Trail Camera Roundup: Use the Best

Trail cameras are a must-have item for hunters. We use them to scout locations, spot mature animals, and even watch for trespassers. And with the plethora of trail camera options on the market, there’s no shortage of options. Whether you want all the bells and whistles or prefer a simpler setup, there’s a camera for you. Check out a few popular options below to find out how they work and if they’re what you need to track deer on your property.

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Cellular trail cameras are no longer the new hotness, but it’s an understatement to say they don’t all perform reliably. If you’re a fan of getting trail cam pictures delivered to your smartphone—I am—then you’ve probably been on the hunt for a cellular camera that actually works. After years of frustration with dropped signals, batteries imploding—not kidding—and unpredictable reliability, I’m pleased to announce that the Moultrie Edge 2 is the best cell camera yet to hit the market. It’s reliable, takes great images, and has on-demand features that make it a huge win.

The Moultrie Edge 2 is a compact, durable camera that’s managed to stand up to the abuse all my cameras get from feral hogs. It’s 3.4 inches tall and 5.39 inches in length with a width of 3.75 inches, leaving it small enough not to stick out too much from its mount. Image stamping includes the date, time, moon phase, and temperature, so you have everything you want right there. The maximum resolution is 36 megapixels and the video resolution is 1080p. The Edge 2 has a stated detection range of 100 feet, but it’s caught coyotes in my field beyond that (and delivered an image clear enough to identify the animal). Field of view is 50 degrees.

This camera offers a few options for power, which is pretty nice if you’re not a fan of repeat trips to swap batteries out. It can be powered by 8 AA batteries for general operation, but the tray allows the use of 16 AA batteries if you’d prefer to leave it and not worry for an extended length of time. Another option—and my personal favorite—is the Moultrie Edge Series Power Mag Plus.

The Power Mag Plus is a rechargeable lithium battery pack that delivers greater and longer-lasting power than 16 AA batteries. It charges using a USB-C cord and has a life of about three and a half weeks with image and video delivery set to immediate (which consumes significant battery life). Photos and videos can be requested on demand, which gets addictive, and it maintains a strong connection even in the middle of nowhere.

MSRP $79.99.

The Moultrie Micro-42i is a great little camera that offers 42.0-megapixel resolution. No, it isn’t cellular, but it makes up for it with size and minimal battery use. The Micro-42i is made for compact concealment and ease of use, and it delivers. This camera is only 3.25 inches wide by 3.5 inches long by 2.625 inches deep. It’s unlikely any animal is going to rub it off a tree or otherwise damage it (and in my experience, the smaller dimensions mean it gets ignored).

One of the best things about the Micro-42i is that it only takes 4 AA batteries to power it. It has a battery life of around 13,000 images, meaning duration timewise depends on you. The SD memory card has a 32 GB capacity. Video resolution is 1280×720 and doesn’t include sound, which isn’t a big loss. The image stamp includes time, date, temperature, and moon phase. I’ve used the Micro line of cameras for double-duty as trail cams for hunting and also mounted to the windmill outside my home for extra security. It’s inobtrusive, long-lasting, and takes nice, clear pictures.

MSRP $79.99 for the kit which includes batteries.

Not everyone wants a cellular trail camera, and that means going with the tried-and-true SD card models. Accessing images means you’re making the rounds of your cameras either to collect cards and look later or with a card reader in hand (which Wildgame Innovations does make). The Wildgame Innovations K4B1 is one of the company’s older models that’s SD card-only which has the side benefit of making it smaller than really any cellular model available. Sometimes it’s nice to be stealthy.

The Wildgame Innovations K4B1 is a reliable, basic model for hunters who prefer sticking to the SD card platforms. It’s handled years of outdoor exposure just fine and keeps on working—and that includes sub-zero temps and many days over 100 degrees (and that’s why we’re talking about it because it’s proven Wildgame’s cameras are tough). Sometimes you just want a rugged little camera, and this is it. This is a 4.0-megapixel camera with a lights-out 27-piece, high-intensity LED for images after dark. It’s powered by 8 AA batteries that are accessible through a hinged plate in its base.

Features of the K4B1 include tough, fixed loops for easy mounting and a protective cover over operating buttons. Image clarity isn’t going to be as stellar as you’d get from a cellular model, but it’s still decent and allows you to identify close-range animals. For a newer card-only model, check out the Kicker 2.0, which offers 18.0-megapixel images and an improved LED array for nighttime photos. Wildgame Innovations is a fantastic choice for card-only cameras that can withstand the elements, but they make cellular cameras, too.

MSRP K4B1 $79.99, Kicker 2.0 $69.99.

On the cellular side of Wildgame Innovations, there’s the Orbit 360. This is a camera designed to solve the problem of limited angles, which it does with a pivoting lens. This does give it a larger overall size, but it’s nothing too bulky. The pivoting lens offers two options: 360-degree and 180-degree image sets. The 360-degree option takes six pictures as it rotates while the 180-degree setting takes three images as it turns. This combines with a 0.4-second trigger to give hunters the best chances of getting eyes on sneaky game animals.

The Wildgame Innovations Orbit 360 operates on 16 AA batteries. Its image stamp includes zone, time, date, moon phase, and temperature. Images taken can be delivered to the hunter’s smartphone in almost real-time, which is pretty nice. The detection range is 80 feet and max photo resolution is 36.0-megapixels. Video resolution is 1080p. This camera offers automatic network coverage only with AT&T and Verizon, but that could always change in the future. It’s a great camera that gives hunters a far better look at what’s going on at feeders and down well-used deer trails.

MSRP $99.99.

Spypoint is another well-known name when it comes to cellular trail cameras, and they seem to come out with a new, enhanced line every year. The Flex-Plus is one of their newer models that’s specifically made to offer more battery capacity to support greater demands. This newer generation does offer improved reliability and a more consistent signal although it occasionally drops. The antenna on the Flex-Plus is held a bit closer to the body of the camera which is a plus because I’ve had hogs rip the antennas off past models (face it, feral hogs are tough on equipment in general).

The Spypoint Flex-Plus has a 36.0-megapixel camera and 1080p video definition. It operates off 8 AA batteries but can also be used with the company’s rechargeable lithium battery pack. And, like other cameras, it can hold 16 AA batteries total for extended use. Companies have been paying attention to the need for longer battery life.

Detection with the Flex-Plus is good and the identifying features in the app such as buck sensors are fairly reliable. The camera is usually right when it states there’s a buck in an image. It’s capable of photos or videos and delivers them at programmed intervals (I usually set Spypoint cameras to two-hour transmission to conserve the battery). Every generation of Spypoint trail cameras has noticeably improved on the last.

MSRP $129.99.

Something to be aware of is that cellular technology is still new enough that it isn’t always consistent. Moultrie seems to have come up with the best product for reliable function thus far. All cellular cameras require the user to download a specific app to their phone and then pay a monthly or annual fee for use. There’s typically a limited number of free images before charges kick in, and the annual fee is only a money-saver if you intend to leave your cameras out year-round.

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Also, not all cellular cameras automatically connect to every cellular network, so pay attention to that when choosing one. I like the instant gratification of the cellular cameras and the reliable function of the card-only models. I use both in different spots. The future is cellular transmission, but the past card-only cameras remain useful. It’s all a matter of personal preference.

Check out the Moultrie Edge 2 here, the Wildgame Innovations Orbit 360 here, and the Spypoint Flex-Plus here.

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