I have several. My favorite is a recently purchased Bushnell Trophy Cam that I got on sale for $160 or so. I love the small form factor (fits in a pocket) and that one set of batteries lasts up to a year (a HUGE plus). I've had "cheaper" cameras that will go thru $10 worth of batteries in a month, makes them very expensive. Only knock on it is that it records in a format that needs conversion to view on a Mac. Views fine on a PC.

Second favorite is a Primos Truth Cam 46. About $100 on sale, lasts 2-3 months on 4 D cells, and good quality images. It's just big.

 

[jmorris]

I built one a digital one before you could buy one. It works better than the moultree that 8 picked up later. I don't have any IR cameras yet but a fellow hunter on an 2800 acre lease has tried many as well as the others on his lease. He is of the opnion that the reconyx are the best.

 

[Clark]

I have a game camera, hook it up in my back yard [I am backed up against a wooded park in the middle of suburbia] and all I get is raccoons. So what?

But I have a friend that owns 20 acres of woods, way out in the sticks where he has a game feeder and game cameras.
He gets great pics, like this one of a moose, not too common in WA state.

Then someone stole his game cameras.
So he put up new ones, and they got stolen.
Then he got new cameras a third time and hid them and they got stolen again, but not all were found.
He got a pic of the game camera thief.
That is not enough for a conviction, but it can be used to embarrass someone.

 

[alongston]

Wow, those pics with the moultries look great.

 

[WayBeau]

He's deadset on those Cuddebacks. I even showed him those pics from the Moultries. I guess there's no changin' his mind.