Best trail cameras?

piaffepony · Nov 3, 2017

Devon energy bought the property at the end of my private road. They have tankers hauling fracking liquid to and from their holding pond. They’ve destroyed our road and when asked to fix it, they said it’s a private road and we should all share the cost. Ummm No!!!!! They are denying how many trucks come and go and how fast they drive so now I want to set up a camera or something to record and keep track how often they drive by. The guy had the balls to tell me they come out once or twice a week when it’s like 5 or 6 times a day!!!!!!!

Anyone have recommendation on an affordable trail camera? Open to other suggestions too...

M5farms · Nov 3, 2017

trail cameras are very reasonable now. 50 bucks will get one for what you want. Tractor supply even carries them now.

2458n · Nov 3, 2017

You are about to find out how your government works and big money will win. Sorry but that is how it is.

Slackdaddy · Nov 3, 2017

Don't even waste your $50.00 on the camera.
Why do you think politicians spend millions to win a job that has a salary of 100-150K ??
I would spend your money on bottled water for once they pollute the ground water.

747driver · Nov 3, 2017

If the road is yours by you saying a private road then why not put up a gate with a chain lock ? Is the only way for them to access the holding pond property is via your private road ?

stuckmotor · Nov 4, 2017

Shucks! I thought this thread was going to tell all about trail cameras.

Redneck in training · Nov 4, 2017

How far is the road from your house? You might be better off with WiFi security camera connected to your computer. There are some that would work over half mile.

EddieWalker · Nov 4, 2017

Depending on who they are, and what they are doing, you might be able to go over there heads by finding out what Texas State Regulatory overseas them. The Railroad Commission has been great for some things, but I have no idea if they cover what you are dealing with. Once you find out who regulates them, you will be amazed at the results you get after contacting them.

As for the game cameras, I've found that you need to spend over a $100 to get a decent one. I've wasted a lot of time and money learning this lesson. I also found out that Amazon reviews can be influenced by employees of the company making fantastic claims about their brand, when in fact, it's junk.

Browning micro has some of the best reviews, but the one I bought wouldn't take night time pictures, and rarely took day time pics. When it did take a picture, it was very good.

My current camera is a Stealth Cam G42 that is OK. As you can see in the pictures, things get grainy at night. The feeder is 30 feet from the camera.

RandyT · Nov 4, 2017

747driver said:
If the road is yours by you saying a private road then why not put up a gate with a chain lock ? Is the only way for them to access the holding pond property is via your private road ?

Just be careful with that. It could be possibly a legal easement for the oil company. Have one neighbor that tried denying access because they were damaging his property, and now had a restraining order that prevents him from being within 500 feet of oil company facilities, and employees. have another that lost his property in a court hearing for trying to prevent access.

747driver · Nov 4, 2017

RANDYT said:
Just be careful with that. It could be possibly a legal easement for the oil company. Have one neighbor that tried denying access because they were damaging his property, and now had a restraining order that prevents him from being within 500 feet of oil company facilities, and employees. have another that lost his property in a court hearing for trying to prevent access.

Thats why i asked if the road belonged to her only. Guess she needs to pay a visit to the county courthouse and see who owns the road and also if there is a easement right of way as you suggested.

BoylermanCT · Nov 4, 2017

I have 6 game cameras, 2 Brownings and 4 Primos. The Primos have done well by me which is why I keep buying them. I just picked up two Primos Proof Cam 02 models at Amazon for $65 each. They take good pics and have a fast trigger speed. You can read the reviews on all cameras at Game & Trail Camera Reviews - Trail Cam Buying Guides-Trailcampro.com

piaffepony · Nov 5, 2017

747driver said:
Thats why i asked if the road belonged to her only. Guess she needs to pay a visit to the county courthouse and see who owns the road and also if there is a easement right of way as you suggested.

My driveway is 350ft from the private road. Each property owner owns to the middle of the road the whole length of their property but of course you can’t legally keep them from accessing their property at the end of the road.

piaffepony · Nov 5, 2017

Redneck in training said:
How far is the road from your house? You might be better off with WiFi security camera connected to your computer. There are some that would work over half mile.

My house sits 350ft from the road so I’m not sure how I would make that work. I do have a tree that is like 25’ ish from the road I could mount a trail cam to. I know most of them have SD cards right? I guess I’m looking for something that I could leave up for a week or two... do they typically have enough battery and memory to do that? Or would I need to go out there every few days?

Redneck in training · Nov 5, 2017

piaffepony said:
My house sits 350ft from the road so I知 not sure how I would make that work. I do have a tree that is like 25 ish from the road I could mount a trail cam to. I know most of them have SD cards right? I guess I知 looking for something that I could leave up for a week or two... do they typically have enough battery and memory to do that? Or would I need to go out there every few days?

Trail cameras have battery. Batteries last several months. Most trail cameras take only short videos. make sure that the camera is mounted on something solid otherwise the movement could trigger picture taking. Also remove all moving stuff like tall grass in front of camera. Or you might have hundred pictures with nothing you care about.
WiFi cameras would cost you several hundred but they can take continuous video. Thinking about that now wifi is most likley overkill for what you want it for. Google security cameras to see what is out there.

/pine · Nov 5, 2017

FWIW...Tractor_Supply is currently advertising a 2-pack of 'Cloak' brand trail cams 2 cameras for $100.00

Saw this in an "early black Friday" flyer...

Redlands Okie · Nov 5, 2017

Have no advice on brand of camera. But i do have some suggestions.
1. Keep camera out of plain sight. Or put them in a “bird house” or something. Otherwise camera will likely disappear.
2. Head lights and dust etc will often blind them. Try to locate where the headlights do not shine directly at the camera.
2. You really need two. Pointing in different directions. With two at least you get several chances of a good picture from each camera as they come and go.
3. Some law and court do not want to accept analog pictures. Mostly applies to security camera If you go that way. Make sure you have digital and better ones If you can.
4. SD trail cams should do fine for what you want. Some security cameras can use SD cards also.

Redbug · Nov 5, 2017

I have several Stealth Cam G42 12MP No-Glo Trail Game Cameras and the lock boxes that protect the cameras. I use one of mine to see who goes up and down the road. They work very well.

You want a camera that reacts fast and has no glow, or black out. That way no one can see any glow or flash especially at night. I have mine set to do a burst of 3 pictures when it senses something. The SD card will hold hundreds if not thousands of pictures. I like the 3 picture burst because it give you the choice of picking the best picture of the three.

These are what I have from Ebay, free shipping and no tax...shop around but you get the idea:

Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera (12MP) with 16gb Memory Card |STC-G42NG | eBay

Stealth Cam G42NG No Glo Security Box by CamLockBox | eBay

EddieWalker · Nov 6, 2017

Redbug said:
I have several Stealth Cam G42 12MP No-Glo Trail Game Cameras and the lock boxes that protect the cameras. I use one of mine to see who goes up and down the road. They work very well.

You want a camera that reacts fast and has no glow, or black out. That way no one can see any glow or flash especially at night. I have mine set to do a burst of 3 pictures when it senses something. The SD card will hold hundreds if not thousands of pictures. I like the 3 picture burst because it give you the choice of picking the best picture of the three.

These are what I have from Ebay, free shipping and no tax...shop around but you get the idea:

Stealth Cam G42 No-Glo Trail Game Camera (12MP) with 16gb Memory Card |STC-G42NG | eBay

Stealth Cam G42NG No Glo Security Box by CamLockBox | eBay

That's a really good price. I just bought mine a couple weeks ago on Amazon and paid $20 more.

nybirdman · Nov 6, 2017

piaffepony said:
My house sits 350ft from the road so I’m not sure how I would make that work. I do have a tree that is like 25’ ish from the road I could mount a trail cam to. I know most of them have SD cards right? I guess I’m looking for something that I could leave up for a week or two... do they typically have enough battery and memory to do that? Or would I need to go out there every few days?

I have had good luck with Bushnell cameras,Brownings have been o.k. also.The Bushnell's have 100ft.detection range,use lithium ion batteries and SanDisc SD cards for months+ of pictures.No glow for security.I run all mine on video and they will take thousands of 20sec.videos.