You’ve lastly acquired your path digicam arrange in the spot. On daily basis or two it sends you a photograph of a large outdated buck, and now all you’ve acquired to do is look forward to the precise wind to sneak in there and hunt him. After which, unexpectedly, the digicam goes lifeless.
It’s a brand new digicam, the battery life appeared high quality, cell reception was first rate … What the hell? Welcome to the usually irritating world of recent path digicam use.
I’ve been area testing and working path cameras year-round for a number of years now and in my expertise, there is no such thing as a digicam model on the market that’s resistant to malfunctions and failures. However my expertise pales compared to that of Wealthy Howell of Trail Cam Pro. Howell has been objectively testing and experimenting with path cameras for greater than 20 years.
I lately interviewed Howell on the Outdoor Life podcast and he shared a number of the explanation why hunters see so many digicam failures within the area. A few of it has to do with how we’re utilizing the cameras, and a few of it has to do with how the cams are made (which is often fairly cheaply). Plus, Howell hints at the place he thinks the way forward for path cameras is headed, and it’s all about making a system that’s extra inexpensive and helpful to hunters. It’s a dialog price listening to forward of the center of looking season.
Within the meantime, right here’s why our cameras usually go down within the area, and what we are able to do to repair them.
You’re Utilizing the Unsuitable Batteries
Customary alkaline batteries usually don’t have the required energy to maintain a path digicam working reliably, Howell says. If you happen to’re getting high quality daytime footage, however clean, black photos at night time, it’s a great signal you could have a battery problem as there’s not sufficient energy for the digicam to fireplace the flash. This could occur even when the digicam is displaying first rate battery life.
Costlier lithium batteries can work properly, however they can also have points. Howell observed that about 1 in 20 lithium batteries would go unhealthy in a short time, (like inside days of use) and typically this was sufficient to stop the digicam from working.
Howell now means that hunters use rechargeable lithium batteries, which have confirmed to be extra dependable. Having a pool of those batteries on rotation will assist clear up many path digicam energy troubles.
You’re Not Optimizing Settings
When hunters first bounce into the mobile path digicam recreation, they usually prefer to get their photographs despatched instantly. At first it’s enjoyable to get a notification after which have that prompt gratification of seeing a deer photograph.
But it surely’s often simpler to have a cell digicam batch ship photos each 12 hours or 24 hours. It is a key solution to protect battery life, and it’s additionally a extra helpful solution to analyze path digicam information.
Personally, I prefer to have cameras ship each 24 hours after which I assessment all of the cameras on a regular basis within the morning. Taking a look at all of the cameras on the property without delay helps me put collectively exercise developments.
You’re Counting on Photo voltaic Panels
Howell says that photo voltaic panels undoubtedly may also help maintain your digicam powered, however they usually have points within the area. First, you need to ensure that they’re going through south to seize as most solar as attainable. This could be a problem if you need your digicam going through north. And second, squirrels generally tend to chew via photo voltaic panel wires. If you happen to’re establishing your digicam and panel within the hardwoods, there’s a great likelihood a squirrel goes to get to it. In different phrases, photo voltaic panels could be a useful gizmo, however they’re not a silver bullet.
You’re Not Utilizing an Aftermarket Mount
If you happen to’re utilizing the inventory digicam strap, you’re simply asking for bother. The tag ends of those straps at all times appear to return unfastened (triggering the digicam) and also you’re by no means in a position to place the digicam completely on the tree with them. Plus, different hunters can simply spot the strap, which is a vital consideration in the event you’re looking public land. Howell suggests utilizing an adjustable tree mount to be sure you can place the digicam precisely the place it must go.
You could find a wealth of path digicam data on the Trail Cam Pro web site and by subscribing to their e-newsletter.
