Free: Contests & Raffles.
To start, I have gone back through just about every question and faq post through 2017 and read the sticky at the top of this section. Still I have just a few questions that I’m hoping some Hunt WA experts can help me answer...I’m looking to get one or a few game cams this year in order to help me scout for and understand elk. This will be my first year elk hunting and I want to give myself as many advantages as possible. I plan on using the cam on video mode as it will provide me more information than just pic mode. I have a few options on Amazon in mind, and am looking to go with a $100 or under setup. In your experience:1. Is there any real difference between a .5 second and a .3 second trigger on these? Can’t that just be normalized with a wider angle lens or moving the camera up and back?2. Related to 1 above, is there a minimum lens angle you recommend? 120-degree seems to be the standard now, but let me know if otherwise. 3. I see the biggest issues with night shots and night video. Has anyone noticed a correlation between number of LEDs and quality of the nighttime shot? That makes sense to me, but maybe I’m looking at this the wrong way. 4. I’ve seen a “time-lapse” mode on some of these. Does anyone use that? Seems like an outdated idea. 5. Last question - how long do your batteries last when on video mode. I know that varies based on on number of triggers and temp and other factors, but on average, assuming a 32gb card and 8 batteries in, will I have to change batteries every month, two, more?Thanks in advance. This forum is super knowledgeable and very helpful and I can’t wait to be enlightened on this topic. 1. Trigger speed depends on how you plan to use the camera, over bait, or set up on a trail with nothing to stop the animal. If you plan to just put on trail look for a fast trigger speed. Not sure if you could tell the difference between .3 or.5 of a second or not.2. Have not given much thought to this.3. More LED’s will normally reach further but if in a thick area sometimes does not help. I personally like white flash cameras best.4. Never used.5. Batteries depend on the camera, some are better than others. Video mode will of course use more battery life. I like video mode, I have been surprised at what comes through after a couple seconds. I alway carry extra batteries when checking cameras. Hope this helps, good luck.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
1 & 2, Overthinking it. Put cam up high, 10'+ to help avoid theft. Angle down to get the view/coverage you want.3, More IR lights will help, so will more quality cams.4, Mostly for field use. Video is the way to go IMO, but eats up batteries quicker.5, Average use; once a month change out. Heavy use(salt) and lots of critters; every 2 weeks for change out of batts and card. 32g card will hold aprox 1200 videos of 20 seconds, at that point batteries will be dead, I use Kirkland batts.
* Curious why you think you'll learn more in video mode. What do you expect to "learn" from the video that will help you hunt? Video mode can be fun but it does eat batteries.* trail cams are just plain fun. :-)Have fun,
I'd rather have 1 high quality cam than 10 "under a hundred" cams. I've probably purchased 30 cams over the last 5 years and only 8 still work. All of those were over $150. Nothing worse than putting in all the time and effort to place them only to come back in a month or two to find a dud. Don't go cheap! For what it's worth, I do leave mine out all year on the wetside.
I think all you want to know is the times they come through, direction they come from and go to.
Use lithium batteries. Mine get changed out about twice a year.
Quote from: 3nails on January 27, 2019, 08:24:05 PM I'd rather have 1 high quality cam than 10 "under a hundred" cams. I've probably purchased 30 cams over the last 5 years and only 8 still work. All of those were over $150. Nothing worse than putting in all the time and effort to place them only to come back in a month or two to find a dud. Don't go cheap! For what it's worth, I do leave mine out all year on the wetside.What are som of your top performing cams? Do your batteries last all year?Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: NOCK NOCK on January 27, 2019, 07:15:46 PM5, Average use; once a month change out. Heavy use(salt) and lots of critters; every 2 weeks for change out of batts and card. 32g card will hold aprox 1200 videos of 20 seconds, at that point batteries will be dead, I use Kirkland batts. Use lithium batteries. Mine get changed out about twice a year.
5, Average use; once a month change out. Heavy use(salt) and lots of critters; every 2 weeks for change out of batts and card. 32g card will hold aprox 1200 videos of 20 seconds, at that point batteries will be dead, I use Kirkland batts.
If this works it has two videos. One day time and one night time to show you the quality of this camera. I have 2 and may buy 2 more.
