1. Browning Spec Ops Elite HP4 $199.95 ✔Wildlife ✔Security |
The Browning Spec Ops Elite HP4 trail camera is possibly one of the best trail cameras we have ever tested. This is a no glow camera trail camera that can be used for security as well. Battery life can last up to 36 months using lithium batteries and the trigger speed is extremely fast. The video quality is some of the best we have seen as well. Purchase with us and receive a 90-day return policy, 2-year warranty, and a free 16GB SD card. We are also here to help with any questions or concerns you may have. |
2. Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 $179.95 ✔Wildlife ❌Security |
The Browning Recon Force Elite HP4 trail camera is going to be very similar to the Spec Ops Elite HP4. Most everything we found in our testing is very close to one another. The Recon Force would be a great camera for watching game in your backyard or watching game in general. We would not recommend this as a security camera since it is a red glow trail camera. That just means you would be able to see the red glow when the camera takes a photo or video at night. |
3. Browning Defender Wireless Pro Scout Cellular Trail Camera $199.95 ✔Wildlife ✔Security* *If you have the ability to place the camera higher up in a tree the Browning Pro Scout can work as a security camera. |
The Browning Defender Wireless Pro Scout cellular game camera is our top-rated cellular camera. If you are looking for a trail camera that will send photos to your phone the Browning Pro Scout is going to be our top pick. Battery life is great, photo and video quality are good as well. The app is very user friendly. The only downside is the plans are a little higher than some other cellular cameras. The Pro Scout is available in either AT&T or Verizon. You would want to choose whichever you get the best signal with not who you have as your provider. |
4. Spartan GoLive live streaming cellular camera $499.95 ✔Wildlife ✔Security |
The first live streaming cellular trail camera is the Spartan GoLive. If you are looking for the ability to login to your trail camera and view a live feed the Spartan GoLive live streaming trail camera is going to be the camera for you. Photos and videos are great and battery life is excellent. The GoLives are available in AT&T or Verizon models. |
$399.95 ✔Wildlife ✔Security |
The Ridgetec Lookout cellular trail camera has been a solid choice for wildlife and security both. This camera comes with both an AT&T sim card and Verizon sim card. You can whichever one you get the best service with or activate both to switch between carriers. This camera is a no glow and gets around 4 months of battery life which is good for a cellular trail camera. |
6. Reconyx Hyperfire 2 Cellular $599.95 ✔Wildlife ✔Security |
Reconyx trail cameras have always been the gold standard when it comes to durability and reliability. The Hyperfire 2 cellular trail camera shows the same durability and reliability they are known for. Picture quality is great, battery life is good, fast trigger speed, and you have the ability to request photos through the app. The Hyperfire 2 cellular cannot be programmed for operating hours. Reconyx are the only cameras made in the U.S.A. and can actually be repaired. We consider the Reconyx Hyperfire 2 cellular a great option especially for those nasty weather conditions. |
✔Wildlife ✔Security |
The Reconyx Hyperfire 2 is a great camera if you main goal is to capture photos. This game camera takes some of the best night photos we have seen. Gets excellent battery life and has fast detection speeds. The video quality is not the best out there but would be fine if you aren't too picky. The Hyperfire 2 is a super durable camera and would do best in some of the most harsh conditions. We would recommend this game camera for very cold temps or rainy climates. |
There are a lot of different trail cameras for security on the market. Cellular trail cameras that will send the photo to your phone through an app. These cellular trail cameras require you to have at least 3 bars of AT&T or Verizon service. If you don't have this type of service where you are wanting to place the trail camera you could always go for a traditional trail camera. These trail cameras you would pull the SD card from and view the photos on a computer.
In this blog post, we will go over different ways you can set up your trail camera for security. We will also go over the best practices that we have learned over the years. Then we will cover some good options for trail cameras for security.
The Ridgetec Lookout 4G is our top-rated cellular trail camera. This cellular game camera for security gets excellent battery life and takes great night photos. The Ridgetec Lookout also comes with a dual sim modem. This means you can choose either AT&T or Verizon and activate whichever SIM card gets the best service.
The Spypoint Link Dark cellular game camera is one of the most user-friendly cellular cameras on the market. The setup process is simple and only takes a few minutes. The app works great too! It has a very fast trigger speed and gets good battery life. The night photos are not the best but you can request HD photos now.
AT&T | Verizon |
Spartan cellular trail cameras have been around for a long time. They have a pretty user-friendly app and take some excellent photos especially during the day. The battery life has gotten better over the years as well. It's still not the best but they have worked on it for sure.
AT&T | Verizon |
The Reconyx Hyperfire 2 Cellular is new to the market. However, we have been very impressed with our initial testing on it. Battery life is good. Photo quality has been decent in default send mode. However, we have been blown away by the HD photos you receive. The app is very user-friendly and the camera was easy to setup. Plus it's a Reconyx so you know it is going to last many years.
Covert Code Black 20 LTE and the Covert Blackhawk 20 LTE. The Covert cameras have been around for some time and work great. The day photos from the Covert cellular cameras are very good. Checkout the Coverts below.
Non-Cellular Cameras
Here are some good options for non-cellular game cameras for security. If you don't have any cellular reception where you are wanting to place the camera it may be a good option to choose a non-cellular camera.
If you are looking to capture license plates at night the Reconyx License Plate camera is going to be one of the only options out there.
Thanks for reading. If you are looking for our whole list of game cameras that can be used for security click here.
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2. Browning Strike Force HD Pro X
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Thanks for checking out the top game cameras for 2020. If you enjoy our site, please support us by making a purchase. We offer a 90-day return policy, 2-year warranty, free 2-day shipping on orders over $99, a free 16GB SD card, and expert customer support.
Thanks for taking a look at our top cellular security cameras for 2020. If you enjoy our site please consider purchasing with us. You will receive a 90-day return policy, 2-year warranty, a free 16GB SD card, free 2-day shipping in the U.S., and expert customer support.
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When I first started running trail cameras several years ago, I lugged around a grocery bag of batteries and a cardboard box of cameras. You’d find things in the grocery bag like random mixes of Duracell and Energizer AAs, and things in the cardboard box like the classic Moultrie M80 and some old WGI cams. It made hitting the woods to pull cards a little awkward but overall did the trick. Luckily, I only had a handful of cameras to manage back then and was still able to capture some target animals, like this cool smoke phase hen.
Times have changed and so has the quantity of cameras I’m using, as well as the quality of pictures I’m getting. The gear I use to help get the best out of all my inventory is more important now than ever before. This guide is intended to serve as insight into 6 essential gadgets every trail camera enthusiast should consider.
1. A level. Any level that’s small and light will do the trick.
Very few things pain me more than seeing a perfectly good trail camera picture ruined by being unlevel. I see it all the time, but there’s much more to it than deleting an otherwise postcard-worthy picture. Many people don’t realize a level trail camera works better than one that’s unlevel. That’s because the sensor on trail cameras (Passive Infrared or PIR) works by extending a cone-shaped detection zone outward from the camera. When your camera has a heavy tilt one way or another, it can miss detections that would normally be well within its detection zone. This is why trail camera height is also important. The picture below would have likely triggered on the buck to the right much sooner had a pesky raccoon not chosen to interfere the day before.
2. Slate River Stealth Game Camera Mount
What good is a level going to do you when the perfect place to hang your camera is a tree sloped at a 60-degree angle? That’s where these little slate river mounts come in handy. No matter where or what you are mounting your cameras to, you can get a good position with the nearly unlimited adjustments offered by these mounts. I always carry one with me in the field and I have never had an issue with any of them not holding up over time. The only downside here is they do tend to make a camera more visible to thieves, so keep that in mind.
3. Extra SD cards, SD Card Holders, and SD Card Smart Phone Readers
I always carry two SD card holders with me. One for freshly pulled cards full of pictures and one with blanks ready to go. It only took mixing these up once to learn my lesson. SD card holders help organize, protect, and store your cards. With the trend in the market towards high-quality video, SD cards are getting larger in capacity and therefore more expensive, so SD card storage is becoming more important. I carry a small SD card smartphone reader on me during hunting season. I’ll often pull a card before a hunt and flip through it in the stand. It can get your heart pumping when you flip through a card and come across something like this, especially when its 10 degrees out and motivation is plummeting. These are also really handy when testing a new spot out. You can set your camera, walk down the trail, and check the pictures quickly to confirm your height and angle.
4. Permethrin spray or aerosol.
I brought home one of my Moultrie S50i cameras a few weeks ago because it wasn’t working all that well. I pushed the eject button on the camera while sitting in my living room only to send the battery tray and 10 trillion baby spiders flying out and onto the floor. The wife was not happy to say the least. I nearly retired my camera obsession right then and there. So, here’s where the permethrin comes in; it kills ants and spiders on contact. Simply spray a small amount onto a paper towel and wipe down the outside of the camera and let it dry. Be sure to get areas of the camera typically used by ants like the rubber plug over the 12v power connection as well as around the battery tray. Use some latex gloves while doing this as permethrin is not designed for human skin contact. It’s completely odorless and deer and other animals don’t seem to pay it any extra attention.
It’s a sad state of things when you need to worry about Lyme’s Disease every time you trot through the woods. Lyme’s is extremely serious and needs to be taken seriously, especially if you live east of Ohio. A light coat of permethrin on your jeans will kill ticks on contact for 5-6 weeks. Not only that, but it lasts through 6 washes in the washing machine as well. Buy a bottle and save yourself from Lyme’s and your cams from ants at the same time.
5. Lithium and rechargeable batteries.
Everyone knows Energizer Lithium Batteries are the best option for trail cameras. They are lightweight, not susceptible to cold weather, and last a lot longer than other options. Lithium technology is so advanced, we have even gotten to the point where the Reconyx HyperFire 2 can take 70 pics per day and last up to three years! There are a ton of other considerations when thinking about batteries, so we’ve compiled a ton of battery information here for you to further your research.
After I got about 20 cameras (160 batteries), I decided to invest in a cheaper way to fuel my obsession. I invested in quality rechargeable batteries for my SpyPoint EVOs and Link – Dark’s that you can look into here. I get great life out of each charge and if you pick up a spare or two you can simply swap them out once every 2-3 months for a fresh battery. SpyPoint is the best in the business when it comes to battery options as well as being one of the only companies to integrate Solar into their cameras with their Link-S model. I have had the Link-S out in moderate sun for 12 months without changing batteries. Try that out of any other cell cam. In the future, I will invest in more solar options, but the risk of theft increases so keep your equipment locked down.
As an additional measure, I also decided to go with some high capacity (2550mah) rechargeable AAs for the cameras I run close to my house. The upfront cost was a bit daunting but I’m close to breaking even already and its only been two years. High-quality rechargeable batteries provide long life, right in-between Alkaline, and Lithium options, and offer up to 1,000 charges per battery. Pro Tip: If you had a bad experience with rechargeable batteries in the past TRY AGAIN! Stick to name brand batteries like Tenergy Premium and Eneloop Pro. These things have come a long way. Just be sure to use a high capacity version and a good pulse charger. Those two things are essential! Now that I run close to 50 cameras on six different farms across three counties, my battery requirements are nearly 425 AAs per year (~$745)! Being a sucker for video surely doesn’t help, and ultimately, I had no choice but to look into a more cost-effective way of making things work. Do some research and add some diverse power options to your arsenal this year and you’ll be glad you did.
6. A touch of Anti-Fog by Rain-X or Nikon.
A tiny bit goes a long way, but several companies out there offer anti-fog camera solutions. The two I’ve used come from rain-x and Nikon. In short, they work by prohibiting condensation on the lens, which means clearer pictures. Some cameras have a much harder time with fog than others, and some locations and times of the year are especially tough but using a bit of anti-fog can really help.
The good news…
Camera equipment adds up to be a lot of money quickly, doesn’t it? Especially for those of us die-hards. But there’s good news. Did you know TrailCamPro sells package deals with the vast majority of cameras we offer? Each basic package comes with Lithium Batteries, a Slate River Mount, SD Card Reader, and an SD Card. Premium packages come with two SD cards, a security case and python lock, Lithium Batteries, and SD Card reader. A premium package covers items from three of the six categories above plus anti-theft measures. These deals help you gear up in one place and save the most money possible.
The Better news…
TrailCamPro recently launched our own loyalty rewards program. Just signing up gives you 1,000 TCP points which turn out to be $10 off your first purchase. You earn points for every dollar spent on TrailCamPro.com and each 100 points turns into 1$ of TCP savings. But it gets better…. Silver and Gold tier rewards customers get 25-50% off Energizer Lithium and Tenergy rechargeable batteries. That amounts to a huge savings year after year for enthusiasts like me. As a bonus perk, UPS 2nd Day Air shipping is deeply discounted for Silver members and free to all Gold members. You can view all the details on the Rewards Program page.
Thanks for checking out the blog post and good luck this year!
-Michael Pahl
]]>I'm taking early entries into the 2018 Photo Contest! Who wants to win 40,000 TCP points?
]]>While reward programs aren't new to the world, they certainly are to us. We've made it to where just by signing up you can get $10 your next purchase and continue earning rewards when you like us on social media or by purchasing items.
To me, the best part is the opportunity to make it to Silver or Gold status. In Silver, you get 50% off 2-Day Air shipping and 25% off batteries. Even better, Gold status is FREE 2 Day shipping and 50% off batteries!
Please be patient with us as this is in Beta and will evolve as we learn about it and try to master all the aspects of a rewards program. I hope you find it beneficial, have a great weekend!
-Nick
]]>1/4/2018
6 months ago I purchased a cellular game cam for our newly leased commercial property. We have one long road going in and as we started building on our farm, wanted to keep track who was coming and going past the gate.
As I am sitting at a farm auction on Saturday, I get a message (see attached pic) with pic of 3 people walking onto the property and were trespassing. I called the police from 2 hours away and they were there in 5 minutes to escort them off our site!
This may be a different type of "Predator" than what you intended for the contest, but for many of us, the security feature of your products is just as valuable as catching wild game on camera.
Best regards,
Joe
]]>It's that time of year again. Here in Springfield, Missouri, temperatures are well below freezing at night and it is only going to get worse. On windy days, the walk from the car to the warmth of a building is hard enough!
Who in the world wants to run trailcams in cold weather???
Actually, I do! Winter is the best time for my favorite animal pictures.... Predators!
I know most folks are interested in trail cameras for deer, primarily buck pictures. However, switch it up a little bit this winter and go after coyotes, mountain lions, bobcats, badgers, wolverines, etc. I think you will find it a nice change of pace and keeps you active through the cold and dreary months.
Enter our 2020 Winter Predator Trail Camera Photo Contest
Tips for Running Trail Cameras in Cold Weather
Long story short, don't put your cameras away! Let's all freeze our toes off this year together and have some snowy pictures to share when Spring rolls around!
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PLEASE take everything with a grain of salt. I am a highly skeptical/conservative person by nature, so I urge you to remember that having prototype cameras and fancy marketing does not mean that the production cameras will match the hype. We will test everything when it is actually released and while we do test companies prototype cameras to provide the manufacturer feedback, we do not publish test data on prototypes. We only publish information from production cameras.
So even if you ask how testing is going on prototype cameras, we won't tell you. :)
Browning Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: In my opinion, there has been no better run camera company than Browning the last several years. They have hit the nail on the head in regards to price point and performance. With that being said, they have gotten to the point where they have WAY too many models. For the life of me, I can't understand why companies (not just Browning) feel the need to have 20 different models when they could easily condense that down to 3-5 (insert angry face emoji).
I'm not going to go through all the different models, because I'm still annoyed by it, but they do have two interesting additions... The Browning Recon Force 4K Extreme (4K video @ 60 frames per second) looks to be a high-performance video trail cam that I imagine will knock our socks off in video quality.
The other notable improvement is dual lenses in the new Dark Ops XD Pro and the Strike Force XD Pro. One lens does day pictures and the other does night pictures. This is normally done to improve night pictures and I can't wait to test that.
Outside of those two items, everything else just looks like minor tweaks.
ETA: March (4K is July)
Bushnell Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: The only new thing they have is a 4G/LTE cell camera to release, the Bushnell Impulse. Supposedly, it will have both cellular capabilities and bluetooth connectivity for programming. It is also capable of providing you with a live camera view and active GPS.
I sure hope those last two things are true. Customers have been clamoring for GPS and Live View for years. I'll remain skeptical until I see it - seeing is believing!
One thing I already don't like is that the Impulse has an internal antenna just like the old Bushnell Wireless. This was a huge problem for that camera so I don't understand why they kept it? There will be no option for improving reception with a booster antenna either.
ETA: March
Covert Scouting Cameras
Quick Hits: Covert is adding 4G/LTE cameras to replace their 3G cameras. The Covert Blackhawk LTE (Verizon) and the Covert Code Black LTE are expected out in February.
They are supposed to be able to send videos, as well as pictures. Look for improved battery life and transmission times.
It looks like they still have the Maverick and Viper cameras but are adding a camera called the Covert Ice Cam.
ETA: February - March
HCO Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: Their new 4G Verizon camera is already out. Nothing new to report.
Moultrie Game Cameras
Quick Hits: Moultrie kept most of their 2017 games cameras around with minor updates and name tweaks. I.e. the M-40i is now the M-50i.
I'm most disappointed that there are no updates to the Field Modem and Moultrie still does not have a self-contained cellular camera. However, their 2017 trail cameras were really solid so I'm happy they didn't do a major overhaul to cameras that already worked really well.
They do have a new wireless/bluetooth camera call the Moultrie M-BTi. Setup is done completely on the app and comes equipped with no glow IR, 1080p video, and 0.5 second trigger speed. I'm still not quite sure on what the overall market it for hotspot wifi/bluetooth cameras, but I do think they are pretty cool and could lead to really progressive products in the future.
ETA: Spring
Primos Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: Primos' Proof cameras are still around and appear to have no updates. This is unfortunate as Primos won the award for most warrantied trail camera in our office last year. They really are great cameras, when they work. Which seemed to be less and less as 2017 went on.
Primos is releasing a cell camera for next year called the Proof Cellular. It is cheap - $199 - and is supposed to be extremely easy to setup.
ETA: March-ish
Reconyx Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: The big news is Reconyx has a new camera, called the Hyperfire 2.
Pictures + videos (unlike the current Hyperfire cameras) but most importantly, Reconyx swears the night pictures on this camera will be amazing. So amazing, that we (by "we" I mean Charles) are building a machine to measure blur on night images. Please don't ask me for an ETA on that machine, Charles is the smartest person I know, but also the most meticulous (really, really slow).
ETA: February (fingers crossed)
Jamie's Beard Game = #STRONG!
Spypoint Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: Spypoint is coming out with another cell cameras, the Spypoint Link-Dark. This will be a no glow camera somewhere between the Link-S and the Link-Evo.
Also, if you haven't noticed, Spypoint's app has antler recognition software. This software automatically sorts all the antlered bucks the Link camera has taken. Works surprisingly well and is pretty cool!
Outside of that, nothing new to report.
ETA: March
Stealth Cam Trail Cameras
Quick Hits: Everything looks the same with the exception of a new camera called the Stealth XV4. It advertises really crisp night photos.
ETA: ???
New Trailcam Companies
Hawk - New to the camera world, they have a tiny new camera called the Hawk Ghost. It is super small, uses 4 batteries, is controlled by an app on your phone, and is supposedly waterproof down to 1 meter. This could be an interesting camera as they hired an engineer we have worked with before and he is one smart dude (but not as smart as Charles - nobody is ;) ).
ETA: April
Big Tine - They have a camera called the Big Tine IADG. I have almost no information on this one. I can tell you it has a viewing screen, accepts 8 AA batteries, and 0.5 second trigger.
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2017 has been an incredible year for trail cameras. The progress made in the last few years is leading to better and better pictures, and the overall experience of running trail cameras is less frustrating and more rewarding. We have a new standard for trigger speeds, battery life, and video quality. We are also seeing several niche features go mainstream, and low-end models are continuing the upward trend in price to performance ratio. In this blog post, I’ll talk about my five must-have trail camera features for all my future purchases.
Feature #1: High-Quality Video Options, especially 60 FPS video.
Video lovers should be ecstatic by this year’s video quality improvements on several popular models. The three companies that really impressed me were Browning, Moultrie, and Stealth Cam. Browning really shined with its unprecedented bump of their ‘Ultra’ setting to allow for 60 frames per second recording on the [insert TCP hyperlinks] Defender series, Recon Force Extreme, and Spec Ops Extreme. Since a video is really comprised of pictures, the ‘Ultra’ setting shows up to 60 still pictures per second to create an extremely smooth video without any motion blur or stuttered effect. The standard until now was 30 frames per second or less.
To better understand this, let’s take the example of a flipbook. If I were to flip 10 pages per minute of a cartoon flipbook, the animation would appear choppy. If I flipped 60 pages per second, the animation would be smooth and clear. The same principle applies here and really proves there is much more to video quality than resolution. Most computer monitors and TVs easily support 60 FPS video, so the move to introduce this was very smart on Browning’s behalf. In addition, this leads to blur-free night video, which is video mode’s Achilles heel for some of the most popular brands out there.
(Be sure to select 1080p60 quality in the Youtube video)
And that leads me to the biggest letdown in video quality of the year…the [insert hyperlink] Stealth Cam DS4k’s 4K option. Now don’t get me wrong, a lot of careful planning has gone into this camera and it can produce some great pictures and video! The hype was far too high, and the issue lies in the fact that 4K video only records in 15 FPS, which just doesn’t cut it for me. In order to record at a smooth 30 FPS, you actually have to scale video resolution down to 1440p or the industry standard HD resolution of 1080p. Which means the camera then loses its real niche market of trail cam enthusiasts looking for great quality 4K video. To be fair to Stealth Cam, they make this extremely clear by posting a warning on the display anytime you switch to 4K mode, and this cam still does take fantastic video on lower settings.
Feature #2: Automatic adjusting IR brightness, based on distance to the animal.
My first camera of 2017 was a Covert Black Maverick. Covert spent a lot of time on this camera and focused a lot of attention to video quality. In return, the Maverick takes some of the best daytime videos out there right now. It wasn’t until bucks started showing up at night that I realized it had a fatal flaw – night time videos were constantly whited out on my close-up shots.
And that brings me to my second must-have feature of 2017 – automatic adjusting IR brightness on night pictures and videos based on the distance to the animal. I sincerely hope all trail camera companies start to implement this as a standard feature. The camera simply measures the distance to the animal that caused a trigger and adjusts the IR brightness accordingly. This eliminates whiteout and leads to a balanced detailed night shot regardless of how close the animal is to the camera. Right now, I am only aware of this feature on Moultrie, Stealthcam, and Browning cameras. Watch the video below and notice how the video darkens automatically when a curious buck I call “G3” comes in to smell the camera. There are only a handful of cameras capable of filming a buck like this in a nigh time close up.
Feature #3: Front Facing LCD display with menu navigation buttons.
I know that lots of people out there appreciate what Primos has done with the ‘Proof’ series of cameras by making setup a series of toggle switches you simply slide into place for the desired settings. It’s super simple, doesn’t require reading a manual, and it just works. I’m glad cameras like that exist on the market for those that don’t need complexity. For what you gain in simplicity though, you lose in potential features. With that said, every other flagship trail camera out there has a nice front facing display, right? Wrong…and for me that’s a deal breaker. Not only does it help navigate the menu and preview pictures on the SD card, but it greatly aids in aiming the camera. I simply find myself spending too much time messing with small text-only displays.
Notice I said front-facing LCD… that part is important. That’s because for whatever reason some companies are still including LCDs on the inside door of cameras. When you open the camera, the LCD swings out with the door, showing you what is behind the camera. That simply doesn’t make any sense from a design standpoint. You still have the functionality of being able to view SD card contents and navigate the menu, but ultimately this antiquated design could die and make most of us a lot happier.
Feature #4: SD Card Management Options
Isn’t it a terrible feeling to pull a camera card only to find last month’s pictures? How about scrolling through the card only to find the camera stopped taking pictures 3 weeks ago, and now the card is full? We’ve all been there before.
To combat these issues, several companies now have a wide range of SD card management options available within their menus. Most companies allow you to format the card in the camera, which preps the SD card by erasing all images and setting the SD card to a file format that will work best for that given camera. The trend we saw in 2017 was to also allow ‘SD Overwrite’ options, which allows the camera to overwrite the oldest pictures stored on the SD card when it nears capacity. This is especially great for hunters that want to know the latest activity in their area regardless of the SD card size.
Feature #5: Multi-Shot modes, with fast recovery
My wallet took a serious beating this year with all the 64GB and 128GB cards I bought, but I am a sucker for using two and three shot bursts on my premium cameras. I sometimes find the initial shot to be OK, but the following series sometimes tells a better story. The tradeoff is the need for high capacity SD cards and hours of free time to scan through tens of thousands of images. You’re also looking at decreased battery life.
Below is a great example of the benefit of a multi-burst mode. Each picture is taken within a short interval of the last, but each is unique and tells a different story of this bachelor group.
]]>Bobcat strolling by a Browning Strike Force Pro pic.twitter.com/Jtu1VO6q6j
— Trailcampro (@Trailcampro) August 23, 2017 ]]>Hope you have a great weekend!
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2017 Flash Range Test is completed! The cameras took really good night pictures this year, very few complaints at all. Enjoy!
]]>Gregg asked a question about the 2017 Trailcam Shootout on the previous blog post that I thought everyone may want to see the answer to. Here it is...
Question: That’s so awesome to see. I refer people to your site all of the time because I implicitly trust your rigorous unbiased testing. I have to ask though, are there any models that you’re anxious to see results from?
-Gregg
Here are my thoughts...
I always go into these tests expecting certain results from certain models. There is always a surprise, though, so I'm most excited to see what camera or brand surprised this year.
The test was completed yesterday but I haven't seen the official scores.
Other than that, here's what my expectations are by brand...
Browning: I expect high-efficiency ratings but middle of the road overall scores. Their detection width is less than the field of view so they will pick up some pictures but not as many as the top scoring cameras.
Bushnell: I expect them to sweep the podium. Extremely fast and they always detect a mile.
Covert: I expect their recovery time to keep them from having high scores.
Cuddeback: No expectations
HCO: I expect low scores
Moultrie: Kind of curious to this one. I'd expect middle of the road but this could be a darkhorse?
Primos: Low expectations? Maybe not, though, their cameras are quite fast these days...
Reconyx: I expect great detection out to 60 ft. Middle of the road overall scores which is honestly quite disappointing.
Spypoint: Very high expectations. Most interested in detection range though, I know they are fast, just want to see how far they detect.
Stealth: Middle of the road scores?
Wildgame: Slow recovery times would theoretically produce one picture per pass. So best case would be consistent photo and long ranges, but won't be fast enough to score highly.
]]>Flash Range Test will happen tomorrow as well. We will post the results when the smoke clears.
Marc and Charles making sure our logo looks jusssssst right!
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Many years ago, I distinctly recall walking through the Pennsylvania woods and stumbling upon something out of place. It was a white block, in the middle of a muddy pit, with what appeared to be a camera tied to a tree. Looking back, that was likely my first exposure to the world of trail cameras. The thought of spending money developing the film from a camera over a salt block makes me cringe. Thankfully, much has changed since then but one thing remains the same; Mineral sites for deer continue to prove themselves as the most effective means of capturing giant mature bucks on trail camera. In this beginner’s guide, I am going to discuss some of the basics of using deer mineral licks to inventory mature bucks on your hunting grounds, and cover topics such as products to use and where to use them.
The first step to using mineral sites is to always consult with your local DNR. I can’t stress this enough. Some states simply do not allow the use of salt, mineral, or other attractants. Other states only limit the use of grains like corn, but allow the use of salt and mineral. It can get very confusing so I always suggest calling your local DNR and talking it over. In my experience, deer tend to abandon mineral sites around early September, so I have a hard time understanding the big deal. It’s also important to understand that congregating deer to one location is not a great idea when the risk of disease is high in your area.
The next steps involve selecting a location and choosing a product. When choosing a product, I suggest reading reviews and product tags. There are a ton of products on the market today, but only two I have had tremendous success with – Whitetail Institute 30-06 (or 30-06 Plus Protein) and Trophy Rock. A third contender and one I have only recently begun using is Repelx Deer Mineral made by Grandpa Ray Outdoors (GRO). While it is still not scientifically proven that mineral sites impact antler growth in free range deer, there is no doubt about the effectiveness of using these products during the summer trail cam season to inventory mature bucks in your area. All products have some pros and cons to consider, and I could write an entire book on the subject. In short, I like 30-06 for areas where I might be establishing a permanent mineral site, such as a deer sanctuary. Deer find 30-06 very quickly and spend a lot of time at the site each visit. I can generally get several dozen pictures of the same buck per visit. 30-06 also contains some added nutrients and vitamins to aid in overall herd health. I have poured 30-06 over a new site and captured deer on cam that evening eating the soil. The cost for a 20-pound bag of 30-06 is roughly $25.
Trophy Rock is the next product I suggest and comes in handy when a short tree stump is available and you may need to remove the product before hunting season. I seldom suggest placing the rocks on the ground, as they tend to last much longer when slightly elevated. Trophy Rock has recently released a loose mineral product called FOUR65, but I have yet to test it. It seems to take deer a little longer to find the Trophy Rock vs other products on the market, but once a bachelor group of bucks discover it, it quickly becomes a frequent place for them to visit. In addition to being highly attractive, Trophy Rock is 100% all natural and mined here in the USA. The common complaint against Trophy Rock is that the product contains a much higher percentage of salt than most competitors.
GRO’s Repelx Deer Mineral is very well researched and is a very health-centric option also available to try. The ingredients and analysis are published online, and deer find and use the mineral quickly. GRO’s popularity is quickly growing amongst enthusiasts and I’m excited to see what this product brings this summer. Repelx likely gets its name from its ability to aid in repelling fly’s, which is a unique feature usually reserved for cattle products. The salt in Repelx is also mined from the same source as Trophy Rock and comes in at about $40 for 35 pounds.
Lastly, another option I am going to mention is a homemade option. I have had mixed, but mostly positive results using homemade mineral mixes. You can stop by your local cattle feed store and purchase the ingredients to make a large amount of mineral mix for very cheap. The general recipe is one part Di-Calcium Phosphate, two parts Trace Mineral Salt, and one part Stock Salt. Cost varies but you are generally looking at up to 200 pounds of mineral mix for under $50. I have had my best luck with homemade mixes when I add a bit of dried molasses. I think the added scent makes the site more attractive.
When selecting a location, I would suggest staying off known walking trails and agricultural fields because mineral sites often become obvious deep muddy pits over time. As the old trapper saying goes “always setup over sign” like frequently used game trails thick with tracks and old rubs. Try to find natural pinch points and sections where multiple game trails come together. If you have a drainage ditch in the middle of large ag fields, where there are trees and cover for several yards on both sides of the drainage, those can be excellent areas for a site. If there is a natural water source nearby that is usually a plus. Position your mineral site or product in a location where your trail camera can aim north to avoid glare from the sun. Never allow your location to be dictated by not having the ideal straight tree available. Slate River makes an excellent trail camera mount that can help you position your camera in the perfect spot, even on crooked trees.
A general rule of thumb is to use one mineral site per 50-100 acres. A prime example would be a 350-acre property, split into quadrants, with one mineral site per quadrant. If you are consistently getting bucks on camera near the mineral site, but not on the mineral site itself, you might consider adding an additional site. No matter what product you use, keep your site refreshed yearly. In areas of extremely high use, you may even refresh the site a few times a year.
Now that you have your mineral mix, site locations, and local game laws figured out, we can shift our focus to the fun part – Trail Cam selection. When placing a camera over a mineral site you want to ensure you’re using a camera rated for 6+ months of battery life. This is mostly due to the fact you are likely to get five to ten times more pictures on a mineral site than game trail alone. In addition, I would suggest buying the ‘Premium Package’ tier from Trail Cam Pro (TCP) for active mineral sites, because the lithium batteries, extra-large SD cards, and lock box are all ideal for this type of setup. If you’re fortunate enough to have direct sun light available at your location, a pair of high capacity (2500mah or better) rechargeable batteries and a solar panel may also be a great idea. Browning features a 12v external battery power pack that allows you to add an additional 8 AAs to your setup, for double the expected battery life.
Camera speed is not the most critical factor in a mineral site setup, but clarity and crisp night pictures are everything. I am personally a fan of the Covert Black Maverick and Browning Spec Ops Extreme. Both cameras have great battery life ratings of 70 or better in TCPs battery tests, and above average image quality. Both models also feature LCD displays under the lens for precision aiming. You want to make sure your camera is several feet from the mineral site to make sure you are not cutting off those giant velvet antlers. Lastly, I suggest using a small Stanley level to make sure your pictures are nice and level, and tightening the strap tight to avoid Raccoons ruining your pictures.
Deer tend to begin using mineral sites in the early spring, so now is the perfect time to start planning. Peak usage by mature deer tends to occur in July and August. Don’t be discouraged if deer don’t heavily use your site in year one. Sometimes deer prefer an established area where salt and mineral have leeched into the soil and that can take some time.
Good luck, have fun, and share your questions and opinions in the comments below!
- Michael Pahl
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New Bushnell Essential E3 Review is posted. I was not as impressed with the E3 as I was with last years E2, which is a shame because the E2 is discontinued. This is still a solid camera, but I don't think the E3 has as much value as other cameras on the market right now.
]]>This camera isn't without its quirks, but it remains a solid camera for 2017.
]]>The Browning Strike Force Pro trail camera continues to impress!
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Depth is kind of subjective. It's just a feel. Many of you have looked at tens of thousands of pictures, you know what depth is! If you haven't, then you'll just have to trust me here. Over my 10+ year career of writing these reviews, I've easily looked at a million or more pictures? Heck, I have no idea how many but I look at hundreds each day. Anyways, depth is hard to measure. It is similar to texture. I find that looking at pictures of turkeys about 30 ft. from the camera gives a good representation. Does each feather on the turkey look unique? Sunlight makes each feather glimmer a different way.
Clarity can get screwed up by interpolation. You have no idea how much I hate that companies still do that. My crusade against interpolation hasn't gotten very far, but I'm going to keep plugging away!! Even with interpolation on nearly every model of camera these days, clarity is still readily apparent when you look at full-size images.
Blur is pretty obvious. If you look at a bunch of pictures and you see a lot of blur - that ain't good! This can obviously be affected by where you place your trail camera (heavy shade), but in general, you should always expect some blur, just not a lot.
Color comes back to experience. My good friend Herb sent me three pictures this week from three different cameras - all in the same location.Those three pictures are below (you can see the model number of the camera on the photo stamp at the bottom of the image).
Can't you see a huge difference in the three?
All three pictures are good! But, as you can see, color varies quite a bit from model to model.
So now you know how we come up with daytime picture quality. Did you notice that we didn't mention megapixels a single time?
Rate picture quality from sample images from the field! Not what the company prints on the packaging!
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I have been toying with the idea of uploading the majority of the pictures to a service like Flickr and linking to it from each product page. With this, you could thumb through as many photos as you like and see photo quality on a much larger scale.
The downside to this is picture theft from other websites and companies. Our photos would then be available and they could (and will) steal them.
How big of a benefit would this be to you? Do you have a Flickr account? Comment on this blog post if you have an opinion, I really appreciate feedback on this issue.
This would take a rather large amount of time to pull off and with limited hours in the day, we want to maximize our efficiency.
Let me know what you think! Here is an example of what it would look like on our Flickr album called the 2017 Browning Strike Force Pro.
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