October 27, 2010
By Patrick Hogan
Today's scouting cameras literally allow a hunter to monitor activity on his or her hunting ground, day or night, from anywhere...
By Patrick Hogan
The increasing role of technology in our pursuit of trophy whitetails is visible in nearly every facet of the hunt, from advances in scent control and optics to bullet, broadhead and bow design, but perhaps nowhere is the aid of technology more pronounced than in the advancement of trail cameras.
Today's scouting cameras literally allow a hunter to monitor activity on his or her hunting ground, day or night, from anywhere on the planet, thanks to digital photo transmission capabilities. Gone are the days of unnecessary and repeated intrusion into the inner sanctums of your deer woods just to change batteries or remove memory cards. Extended battery life, higher memory capacity, high-definition photos and video -- all are available in the latest trail camera models to enter the market this year.
BA Products BA Products' latest line of trail cameras is headlined by the Wildgame Innovations X6c digital game scouting camera. The X6c is capable of shooting 6-megapixel photos and can be programmed to remain active either 24 hours a day or only during day or night. The camera can accommodate a memory card with up to 8 megabytes of capacity, and it includes a delay setting that allows the hunter to determine the lapse between photos. The X6c is available in Realtree APG camouflage and requires 8 AA batteries. Also, check out BA Products' ir2 camera, a scaled-back package capable of shooting 2-megapixel photos for under $100. www.wildgameinnovations.com
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Bushnell Bushnell enters the 2010 season with an improved version of its downsized Trophy Cam line. The latest Trophy Cam fits in the palm of your hand, runs off either four or eight AA batteries and has resolution settings of 3, 5 or 8 megapixels. The 2010 Trophy Cam includes 32 infrared night vision LEDs, can accept a 16-gigabyte memory card and is capable of shooting high-quality videos up to 60 seconds in length. The top-of-the-line XLT version includes a full-color, two-inch LCD display. www.bushnell.com
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Cuddeback Cuddeback's Capture line of trail cameras prides itself on being extremely easy to use, thanks to a simple rotary switch and only two buttons. The Capture comes in standard and infrared packages. The standard Capture takes 3-megapixel color photos both day and night and has a range of 50 feet. The Capture IR takes 5-megapixel color photos during daylight hours and 1.3-megapixel infrared photos at night, with a range of 40 feet. Both cameras feature Cuddeback's Hair Trigger and Centered Subject technology. www.cuddeback.com
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Day 6 Day 6 takes a new angle on the scouting camera market with its 2010 PlotWatcher high-definition time-lapse video recorder. The latest Day 6 offering does not rely on motion or heat sensors. Rather, the PlotWatcher takes a high-definition photo every five or 10 seconds for extended periods, offering video-like monitoring of a much larger area than would be possible with a standard trail camera. The PlotWatcher offers up to 84 hours of day-time recording, which can be reviewed in about 10 minutes using the Day 6 GameFinder video player software. www.day6outdoors.com
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HCO HCO's new NightTrakker NT50 and NT50B infrared scouting cameras feature compact sizing, quick trigger times, extended battery life, sound recording, password protection, video capability and adjustable illumination for power efficiency. The NightTrakker can accommodate a 16-gigabyte memory card and uses 40 infrared LEDs for nighttime illumination. The camera's LED capability allows for a standard 60-foot range, but HCO also offers the separate Uway XtendIR-1 and XtendIR-B flash extenders to improve brightness, clarity and flash range. www.hcodealer.com
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Leaf River The 2010 Leaf River iR-7SS trail camera was designed to produce first-rate, 7-megapixel trail photos -- daytime color and nighttime black and white -- as well as high-quality video with audio. The unit is equipped with a five-detection sensor with a 60-degree range and Quick Shot technology, which allows the camera to take a second and third photo if additional heat is detected during the lapse period. The 2010 editions feature improved sharpness of night images and can be set to utilize either its internal flash or a network of external illuminators (sold separately). www.myleafriver.com
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Moultrie Moultrie storms the 2010 scouting market with a number of new product lines. The Game Spy I-35 is Moultrie's most economical camera to date that is compatible with their Game Management System. The camera carries a price tag of about $150 and is capable of snapping 4-megapixel photos and video clips up to 30 seconds in length. The I-35 has a nighttime infrared range of 50 feet and can accommodate a 16-gigabyte memory card. Also, check out the latest addition to Moultrie's Game Spy line of cameras -- the D-55 series. This new infrared model features 5-megapixel images, camouflage housing and plenty of high-end features. Moultrie's new ReAction Cam also offers a high-definition alternative for hunters looking to record live footage. www.moultriefeeders.com
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Primos Primos enters 2010 with four new cameras in its Truth Cam line. All Truth Cam models come equipped with a standard 1.5-second trigger speed (.3 seconds when the camera is not in sleep mode), video and photo capability, an external LCD window, extended battery life and a one-year warranty. Truth Cam models can accommodate 8-gigabyte memory cards. Flash range and photo resolution varies from the Truth Cam 35 (40 feet and up to 3 megapixels, respectively) to the Truth Cam X (65 feet and up to 7 megapixels). www.primos.com
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Recon Outdoors Recon Outdoors expands beyond its Extreme line of cameras with the new Viper, which features an alternative profile that gets rid of the standard box design and allows a hunter to access the controls without having to open the camera. The Viper is capable of shooting up to 4-megapixel photos -- color by day and black and white by night -- and videos, and it utilizes an infrared flash to take photos at night without spooking deer. It's available in Mossy Oak High Impact ABS camouflage. Also check out Recon's Extreme 5.0, the top-of-the-line addition to its Extreme family. The latest Extreme camera takes 5-megapixel photos day or night and can shoot video as well. www.reconoutdoors.com
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Reconyx Reconyx's HC600 HyperFire trail camera utilizes 12 AA batteries, enabling the camera to run continuously for up to an entire year. Likewise, the HC600 uses Reconyx's new No-Glow High Output Covert Infrared Technology to eliminate the red glow common to most infrared cameras. The camera is able to shoot up to two frames per second, has a flash range of up to 50 feet, and can take images with a resolution of 3.1 megapixels. The HC600 is password-protected and can shoot high-definition video also. www.reconyx.com
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Spy Point Photo resolution won't be an issue with SpyPoint's 12-megapixel Pro-X scouting camera. The Pro-X contains 32 megabytes of built-in memory and can accommodate an external memory card up to 8 gigabytes in size for your photos or videos. The camera shoots color photos by day and black and white photos by night, and its detection sensitivity can be adjusted from 5 feet to 45 feet. The Pro-X can be powered using rechargeable AA batteries and recharged with a solar panel accessory. Also, check out SpyPoint's SC-79 video camera, a waterproof, shock-resistant camera designed with the outdoorsman in mind. www.spypoint.com
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Smart Scouter Smart Scouter relies on cellular technology to send trail camera photos directly to your personal account at www.smartscouter.com, which you can monitor using a cell phone or computer. The latest Smart Scouter models for 2010 offer three levels of photo quality, new levels of fixed monthly pricing, increased flash range of 60 feet, an external antenna and new service providers in ATT, Verizon/Alltel and Sprint. Basically, for a monthly fee of around $15, a hunter can access his Smart Scouter photos online, rather than having to travel to the camera location and risk intruding on some of his best hunting spots. The Smart Scouter uses infrared lighting to avoid spooking game, and its battery life can last up to six weeks. www.smartscouter.com
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Stealth Cam Texas-based Stealth Cam introduces its new Unit trail camera, a down-sized, digital trail camera and video recorder. Despite its diminutive size (6" x 4" x 3"), the Unit can still snap a heavy-duty 8-megapixel photo and can reach out 40 feet with its 38 infrared LEDs. The camera can take up to nine images per triggering, and it can accommodate a 16-gigabyte external memory card. A unique 2X/4X zoom capability allows you to take a closer look at the bucks it catches on camera. www.stealthcam.net