The use of field cameras has really changed the way many people hunt, and in fact they have changed the fortunes of many hunters by allowing them to identify where their targets are and when. On top of the fact that they will make your hunting trip more fruitful, they are also fun to use and it is exciting to go and collect your equipment and study the photos that have been taken when you are not around.



Technology of these cameras has improved along with the conventional types of camera. Many now are digital which offers the possibility of greater storage of images. There is also the added bonus of the money saved on processing. A digital camera can take hundreds of pictures, and after downloading them to your computer you can decide which ones are not useful and which ones you might like to have printed. You can also view them right on the camera, so you can see what is going on even before you get back to your vehicle. On top of this, the digital cameras don't have the moving parts that the conventional types do, and therefore are a little easier on the batteries. The conventional cameras need to advance the film, and sometimes the noise that is made can scare away the very animal that the camera is trying to capture.

Camera Batteries

As you will probably be leaving the camera out there to take photos for a fairly long period of time, battery life is important. Most cameras are now available with an external battery pack that will significantly lengthen the battery life. It is wise to be able to leave the camera there unattended for a long time for a few reasons. First of all, it takes time and fuel to go to the camera, but also your own scent may drive away the deer that you are looking to scout.

Trigger Time

This may or may not be important depending on where you are positioning the camera and for what purpose you are using it. If you are taking pictures of a feed area, you do not need the camera to react quickly. The animals that it is capturing are generally not moving much and a trigger time of five or six seconds will be just fine. If you are positioning one on a trail, then a quicker trigger time will be required. If you are not sure where it will be used, lean towards equipment that is a little quicker just in case. It may cost a little more but it is still much cheaper than having to buy an additional camera.

Incandescent versus Infrared Flashes

Most trail cameras use an infrared flash, and this will use less battery power than the traditional incandescent flashes. They won't give you the same picture quality as an incandescent flash, but it is still pretty good and it won't scare away the animals. A picture that is almost as good is better than one that was not taken because the animal was spooked by a bright flash.