Are Trail Cams worth it???

[Bucky]

im thinking about getting one but i dont know if they are worth what u pay for them.:p

[Bobcat]

I could have paid double for mine and still think it was worth it !! They are a BLAST !!!!!:)

[Backwoods-Savage]

Depends on what you want or what you are expecting from the trail cam. Got my first one last year and absolutely love it (Cuddeback). Fortunately, we aren't in a high risk area for theft but I'd certainly think more than twice about placing one on public land. I also am hesitant on placing one too close to our property lines or even out in the open. However, we did place it in an open area but found that it blended in so well it was still difficult to detect if you didn't know it was there.

When you start getting good pictures of some good bucks, then try to pattern them with help from the camera, you'll probably think it was worth the price.

[davidshane]

Bucky,

When you ask are they worth it, it really depends on what you want one for?

I will comment on what I find useful with them. I have two (soon to be three).

I hunt an area that has low deer density, lower buck density, even lower mature buck density. The cameras can certainly provide a very good ideal of the number of bucks and their size in a hunting location. This year I plan to put out three digital cameras in three different areas that I am considering doing most of my hunting at. I will put them out in mid to late season of antler development. Using a mineral supplement to put deer infront of the cameras, I should over the coarse of a 2 month period get a very good ideal as to what these spots have to offer. I'm the type that will not take a yearling, even in this area that lacks many 2.5 yr olds or better. If I do not get a look at anything that I consider a shooter, then no need to hunt the spot (odds don't look good).

Bear baits should all a camera on them in my opinion. The bears seem to accept cameras rather quickly and theres not a better aid to help you decide which stand to hunt.

Also, as a outdoors/animal nut, I look forward to seeing what I have caught on film. It becomes a hobby; I look as forward to retrieving film or checking memory cards as a kid look forward to x-mas gifts.

Scouting areas,

Aid in managing property,

or just the fun of another type of hunting.


If any of these appeal to you, you will love having a trail camera. One warning: it becomes addictive. At some point you will want to upgrade from a 35mm to a digital. Then you will want a IR digital. Then 2 units, 3 units and so on.

Good luck!

[Tsmola]

If you are any good with electronics (soldering, etc) do yourself a favor and go to this site: http://www.jesseshunting.com

I always reccomend people go here where you can learn to build your own, it's supposed to be lower cost too. I tried building one myself but because of a lack of experience with electronics it failed. I do plan on trying again sometime soon. The nice thing about building your own would definitely be building it to your own specifications.

[marksman72]

I just got started using scouting cameras this past spring and enjoy it alot. I guess it just depends on how much you want to spend and where you put it. Some use digital with more features or like myself use the 35mm Non-Typical Deer Cam. Where you put it also makes a difference. I would not recommend putting them on State Land just because of the odds of someone else comming across them in the woods. Others will tell you, they don't like putting them out just because your contaminating the woods with noise and scent. It just depends on what you feel comfortable in doing. Good luck, Mark.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/DeerCambuck1.jpg

[bigbuckmaster]

I think they are worth it because then you how big the deer are there and if they are coming and eating off your bait pile. So I belive they were worth it.

[fishon-fishoff]

I just read in one of my magazines that if you shot a Pope and Young buck that it wouldn't score if any trail cameras or other devices were used. I know if I shot a monster and used a trail camera to help set up on him, I wouldn't really care if it scored with P & Y. Just my two cents

[redneckman]

They are well worth the money. I would buy a digital though because you could have a whole role of film used in one night by just does and fawns. It will save you lots of money in the long run. You could use it for trapping im guessing too. To see what animal is going through.

Redneckman

[sniper's mojo]

They are a blast. From a straight scouting perspective on private land that does not get tresspassed, definitely buy the digital. I run two 35mm stealth cams. $50 brand new if you find them on sale. All the properties I hunt get tresspassed and the thought of theft prevents me from putting anything more expensive on a tree out there. That being said they do an adequate job. I wont use them on my hunting spots because the noise of the camera advancing the film spooks them. If I set it on the setting to take two pictures in a row the 2nd picture is always blank. But you can still put them in your hunting area and see what is out there. I have used them for 2 yrs. now and have taken pictures of multiple bucks on the property I hunt. I have also shot 2 bucks in this time on these properties neither one I had a picture of. So it is exciting to see what is out there but a picture of him does not mean you will get a shot at him. It also means you wont get a pic of every buck out there so dont not hunt an area because of a lack of a picture. As we all know during the rut these guys travel. But the cameras are fun and can be a confidence booster. Buy one of the cheap ones to start and see what features you want from trial and error before spending the big money. My two cents!

[I'llbeoutside]

I would have to say yes. I use one around here where I hunt and also to help do my scouting in Kentucky. I knew there were some nice deer down there but my trips are pretty short and leave little time for scouting. I also have put together and framed some pretty cool pictures. Everything from deer,coyotes,fox,turkeys,pheasant and the occasional barn cat from down the road:mad: . It can get a little expensive but well worth it in my opinion. Pics like this cost me quit a few tanks of gas down to KY:lol: . BTW...this pic was taken w/ a cheap stealth cam.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/001_1.JPG

[Tsmola]

I just read in one of my magazines that if you shot a Pope and Young buck that it wouldn't score if any trail cameras or other devices were used. I know if I shot a monster and used a trail camera to help set up on him, I wouldn't really care if it scored with P & Y. Just my two cents

what? you can't be serious, where did you read that? :confused:

[fishon-fishoff]

It was either in Peterson's bow hunting mag. or Field and Stream. I can't remember which one. I will try to find it and put on hear some of what it says from the article. I was shocked too.

[monczunski]

i buy the 40$ ones that take film... i think thats the best way to go...and if you have a scanner can skan the pics to the comp...

[JAG]

http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_13_13.gif (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb001_ZNxmk121DSCA) Now that I've used one for 2 years, I'd have to say I'd use it even if I wasn't a hunter. They're just fun to use. I can't wait to check on it every time I go to my camp. Without a doubt they are worth the price!!





http://www.smileycentral.com/sig.jsp?pc=ZSzeb062&pp=ZNxmk121DSCA (http://www.smileycentral.com/?partner=ZSzeb062_ZNxmk121DSCA)

[tubejig]

Definately worth it. Got a pic of this guy last fall during bow season.

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/521/medium/buck_drop_tines.jpg

[buckwhacka]

if i had to pay 600 $ for one i would, its is one of the best investments ive ever made

[monczunski]

thats like asking if taking a gun to blind is worth it....:lol: you gotta get while there cheap or yull regret it

[rapidriverknife]

They really are worth the money. Be sure to research before you but. there are some good and some bad. I have 5 Cudde Back cameras and they all work great.
Kris Duerson

[autumnlovr]

I just bought a Cuddeback digital and, as a test, popped it between the screen and glass of the back doorwall. From footprints in the snow, I knew I had a deer nipping at the birdfeeder. Since I had never seen it, I assumed it was coming in during the night. Well, the following morning, I checked it and got 2 great shots of a small doe coming in and munching. The surprising part is she was coming in about 7pm....while we were in the back room watching TV. Her head had to be within 5 feet of my hubby sitting on the couch.
I can hardly wait to put it out near my blind & see what wanders in there!

[unclegrizz]

I have two leaf river's and the IR I'm not happy with but the other is great.My sister has the cuddie back and she say's I should of talked her into it a long time ago.
Go For It:D

[D.C.U.P.]

Yes, they are worth it.

Get digital, you save a ton of money on film and gas driving to get photos developed. Plus, you have lots of memory space in case you can't get to you camera for a while.

The convenience factor is huge, too. Bring your personal digital camera or a laptop and you can check pics right out in the field, deleting the varmints and butt shots.

When bear hunting, I burned several rolls of film just on ravens before any bears even arrived. They will trigger as many photos as they can in a day because there are lots of them and they never stop eating! No more non-digitals for me.....

Get one - you won't regret it!:coolgleam

[NorthJeff]

....if you want to know how many and what size of bucks are in your area(hunter estimates alone are usually only about 1/2 the picture)

*If you want to get accurate fawn production rates
*If you want to get the most accurate population number estimates

Other than that though, they are tons of fun! I now have 8 cameras and get thousands of photos in two states a year and although they don't necessarily help me shoot a mature buck...they let me know if he is there, or not, and are probably responsible for many more hours and days afield when a mature buck is found.

[mich buckmaster]

....if you want to know how many and what size of bucks are in your area(hunter estimates alone are usually only about 1/2 the picture)

*If you want to get accurate fawn production rates
*If you want to get the most accurate population number estimates

Other than that though, they are tons of fun! I now have 8 cameras and get thousands of photos in two states a year and although they don't necessarily help me shoot a mature buck...they let me know if he is there, or not, and are probably responsible for many more hours and days afield when a mature buck is found.
I agree totally!! I have had some nice bucks on film that I never saw during the season, but just knowing that he walked by there once makes you sit another hour or so.

[Bucky]

thanks guys im probably going to get one since everyone seems to like theres anyone know what kind i should get??? Pm me the kind...

[JAG]

My suggestion is to get the best one you can afford. Cuddeback is probably the best but also expensive. I also have a Moultrie. Not quite as nice but very capable.

[unclegrizz]

Cuddeback or leaf river, even though I have had a few problem's with my leafriver they do fix them and stand by them 100%. Not that I have had a lot of problem.
But If I was to buy another one I think I would go cuddeback.
I took over 4000 pic's last year

unclegrizz

[ENCORE]

Buy the digital.
I got a hunting friend that bought a 35mm trail camera. He put it out on a point next to a field where he was thinking about putting a blind. Really good spot. I went out with him and we got the camera all set up and away we went. It took almost a week before we could get back out there and retreive the camera. I guess we were both excited to find out what the pictures showed. All the film had been shot. He was so excited that he run the film into Meijer for the 1 hour processing. We went and had a beer and went back to Meijer for the pics. Boy, he was excited!
Opened the package up and started looking at the pics. Really nice pics of the combine going right then left then right then left.....:)
He did though end up with some nice pics. He now owns a digital ;)

[Howitzer]

Buy the digital.
I got a hunting friend that bought a 35mm trail camera. He put it out on a point next to a field where he was thinking about putting a blind. Really good spot. I went out with him and we got the camera all set up and away we went. It took almost a week before we could get back out there and retreive the camera. I guess we were both excited to find out what the pictures showed. All the film had been shot. He was so excited that he run the film into Meijer for the 1 hour processing. We went and had a beer and went back to Meijer for the pics. Boy, he was excited!
Opened the package up and started looking at the pics. Really nice pics of the combine going right then left then right then left.....:)
He did though end up with some nice pics. He now owns a digital ;)


Oh man that is funny. I have a friend that hunts near a road and the trail that he uses also happend to be a popular spot to stop and take a leak so he caught many candid beer drinkers contaminating his hunting ground.

[Richard6908]

Oh man that is funny. I have a friend that hunts near a road and the trail that he uses also happend to be a popular spot to stop and take a leak so he caught many candid beer drinkers contaminating his hunting ground.

LOL the last two posts are funny,gota stink to be them guys though.

[NorthJeff]

I got a few thousand photos with my Leaf River Digitals last year, and like them so much my wife got me a Leaf River IR for Christmas. Only have a 1000 photos on it, but so far I haven't found the need to exceed the $300 price tag for that model. Also, from now on I'm going strictly digital/IR. The flash does spook game and although I only get the black and white photos...it's still clear enough to see what you are taking a picture of.

[glockman55]

I got a few thousand photos with my Leaf River Digitals last year, and like them so much my wife got me a Leaf River IR for Christmas. Only have a 1000 photos on it, but so far I haven't found the need to exceed the $300 price tag for that model. Also, from now on I'm going strictly digital/IR. The flash does spook game and although I only get the black and white photos...it's still clear enough to see what you are taking a picture of.


I would love to get a digital trail cam, but someone would steal it, where I hunt they take anything and if they can't take it they destroy it, and I hunt my own property.Too bad there has to be Slob Hunters, I got a cheap $29.00 Stealth Cam for Christmas, 35 mm, and it works good, My first time for a Trail Cam. Maybe I'll get another one to to catch the slobs stealing the first one, LOL.

Glock :sad:

[marco]

Hey Glock, sounds like you are hunting by me. If they can't steal it, they destroy it. Also private land that I own. I put a broken surveilance camera on my buck pole to hopefully scare them. They stoled that too.:rant:

[NorthJeff]

That's a real bummer you guys have those problems!!!:rant: It's hard for someone who would never even consider doing that to imagine there are those out there that wouldn't give it a 2nd thought. Wouldn't it be incredible to catch a guy walking by on your camera with one of your stolen cameras on it....that would be kind of fun!!

[davidshane]

Marco,

I say we put something special out there on your place and then sit and wait in the brush. When the aholes show up and attempt to lift it; we brake their heads open with a bat. It would be like hunting over bait; just a different season. Thats crap what those people do to you!

Sorry to go off topic here!

[ENCORE]

Hey Glock, sounds like you are hunting by me. If they can't steal it, they destroy it. Also private land that I own. I put a broken surveilance camera on my buck pole to hopefully scare them. They stoled that too.:rant:
Here's something that was suggested by and friend and worked for me at a time that I needed it.
I went to Radio Shack and bought a small siren, small 12v converter, then I bought one of the cheap outdoor motion lights.
I hooked up the motion light outside where it would be within range. Instead of installing 2 bulbs, I used one bulb and a screw in adaptor, which allowed me to plug in the 12v converter. The 12v converter was hooked to the siren.
You have to adjust the motion light so the rabbits or mice activate it.
If you have electricty near, this WORKS.
The theives in the woods are another matter.
Good luck with the trail cams..................

[unclegrizz]

I think SO
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/500/medium/toms2.jpg

[Bucky]

thanks guys