Cold weather and trail cams

[John Y Cannuck]

My neighbor is a teacher. She has pissed off someone, they are egging her house.

So, last winter, she went out and bought, at my suggestion, a few trail cameras.

Four of them, bought from Canadian Tire, she returned, would not work in cold weather, or battery life far too short in same.

I have a GSC35-50 IR Black flash camera from Hunten outdoors, I bought online, it says right in the directions it's not designed for cold, but, it outperformed any she had.

Never did catch the egg throwers, and she now has an infared video security system. (So I got my camera back!)


What are your experiences with trail cams in the cold?

 

[silverfoxdj]

I have a SPYPOINT bought a couple of years back and works really well plus long battery life in the cold

 

[bearkilr]

I use Energizer Lithium and they last a long time in my Bushnell's. I've stopped using Cuddeback as they're too hard on batteries.

 

[Magellann]

Perhaps she was using cheap batteries, try some brand name ones and see if that helps.

 

[silverfoxdj]

I use Energizer Lithium and they last a long time in my Bushnell's. I've stopped using Cuddeback as they're too hard on batteries.

Same here but the unit itself and how well it's designed has more to do with how long it will last

 

[Tenguns]

My Bushnell lasts for the whole winter.

 

[PEKS]

Wildgame Trail Cams from CTC, they work great year round, use regular alkaline Energizer Batteries..

 

[buckbrushoutdoors]

I run Moultries all year long. They use lithiums I get around 5-6000pics. They handle the northern alberta cold no problem

 

[minniehill2]

I run Moultries all year long. They use lithiums I get around 5-6000pics. They handle the northern alberta cold no problem

Same here but I would say an honest 10,000 pics.

 

[DVXDUDE]

I have pictures of coyotes on my bait pile and it says -31 and it's a snow storm. Great camera I get 3000 pictures easy on 8 aa batteries. Bushnell trophy. Had it at least 4 years on my bear baits. It's had a lot of use

 

[John Y Cannuck]

The batteries she had in mine were energizers, so I imagine she used the same in the rest.
I wish I knew what cameras she used that failed (to avoid). My camera seems to be no-longer available.
I suspect, she used the cheapest of the cheap. She's like that.
Also, she may have tried to take video, I could see that eating batteries in the cold.

 

[crazy_davey]

I use Energizer Lithium and they last a long time in my Bushnell's. I've stopped using Cuddeback as they're too hard on batteries.

X2 on both points.

 

[badgreenbird]

The batteries she had in mine were energizers, so I imagine she used the same in the rest.
I wish I knew what cameras she used that failed (to avoid). My camera seems to be no-longer available.
I suspect, she used the cheapest of the cheap. She's like that.
Also, she may have tried to take video, I could see that eating batteries in the cold.

Indeed. Most of my cameras (4 different brands) function well at cold temps with lithium batteries or good alkalines. I have a couple Bushnells because they take decent video. However I have learned the hard way that they simply will not function on video mode once it gets to about -25, even with lithium cells.

 

[The ROC]

I have 4, SpyPoint, Stealth, Cuddy and a Bushnell... all worked perfectly during the winter months. Fresh Wal-Mart brand batteries Jan 1st 2016 lots of pictures on all cameras set to 2 pictures @ 30 sec interval when triggered. Only camera I had to change batteries was in the Stealth Cam last week... that one seems to drain the batteries the quickest. The rest still have at least half life left in the batteries.

 

[waltman]

Late October last year I put out a Primos camera I picked up in the summer with cheap The Source brand batteries and it ran until mid January no problems with the battery meter showing 85% life left, I was impressed as every other camera I've had was a hog on batteries.

 

[Ronsse610]

all my cams are spy points... battery life is decent, all depends on weather and if camera is in direct wind or snow. takes just as good pictures and video.

 

[chisholm]

I definitely find premium batteries are needed for long life in trail cameras. My only reoccurring problem is when we get hoarfrost my lease always fogs up...

 

[6mmrem]

My Browning trail camera with brand name batteries lasted the winter albeit a mild one .