Testing Trail Cameras

[Nebraska Outlander]

I have bought 3 different brands of cameras this year because I'm trying to find a good quality, and long lasting camera.

I've been running test on Primos Proof 2, Browning Strikeforce, and Spypoint Force. I love the pictures the Browning produces, the Primos has great day pictures but night pictures are kinda frustrating, and I just bought the spypoint on Friday. The Browning and Primos don't seem to miss much so trigger is great. Spypoint I'm still testing. The Browning and Primos are suppose to last 7 months on lithium batteries and the spypoint is suppose to last 16 months but we'll see.

My game plan is to run them out west next summer for 3 months at a time, I live 500 miles from where I'll run them. The Python locks should help some what in keeping them from being stolen, I hope. I am testing these as actual "trail" cameras not "bait" cameras for the purpose of mule deer not whitetail. Mule deer will be different and I've read placing them on water will be my best bet. Well I'm going to try to set them on trails of interest and hide them best as I can do they won't be as likely to stolen.


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For those of you who run cameras with mule deer other than food and water what some tricks you've used to capture mule deer pictures?? Thanks

 

[hoshour]

I have had terrible luck with SpyPoint cameras and don't use them anymore. I think you ought to return the SpyPoint and pick up a Moultrie instead.

Moultrie and Browning seem to be the most reliable for me.

I'd also be interested to know if you are using the blackout sensors or the low-glow ones. I like the blackout but the low-glow have greater range.

I have found that I do better aiming a camera down a trail I expect them to use rather than having the camera perpendicular to the trail to try and hide it better or aiming it at a crossing.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Thanks for the heads up on the Spypoint, I have really liked the pictures it has produced but it was only out for 24hrs. I will check it again this weekend and kinda figured I'd decide what do then.

All my cameras are low glow and didn't feel the no glow was necessary for me.

Once I've had time to run them longer I'll try to update.

 

[Finsandtines]

I have had terrible luck with SpyPoint cameras and don't use them anymore. I think you ought to return the SpyPoint and pick up a Moultrie instead.

Moultrie and Browning seem to be the most reliable for me.

I'd also be interested to know if you are using the blackout sensors or the low-glow ones. I like the blackout but the low-glow have greater range.

I have found that I do better aiming a camera down a trail I expect them to use rather than having the camera perpendicular to the trail to try and hide it better or aiming it at a crossing.

X2 ^^^^ I have browning and moultrie cameras and won't buy anything else.

 

[outdoornut]

X3 moultrie

 

[badgerbob]

I have had terrible luck with SpyPoint cameras and don't use them anymore. I think you ought to return the SpyPoint and pick up a Moultrie instead.

Moultrie and Browning seem to be the most reliable for me.

I'd also be interested to know if you are using the blackout sensors or the low-glow ones. I like the blackout but the low-glow have greater range.

I have found that I do better aiming a camera down a trail I expect them to use rather than having the camera perpendicular to the trail to try and hide it better or aiming it at a crossing.

Likewise here. I use Browning and Moultire. No issues. Have heard of issues with Spypoint, but don't know first hand.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Well I bought two of those Spypoint Force camera. I never opened one of them and I'm running test on the other. I bought them at Cabela's and I returned the un-opened one and told them I'll probably return the other. Well since I am testing it in the field they won't return it full price. Along with I was going to get the Strikeforce because it was on sale for $89, yesterday, not today. Grrrrr!!!

I'll probably keep the Spypoint because I'm not returning it for partial price. I haven't decided what to do at the moment. I do like the Primos camera but I need to run some more test. I'm worried about longevity on the Primos from what I've read online but trail cam pro said they don't see many returns now that Primos has fixed their battery connection problems. It's a great little camera and it does what I need it to do. I'm not worried about video and long as I get an idea what's in the area it works for me.

I'm bummed I didn't get the Browning on sale though.

 

[hoshour]

Rule of thumb - high quality stuff almost never goes on sale. If it's on sale, skip it unless you've really done your homework.

Warren Buffet said, “It's far better to buy a wonderful company at a fair price than a fair company at a wonderful price.” Good advice.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Checked spypoint today it seems to miss the deer but I knew this might happen from my test run before I left last weekend. I called spypoint and asked them for tips. So I just set it up the way they said and will see how it turns out.

 

[tim]

one thing I have came across with battery life is cold temps kill them. I can set my camers out in may and have them run until September with one set of batteries and take thousands of shots. Once snow is on the ground. normal batteries don't make the night and lithium last about a week. This is in bushnell cameras, but I doubt that makes a difference.

 

[Work2hunt]

one thing I have came across with battery life is cold temps kill them. I can set my camers out in may and have them run until September with one set of batteries and take thousands of shots. Once snow is on the ground. normal batteries don't make the night and lithium last about a week. This is in bushnell cameras, but I doubt that makes a difference.

You must have an issue with your bushnell cameras duing cold weather then. The benefit of the lithium battery is the cold does not effect them. I only run lithium batteries and when I lived in Vermont I could operate almost year long with a Cuddeback and one set of batteries.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Have a buddy who runs reconyx and browning with lithium batteries. The reconyx runs longer than a year and the browning will last almost a year or as long as a year. This is being ran in the Midwest.

I'm hoping my primos, browning, and the spypoint will last from December to May-June when I have a chance to go back out and check them. I plan on setting a couple while I'm hunting in December and then use the winter info for next year.

I ran some more test with the primos yesterday in my back yard and think I've been hanging them to low. Hopefully I'll be able to run some more test before I head out west in December.

 

[Nebraska Outlander]

Glad I took one of the spypoint back quality of pictures are terrible. Did manage to get this guy though.