Best Trail Cameras For Hunting & Wildlife Monitoring 2022 – Gear Hungry (2024)

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Trail Camera Buying Guide

• Why Trust Us
• Who This Is For
• How We Picked
• Features To Look For In Trail Cameras
• Uses For Trail Cameras
• Trail Camera FAQ

Why Trust Us

While I am not a hunter, I am a photographer and remote cameras are an excellent way to truly understand your subject. I also grew up in a family of hunters and in rural areas where trail cameras were common for both hunting and general monitoring and security.

Who This Is For

This guide is geared towards hunters first and foremost as the primary user group of trail cameras. Wildlife photographers are the second user group I considered when writing this guide, and the one I relate to most. However, those looking to use trail cameras as a security measure or for general monitoring will also benefit from this guide and its contents.

How We Picked

Selecting the best trail cameras was no easy feat. We first looked at bestsellers across multiple outlets and narrowed down our list. After that, we consulted independent reviews and Amazon user reviews to find the best options and further slim our list so we only provide you with the absolute best trail camera models out there.

Features To Look For In Trail Cameras

Before you go ahead and purchase one of our best trail camera product recommendations, we suggest that you consider some of these essential features and useful added extras.

Field of vision- How important are depth and width? Do you want to be able to capture long and wide shots? If so, then you need to consider not just the range in terms of depth but also what side angle shots the lens will accommodate. There are fully panoramic camera options, but these may not have as impressive a range. So weigh up what's most important to you according to your needs so that you can purchase a trail camera that strikes the right balance.

Night vision- The ability to capture videos and images at night could be an essential feature for you, especially if you prefer to hunt at night or in low light conditions. Wildlife photographers may not be able to capture night photos of animals behaving in their normal patterns without a trail camera that captures images with red glow infrared. The trade-off here is that you need a camera that allows you to capture nighttime images, but that won't have such a bright flash that it ends up scaring away the local wildlife and disrupting their normal behavior. Choose the LED carefully and look for a camera fitted with infrared technology if you want night vision without spooking the game. These trail cameras tend to feature panels that light up rather than a sudden flashing bulb effect and tend to have an image sensor that is triggered by movement and heat.

Megapixels - If you're familiar with digital cameras of any description, not just trail cameras,you will appreciate the importance of megapixels. The higher the megapixels, the sharper, clearer, and more defined the picture quality will be. Clearly, if you are a wildlife photographer, this is going to be far more critical than if you are using a trail camera for hunting purposes to simply locate your game. However, even if you are hunting, you do need the pictures to be clear enough so that you discern what it is that you're looking at and ensure the game is legal to hunt in the first place.

Trigger- The faster the trigger speed, the more images your camera will shoot in quick succession, and the more likelihood you have to capture subjects that pass in front of your trail cam. The faster the camera operates, the better clarity you should have, or you'll end up with blurry photos. You want to ensure that if an animal does pass directly in front of your camera, the trigger detects the movement and automatically fires. There are impressive trail cameras out there with advanced technology and ultra-fast trigger speed that can be deployed in well under a second.

Durability- If you're going for an outdoor hunting camera, then you'd best make sure that it's weatherproof and animal-proof too! A surprised creature will act quickly in self-preservation and doesn't care how expensive your great trail camera is. Do yourself and your wallet a favor by investing in a trail camera that's sturdy, reliable, and can withstand all the hits thrown its way. It may even be you who unwittingly misses your shot and fires at your camera by mistake.

Battery- The longer the battery life, thebetter, it's one less thing to worry about. You don't really want to be worrying about recharging batteries and packing spares. The great news is that since many trail cameras feature LED's they tend to last much longer with many batteries being suitable for a whole year and definitely long enough to see you through hunting season.

Detection range- Detection range is how far away the trail camera can detect movement. This varies based on the objects in the way, elevation, and lighting conditions but the best trail cameras should have a range of 65 to 100 feet or more.

Recovery time - Recovery time is essentially the time it takes for a camera to take an image, then store it and reset to take another. With the top-rated trail cameras, you should have a recovery time of five seconds or less. Cheaper cameras may have longer recovery times but are bound to miss important moments.

Glow - Glow refers to the light that trail cameras put out when capturing an image at night. A no glow camera emits infrared light that is invisible to the naked eye and to almost all animals. It allows you to capture images without startling even the most skittish of creatures like deer and foxes. The downside is that the range of the camera drops. With low glow trail cameras, a very small amount of light is emitted to capture an image. This light will be visible to some humans and animals but is unlikely to scare animals except for the most skittish like deer and foxes.

Audio recording - Recording audio may not be as valuable for hunters unless you intend to understand and mimic an animal's particular calls and sounds. However, for understanding wildlife or security, a trail camera that records audio is crucial. Maybe a trail camera with audio is how we finally answer the question: What does the fox say?

Waterproofness - Unless you live in the desert, you should be expecting intermittent rain throughout the year, even then your trail camera will encounter water at some point and waterproofing is a must with anything that will live outdoors.

Uses For Trail Cameras

Pattern movements–As a hunter, or photographer, it is absolutely vital to be tuned into the patterns and behaviors of your intended prey or subject. A stealth cam that doesn't startle or alarm an animal is one of the best ways to get a glimpse into their world and day-to-day activities. This insight then allows you to set yourself up in the appropriate area to shoot your subject, whether that be with a rifle, bow, or camera. Trail cameras can also be used for wildlife viewing and management on private properties.

Shed hunting– Shed hunting leaves you pretty stationary and with a minimal glimpse into the outside world. Adding one of the best trail cameras to your arsenal allows you to better understand animal behavior and see what's going on outside your shed.

Security– When you have a large property, setting up a security camera or a few can be quite a daunting task, especially with long video length or if the terrain makes for a difficult installation. Trail cameras provide a durable, cost-effective option that you can install in all kinds of terrain, and they act as exceptional security cameras.

Videos–Capturing videos of game and wildlife is a great way to use a trail camera. Using trail cams allow you to see wildlife in their natural state, uninterrupted by human activity. This unique perspective allows scientists, hunters and photographers to understand patterns and behaviors in new ways.

Trail Camera FAQ

Q: What is a trail camera?

A: A trail camera, game camera, or wildlife camera as it's referred to by certain manufacturers, is a ruggedly designed camera for outdoor use. These cameras are primarily used by either wildlife photographers or hunters to facilitate the hunt and to make identifying the location of wildlife that much easier. Due to their robust and weatherproof nature, some customers do also use trail cameras for security and monitoring purposes on larger properties.

Q: How far do trail cameras work?

A: It totally depends on the make and model that you have purchased, but the best trail cameras have at the very least an operating range of 50ft up to 100ft. The real range, of course, will be affected by the conditions, and if there is a lot of thick brush, undergrowth, or hills where you are hunting the workable distance will be reduced.

Q: Where should I set up my trail camera?

A: There's plenty of contention within the hunting community on this point, but as a general rule of thumb, 3 to 5 feet off the ground is a sensible height. Alternatively, you could try going to 7 feet and angling the camera downwards. In terms of location, try and find a spot in the wild where you know wildlife is frequently active, so you have an excellent chance of capturing some interesting shots. These placements also work well for monitoring flora and fauna for wildlife photography and security.

Q: What are the best types of batteries to use in trail cameras?

A: When choosing your batteries, look for the most durable and weather-resistant lithium batteries since your trail camera will be left to the elements.

Q: What are the most reliable trail cameras?

A: All of the trail cameras on this list are reliable and trustworthy. There isn't one big standout because everyone has different needs and wants and the most reliable option will vary based on your terrain and environment. The best trail camera is the one that serves your needs the best.

Sources:

1. Trail Cameras - Conservation Gateway
2. Trail Camera Secrets - Sussex Wildlife Trust
3. Trail Cameras Can Help With Hunting Success - Statesman Journal