Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Trail camera recommendations

I'm looking for one or two day/night trail cameras to use on a property in the eastern half of Texas. I have not used them before.

Not sure yet about the features I want, but if you guys can recommend manufacturers, that would be a good first step.

Cellular cameras, or go-check-em style?

I bought a couple of these over the last few months, and like them so far. About the only issue I've had is you sometimes need to close the app and open it again on your phone to get a large batch of new photos to show up (after you get the alert that you have a lot of new pics).

Muddy Merge

I just use them to take photos, no video. Cell service is spotty where I hunt, so I don't want to ask too much from a camera.

I'm thinking the go-check-em style, but if there was a good deal on a cellular model I wouldn't need to use the plan right away.

Budget non-cellular. $29 Muddy from Academy. You don't have to worry if they get stolen.
Best value in Cellular. Tactacam reveal.
Best high end camera. Several from Browning.

Seems like trail cameras are about like wristwatches and pocketknives, as there's folks who dig the cheap/decent ones because they don't fret theft and there's other folks that only want the best of the best. I fall into the first category.

Most guys I know either use Tacticam or Muddy for the cell cameras, generally costing $110-130 and having a plan than runs about $15 or so per month. For non-cell cameras, I use the $50+/- Stealth models, especially when they are on special (QS and Browtine models). I think I've bought about 10 of them and had issues with 2 of them over 3 years or so. Not too bad considering the cost and the fact that they are electronics sitting out in the weather. I can often get from early fall through spring on one set of 8 AA batteries.

I'm running three Stealth cell cameras. All in all, they've been pretty good. Have all 3 on external power, so I don't have lots of time/expense replacing batteries.

For non cell, I've been using Wildgame Innovations Lights Out compact cameras. Out of 5 or 6, I've only had to trash one in the last several years.

On the cellular camera's what the monthly fee to ATT or Verizon?

With Tactacam I paid 99 bucks a year by paying it all up front. That's an unlimited plan, and it's the same with either provider. I used a 12V external battery and never came close to running it down. I could have added a solar panel to that if I needed to.

I'm a cheap bastide, but after receiving my first cellular camera as a Christmas gift, I won't ever go back to the go-check-em type.

We just bought our 3rd Tactacam, so far so good for season 1. We still have one taking pictures and recorded a sow and cub out of the den roaming around.

I ran 5 stealth cameras the last 2 years. I really like the cellular cameras compared to non., saves you time and keeps your scent down.. zero issues, very good pics, and you can adjust parameters on your app.
https://ads.midwayusa.com/product/1...gD9mdxeLxKxug0mNydUgi3DUUxxoC6FgQAvD_BwE

+8 on the $30 muddys from academy

I used them ( 8 of em) for 2 years now.

only had one go bad, got water in it.

takes very good day and night pics.

With gas prices going higher and higher, a cellular camera will pay for itself.
Use lithium batteries and they'll last at least 4-5 months.
I still have cameras going from bow season last year.

I am a lomg time user of game cameras, have more Moultrie brand than any other, and have better "luck" with them, also.

Mike Holmes

I run 30 or so cameras, for checking on wildlife and trespassers on our 200 acres. Older model coverts were great…but the last couple I bought only last a few months past warranty. I’ve now largely switched to brownings. I typically get 24-30 months usage (these run 365 a year through harsh winter weather). I have a couple Reconyx which have been flawless, but given the the the thefts ((we’ve now had 13 cameras stolen over 8 years) I’m unwilling to field more given I can pick up 4 or 5 brownings for the same $.

I don’t buy the latest or greatest model given the numbers I run. Rather, I tend to buy left over stock that is a year or two old paying 100-130 on Amazon. I’ve purchased a few from trail cam pro which offers a 2 year warranty. They were good to work with. However, because most brownings do better than 2 years, I don’t find the higher cost worthwhile. Cell signals are not great in my area so I haven’t spent the $ on cell cams.

This is a good deal.

https://www.rogerssportinggoods.com/bushnell-prime-l20-low-glow-tan

CAUTION: Poster below says these are not good cameras.

Tactavam Reveals have been great for me. Choose the carrier that gets the best service in the area.
They have a model that comes with a solar panel , battery , and both att and Verizon cards

Make sure you get the proper SD card the manufacture recommends.

I bought four of these this year and they are junk. I like Bushnell trail cams but these are no good. Two have quit working and they all take poor photos.