Hunting Washington Forum

Community => Photo & Video => Topic started by: Michelle_Nelson on November 04, 2008, 06:21:03 PM

Title: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 04, 2008, 06:21:03 PM: I'm looking at getting 1 maybe 2 trail cameras. I have never used one befor and know very little about them and the different types. Any and all advice would be appreciated. I am not looking for cheap get me by cameras but I don't wanna spend $300 for one either.

Also I am afraid of someone taking them after I put them up. Any advice on how to avoid this from happening? Thanks
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: stumprat on November 04, 2008, 08:24:10 PM: Check out www.chasingame.com I have had good luck with moultrie and scoutguard. I only buy flash units now though, I like night time color photos.

I have also had bad luck with thieves. I camo my cameras with moss now if I can. :twocents:
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on November 04, 2008, 10:10:15 PM: I love the moultrie I 40 IR cameras, to me these are the best cams out there for the money, dont gobble up batteries and work excellent. I have a few of them and have been impressed.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 04, 2008, 10:57:56 PM: I just thought maybe some of you guys could post up some general pictures off of your trail cameras and than tell me what kinda camera you have. I'd like to see night and day photos. Also could you include the battery life of your cameras.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on November 05, 2008, 03:38:11 AM: Here is the I 40 night pic
the batt life in my I40 is incredible. put it out in may and ran it till aug non stop still had 60% batt life and is now hangin now with the same batt's the flash one uses a 6v and last about a week when warm and far less when cold.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FMDGC0109.jpg&hash=3f74c6602bf08d76d333b968ac9d8459a175359f)
day flash moultrie
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi200.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Faa139%2Fshanewa300%2FDGC_0319.jpg&hash=e434b61bc488bac096690d4580193dd9e14cad46)
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: addicted on November 05, 2008, 05:11:32 AM: get them now while you can still play with them.

they are illegal in montana.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Skyvalhunter on November 05, 2008, 06:00:33 AM: Go with the Moultrie. Great battery life, nice pictures dou dont want to keep going back putting batteries in it.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 05, 2008, 07:22:53 PM: What kinda effect does the flash have on the animals?
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: EastWaViking on November 05, 2008, 07:25:53 PM: They might jump a bit on the first flash, but after that they are used to it.

I have a couple year old Moultrie and it is fine. A friend has one and has had lots of problems with it.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on November 05, 2008, 10:30:18 PM: One thing I forgot to mention is dont buy a flash moultrie if you plan on using them on trails, super slow trigger speed, need bait or something to hold them in fron of camera, the I40 has fixed this problem, fast trigger.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 05, 2008, 10:42:13 PM: What do you mean by a flash moultrie?

I am really not so much into getting pictures of Deer. I am looking for Bear and Cougar.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: jeepasaurusrex on November 06, 2008, 09:23:07 AM: We just picked up a Moultrie I-60. I made sure I got one with the IR flash. Figured since it is undetectable to the naked eye, less chances of it getting stolen. Also figured on the flash/scare scenario. It takes great pictures and short video clips. :tup:
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Antlershed on November 06, 2008, 09:38:51 AM: I have a StealthCam i390 (I don't think they make it anymore). The batteries will last anywhere from 1-3 months depending on how many pics it is taking. Slow trigger though, so you must use bait to slow them down. Here's a few pics from it though.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi43.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fe363%2Fbrent_hedden%2FTrail%2520Camera%2Ftrailcambuck3.jpg&hash=dfa03f78e7d93ce4702b8221af52e59924ea7979)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2Fsniffing.jpg&hash=9939bc2ec652d38e634910799fca92ff6983e53e)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv336%2F4tacxoma4%2Felkseries4.jpg&hash=e30c5132d901f87c40370b0b0486ae0f70fb160d)
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Bones on November 06, 2008, 11:07:04 AM: Setting trailcams can become an addictive hobby. After you get involved in this, you will want cameras that take better pictures. There is not a factory built camera that will take the pictures my cameras do. There is information all over the internet on building trail cameras. For several years, I wished that I was smart enough to do this, and I finally decided to try it. My first camera took about a week to finish, but now I can put one together in a few hours. And now I have the knowledge to repair them if there is a problem with one. The average cost of one of my cameras is about $150.
A year ago, one of my neighbors decided to buy a trail camera from Cabelas. He spent $300 on the best Bushnell camera they had at the time. Not long after getting it, he had to send it back for repairs, and it was gone for six weeks. Then he started comparing his pictures with mine and decided he had bought a $300 piece of junk.
I have about 30,000 pictures from my cameras since April this year, and I know white flash does not bother any animal including deer or elk. One thing that I like about these pictures is that you can crop the high resolution pictures to get a better look at an animal or to try to identify something in one of the pictures.
I got these bear pictures in June by putting honey on this tree.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb177%2Fbob_43%2F9401600x450.jpg&hash=dfcf858ec7b023721dd021aeef7123d8db82cfc1)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb177%2Fbob_43%2Fblondie-200-1600x429.jpg&hash=3becf68d7b98c5cec60f8d34c5363ff6e4055087)

This picture was also taken in June. I got about 30 pictures of the bull. He finally came over and licked my camera. A moth happened to be in this picture. The second cropped picture shows just how small of an area can be cropped out of these pictures to get a better look at something.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb177%2Fbob_43%2FDSC00652600x430.jpg&hash=7521c968be2575bea2be447fa1574fab75c473f7)
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb177%2Fbob_43%2FDSC00652-3.jpg&hash=fa9e85bc52094eb775f4c389d595b263861e32ab)

Getting pictures of predators is my favorite

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi19.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fb177%2Fbob_43%2FDSC00362600x471.jpg&hash=af458d4fbe53bced88e0dcd3ed934d73bdd1b3a1)
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: backyard bucks on November 06, 2008, 11:19:20 AM: SOLD!!!!!! :chuckle:
i have been looking at all the different makes and models too trying to get educated and not make a bad choice.
i do like those pics from your home made one for sure.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 06, 2008, 09:25:05 PM: Wow, those are some great looking pic's Bones.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: SHANE(WA) on November 06, 2008, 10:29:17 PM: Well there are 2 types of cams, one that use the standard camera flash to get the late or night pic like with any cam, then there is the IR cams no flash , not visible to the animals, but the pics will be black and white with them.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on November 07, 2008, 12:56:42 AM: I don't mind black and white. I am sure I can tell a deer (buck or doe) from a Bear, Cougar, or Elk.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Slider on November 09, 2008, 08:10:27 PM: I would look at spending $200.00 apiece for one. You want a fast trigger speed,good battery life and good picture quality. Moultrie I40 or the new Cuddeback Capture. Good Luck
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: Antlershed on November 09, 2008, 09:36:27 PM: I have been reading about some people having issues with the new Capture. I just picked up a Cuddeback Excite today on sale for $170 at SW. They had one left at the Lacey store, but the packaging looks pretty beat up (maybe ask for a discount?). I will hopefully have pics to report back with next weekend.
Title: Re: Looking at getting a couple trail cameras.
Post by: klikboom on November 17, 2008, 03:38:59 PM: Bones, what is your method for making a trail cam? I'd like to give 'er a try with your method, pics look amazing.