Trail Cams...

[DLO]

What Trail Cams are you guys using and what should I be looking for when purchasing one. I have been thinking about a Cam with an IR flash. Not because visual light flashes spook game, but because they are easily seen by tresspassers/thieves. The property I own has been "relieved" of one tree stand by someone I hope I run into later

I can deal with getting an $80.00 treestand stolen, I would have a harder time swallowing the loss of a $400.00 trail cam.

 

[sureshot]

If I were you I would buy one of the less expensive cameras first of all to see how that goes. We have 5 cameras and currently have only lost one of them, luckily, it was one of our cheaper ones. I think the quality of the photos they take arn't that much different. Try out a Stealth Cam. They have them in a new camo design. We also take them down a couple of weeks before upcoming seasons.(pheasant, shotgun, muzzleloader,)-mine was stolen during squirrel season.

 

[Shredder]

The infrared camera (retail versions) have a pretty poor resolution meaning the pics are small and grainy lacking the overall detail. Most of the retail cams have locking devices that help deter theft and that may be more along the lines of what you need. The Deercam by Nontypical Inc takes some nice pics as well as the Cuddleback from Nontypical (digital version) or even the Penns Woods digital.

If your electronic skills are up to par, you caould try a homebrew camera. You can modify the d370/380 cameras by Olympus to "see" infrared and the pics I have seen some folks get from one of these are truely awesome. The flash lens is made from IR material which may give off a hazzy red "blink" when the unit takes a picture. Something to think about anyways. I have not started making them in the numbers to sell yet (plain digitals or IR versions) but you can contact Vman by PM and see what he has available at the moment. Hope that helps answer your question

 

[vman]

While I like the idea of IR, I have yet to find a camera system that will be truley "IR" To get the 370, and the 380 to be effective at IR you need to use a IR material that dosent 100% reduce the visiable flash. And to me, it may be worth it, because it is less intrusive, but the guy who is tresspassing will still see it.

Im still playing around with a camera that i think will do a great job at IR, but its still in the playing around stage. Hope to figure it out by next year.

Hope that helps.

If you want to build your own go to www.hagshouse.com for all the information you need.