school me on trail cams

Suther

Suther

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
27   0   0
Location
Fraser Valley
So I just scored a cheap trail cam from Walmart. Its a Wildgame Innovations Terra 10, cost was only $30.

Now, I understand at that price its obviously not an amazing top of the line product or anything, but I don't have any private land to be setting up a cam on so I didn't want to spend much in case it grows legs on me...

So what're your tips and tricks for using a game camera, particularly on public land? What are the do's and don't of game cam setup?

Thanks for all your help!
 
Do not set up the camera where it will be facing the sun or you will get multiple images of nothing as the sun moves across the sensors and the ones that have something will be blurred out. Really do a good job of clearing branches and brush away from the camera or you will get lots of pictures of the wind blowing branches in front of the camera. Do not set the camera too high, about 3 feet off the ground is about right, if it has a setting for multiple images make sure its set on that or you are going to pictures of partial animals, video is even better.
 
daveyn said:
Do not set up the camera where it will be facing the sun or you will get multiple images of nothing as the sun moves across the sensors and the ones that have something will be blurred out. Really do a good job of clearing branches and brush away from the camera or you will get lots of pictures of the wind blowing branches in front of the camera. Do not set the camera too high, about 3 feet off the ground is about right, if it has a setting for multiple images make sure its set on that or you are going to pictures of partial animals, video is even better.
Click to expand...

It takes single pictures or video I think. I just got it out of the box, just taking a look at the manual now but I think thats what youtube reviews were saying.

Edit - okay that manual doesn't say much. It seems to only do pictures and video though. I am trying to find my old digital camera, its got an SD card in it which is required to use the game cam... If I can't find it, I might have to steal the one from the kids' DS for a day or two... lol
 
Last edited:
If it's not considered hijacking the thread, let me jump in with a game cam question also... can I buy a cheapo version and get any reasonable results for a security camera? I'd like one or more at the lake by my camper and boat so if anyone messes with things I'll have a photo of who dunnit. Is cheap ok for that? I don't need a good quality one for hunting... already have a couple of those, but don't want the risk of theft on my good ones. I just want to see who'd been stealing my jerry cans of gas from me... the bastards have been using my gas and putting the cans back empty because I've been dumb enough to refill them lol
Thanks
 
Neilm said:
Buddy put one up at a cabin. The next break in they toke the camera.
Click to expand...

omfg thread hijack or what guys!!!!!

lol I'm kidding. Its all good. As noted, the issue with using a trail cam for security purposes is the ability of the person to just steal your cam. The cheap ones won't have the best range or highest quality cameras, so you'd probably need to set it up pretty close to your jerry cans, which increases the likelyhood they might see it.
 
So I just learned that I can use my kids Nintendo 2ds as a photo viewer! Fantastic! lol

It doesn't seem to read the video files though, too bad...

Any recommendations for a card reader that will connect to my Samsung S6? I see there are plenty of options on amazon for $10-15...
 
Jack Robinson said:
Some cams are fussy about the SD cards you use. 2 of my Brownings will only use Sandisk cards otherwise you can't read them.
Click to expand...

this is very true and also check to see if your cams accept micro sd cards also.
there is a few that dont like them either.
batteries,try the energiser lithiums,expensive but do last.

i have two old moultries which have been strapped to trees for the past 8 years,still working just fine for me.

i dont have a samsung phone but looking at getting one of these
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0...1b2-5df4-b816-4d049c751098&pf_rd_i=3312807011

anyone know were to get spare game cam straps?
 
remyltr said:
this is very true and also check to see if your cams accept micro sd cards also.
there is a few that dont like them either.
batteries,try the energiser lithiums,expensive but do last.

i have two old moultries which have been strapped to trees for the past 8 years,still working just fine for me.

i dont have a samsung phone but looking at getting one of these
https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0...1b2-5df4-b816-4d049c751098&pf_rd_i=3312807011

anyone know were to get spare game cam straps?
Click to expand...

I don't use the straps any more, I use these which are super adjustable as long as you have the 1/4-20 tripod insert on the bottom and they are on sale right now https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/lock-in-trail-camera-support/A-p8707028e
 
Last edited:
elimsprint said:
I don't use the straps any more, I use these which are super adjustable as long as you have the 1/4-20 tripod insert on the bottom and they are on sale right now https://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/lock-in-trail-camera-support/A-p8707028e
Click to expand...

Alas, mine doesn't have a 1/4-20 connector. I actually saw those at PA yesterday and wondered if anyone used them... I feel like they'd be too easy for would be thieves to spot sticking out from the tree like that though?
 
If theft is a concern, consider mounting the camera higher and aiming it down. It limits your range somewhat, but it also takes the camera above eye level of deer, so they won't necessarily see the red glow before a pic is taken in low light.
If you are getting half an animal, try to aim the camera down the trail instead of across it. I have pretty much switched entirely to Sandisk cards, although I have had few issues with the Kingston ones. The el cheapo cards are not worth it at all.
Look for cards with C10 rating. Faster is better up to a point. the camera batteries will last longer with a card that writes faster. Really fast cards, probably are too fast for the camera anyway and a waste of $. 40mb/s is probably lots fast enough.
 
I have 2 of these same cams and although the picture clarity is okay, the cheap red LED glow used will alert 2 or 4 legged creatures of its location. I also find that the cam seems to take a while to "wake up" initially so I sometimes get a video of a hind end or nothing at all because the animal has already passed by. Battery life seems ok.

Whats a good inexpensive model with true "invisible" illumination?

I may have to consider reorientation of the cams aim as JYC suggested.
 
Suther said:
Alas, mine doesn't have a 1/4-20 connector. I actually saw those at PA yesterday and wondered if anyone used them... I feel like they'd be too easy for would be thieves to spot sticking out from the tree like that though?
Click to expand...

I've only lost cameras that were held on by straps. I feel those are really visible as they go all the way around the tree so visible 360 deg. and none of the ones I have had really match the tree trunks around here. You are also very limited as to the mounting height and direction. With the screw ins you can mount the camera higher, above regular sight lines, and angle them any way you want. You can also mount them low in brush at the base of a tree and aim them up which makes them really hard to see to animals and humans.
 
Wild games can be battery hogs, some are some aren't so try it out and monitor battery life

If you want put a small piece of electrical tape over the one red LED it will keep the animals from noticing it
 
Suther said:
So I just learned that I can use my kids Nintendo 2ds as a photo viewer! Fantastic! lol

It doesn't seem to read the video files though, too bad...

Any recommendations for a card reader that will connect to my Samsung S6? I see there are plenty of options on amazon for $10-15...
Click to expand...

I picked up a boneview card reader last year. Works well. Micro USB adapter, and you don't need to copy off of the card to view. Also it is bright orange so it is easy to spot when you drop it.
 
canthitathing said:
I have 2 of these same cams and although the picture clarity is okay, the cheap red LED glow used will alert 2 or 4 legged creatures of its location. I also find that the cam seems to take a while to "wake up" initially so I sometimes get a video of a hind end or nothing at all because the animal has already passed by. Battery life seems ok.

Whats a good inexpensive model with true "invisible" illumination?

I may have to consider reorientation of the cams aim as JYC suggested.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the red led that blinks, or the red glow from the camera flash?
 
I have two of those sd card adapters for samsung phones and they work great. Mine are the black square ones with a cord coming out of it. If i couldve found an orange one id have gone that route.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom