best trail cameras
04-10-2017, 10:37 PM
#21
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern California
Posts: 18,380
I have cuddleback, Moultrie, browning, Bushnell, primos, and wild game innovations cameras. Bushnell trophy cams are the only ones I recommend.
The only down side I could comment about the Bushnell cams is the potential to get thousands upon thousands of pictures during windy days. But I'll get literally hundreds more photos in a week of actual game, especially at night with Bushnells than any other brand. Most of my cams are 3-5yrs old, but I usually add one or two more each season. We put out 27 cams this season. About 1/2 of them bushnells, a third of them moultries, and the rest odds and ends.
I tend to get them for $150-200 each season. Often less on sale, or through Cabelas club deals where I get extra Cabelas credit back on them (10-20% back).
The only down side I could comment about the Bushnell cams is the potential to get thousands upon thousands of pictures during windy days. But I'll get literally hundreds more photos in a week of actual game, especially at night with Bushnells than any other brand. Most of my cams are 3-5yrs old, but I usually add one or two more each season. We put out 27 cams this season. About 1/2 of them bushnells, a third of them moultries, and the rest odds and ends.
I tend to get them for $150-200 each season. Often less on sale, or through Cabelas club deals where I get extra Cabelas credit back on them (10-20% back).
04-11-2017, 08:26 AM
#22
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern California
Posts: 18,380
I pinned this topic at the top of the forum for easy reference as it has a lot of good information for anybody checking out the forum. I have only used one game camera to date--Cabelas HD. So far, I've been very impressed with how it operates and the quality of pictures it takes. When I read a topic like this though, it does make me wonder if other cameras would get more game pictures instead of missing game animals, which is the whole point of a game cam. Kudos to everybody who has shared!
08-09-2017, 05:53 PM
#26
Spike
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 16
I 2nd that. Mine should be here within the next few days. Looks like a very solid camera and the folks in charge seem extremely committed on putting out a quality product. I loved my s600 https://hunthacks.com/best-trail-camera-reviews/ when it was working right but I think this cam will be my new favorite.
03-16-2018, 01:47 PM
#27
Spike
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 5
stealth cam stc-g42ng
I have owned cams since the days of film, I went from flash cams to red ir. The deer on state woods will not tolerate anything these days. I bought one stealth cam stc-g42ng and it worked very well, not very expensive great pics did not spook deer, I now have 4.
03-17-2018, 04:08 AM
#28
Fork Horn
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location:
Posts: 100
I too have been running cams since the 35mm days. Ive had many different brands. I don't buy anything but Brownings anymore.
Batteries make a difference too. If you can afford Energizer lithium they will save you in the long run.
SD cards are also not all the same. High speed SD cards are meant for high-end point & shoot and DSLR cameras, not for game cameras. Game cameras don’t write as fast to the SD card as regular digital cameras because of the tradeoff with battery life (nobody expects their DSLR to run for 3-4 months on one charge or set of batteries). Therefore, you can get some weird things when you try to use one of these cards in a game camera.
As far as deer not liking cameras and getting spooked....it happens. Deer are individuals, some seem to love the camera like a model and some are running for the next county. Try to put the camera above 6ft angled down. I no longer put cameras directly over bait or stand sites. Its just too risky imo.
Good luck.
Batteries make a difference too. If you can afford Energizer lithium they will save you in the long run.
SD cards are also not all the same. High speed SD cards are meant for high-end point & shoot and DSLR cameras, not for game cameras. Game cameras don’t write as fast to the SD card as regular digital cameras because of the tradeoff with battery life (nobody expects their DSLR to run for 3-4 months on one charge or set of batteries). Therefore, you can get some weird things when you try to use one of these cards in a game camera.
As far as deer not liking cameras and getting spooked....it happens. Deer are individuals, some seem to love the camera like a model and some are running for the next county. Try to put the camera above 6ft angled down. I no longer put cameras directly over bait or stand sites. Its just too risky imo.
Good luck.
03-17-2018, 05:33 AM
#29
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: mcdonough ga
Posts: 147
this is an old thread , but a good one to keep going as i'm sure cams are evolving .. i've never used them until very recently and I can understand the fun .. (i'm just reluctant to new fangled equip.) but i got a browning strike force and so far i am very impressed .. 2-3 wks now and 6AA liths are still 100% and i have a decent amount of footage . about half is 10 sec videos ..-- .4 sec response , takes a 32gb sd ..10mp $100 bucks .. the deer are all looking right at the cam .. i assume this is norm for pir at night ??you can hear it click on.. i saw in cabelas 3 stealth cam w/ a viewer for 225$ ..
Last edited by davidg; 03-17-2018 at 05:35 AM.
08-06-2018, 04:01 AM
#30
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Maine
Posts: 12,562
I just purchased a new trail cam at the Kittery Trading Post. It’s a Stealth Trail Hawk that was marked down from $150 to $100. I set out back just yesterday around some apple trees and already have some photos on it. It doesn’t have the viewer on it. But, I am quite pleased with the photos I have on it. I have not tried the videos with it yet. I will wait a while before trying them. However with the first day I am quite happy with the quality of the pics.
