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which budget trail cam?
#8871907
06/22/23 09:24 AM
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Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 240
WendlingKnives
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 240 |
Want to add a few regular cameras on the place. Without dropping 1-150each on the brownings i usually use, anyone recommend any cheap ones that work well?
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8871958
06/22/23 01:04 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,799
el Rojo
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,799 |
I've had good luck with the Stealth at Walmart.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8871962
06/22/23 01:12 PM
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 31
illest23
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 31 |
Have used $30 Tasco from Walmart to place on public land. Total of 4 for the last 2 years. One died. 3 still going.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8871965
06/22/23 01:20 PM
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,958
angus1956
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,958 |
Ok here the plan, buy the wildgame innovations cheep cameras. At best you'll get 2 years out of them. Within the first year if they fail return to WGI for warranty return, but you must keep your receipt. Without the receipt your SOL. Last June I bought 6 of them at Walmart for $29.00 each, 4 of them have failed and I sent them in for warranty replacement. The warranty process is all online and EZ to do, but you have to return the defective unit. So this year I have 6 working cameras for hunting season. Once you submit your online request check your junk email for their response it may be in there. Good luck,
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8871976
06/22/23 01:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300 |
Real cheap? Tasco. Middle-of-the-road? Bushnell for 79.00 on Amazon sometimes.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872004
06/22/23 02:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498 |
I bought a few Cabelas Outfitter Gen 3 over last year or so and they are easy to operate and have worked real good. I think around $70. We recently converted to all Spartan cell cams and Im getting rid of all the hodge podge of others and keeping the Cabelas as backup and odd ball uses. I really dont experiment with stuff a bunch so take my opinion for what its worth.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872014
06/22/23 03:08 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 15,991
Jimbo1
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 15,991 |
Look for Brownings on sale/discount for around $79.
FJB - Lets Go Brandon BBB - Bring Back Better Awake - Not Woke!
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872094
06/22/23 07:02 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,220
ntxtrapper
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 12,220 |
Cheap cameras are like cheap scopes and binoculars. I don’t put good money in bad optics.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872112
06/22/23 08:07 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 570
Papalote
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 570 |
$30 cameras last 16-24 months of constant service. I may or may not get another 6 months from the more expensive units. I have used WGI, StealthCam, Moultrie, Muddy and another brand I can't remember.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872356
06/23/23 12:49 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,113
soooo
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 6,113 |
Midway puts them on sale if you're on the email promo list.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872836
06/24/23 12:54 PM
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Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 324
diablodog
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 324 |
It is the luck of the draw as there seems to be no quality control in China . I have had expensive one do poor quality photos and quit after 8 months and I have had cheap one work for years and make great photos. The same on battery life .
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8872846
06/24/23 01:22 PM
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Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 60
wingmaster23
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 60 |
I have purchased stealth cam, spypoint,browning. Stealth cam took good pics,but battery life not great. Spypoint took great pics, but was not reliable. Multiple repairs. Browning takes good pics, have been running for years and battery life is outstanding.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: diablodog]
#8872862
06/24/23 02:08 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261 |
It is the luck of the draw as there seems to be no quality control in China . I have had expensive one do poor quality photos and quit after 8 months and I have had cheap one work for years and make great photos. The same on battery life . This is true. I have a Browning that works great but have to watch for the battery holder to become unlatched, which means having to reset the clock and date each time it happens. When it comes to most improved, I have to give a nod to Moultrie. I have three, including one cellular model that all work great and batteries seem to last forever compared to want you could expect when game cameras first came out. And the cellular model transmits photos very reliably with just a weak, one bar signal.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: soooo]
#8873864
06/26/23 06:59 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,867
PMK
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 12,867 |
Midway puts them on sale if you're on the email promo list.
"everyone that lives dies but not everyone who dies lived..."
~PMK~
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8874442
06/27/23 07:57 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498 |
Powder Valley has a sale on some type Browning. Usually 80 and now 60 I think. I know nothing about them, just passing along the brandnew sale item.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8874449
06/27/23 08:09 PM
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261
Texas Dan
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 22,261 |
With cellular cameras now going for as much or less than what a standalone camera cost in years past, I would not be surprised to see the bottom fall out of the standalone market, if it hasn't already. Just like ink that has to be routinely replaced in printers, the manufacturers know the big money with game cameras is with the monthly service fees.
Last edited by Texas Dan; 06/27/23 08:11 PM.
"Some people will never like you because your spirit irritates their demons."
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: Texas Dan]
#8874475
06/27/23 09:03 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300 |
...the manufacturers know the big money with game cameras is with the monthly service fees. The ol' razor blade/razor business aproach. And the little dings from HP for ink is starting to piss me off. But, I don't miss going to Walmart and my obsolete printer's cartridges are out of stock.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8874580
06/27/23 11:32 PM
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Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 473
RevolverFan
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 473 |
Love our muddy cam and was well under 100 on sale at academy. Duracell batteries last forever change maybe once a year and get pics all the time
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8875943
06/30/23 02:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005
HornSlayer
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,005 |
Why would anyone spend good money on junk knowing it’s going to fail? It took a few years for me to learn that the cheapest cameras are the best cameras not the ones that cost the least amount of money. If you value your time and want to be confident it’s working years into the future without failing you can’t get that buying cheap. You have to factor in the cost of wasted trips to your hunting property only to find out your camera hasn’t worked in 6 weeks so you have no idea when or what if anything is coming in to feed. The lowest dollar cost is not necessarily the least expensive.
They make ammo specifically for hunting for a reason!
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: HornSlayer]
#8875989
06/30/23 03:42 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498 |
Why would anyone spend good money on junk knowing it’s going to fail? It took a few years for me to learn that the cheapest cameras are the best cameras not the ones that cost the least amount of money. If you value your time and want to be confident it’s working years into the future without failing you can’t get that buying cheap. You have to factor in the cost of wasted trips to your hunting property only to find out your camera hasn’t worked in 6 weeks so you have no idea when or what if anything is coming in to feed. The lowest dollar cost is not necessarily the least expensive. ^^^Maybe I need to reread it but I dont understand the point youre tyring to make. I almost stopped reading on your first sentence "Why would anyone spend good money on junk knowing its going to fail?' No one KNOWS its going to fail would be one valid answer. Not giving you a hard time, but I really dont know if you are endorsing inexpensive cameras or the opposite...? Actually I reread it and I think I understand but your second sentence must have multiple typos, or Im just stupid. Also, Im very much into "buy once cry once" at this point in my life. I wasnt always like that and everyone is not in that situation. Its not always that people dont have the money but they may not want to spend a lot at that time. Maybe they are tiptoeing into hunting and not sure if its long term. Or they may need time to research a really quality expensive set of cameras and just need one temporarily to tide them over. So, lots of reasons for going cheap, but generally I dont do it anymore, so I generally agree with your premise.
Last edited by freerange; 06/30/23 03:50 PM.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8876090
06/30/23 06:59 PM
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1,109
DukeCigars
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 1,109 |
If you can get through another season, wait until beginning of next year for clearance cameras. This year I picked up 4 cell cams from Academy, normally priced $119, for between $39-$54. Think I got them around February and they each come with a free month of data that I can activate this coming season
Car guy. Serial entrepreneur. Terrible golfer.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8876234
06/30/23 11:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,965
jdickey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,965 |
Stealth Cam was running a special on their remote Wildcam cameras - BOGO for $75.00! So jumped in and bought the two, and have a subscription for $5.00 for 900 pictures. I am running just one camera and have had no issues so far. The problem is.....the land owner has put goats and sheep on our lease, so I am getting great pictures of goats eating the deer corn!
Last edited by jdickey; 06/30/23 11:31 PM.
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: WendlingKnives]
#8876241
06/30/23 11:38 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,300 |
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: jdickey]
#8876243
06/30/23 11:45 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,498 |
Stealth Cam was running a special on their remote Wildcam cameras - BOGO for $75.00! So jumped in and bought the two, and have a subscription for $5.00 for 900 pictures. I am running just one camera and have had no issues so far. The problem is.....the land owner has put goats and sheep on our lease, so I am getting great pictures of goats eating the deer corn! How long do you anticipate 900 pictures lasting? We just went to Spartan and I need to research number of by pics vs costs and maybe adjust settings accordingly.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: which budget trail cam?
[Re: freerange]
#8876262
07/01/23 12:12 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,965
jdickey
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,965 |
I delete them daily and any that I keep I can download them to my picture file. I can also turn if off any time.
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