best trail-cam for the money

[Rod Bear]

Would like to buy a couple trail-cams for tha area I am hunting. What is the best model for the money. Don't need video.Just want to see what is in the area.

[Blackhawk]

If you do a "search" and type in trail camera, you will get lots of feedback on this.

I bought the Moultrie 4.0 Game Spy last fall on sale for $79 (retail is $99) and am very happy with the performance..."for the money".  Trigger speed is fairly slow for this model, but I just adjust how and where I put it.

Here's a pic from the camera where a couple of 'yotes come visiting at about 2 a.m.:

 

[Snakeeater]

FYI...Can't really recommend any but I have heard horror stories about customer support from the Stealth Cam folks.

[deermaster1]

bushnel pro w/ nite vision.  its a bit pricy but will last and last and give you great pics

[bowdude]

There are digital hand cameras on the market that give beautiful pictures for $150 or less with no zoom.  The fact the good game cameras are $400 or more for good photo quality is just ridiculous and in a few years that should come down like the computers did.  I bought several of the wildview 4 cameras for half the price of a cuddeback.  Just can't get myself to put that kind of money out for 1 camera that someone can walk off with any given day.  Lock or not.

[DeerSpotter]

The Moultrie 4.0 infrared, it takes color photos during the day, and infrared photos at night, no flash, it's a great camera, were I work at sells them for $199.99.GM

I just happen to have a Cabela's coupon, and they had to match it, because they say they match competitors coupons.

So I received a $199.99 Moultrie 4.0 infrared trail camera for $139.99, cool

But a lot of customers have really praised the Moultrie 4.0 infrared , now they do have a 6.0, and it has a viewing screen on it, and you also get a remote to start it from a distance.  I don't think it's necessary.  They also have a 4.0 that is a flash camera for under $139.99

The Moultrie 4.0 infrared, is a great deal, it does the same thing and has the same quality, the same fast trigger of taking photos as the cuddeback $450 one that is 2.0

I most deftly would not recommend Stealth cam, poor customer service, and we have quite a few returns.

I had more requests from Thanksgiving to Christmas for the Moultrie Trail cameras, then any other camera on the market.  The one thing that is different about the Moultrie, is there is a lens on the front of the camera that is split, that is the design of the camera, it is not broke, it is designed that way, just be aware that, it has freaked out some people thinking that the camera lenses broke.  The design has something to do with the infrared.

the Moultrie is a great camera.

You might want to check them out.

Pastor Carl

[doeboy]

i use cudde back and love them, they are great to use and last a long time. i have had them all and there the best. Dont buy the cudde with the I.R. flash, buy the standard style camera flash model. takes abetter picture then the i.r.

[Whip]

Rod, JC had a post on here recently that generated a lot of responses with toms of good info.  A search should pull it up for you.

That said, I have a Cuddeback that has been doing a great job for me.  And the Wensels winning pics at PBS were done on a Cuddeback - those things looked like portraits or paintings!  

The picture quality has really improved on all the cameras, but I would focus on good reliable shutter triggers, battery life, customer service, and ease of use.

And thanks once again for all your hard work at Pittsburgh!

[JC]

Rod, you can find more responses here:   Trail Cam Recommendations . After this thread and susequent research, I've got two different ones coming: moultrie 4.0 with flash, and a really inexpensive leaf river. Both were a great bargain in my opinion and offer features commensurate with their respective pricing. The moultrie will go in an area that's relatively safe from tresspassers, the leaf river in an area that a poacher might run across.

I've heard mulitiple comments of deer being bothered more by IR flash than conventional flash...so I went with the standard flassh model and saved a few bucks. I'll let you know how they work out...I will definately be ordering more depending on my results with these.

[DRR324]

One "trick" I did to my Moultrie 4.0 with standard flash- I taped a piece of white copy paper inside to cover the flash.  Just a photographers trick to reduce the brightness at night.  Some of my pics had too much light reflecting off the deers coat- and washing them out a bit.  I put the paper in- and the pics are much better.

[JC]

Thanks David, great tip.

[trapperDave]

MOULTRIE D40 nuff said  

[bayoulongbowman]

Cuddeback is good one...stuff that works, stuff that holds up!!!

[madness522]

pay close attention to the trigger speed.  I didn't and have lots of nice pics of deer butts.

[crittergitter]

Aim those camera's with slow trigger speeds down the length of the trails not across them and you'll get many more good pic's. Also try hanging some sort of curiosity scent along the trail in view of the camera, just something to catch their attention and maybe slow'em down a bit.

And I use cuddeback, but I'm contemplating the idea of building some of my own.

[JSC]

I used three Moultrie 4.0 cameras this past fall and had them in the woods from mid October to January. They worked great untill the temps got down in the teens and low twentys, then the flash failed on all three.The cameras would still trigger and take daytime photos, but no night photos.I sent one back to Moultrie for repair and the others to Cabelas for replacement. Anyone else ever heard of this problem?

[DeerSpotter]

I wonder if the 4.0 infrared Moultrie camera would do that, that the one I've purchased.  I've heard nothing but good about the Moultrie, from customers.

Carl

[JL]

I bought a new Moultree 4.0 with a 1GIG card for $70 at a hock shop. I haven't put it up yet but will. Keep in mind, a lot of these unit go to "sleep mode" to conserve battery life. When movement is present, it takes a couple seconds for the unit to wake up and fire the pic. Placing them following the trail vs 90 degrees to the trail is very sound advise.

JL