Game/Trail cameras give users a chance to observe their hunting areas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Once the camera is set up, the heat and motion detector will trigger the camera and it will take a photograph. This will allow you to know what species of animals are visiting your site and what time of day they are visiting. This will greatly increase your chances for a successful hunt.
You will be able to gather a lot of information from a single camera, but you will gain much further knowledge if you have multiple cameras set up. You will be able to track the range and path of the animals that are visiting your hunting area if you have multiple cameras set up.
There are several items you should consider when you are purchasing a game/trail camera.
1. Brand Name – There are many brands of game/trail cameras available for sale. Research and look at several different brands and decide if one brand meets your needs better than the rest. Talk to friends that already have a game/trail camera. Ask them what brand they have. Ask what they like and don’t like about it and lastly, ask if they would buy the same brand again.
2. Picture Quality – Game/trail camera picture quality is measured in megapixels. In general, more megapixels will provide a higher quality image. Consider a game/trail camera with higher megapixels if you plan to print out larger photos. The downside to a game/trail camera with higher megapixels is that each image will take up more space on your camera’s memory. If you have a camera with higher megapixels, you will have to visit the camera more often to download the images. For most people, a mid range camera will be the best choice.
3. Width & Range of Detection – The camera’s width and range of detection are controlled by the camera’s sensing mechanisms. Most cameras have a narrow width detection range of approximately 10 degrees. This means that an animal has to be almost in front of the camera for it to trigger. Wide angle cameras are available that have a detection range up to 180 degrees. Wide angle cameras will be better at taking pictures of quicker moving animals.
4. Trigger Time – Trigger time is measured from the time the camera detects motion until the shutter is snapped. This can range from a fraction of a second all the way up to six seconds. The faster the trigger time, the more images of animals your camera will capture.
More tips to come in Part 2 for game trail/camera…
