Best "cheap" game cam? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

djc · 11-09-2009, 09:27 AM

Time to upgrade my cameras, what's the best, $150 or less game cam now days?

Thanks

ace44 · 11-09-2009, 09:31 AM

I bought a couple of the Wildegame IR4.0 and they have worked great and they are only $89 bucks at academy.

Heath · 11-09-2009, 09:34 AM

Put another $39 bucks with that and go get you the Bushnell Trophy Cam. You can order from Busy Bee Outdoors with no tax, free shipping, and a free 1 gig card. I have been down right impressed with this little camera.

Murdock · 11-09-2009, 09:37 AM

Man, ive had a bunch of different ones and for the reliablilty and easy set up I will take the cheap wildview cam over any. You can buy them In 2 pack for a hundred bucks. Just my .02

Drenalin_Ag99 · 11-09-2009, 09:42 AM

You have factors, picture quality, battery life, etc..? For the picture quality spypoint fla has been better than the bushnell but battery life bushnell wins but night pics are less than desirable somewhat.

Heath · 11-09-2009, 09:46 AM

Battery life is a very important factor to consider when picking a game camera. We where putting $15 bucks a week in batteries in a "cheap" camera, so that cost really adds up. I have one one set of batteries in my Bushnell for 3 months and it is still working like a champ.

Mike D · 11-09-2009, 09:56 AM

Put another $50 and go homebrew and you'll never look back.

Shane · 11-09-2009, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ace44

I bought a couple of the Wildegame IR4.0 and they have worked great and they are only $89 bucks at academy.

I had one of these for a couple of weeks. It worked fine for about a week. Batteries don't last any longer than that. 4 C-size batteries every 7-10 days gets pretty expensive. About 3 weeks into it, we had rain. I checked the camera the next day, and it was full of water. The gasket around the door didn't seal. I did have it latched properly.

I took it in to Academy while it was still wet, and I traded it for a StealthCam for $40 more or so. I also bought a big rechargeable 12v battery pack to go with it. That was a month or so ago, and the battery pack is still going. Plus, the StealthCam's motion detector is VERY sensitive. I was getting a full 2GB card of 2,900 pics every week due to the wind blowing the tall grass around day and night. I set a post at a different angle and mounted the camera up a little higher looking down at the feeder so the grass wasn't in the background. That solved my wind problem. I'm sure the battery would last nearly an entire season as long as it's not taking pictures of the wind blowing all day.

gtsticker · 11-09-2009, 10:16 AM

The best I have found for picture quality is the stealth cam I590 hands down and it will take picts at a long distance great flash range. Go to radio shack and buy a plug and hook it to a 12volt gell cell and it will take months worth of photos on one charge. I average 9-12 hundred picts a week on this camera and I still only charge the battery every other month.
The wild view are cheap and can use the external battery. A little quirky but take pictures. Quality of photos and flash range are not as good. They will show you whats there.

leasecommander · 11-09-2009, 10:49 AM

I have 3 Wildview trail cams and all are working well, averaging abour 250 pics per week per camera, the batteries do wear down, so I bought a bulk pack of "c" sized batteries, each camera takes 4. If you invest in these cameras. you might want to get a battery charger. I trade out the memory cards and take a card reader to the lease and download the pics to my laptop and then delete the pics and return the memory card to the trail cam before I leave the lease for the weekend, seems to be working pretty good.

djc · 11-09-2009, 10:57 AM

Shane, which StealthCam do you have?

PecanBayouRat · 11-09-2009, 10:57 AM

I went for quantity over quality whenever I was buying new cams for this season. Picked up 4 of the wildview cams from Academy and went to town. They haven't been terribly bad, but I have not been very impressed with the battery life at all.

I really wish I would have just gone and bought two real nice ones vs. four that ate 4 C batts each week.

Pearl Snaps · 11-09-2009, 10:58 AM

I'd throw in another $50 and get a cuddeback.

Hunting Consult · 11-09-2009, 11:20 AM

We use the Remington Ghost 5.0... Got them when they were on sale for $50. Most of the time they are $99. But work great. Just keep the lense and in INF RED clean.

Shane · 11-09-2009, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djc

Shane, which StealthCam do you have?

This one

plus

this battery

Tx_hombre · 11-09-2009, 11:52 AM

They have the Remington Shur Shot 6.0 on sale at Academy for $99 this week. Don't know much about the camera though. Anyone have this one?

djc · 11-09-2009, 02:43 PM

Cuz · 11-09-2009, 02:58 PM

Moultrie d40 HANDS DOWN! Believe me, ive tried a ton of the mid-lower end cams.

RJK70 · 11-09-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heath

Put another $39 bucks with that and go get you the Bushnell Trophy Cam. You can order from Busy Bee Outdoors with no tax, free shipping, and a free 1 gig card. I have been down right impressed with this little camera.

x2!!!!

I have had mine out for 2 month and around 3,000 pictures and still near full battery life.

Also the day pictures are great. Some people complain a little about the night pictures but from where mine are set up the night pics are great too!

mooch · 11-09-2009, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RJK70

x2!!!!

I have had mine out for 2 month and around 3,000 pictures and still near full battery life.

Also the day pictures are great. Some people complain a little about the night pictures but from where mine are set up the night pics are great too!

Are you using the AA batteries it suggests or an external battery?

djc · 11-09-2009, 06:17 PM

ttt for the night time crew

Thanks

rambler123 · 11-09-2009, 06:28 PM

[quote=Shane;1991071]This one

I have the same one; has worked great, going on over a year. Usually get 1 to 2 months out of a set of batteries depending on how many pics/how often it is set to take and if the hogs are hitting the feeder at night. Only negative is the infrared filter makes a slight clunk that startles the deer sometimes.

Also this one summed it up:

http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=105609

tomcat3030 · 11-09-2009, 06:35 PM

I have a remington and it fits the bill just fine.

RJK70 · 11-09-2009, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mooch

Are you using the AA batteries it suggests or an external battery?

It is running on 8 duracell AA batteries

djc · 11-10-2009, 11:28 AM

Well, after lots of research, I ordered a Bushnell Trophy Cam from Busy Bee Outdoors for $189 including shipping and a 2 gig card. I'll put it out next time at the lease and we"ll see how it does.

Humper · 11-10-2009, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cuz

Moultrie d40 HANDS DOWN! Believe me, ive tried a ton of the mid-lower end cams.

I hate mine....The flash quit working and the camera menu quit working. Contacted Moultrie and they said too bad, no offer to fix it or replace it!

Guess the great customer service just dropped a bit!

donpablo · 11-10-2009, 11:40 AM

The moultrie solar panel ($50-$60) will work on a wildview camera as long as it has the jack for the 12 volt Battery. That's what I did with mine and it works pretty well. Just don't forget to put rechargeable batteries in it.

390 sporting · 11-10-2009, 02:28 PM

good info

11-19-2009, 05:23 PM

where can i buy the game cam ur talking about for 100 for 2!

12thman · 11-19-2009, 08:10 PM

you can get two wildview for 120 at Cabelas right now. for the price they do the job. nothing fancy but you can see what is coming and when.

mhbaseball · 06-09-2010, 11:15 PM

stealth I590 for $100....cant go wrong and has longest range in business.

ckuehl · 06-10-2010, 07:27 AM

TTT. Shane you have PM.

Thanks for your help.

Codie · 06-10-2010, 08:57 AM

Moultrie D40 with a Moultrie Power Panel here -

alec73065 · 06-10-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djc

Well, after lots of research, I ordered a Bushnell Trophy Cam from Busy Bee Outdoors for $189 including shipping and a 2 gig card. I'll put it out next time at the lease and we"ll see how it does.

Mine took 1800 pictures in 8 days and they were exceptional. Batteries had no change in the charge . I had it set for a week to see if I they would actually run down (supposed to last 1 yr with Lithium batteries)and how many pictues I could get. Night or day they were great.

alec73065 · 06-10-2010, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pearl Snaps

I'd throw in another $50 and get a cuddeback.

Cuddebacks have a history of the seal leaking and filling with water. I have seen hundreds of reviews saying this.

Mike D · 06-10-2010, 10:47 AM

Cuddeback used to be THE camera to have but their quality has gone wayyyy down over the past 5 years. They are just another mediocre camera on the market anymore.

Shane · 06-10-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckuehl

TTT. Shane you have PM.

Thanks for your help.

Still have the Stealthcam with external battery pack. I've been very pleased. Battery lasts for a couple months. The only negative is slower trigger time. I'll get a few empty frames.

muley4x4 · 06-10-2010, 12:17 PM

Trophy cam gets my vote 139.99

11-09-2009, 09:27 AM	#1
djc Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richardson Hunt In: San Saba, TX	Best "cheap" game cam? Time to upgrade my cameras, what's the best, $150 or less game cam now days? Thanks

11-10-2009, 11:40 AM	#27
donpablo Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Odessa Hunt In: Iraan, Culberson County & Public Land	Solar Panel The moultrie solar panel ($50-$60) will work on a wildview camera as long as it has the jack for the 12 volt Battery. That's what I did with mine and it works pretty well. Just don't forget to put rechargeable batteries in it.

11-19-2009, 05:23 PM	#29
onewheel23 Guest	game cam where can i buy the game cam ur talking about for 100 for 2!

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11-09-2009, 09:31 AM	#2
ace44 Ten Point Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Austin Hunt In: Duval count , Mexico,Kansas unit 12	I bought a couple of the Wildegame IR4.0 and they have worked great and they are only $89 bucks at academy.

11-09-2009, 09:34 AM	#3
Heath Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth Hunt In: Cisco / Ira / Clifton	Put another $39 bucks with that and go get you the Bushnell Trophy Cam. You can order from Busy Bee Outdoors with no tax, free shipping, and a free 1 gig card. I have been down right impressed with this little camera.

11-09-2009, 09:37 AM	#4
Murdock Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: FARMERSVILLE Hunt In: COOKE COUNTY	Man, ive had a bunch of different ones and for the reliablilty and easy set up I will take the cheap wildview cam over any. You can buy them In 2 pack for a hundred bucks. Just my .02

11-09-2009, 09:42 AM	#5
Drenalin_Ag99 Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Flint, TX Hunt In: Henderson County	You have factors, picture quality, battery life, etc..? For the picture quality spypoint fla has been better than the bushnell but battery life bushnell wins but night pics are less than desirable somewhat.

11-09-2009, 09:46 AM	#6
Heath Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Fort Worth Hunt In: Cisco / Ira / Clifton	Battery life is a very important factor to consider when picking a game camera. We where putting $15 bucks a week in batteries in a "cheap" camera, so that cost really adds up. I have one one set of batteries in my Bushnell for 3 months and it is still working like a champ.

11-09-2009, 09:56 AM	#7
Mike D Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: DFW Hunt In: Haskell County, TX	Put another $50 and go homebrew and you'll never look back.

11-09-2009, 10:16 AM	#9
gtsticker Eight Point Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Jarrell Hunt In: Fayette and Lee Counties or any where else I can.	The best I have found for picture quality is the stealth cam I590 hands down and it will take picts at a long distance great flash range. Go to radio shack and buy a plug and hook it to a 12volt gell cell and it will take months worth of photos on one charge. I average 9-12 hundred picts a week on this camera and I still only charge the battery every other month. The wild view are cheap and can use the external battery. A little quirky but take pictures. Quality of photos and flash range are not as good. They will show you whats there.

11-09-2009, 10:49 AM	#10
leasecommander Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2009	I have 3 Wildview trail cams and all are working well, averaging abour 250 pics per week per camera, the batteries do wear down, so I bought a bulk pack of "c" sized batteries, each camera takes 4. If you invest in these cameras. you might want to get a battery charger. I trade out the memory cards and take a card reader to the lease and download the pics to my laptop and then delete the pics and return the memory card to the trail cam before I leave the lease for the weekend, seems to be working pretty good.

11-09-2009, 10:57 AM	#11
djc Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richardson Hunt In: San Saba, TX	Shane, which StealthCam do you have?

11-09-2009, 10:57 AM	#12
PecanBayouRat Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Whitney, TX Hunt In: Mills County & Schleicher County, TX & Kansas	I went for quantity over quality whenever I was buying new cams for this season. Picked up 4 of the wildview cams from Academy and went to town. They haven't been terribly bad, but I have not been very impressed with the battery life at all. I really wish I would have just gone and bought two real nice ones vs. four that ate 4 C batts each week.

11-09-2009, 10:58 AM	#13
Pearl Snaps Four Point Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Maypearl Hunt In: Indian Gap	I'd throw in another $50 and get a cuddeback.

11-09-2009, 11:20 AM	#14
Hunting Consult Ten Point Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Kingwood Hunt In: Hill Country	We use the Remington Ghost 5.0... Got them when they were on sale for $50. Most of the time they are $99. But work great. Just keep the lense and in INF RED clean.

11-09-2009, 11:52 AM	#16
Tx_hombre Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Arlington, TX Hunt In: Shackelford County	They have the Remington Shur Shot 6.0 on sale at Academy for $99 this week. Don't know much about the camera though. Anyone have this one?

11-09-2009, 02:43 PM	#17
djc Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richardson Hunt In: San Saba, TX	ttt

11-09-2009, 02:58 PM	#18
Cuz Pope & Young Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Midlothian Hunt In: Central & West TX	Moultrie d40 HANDS DOWN! Believe me, ive tried a ton of the mid-lower end cams.

11-09-2009, 06:17 PM	#21
djc Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richardson Hunt In: San Saba, TX	ttt for the night time crew Thanks

11-09-2009, 06:28 PM	#22
rambler123 Four Point Join Date: May 2008 Location: San Antonio Hunt In: Texas	[quote=Shane;1991071]This one I have the same one; has worked great, going on over a year. Usually get 1 to 2 months out of a set of batteries depending on how many pics/how often it is set to take and if the hogs are hitting the feeder at night. Only negative is the infrared filter makes a slight clunk that startles the deer sometimes. Also this one summed it up: http://discussions.texasbowhunter.co...d.php?t=105609

11-09-2009, 06:35 PM	#23
tomcat3030 Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Weatherford Hunt In: Anywhere I can	I have a remington and it fits the bill just fine.

11-10-2009, 11:28 AM	#25
djc Eight Point Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Richardson Hunt In: San Saba, TX	Well, after lots of research, I ordered a Bushnell Trophy Cam from Busy Bee Outdoors for $189 including shipping and a 2 gig card. I'll put it out next time at the lease and we"ll see how it does.

11-10-2009, 02:28 PM	#28
390 sporting Nubbin' Buck Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: belton, tx Hunt In: belton, lometa	good info

11-19-2009, 08:10 PM	#30
12thman Eight Point Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: College Station Hunt In: Mason, Burleson, Brazos	you can get two wildview for 120 at Cabelas right now. for the price they do the job. nothing fancy but you can see what is coming and when.

06-09-2010, 11:15 PM	#31
mhbaseball Banned!!! Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Sugarland Hunt In: Weimar, Schulenburg, Yorktown, Junction and anywhere else I am invited	stealth I590 for $100....cant go wrong and has longest range in business.

06-10-2010, 07:27 AM	#32
ckuehl Associate Sponsor Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tomball/Houston Hunt In: Polk and Tyler Counties	TTT. Shane you have PM. Thanks for your help.

06-10-2010, 08:57 AM	#33
Codie Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Graham Texas Hunt In: Young,Throckmorton & Shackleford counties	Moultrie D40 with a Moultrie Power Panel here -

06-10-2010, 10:47 AM	#36
Mike D Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: DFW Hunt In: Haskell County, TX	Cuddeback used to be THE camera to have but their quality has gone wayyyy down over the past 5 years. They are just another mediocre camera on the market anymore.

06-10-2010, 12:17 PM	#38
muley4x4 Pope & Young Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Grandview Tx Hunt In: Rockies, West Texas, Panhandle	Trophy cam gets my vote 139.99