Is it okay if water gets on my trail camera’s lens?Ī. You can also make adjustments to its position and sensitivity settings, change the batteries if needed, and make sure the housing is clean and dry.
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Not only will you want to make sure it’s taking good pictures, but you’ll want to transfer those pictures to another storage device or computer to free up space. How often should I check on my trail camera?Ī.
Just make sure not to cover the lens, sensor, or infrared flash. This hides the camera from game and people in the area. Many owners build a camouflaged blind for their camera, using branches and leaves from trees or shrubs in the area. Position it away from straight-line wind if possible. Set up your trail camera in a relatively sheltered area, such as under the cover of a branch, where rainwater won’t fall on it directly. Where is the best place to mount a trail camera?Ī. Reduce the risk of a stolen trail camera by mounting it at least 10 feet high, above most adults’ viewing lines, and inside a sturdy security box. Adjust the camera’s position during winter months to reduce snow piling up on the lens. A dense tangle of brush or leaves can affect an image’s contrast, causing the finer features of an animal - such as a deer’s antlers - to blend into the background.īlowing snow can block the lens and sensors, so research the prevailing wind direction of the area where you’re setting up. Set up your camera far enough from trails and feeding and watering areas that it won’t be easily detected.įor daylight pictures, avoid placing the camera at an angle where it will catch the sun’s glare. A detection angle of 45° means the camera won’t be triggered until a subject walks into that cone-shaped 45° zone. When game enters the detection zone, the camera begins snapping photos or taking video. An infrared flash range of 80 feet is not going to capture nighttime images beyond its limit, and game may not show up clearly when moving at the edge of the flash range. A camera with a sensor range of 80 feet isn’t going to pick up movement beyond that. If it’s aimed at an open area, such as a wide clearing, set the sensitivity higher.ĭetection range is an important factor in proper positioning. If the camera is aimed at a spot with a lot of tall grasses or brush, lower its sensitivity. If sensors are set too high, they can be triggered not just by creatures darting or flying by but by foliage or brush moving in the wind. Just reposition the camera and adjust its sensor sensitivity. They should also stay dependably charged even in challenging weather conditions.īestReviews Tips for getting great pictures with your trail cameraĭon’t get frustrated if your first storage card is filled with pictures of an empty clearing or maybe a glimpse of a deer’s hindquarters. MemoryĪ trail camera should have enough memory to hold hundreds of pictures or several minutes of video (if the camera has that option).Ĭonsider how long the camera will be in position, how difficult it will be to access the camera to retrieve images, and how frequently the camera will take pictures or video. In this part of our review, we look at the different images that each model produces, how they're captured, and the different flash types provided. Recovery timeĬamera performance is about more than resolution. This is an important feature if you want to capture nighttime activity.Instead of a visible, bright white flash, an infrared flash is a burst of light on a wavelength that people and game can’t see. This prevents game from being spooked into avoiding the area. It’s the difference between getting a great picture of a buck, antlers and all, or just his rear end as he leaves the detection zone. The interval between the time a deer or other wildlife comes into a trail camera’s field of view and when the camera’s shutter opens is critical.
While the number of megapixels isn’t the single deciding factor in the quality of a trail camera’s images, look for cameras offering 10 megapixels and up. If a trail camera can’t stand up to the elements of rain, snow, sun, and wind, all of its other features are useless.Ī high-quality lens is essential to get clear, sharp, detailed pictures, whether day or night. What to look for when buying a trail camera The basics It’s built to be rugged, with an outer case that resists water intrusion and cushions the camera if it falls off its mount. Treated properly, a trail camera will offer years of performance.