If you had $200 to buy a trail cam what would you get?

I need some IR cameras, but not for the reason most want them. Since I hunt a lot of suburban/residential areas I need a few IRs for areas near the homes that I hunt. Otherwise it would look like a disco out in the woods behind the house to the landowners.

With that said I'm planning on getting two cameras this year one will be the Bushnell Trophy Cam and the other will either be a second Trophy Cam or a Cudde Capture. I know both are great cameras for the money so it will come down to needs and convenience (batteries and cards).

Around here I have had the opposite experience to older deer and food. Most of the deer 3.5 years old and older start avoiding food. I don't believe this is because of the cameras, but instead because I live in an area where baiting is legal. So they may have seen mama, or brother/sister get whacked over food and avoid it now.

 

one reason I really like IRs many of mine are on public grounds. They dont give themselves away like a flash camera would..

 

I really brush mine in, camoflauge them..do you guys?

 

That is another reason. "Hunters" seeing a flash from the road would likely go shopping if they saw that.

Yes, I brush mine in as best I can without compromising its effectiveness.

 

I have never brushed mine in....just strap them to the tree and walk away. It's probably a good idea though, as they do stick out pretty good.

 

I'm still with RJ, two D40s. Double your pleasure, double your fun.

 

Sometimes i try a little bit, but i usually just strap them on.

 

Another Lone Wolf stand.:D

 

Do you guys leave your cams out all year??

 

Mine is left out year round. Most guys prefer to leave theirs out from late July to the start of archery, but I just enjoy seeing the photo's. I will also change my tactics starting in March to focus on turkeys, this year I also plan on trying to get more photo's of predators.

 

I have owned several. By far my favorite is a homebrew with a p41 cam inside. Awesome picture quality.
I have had three Moultrie d40s and only one still works. Crappy looking pictures, battery hogs, and the camera itself is just huge.
I also have a couple of scoutguards I bought this year. I love the battery life and the videos are really cool. I don't really like the black and white night photos and I hate having to keep track of the remotes. I understand that bushnell is basically the same cam with no remote, I will look at those when I buy again.
If it wasn't for the video I would never buy another IR camera. I have not had any problems with spooked deer since giving up on the old 35mm cameras which would spook deer with the film advance. In fact just to prove the point I started shining my flashlight on deer that walk by me in the dark in the early morning, most don't even look at me. The ones that do look are not alarmed and simply look away and continue on.

 

Do some research and you could build a Homebrew for under $200.