Cheap Trail Camera for Food Plots

BoneCrusher20

Active Member
What's your go to cheap trail camera for just having on food plots. Not talking your go to trail camera where you want your best photos but just something where I can buy 3 or 4 for $200 and get some inventory photos.


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My motto is, “buy once, cry once”. I have used cheap trail cameras and most make it a year at most. Then you have to turn around and spend more money buying another one because the one you bought is out of warranty. If I was to go less expensive, I like the Brownings. They have a camera for just about every budget and the only one I had problems with was the most expensive one and they fixed it under warranty. I have one of the first Browning “cheap” cameras an it is still chugging along after 3 years, running 24/7/365.


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I have a 2011 Moultrie M-80 black that has been on a tree taking photos since November 2011 and has been in continuous service with no issues and I have had a lot of luck with Moultrie. I also have 2 Bushnell cameras I bought 3 years ago that are very, very good cameras.
 
Spypoint solars can be had on eBay from certified dealers for 130. No need to pay for batteries or intrude the property to change them. Extra money spent is more than worth the lack of pressure IMO. $130 is still cheap for a good camera.
 
I have a 2011 Moultrie M-80 black that has been on a tree taking photos since November 2011 and has been in continuous service with no issues and I have had a lot of luck with Moultrie. I also have 2 Bushnell cameras I bought 3 years ago that are very, very good cameras.

Those are good cams.
 
The best cheap cameras I’ve found are Covert MP6. Poor video resolution and night photos but the most reliable sub $400 cameras I’ve found. I’ve found them as cheap as $65. FYI, I’ve had nothing but trouble with the new model Coverts and for mid level cameras have switched to browning.
 
The best cheap cameras I’ve found are Covert MP6. Poor video resolution and night photos but the most reliable sub $400 cameras I’ve found. I’ve found them as cheap as $65. FYI, I’ve had nothing but trouble with the new model Coverts and for mid level cameras have switched to browning.

Same. I think this year it's the MP16. I like the Covert Black Viper a little better but it's $20 more.
 
I highly recommend Mediase trail cameras. I have 3 of their $50 cameras and I prefer them over my $100+ Moultries. They truly are quality cameras even though they’re cheap.

Meidase Trail Camera 16MP 1080P, Game Camera with No Glow Night Vision Up to 65ft, 0.2s Trigger Time Motion Activated, 2.4" Color Screen and Unique Keypad, Waterproof Wildlife Hunting Camera... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D4HPQ4G/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_bvmcEbPGB900Y


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I bought a Campark T20 a couple of months ago. For the money $40 they are really good. The thing that impressed me is it takes 4 AA battery’s and they are lasting forever.
I have a problem with woodpeckers pecking the sensors on cameras. I think they think it’s a hole in the tree because it’s round. They pecked a hole in my T20 and it took 1100 picks in 1 week. I didn’t have any battery’s so I just put in a new card and the next week it had 1100 more. Mostly of nothing because the sensor has a hole in it. But the battery’s held up great and the pics are good. The night pics aren’t too good but these cameras are good for back ups.
 
My local rural king store (and website) has Stealth cam QS14 (3 pack) for $130 and QS12 (2 pack) for $70. My experience with stealth cams is that they are OK cams, but only last about a year...2 tops. You will have to look up these models to see if they will do what you need them to do, but I thought these may be decent function for your price point.

https://www.ruralking.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=Trail+camera

I prefer my Browning cams for better pics and video, but they are a bit more expensive (the ones I run are about $100 each) and I just got my first Exodus cam for X-mas (has 5 year warranty).
 
I agree with lot of what's been said...I would say i own 90% browning (elite, dark ops, etc.) and they all seem to take really good photos for the price. I'm going to maybe try a few of the recommended ones and report back. These cameras are not meant for me to be taking the grand daddy of photos, which is why i normally buy all the brownings.

I want a simple camera that i can put out on food plots mid-oct to end November to keep some inventory of what's coming out, what local bucks are around, any newcomers, was i in the wrong stand :). So being out only 2 months, the longevity of the camera i'm not overly concerned as it won't be out all year round.
 
I agree with lot of what's been said...I would say i own 90% browning (elite, dark ops, etc.) and they all seem to take really good photos for the price. I'm going to maybe try a few of the recommended ones and report back. These cameras are not meant for me to be taking the grand daddy of photos, which is why i normally buy all the brownings.

I want a simple camera that i can put out on food plots mid-oct to end November to keep some inventory of what's coming out, what local bucks are around, any newcomers, was i in the wrong stand :). So being out only 2 months, the longevity of the camera i'm not overly concerned as it won't be out all year round.
if your going to use the info for immediate use (to possibly alter your hunting).....would you be better off with a cell type cam (more expensive)? Hear me out.... If you need nearly "real time" feed back....the last thing you want is to disturb the area on a daily basis....but you also can't wait 2 or 3 weeks for a card pull either. Waiting 2 or 3 weeks for a pull means that buck you "had" a week ago could easily be dead or long gone before you even know he was there. I realize the expense of a cell cam and the like may not be in the cards.....but a traditional cam is going to have limitations that may hamper the effectiveness you are looking for. The other thing with "cheap" cams is that they often may not be as reliable at capturing the deer or even getting a clear enough pic for you to determine if it is a target buck or even a specific buck you have been watching or not. Just some food for thought.....
 
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