Rookie Trail Cam Advice

[bkondeff]

Scanned through the first couple of pages of posts with no relevant posts so here goes.

I've never purchased or used trail cams but own a little property and want to keep track of the elk coming and going for a possible short range weapon showdown this season. Any recommendation on a set-up. I'd like to use a solid, analogy to Savage for value and accuracy as being what I'd be looking for, not looking for a Kimber reference.

Thanks.

 

[Ross]

Many good options out there and you dont have to break the bank. I have had good luck with Spypoint cameras and the housing can be locked and you can run a cable through them as well. I've been spending between $110 and $150 depending if I catch a sale. These medium priced ones allow video as well as photos with various delays.

 

[wawhitey]

Apparently my post didnt go through. have to type again. ive tried 8 different kinds of cameras and the ones i buy now are the bushnell x-8s. theyre a 2012 model you can pick up for $115 at opticsplanet.com or wal-mart.com. they take 8AA and are threaded for the mounts like the slate river mount. not a good cam for video, but for still pics theyre great. red flash. batteries last all year if you use the good lithium batteries. everybody has their own fav but thats what i would recommend given my experience with multiple types of cameras. i run 20 cams total right now, and 9 of them are the x-8s, as will be any cam i buy in the future. also my current method of securing them is to NOT use python locks and bear boxes as those things make them more noticable, and a thief can easily get through them to steal your cam. the best way to keep them safe in my opinion is to carry a 5 foot section of climber with you and use a slate river ez aim mount, put the bastards 10-12 feet up in a tree with no locks at all. if somebody does notice it (more likely to if you have the locking stuff) theyll have to go home to get a ladder. if theyre willing to do that theyre certainly willing to bring along some bolt cutters and a pry bar, then youre just out 60 more bucks anyway. people dont look up often. anyway, whichever cam you buy, buy one that takes AA batteries, and remember red flash gives better night pics than black flash. and i highly recommend making sure your cams come threaded for the mounts i talked about. good luck

oh yeah, the x-8s are brown, i cover mine in camo duct tape. camo tape the mounts too. can get a roll for just a couple bucks at wally world

 

[charvey9]

I've had good luck with bushnell HD's, and they take great pictures. However, I also have a few Primo Truth 35's which are about the cheapest cameras around $70, and have not had any problems. The picture quality isn't as good, and they take 4 D cell batteries, but they get the job done.

One thing I highly reccomend are these screw in tree camera mounts. Very useful and can hang a camera just about anywhere at any angle. Much easier that screwing around with a strap, and less likely for people to find them on public land.

http://slateriverllc.myshopify.com/products/ezaim