Question on cam functions..

Phil from Maine · 04-18-2009, 02:59 PM

I have a question for all you trail cam gurus.. Will frost affect a trail cam? What I am trying to ask if frost got on the lense will it prevent it from taking a pic? I have had my camera out trying to capture a moose with it. The past 2 mornings has been cold and frosty, andI had a moose walk by my camera but it never picked it up? I went in and took my camera up out of there today and didn't have any moose picks but a fresh track walked right by it.. Here is a pic of the trail I had the cam on as it appeared to work fine during warmer temps.. Let me know what you think might have caused this to have happened..

The date and time is incorrect as this pic is from around 10:00 this morning..

MichiganBowbender · 04-18-2009, 03:51 PM

No doubt in my mind that heavy frost covering the motion glass could prevent motion detection. I've had the same problem with a heavy morning dew at times. Also, some batterys just do not work well in extreme cold, especially alkalines if they are a littledischarged or old. Might explain why they worked after the warmup. My cams take 2 AA batterys and I'm using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeables and have had no cold weather problems at all.I'm convinced lithium batteries are the best when dealing with low temps.

Just my ideas on what may be the problem. And my ideas are sometimes "suspect"....

AR Bowhunter · 04-18-2009, 04:53 PM

Frost can effect pictures. The worst thing is batteries special batteries that are not rechargeable. They do not work good in cold weather because of how an what they are made of slows down their functions. I use nothing but rechargeables. NiMH batteries work for mean I never have a problem with colder weather.

Phil from Maine · 04-19-2009, 02:00 AM

Thanks guys that is kind of what i am thinking as I am using the copper top batteries and as stated it has been frosty in the mornings here. I will prolly have to wait until the weather gets a little warmer and try again or perhaps put it up on an old deer trail that was used quite heavely last year. Setting it up under a canopy of trees will prolly help keep the frost from getting on it. I was hoping to get a few decent pics of moose to share with you folks. Warmer weather I might be able to do that though..