Tested True: Moultrie's Edge 3 Series

There has never been a better time to enter the cellular camera market. Most models, even those from top-tier camera makers, are less than what hunters were paying for PC (pre-cellular) digital cameras. Yes, you need a cellular plan, and the bells and whistles of that plan, as well as the number of cell scouters you run, will determine your monthly bill. Currently, I am using Moultrie’s Unlimited Images plan, which also comes with 50 high-resolution video downloads per month. I pay $155.88 per year, which averages to $12.99 per month. That’s extremely reasonable.

The connectivity between smartphones and cameras has never been better, and where legal, cellular trail cameras provide invaluable, real- time intel that you can’t afford to be without. Additionally, cellular cameras limit the time you spend in the woods pulling and checking SD cards, thereby reducing your human footprint.

I started using Moultrie cellular cameras in 2023 when the manufacturer launched the Edge Pro. It was the first of its kind to feature FTE (False Trigger Elimination); it was easy to set up and did everything Moultrie’s marketing verbage promised.

From the Edge Pro came the Edge 2 Pro. Currently, I have six Edge 2 Pro cameras running on my whitetail property. I love them. The body design is straightforward; it doesn’t resemble something built in a lab on another planet by extraterrestrials. The tall, wide, black antenna is attached and fits in a slot on the left-hand side of the camera. My favorite feature, though, is the elementary setup.

I’m not a techy guy, and with the Edge 2 Pro, I don’t have to be. I downloaded the Moultrie App, scanned the camera’s QR code, followed my phone’s guidance through the setup steps, and then turned the camera on. It blinks orange, telling you it’s connecting. Once connected, the circle next to the camera’s CONNECTED label on the main interface turns green. Shut the door, and you’re good to go. I’ve had zero issues with any of my Edge 2 Pro cameras, and I highly recommend taking advantage of their rechargeable battery pack, which replaces the AA tray. It lasts forever and charges quickly with a C-charger.

The next evolution in Moultrie Cellular Traill Camera technology has arrived. Enter the Edge 3 Series. I want to point out that manufacturers don’t continue to name a product after the one before it unless they have a great thing going. If a product is a dud, they name the product following it something entirely different. Moultrie stays with the Edge name. What does that tell you?

Edge 3 New Features

The Edge 3 looks like the Edge 2 Pro, thankfully! I love the basic, simplistic design. I can toss as many of these cameras as I want in a backpack and go walkabout without worrying about damage. Plus, they look natural in the woods, are easy to conceal, and with Moultrie’s many mounting accessories, you can put an Edge camera anywhere you want it.

The Edge 3 and Edge 3 Pro offer Live Aim. It worked like a charm. Rather than waiting for a test photo to confirm your Edge 3 is capturing the area you want it to, Live Aim lets you use the app on your phone and see what the camera sees. It’s a great feature and significantly reduces setup time.

While Live Aim isn’t essential every time, I found it ideal when hanging my cameras high using Moultrie mounting accessories to angle them down or vice versa, setting them low and angling them up.

I’ve set up numerous cameras. Living out West, I will soon have several monitoring elk wallows, pronghorn waterholes, as well as my whitetail property. It’s easy to forget where all of my cameras are. The Edge 3 and Edge 3 Pro allow you to pin and track your cameras using GPS. During setup, the app will ask you to pin your cameras.

Moultrie has adopted A.I. technology and leveraged it in their Edge 3 and Edge 3 Pro cameras. Now, you can reduce false triggers and fully extend battery life using Smart Capture. Choose what you want the Edge 3 to capture, such as Buck, Doe, Turkey, etc. Unless Smart Capture detects the selected animals, it won’t snap a picture. Better yet, you can individually adjust each setting for each animal.

For instance, I currently have my Edge 3 set to upload buck photos immediately and send me a thumbnail video. However, for pictures of does and turkeys, I have my images set to upload twice a day. I get excited when I know it’s not an upload time, and my phone pings me. I love that I can adjust these settings anytime, anywhere I have service using my Moultrie App. Additionally, regarding capture modes, you can select Single Shot, Burst (which I particularly enjoy), and Trigger.

Quick Tip: It’s hot and windy in my neck of southeast Colorado. When it gets hot and the wind kicks up, adjust your PIR Sensitivity in your Motion Detect Settings. I change from Medium to Low and sometimes to Lowest, which helps prevent false triggering.

The Edge 3 and Edge 3 Pro also feature Offline Settings. You can utilize Bluetooth for Live Aim adjustments and activation even when you’re at your camera, and no cellular signal is available.

I utilize Moultrie’s 10W Solar Power Packs on three of my Edge 2 Pro cams. I love them. However, during early spring, a camera plugged into my solar power pack went dead. I returned to find I hadn’t seated the power jack into the camera fully. I unplugged and replugged, and solar power took over. For 2025, new Edge models feature Power Metrics, a system that indicates if your camera connection is secure. Additionally, if you’re using a solar panel, it ensures the panel is appropriately set up and placed and that your camera remains operational. I love that Moultrie is going the extra mile to eliminate camera/app frustrations.

I despise blurry images. Blurry images and poor trigger times — bucks not centered in the middle of my pictures — are what initially led me toward Moultrie cellular cameras. For 2025, the Edge 3 and Edge 3 Pro feature enhanced image resolution. Forty megapixels are insane. You could take a picture of your target buck(s), blow them up to poster size, and cover the walls of your hunting room if you wanted to. I like to save the images, pull them up on my big computer screen, and analyze the details of each animal.

Currently, I’m examining the development of antler growth, the health of my fawn crop and the general health of my deer. You can tell a lot about the health of a deer — buck or doe — by looking at a clean, crisp image.

Trigger time is impressive. Set at 50 feet, the tested trigger time was accurate in comparison to Moultrie’s data. My Labrador retriever, moving quickly after a bumper, was centered in every photo. Trigger speed was a little better than 0.5 seconds. Set to Burst, my moving fast black lab created some photo blur in the first image, but the following image was crystal clear.

At night, the Low-Glow Flash proved to have an ultra-low glow. It’s barely noticeable and won’t spook the game. Using my same black lab, I tested the camera’s detection range; at 105 feet, the Edge 3 was still able to pick up Koda. Impressive.

Most importantly, every feature of the camera worked exactly as Moultrie said it would, and the ease of setup remained unchanged. The single- latch door opens easily, the antenna slot is back, and the primary interface features an on/off button, an EJECT button to eject the battery tray or Power Pack, and a Connect button. The Connect button enhances overall functionality and is ideal for features like Live Aim.

I’m unable to use feeders in Colorado, so I’m unable to tell you how this feature is working for me. However, suppose you live in a state where feeding deer is legal, and you run Moultrie feeders that are compatible with Moultrie Connect. In that case, you can pair your Edge 3 or Edge 3 Pro with any of Moultrie’s compatible feeders and control feed times using cellular connectivity!

There’s a lot to be gained from Moultrie’s new Edge 3 series of trail cameras. My time field testing these products speaks to their dependability and quality! I recommend checking them out if you haven’t already.

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