Trail Camera picture taken with a Reconyx Hyperfire
This page lists the Best Trail Cameras for Hunting broke down into separate price ranges. There are a ton of trail cameras to choose from these days, so we are here to help narrow your search as we have extensively tested, researched, and reviewed any trail cameras that we feel are worthy, and will continue to do so as newer, better models come out. Like most hunting equipment, with trail cams you get what you pay for, so go with the best you can afford to not regret your purchase.
Please go through the links on this page before buying any of the Trail Cameras we recommend to ensure you get the best price possible, and so we get credit for sending you. Thank You!
Best Trail Camera For Hunting: Expensive
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera: Price: $549.95
Reconyx, without a doubt, makes the best trail cameras for hunting on the market.
If you are wanting the best trail camera for hunting, then this is it. Reconyx are hands down the best trail cameras, if you can handle the price. You will not find a faster trigger speed (0.2 seconds) or recovery time ( 1 pic/second) and you surely wont get more pictures with any other trail camera on the market today. If you have it set up right, the Hyperfire takes pictures so fast, that it is nearly like watching a video
The Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 features an infrared flash system that is 100% invisible so there will be no game spooking and will give you visibility out to a minimum of 50 feet in the dark. The unit itself is very energy efficient and runs on 12 AA batteries for up to 1 year and 40,000 pictures. For longer battery life, more pictures, slower recovery time, and many more variables, the Hyperfire is extremely customizable so you can set it up to take pictures the way you like them. The size of this trail camera is also impressively compact (5.5″ X 4.5″ X 3″)
Reconyx has been in business since 2002 when they thought they could make a better trail camera than what was already out there, and they did, and have continued to so as their trail camera receive the top ratings every year. Check out the customer reviews at the links below, they will tell you the real story.
For more information, sample photos, customer reviews, or to buy, Click Here:
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ Amazon.com Price: $549.95
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ Cabelas.com Price: $549.99
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ BassPro.com Price: $549.99
*** Check all sites as prices change often. ***
Best Trial Camera for Hunting: Expensive
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 500 Trail Camera: Price: $449.95
Although not as covert as the more expensive Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600, the HC 500 is almost identical and is a great trail camera..
Almost identical to the Hyperfire HC 600 in the price range above, the Reconyx Hyperfire HC 500 has all the exact same features, minus the 100% covertness of the infrared. It does still have an infrared flash for night time pictures, but there is a slight red glow associated with the flash. It is red, so it will not do much to spook game, but it does make it more noticeable to the human eyes, assuming someone is walking around at night.
Is the 100% covertness of the Hyperfire HC 600 worth $100 more than what you get out of the Hyperfire HC 500? Probably not, but it might be worth more for some than others. If not, then this is a great way to get a top notch trail camera at a lower price, all though at well over $400, it is still considered quite expensive.
Much like myself, most owners of a Reconyx Trail Camera are extremely pleased with their trail cameras and have realized the benefit of buying quality, as a Reconyx will last much longer than the cheaper trail cameras that you might have to replace. Plus you will get more high quality photos, less “butt only” pictures, and few false pictures of nothing. Almost every picture taken with a Reconyx will be of an animal. If you have much experience with lower quality cameras, then you know how many false pictures and butt shots you get.
For more information, customer reviews, or to buy, Click Here:
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ Amazon.com Price: $449.95
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ Cabelas.com Price: $449.99
Reconyx Hyperfire HC 600 Trail Camera @ BassPro.com Price: $449.99
*** Check all sites as prices change often. ***
Best Trail Camera for Hunting: Mid-Priced
Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera Price $159.95
Capable of great photos day and night, the Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera helps you scout at an affordable price.
You might notice the huge price gap between the Moultrie Game Spy M-100 and the Reconyx Trail Cameras. There are several great trail cameras that we could have placed in there to lessen the gap, but we feel none of them are any better then the Moultrie Game Spy 100. This small trail camera has some big selling points that should not be overlooked.
First of all, the customer ratings are better than most other trail cameras in its price range and higher; check them out here: Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera Customer Reviews. This trial camera is extremely easy to use as well. Just set it up and leave, then come back and check you pictures. You will get very few blank shots and both day and night shots turn out with high quality. The trigger speed is extremely fast at well under a second giving you pictures with full animal bodies, not just the back halves that don’t tell you much.
Here is the Moultrie Game Spy M-100 showing the viewing screen which enables you to look at your photos in the field.
The Moultrie Game Spy is very customizable allowing you to make a lot of adjustments to how this trail camera takes scouting photos. It also has a viewing screen which allows you to check the photos in the field with out another device. A 3 setting zoom allows you to use a tree or post that you would not normally be able to use due to distance. Battery life is great and can be run on 4 or 8 AA batteries with run times of up to a year. It is also a convenient size of about 5″ X 4″ X 3.25″ thick.
I could go on about the features this trail camera has, but you can get all that information from the links below. All I really need to tell you is that this is the best trail camera for hunting in not only its price range, but also the price range above.
For more information, customer reviews, or to buy, Click Here:
Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera @ Amazon.com Price $159.95
Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera @ Cabelas.com Price $179.99
Moultrie Game Spy M-100 Trail Camera @ BassPro.com Price $199.99
*** Check all sites as prices change often ***
Best Trail Camera for Hunting: Inexpensive
Wild Game Innovations W8X Game Camera Price: $109.37
Get familiar with the WGI W8X Trail Camera before you take it to the woods, as it is very customizable, especially the sensitivity. Other than that, this camera is easy to use and takes great day and night photos.
This compact trail camera doe an amazing job at a very reasonable price. The Wild Game Innovations W8X is the best trail camera for hunting in its price range for several reasons. It is very customizable with sensitivity settings that can be adjusted to take pictures of the slightest movement, or to hold out for deer size animals. Taking 8 mp pictures, both night and day time photos come out clear, especially on animals that are not moving, with only slight blurriness on some of the photos taken on moving animals.
With a 50 ft. infrared flash range, you will be able to get quality trail camera pictures at night. The unit excepts an SD card up to 16 GB so you will be able to take plenty of photos, and you get to decide what you want to stamp on the pictures such as date, time, moon phase, temperature, and more.
This trail camera has received favorable customer reviews due to the fact it does what it is supposed to at a very reasonable price. As long as you do not expect high-end Reconyx results, then you will definitely not be disappointed as this hunting trail camera way over delivers.
For more information, customer reviews, or to buy, CLICK HERE:
Wild Game Innovations W8X Game Camera @ Amazon.com Price: $109.37
Wild Game Innovations W8X Game Camera @ Cabelas.com Price: $139.99
*** Check both sites as prices change often ***
Best Trail Camera for Hunting: Cheap
Wild Game Innovations W3X Trail Camera Price: $69.99
The Wildgame Innovation W3X trail camera looks near identical in looks as the W8X, but has less photo resolution and flash range.
You will have a hard time beating the price with the type of results that the Wild Game Innovations W3X Trail Camera gives off. Most owners will agree that this little, compact trail camera takes trail photos as good and easier than units twice or three times its price. The W3X is very similar to to W8x, except the resolution is quite a bit lower at 3 MP and the infrared flash range is 30 feet. But, you get what you pay for, and 3 MP is plenty for a trail camera and will use up less space on your SD card and computer.
The dimensions of the Wild Game Innovations W3X Hunting Trail Camera is a small 5.9″H x 3.4″W x 2.25″D. It runs off 8 AA batteries (AA operation allows for longer battery life over bigger batteries) and can hold up to a 16 GB SD memory card which will hold thousands of pictures. Do not expect anything out of this world with this trail camera, but do expect to be amazed at what $70 can get you in the best trail camera for hunting in its price range.
For more information, customer reviews, or to buy, CLICK HERE:
Wild Game Innovations W3X Game Camera @ Amazon.com Price: $69.99
Wild Game Innovations W3X Game Camera @ Cabelas.com Price: $69.99
*** Check both sites as prices change often ***
Information on Trail Cameras for Hunting
This is why you alway need to have your trail camera up and taking photos. This is also why you want the best trail camera you can afford. You do not want to miss out on a Mountain Lion Killing a Whitetail Buck.
Trail cameras have taken the hunting industry by storm in the last 20 years, and especially the last 10 years. They have allowed hunters to scout their favorite hunting spots 24/7, without even being there. As popularity has risen, manufactures have spent lots of money improving upon trail cameras in an effort to provide the best trail camera for hunting at the best price, which has turned into some fierce competition among trail camera makers.
Benefits of Using Trail Cameras:
Trail cameras give a hunter insight into what type of animals (or people) are lurking around in their hunting areas. If a hunter is not to picky about the size of deer he or she is after, then trail cameras can be used to find an area where the maximum number of deer hang out. For a trophy hunter, trail cameras are instrumental in allowing the hunter to focus on the biggest bucks on the property and to distinguish which bucks are actually shooters and which ones should be saved for next year. Trail cameras really have revolutionized trophy hunting, and as a result, the average age class of deer has gone up, which is better for all deer hunting all around the board as it gives the younger, immature deer time to grow up and reach maturity.
Of course, trail cameras are not only good for deer hunting. They may be effectively used for nearly all types of hunting ground animals such as elk, bear, turkey, moose, and more.
The best trail cameras for hunting also benefit a hunter in the fact that they save a lot of time compared to scouting on foot and save both time and money compared to scouting by a vehicle. Also, the best trail cameras for hunting are great at taking pictures at night with infrared flash that enables a hunter to see exactly what is moving about at night. Many of the large, mature deer are smart enough that they do not move much, if at all during the day, so you would never know they are there without trail cameras.
How to Use a Trail Camera
Trail cameras, also known as scouting cameras, game cameras, and other names can be place anywhere you suspect your targeted animals to be. Most hunters use a tree trunk, but other bases may be used such as a fence post or anything else that is sturdy enough to hold up the weight of the trail cam.
You will have to play around with the trail camera to make sure it is at the right height and pointed in the right direction. Therefor you will want to take a test photos of yourself by walking back and forth in front of it. Just to get you started in the right direction, most trail cameras ideal height will be lower than what you would think. Waist height is generally a good place to start. It may also help to have your trail camera figured out prior to entering the woods. That way you can get it set up and then get out of there, minimizing your impact on the areas animal life.
Where to set up a Trail Camera
Trail cameras can be places any where you suspect there to be deer traffic (or whatever you are hunting). Good spots are feeding areas, watering holes, game trails, and scrapes or rubs. Many people will place their trail cameras facing directly at their feeders or watering troughs.
When to Setup a Trail Camera
There is no wrong time to set up a trail camera. In fact, if you have a trail camera for hunting, then it should be out snapping pictures right now of the game that you may be pursuing. The best time to set up your trail camera is now.
It is very easy to procrastinate setting up your trail camera. It seems that summer flies by and then before you know it, hunting season is underway. Preferably, you should have your trail cam up throughout the summer and clear through hunting season so that you can get a true understanding of what types of animal you have on your hunting property, as well as their size. If you have multiple trail cameras, then it may be possible to pattern the animals you are going to target by determining the time and place they are when and where.
By getting your hunting trail cameras out early in the summer, you will also have the opportunity to move them around to find the best area to set up come hunting season. If you leave your trail cam out for a week and you get a few doe pictures, but that is it, then you will have plenty of time to change areas and hope to set your camera up in an area that is frequented by a few more deer, preferably mature bucks.
Laws on Trail Cameras
Depending on the state you plan on putting up trail cameras, there are different laws. As for as I know, there are no laws governing when and where you can place trail cameras on private property. I do know however that some states do have laws against placing trail cameras on public property. Utah and Montana are two such states that prohibit the use of trail cameras on public property, but each have their own laws and they may or may not be year round laws. It is important to check your state laws before you begin placing trail cameras on public property. While there are definitely laws, at this point I do not think many of them are enforced much, but that could change.
Keeping Your Trail Camera Safe
Protect your trail camera with a security case. This is the Reconyx all locked up.
A trail camera can be a real investment for some people. The best trail cameras for hunting can get quite expensive, so it may be important to protect your property, especially if you are going to be placing it on public property. Even on private property there is a chance of the trail camera getting stolen. Even if you are made of money, it may be the photos on those memory cards that could be worth far more than the camera itself.
There are a few ways to protect your trail camera. All of the trail cameras for hunting listed above have lock boxes available that can be secured to the base with either lag bolts (not recommended for trees as it may injure it), with a cable lock, or preferably both. It is unfortunate that there are other people out in the woods that cannot be trusted, but that is the way it is.
The best and most popular lock for securing your trail camera is the Python Lock (click the link for more info or to buy). As far as the lock box, just go to Amazon.com (click here) and search the name of your trail camera and the word “lock” or “lock box” and you should get several search results.
The Best Trail Camera for Hunting for You:
The best trail camera for hunting will be different for each person. The number one thing that should depict you purchase is price, as you surely have a different budget than most others. If price is not an issue, then by all means, buy the best trail camera for hunting (Reconyx), you will not regret it. If you are on a tight budget and are looking to save some money, then go with the best you can afford and you will never regret you decision.