7 Best Trail Cameras (Review) in 2021

How We Chose Our Selection Of Trail Cameras

Brand - When it comes to selecting trail cameras, we chose brands and manufacturers who do not skimp on using top quality materials. Quality construction is important, but even more, so is understanding how a trail camera should function. For this reason, we chose brands with a proven history of producing exceptional cameras for use in extreme conditions.

Price - When it comes to outdoor and hunting equipment, participants are already spending a considerable portion of their disposable income. That doesn’t mean they have to break the bank with every piece of equipment they purchase. For this reason, we looked at a variety of trail cameras in different price ranges to suit all tastes and budgets.

Price is often a reflection of quality and different features and although this is also the case with trail cameras, spending the most money doesn't necessarily mean you have the best camera. It is usually a matter of evaluating your requirements and selecting the best trail camera you can afford. Fortunately, there are several exceptional trail cameras to choose from that offer a wide range of features so that it is possible to choose one at a suitable price for you.

Reviews - One of the best ways to gauge the effectiveness of a product is to try it for yourself. Unfortunately, this isn't always possible so we often rely on word of mouth. This too, may not be possible unless you personally know a person with the particular product you are considering purchasing. That is why product reviews can be an invaluable tool in narrowing down the list of what's hot and what's not for a particular product.

When we checked reviews for trail cameras, we paid close attention to the best points of each review. As important as the positives are, the negatives give us the best information. The negatives tell us what to look out for. Of course, we need to consider that each review is an independent evaluation of one person's experience and we still like to look at the overall picture before drawing our own conclusions.

Things To Consider When Purchasing Trail Cameras

Range - The range of a trail camera should depend on the area you are hoping to photograph. If you plan on setting up near a cave or a small clearing, you may be able to get away with a range of 40 feet. However, if you need to cover a larger area, you can get a range as high as 120 feet. It will primarily depend on the types of animals you are hoping to photograph and the area you plan on photographing in. It is also worth keeping in mind, that the range will be less during the night.

Battery - With most trail cameras you can use ordinary batteries or lithium batteries. Depending on the batteries you choose, you could have power from 2 - 6 months. The other variable is the amount of activity in the area where you have set up your trail camera. Most trail cameras work on motion detection so if the area you have set up the camera has very little activity, the camera will not be working as often and that means it can power the camera for longer. However, that would defeat the purpose of setting up the camera because the idea is to capture as much wildlife movement as possible. Don't opt for cheap batteries though. You may be saving at the checkout when you purchase them, but you will need to replace them more often so you should look at getting long life batteries that will last longer.

Storage - There is a possibility that you will leave your trail camera at its post in the forest for months on end. During that time it will be capturing hundreds of images. That means you will need an SD card with considerable storage capacity. Many of the trail cameras in this selection need a minimum of 32 GB of storage and realistically, you will need that amount and more. When you first start using your trail camera, you may find yourself checking the memory and other features quite regularly. Once you can establish a pattern of usage you can then check your storage at appropriate intervals.

Camouflage - It is highly unlikely that animals will pay attention to a plastic box on a tree, however, camouflage is still a major consideration when it comes to purchasing a trail camera. Concealment is still a priority where trail cameras are concerned. The less noticeable they are the less likely animals will develop a curiosity for the "thing in the tree".

Another reason camouflage is important when choosing a trail camera is to avoid having your unit stolen by other hunters. While most hunters will not be looking at thousands of trees for a wildlife camera, if they do spot one, human nature may tempt them to take the camera for themselves. The more it blends into its surrounding s the better. This is doubly important if the camera is being used by authorities to deter poachers or illegal woodcutters.

Night Mode - Some trail cameras only capture during daylight hours. Others take photographs during the day and night. The images captured in night mode will always be of a lesser clarity than those captured during the day. Most trail cameras will not be able to capture night images in color, however, they will still be able to produce clear imagery.

If your hunting activities involve looking for nocturnal animals a trail camera with night vision is a great tool. It is also an invaluable tool for researchers to track animal activity in a particular area during the night.

Another effective use for night mode is to track any illegal activity that may be going on in the wilderness at night. Of course, this is also the case if you choose to install your trail camera at your home or business.

Connectivity - The main purpose of a trail camera is to photograph wildlife and game. That usually means the camera is set up in a remote or isolated area far away from modern amenities. This means you may not have direct connectivity between your trail camera and a digital device like your smartphone or laptop.

However, a Wi-Fi game camera installed as a component of home or business security may be able to be set up to work via your Wi-Fi connection.

Trail Camera FAQ

Q: What Is A Trail Camera?

A: A trail camera is often referred to as a deer camera or a remote camera. Trail cameras are mostly used in sports photography but they have become popular with hunters and other outdoorsmen. These cameras are sensitive, high tech pieces of equipment enclosed in a sturdy, weatherproof casing. The cameras are attached to trees, feeders or another area in a remote area and are then set to detect motion and take pictures accordingly.

The main purpose of the camera is to be used in a situation where it is not possible for the photographer to take capture the images himself. When it comes to taking photographs in the wild, it is not always possible to take happy snaps of animals because they tend to avoid any close proximity to humans. By setting up a trail camera, the images of wild animals can be captured in their natural environment and behaving naturally. They don't pay any attention to the camera leading to more natural photographs.

Field cameras can have also become popular in professional uses. In many countries, the forestry authorities have used the footage to stop illegal hunting, unauthorized wood chopping, and other illegal activities. They can also be used by large property owners to track the movement of animals on their properties.

Q: How Much Range Do Trail Cameras Have?

A: Trail cameras need to have a good range. The range can be as low as 40 feet, or as high as about 120 feet.

Choosing the right range depends on the area you are hoping to capture. If you are only looking at capturing images inside a cave or a small clearing, choosing a lower range trail camera would be fine. However, when it comes to large fields or mountain areas, the longer range would be more beneficial.

Q: How Do Game Cameras Work?

A: The primary purpose of game cameras is to capture and record images during the day or at night. These images are then stored to an SD card so it can be viewed at a later stage on a computer or other device.

Photographers, particularly wildlife photographers, came up with the idea for this type of cameras so they could get the most realistic photographs possible of wildlife. Without a human presence, the animal's behavior will be more natural and calm.

Trail cameras are generally inexpensive and yet perform extremely well. They can be set up to take photographs on motion detectors. That means the cameras will stay idle until they sense movement in the range finder.

Some field cameras can send captured images directly to a smartphone or other digital device, while others require the insertion of an SD card to store the images to be viewed at a later stage.

Q: Where Do I Set Up A Trail Camera?

A: The most obvious place to set up a trail camera is where it will most likely pick up images of animals. One of the easiest places to set up a trail camera is where animals eat. This could be in an area where animals habitually feed, but they can also be set up next to feeders or places where salt is left for animals.

Another place to consider is where there is a source of water. Just like feeding, animals need to drink so it is inevitable that they will come to quench their thirst at some point. Animal droppings or feces are also a good indication that animals are nearby.

Depending on the animals you are hoping to capture, you should look at placing your trail camera about 4 or 5 feet above the ground. However, you may need to raise the camera during the winter if you live in an area that gets a considerable snowfall.

If you're mainly looking at using field cameras for surveillance, then you will definitely need to consider placing them a little higher, but not too high so that the camera won't be able to capture the images. The correct angle is also important and you should never aim the camera directly at the sun. The glare will blur all of your images.

Whatever your reasons for considering purchasing a trail camera, there is sure to be one to suit your needs. Bringing technology into the wilderness will make it easier for hunters, nature enthusiasts, and authorities. They will also be a crucial piece of equipment for those who are studying animals as they will have access to images and footage without disturbing the natural habits of the wildlife in a particular area. You’ll have the information to study the animals feeding and migration habits as well as discovering where their favorite feeding spots are.

Taking pictures has become a hobby for many people and social media is evidence of this trend. Instead of the usual boring selfie, plates of food and other mundane photographs, how much more exciting and impressive would it be to share photographs of wild animals, up close and personal?

Who knows, you may end up with a photograph an elusive animal that normally likes to remain hidden.