Over the last two decades, no other piece of hunting technology seems to have evolved as much as the trail camera. Advanced technology has led to the development of models that are more compact, discreet, boast higher resolution, and longer battery life. Trail cameras have continued to revolutionize hunting by enabling hunters to scout and monitor game remotely.
However, successful hunting involves more than just buying trail cameras, putting in batteries and SD cards, hanging them up, and simply waiting to see the images.
Below are some of the main benefits of trail cameras and useful tips on how to use them effectively:
3 Benefits of Using Trail Cameras
Still not sure whether you need a trail camera for your next hunting season? These benefits should change your mind:
1. Better Intel
Trail cameras can transport you to another place with just the click of a button. With properly installed cellular trail cameras, you can observe live feeds of your hunting grounds and scout for a suitable hunting location for an extended period. They give you much-needed insight so you can prepare diligently for your hunting season, or even for your next hunt.
For instance, you can study the behavior, feeding habits, and breeding zones of your specific target. This allows you to relax and enjoy your hunt with more confidence in your setup. Today, trail cameras come with extremely advanced digital features. For example, hunters can remotely adjust the position of some cameras for better shots. This is made possible by advanced Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity that can be operated up to 150 feet away.
2. Time-Saving
You can save yourself a ton of time by using a trail camera. Instead of spending countless hours scouting your spots in person, you can place a trail camera in the spot you are interested in, sit back and let it do the work for you. If the camera catches a bunch of activity, then you know you’ve got a good spot. Not to mention, you can monitor them all season and constantly get new information on movements. They can be much more than a preseason scouting tool if used correctly.
3. Security
Trail cameras are great for monitoring your land. The last thing you need is a hunter who shouldn’t be on your property stomping around your hunting grounds. Trail cameras give you a sense of security for those instances that you hope never happen.
Trail Camera Hacks Every Hunter Should Know
Here are some trail camera tips you should consider:
Carefully Select Your Location
Location is the most crucial aspect when scouting with a trail camera. Prioritize food and water sources, heavily used trails, and bedding areas when looking for spots to place your cameras. Keep in mind that game behavior changes throughout the year depending on the season, so familiarize yourself with these changes.
Power the Trail Camera
When it comes to buying batteries for your game cams, you may think you’re saving money by going for cheaper options. And while this may be true, low-quality batteries have voltage inconsistencies and respond poorly to different weather conditions. This may lead to malfunctions.
Make sure your trail cameras are powered by high-quality, long lasting rechargeable lithium batteries or replaceable alkaline batteries, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Although they may be a little more costly to buy, they’ll last a lot longer to give you value for your money.
Check the Trail Camera’s Settings
To get the most out of your trail cameras, you need to get the setup right.
Fix your trail camera’s sensor-sensitivity settings to meet your scouting needs. While you want to capture all of the animal’s movements, you don’t want to capture false triggers like falling leaves and moving branches. Ensure you set the right passive infrared (PIR) angle on the trail camera so that it can detect the movement of your game according to the speed they usually move in. This way, they won’t capture the slow movements of things like leaves and branches.
You should also set a higher image resolution to capture quality images. Don’t forget to shop for an SD card with large memory if you are going with traditional trail cameras.
Position the Trail Cameras Correctly
Do you ever have issues only capturing the back end of a deer and never getting the shot you need?
Well, the problem could be with the positioning of your camera. Deer can see colors towards the violet end of the spectrum, meaning that they probably sense infrared light and camera flashes. And this can spook them away.
To get the best images, you might need to set your cameras several feet above the deer’s sight plane. Mounting higher will also ensure your trail camera isn’t moved from position.
Bushnell Trail Cameras for Big Game Scouting
Here are some of our recommended trail cameras:
Impulse Cellular Trail Camera
The Impulse Cellular Trail Camera has ultra-fast dual processors that take one picture per second, so you can capture more images of fast moving targets. With Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect it with your smartphone and access live camera views of the spot it’s monitoring. Its battery life can last up to 6 months.
It features a photo resolution of 20MP and video resolution of 1920x1080 for quality images. It also has a 48 LED/100 feet night flash vision to track game movements at night. The 32GB storage it comes with offers room to store a large amount of photos and videos. It also has weather data image tags that sort your photos by weather and wind data.
Additionally, the GPS anti-theft alerts and camouflaged tree back color help protect the device from being detected by your target or other hunters that may be in the area.
Bushnell Core No Glow Trail Camera
The Bushnell Core No Glow features a resolution of 24MP for sharper photos during daytime and an 80 foot night range for high contrast images without washout. It captures high-quality photos and images without emitting any light.
It's built with sturdy material to withstand harsh conditions and comes with a removable battery tray for changing dead batteries.
Bushnell Core Dual Sensor (DS) No Glow Trail Camera
The Core DS No Glow Trail Camera offers you two image sensors—one for sharper images in daylight and another optimized for high contrast and detailed images at night. This helps you monitor animal movement and plan for your hunt accordingly. It features a low glow that captures bright photos with less light.
It’s also weather-proof and rugged to withstand harsh weather conditions.
Boost Your Hunting Success with Bushnell Trail Cameras
Are you looking for the best trail cameras on the market for your scouting needs?
Look no further than Bushnell. With over 70 years of experience, we guarantee high-quality and affordable sports optics for all types of hunters.
Browse our extensive catalog today and find a suitable camera for you.
