Trail cam advice & suggestions

[mxracer317]

Just got back from a great scouting trip after putting in the work e-scouting. Found water and lots of hoof prints!

Now it’s time to put up some cameras…

… but I’m a totally newbie.

Could i please request some suggestions on best practices on where and how many to set up, best quality cellular cameras (won’t be able to go back offer to retrieve SD cards), etc.

Thanks all in advance! Archery elk season is almost here!!

 

[Dsnow9]

Just got back from a great scouting trip after putting in the work e-scouting. Found water and lots of hoof prints!

Now it’s time to put up some cameras…

… but I’m a totally newbie.

Could i please request some suggestions on best practices on where and how many to set up, best quality cellular cameras (won’t be able to go back offer to retrieve SD cards), etc.

Thanks all in advance! Archery elk season is almost here!!

Check state regs because cell cameras are not legal in many states now.

 

[Nick87]

Browning is best bang for your buck for me.it

 

[mtmuley]

Browning is best bang for your buck for me.it

I bought some Brownings. Reviews were really good. The Browning site has some great deals also. mtmuley

 

[Nick87]

I bought some Brownings. Reviews were really good. The Browning site has some great deals also. mtmuley

Very simple and they work.

 

[Wildabeest]

I’d stay away from SpyPoint.

 

[mxracer317]

Check state regs because cell cameras are not legal in many states now.

Idaho public land. Good to go.

 

[mxracer317]

Looks like I am gonna go with the Browning Defender Pro Scout Max HD.

Does anyone use that model?

Also, how many do you "really" need? I've never set them up... do you want to lock them on public land?

Other recommendations?

 

[typhoon916]

I’d stay away from SpyPoint.

I’d stay away from SpyPoint.

Ditto

 

[Dan-06]

I have been using the browning ones for years. I like to space them out about a mile apart. I have 5.

 

[Itsbeef]

I’d stay away from SpyPoint.

Why?

 

[F250]

I have had 4 Spypoints for several years. No problems with them but the photo quality is not the best compared to some of the others I have seen.

 

[Wildabeest]

Why?

Several issues. First, probably only 5% of total pictures taken actually had animals in them. I’d waste huge amounts of time scrolling through hundreds, or sometimes thousands, of pictures to find the few that had animals. Second, they could never keep track of time. They would randomly revert to some fixed date in the past and then put inaccurate date/time stamps on the pictures. The date/time of the actual image file would be correct, but it would put a different date/time at the bottom of the pic. Third, the transmitting cam would often stop transmitting even though it was in a location with good cell coverage. Restarting the camera usually fixed that, but given they were located 8 hrs drive away, that was less than convenient.

I got some great pics from them, but because of the issues, I would not buy another one. Or recommend them.

 

[jtn]

I've had trouble with Stealth Cams (poor photo quality, don't always recognize the card). My Browning is more expensive but worth it.

 

[Rack Daniels]

I’ve had good luck with stealth cam, but you have to format the SD if it’s not new. There should be a button for it when you hook the SD to your computer/phone. I like to put the camera higher up than most, and then a piece of tree bark or something to help it angle down. I seem to get a lot less photos of grass blowing in the wind when it’s looking down on the tips rather than eye level with blowing bushes and grass. Hook it up, and take 10 steps back to make sure you like where it’s facing… don’t forget to turn it on! G’Luck!

 

[Bonasababy]

I've had one spypoint, a few wild game innovations, and number of stealthcams. The wild game ones were cheap but a good value ..stealthcams I like but every now and then they've gone nuts and taken pics with any movement without changing settings, filling the card and draining batteries.

The spypoint was the only one that died but that was due to ants getting into it. I don't put them out until late August now, that seems to help minimize any issues.

Want to try a browning next..hear good things about them.