Permits may be required if you want to place a trail camera on state or federal land, and, in some cases, the use of trail cameras may be forbidden or very restricted.
Where are you allowed to set up trail cameras? The rules vary. However, while a dedicated security camera system lets you view a live video feed, most trail cameras generally provide photos and video clips only after they've been recorded. Others use trail cameras as stealthy parts of their home security systems in rural and wooded areas. They also have room for external storage, usually in the form of an SD card (up to 32 GB).Īs you might imagine, hunters are the main audiences for these devices, followed by wildlife photographers, birdwatchers, and other nature enthusiasts. Most run on AA batteries (6 to 12) or solar powered rechargeables that can last months. The typical trail camera simply needs to be set up in a spot where it won’t be noticed, and it'll do its job until you pick it back up to check out what it's been seeing. While a few trail camera models have wireless features that can send pictures to your phone or email address, most lack wireless capability. They rely on a motion sensor trigger to snap photos and video when a passing moose or fox unknowingly turns the camera on, and the devices can go long periods without any input or monitoring. They're designed to be strapped to tree trunks or mounted on a base that can be propped onto branches or spiked into the dirt. Trail cameras are generally camouflaged so they fit in amid trees, rocks, or the forest ground. That's why a trail camera, built to blend in with the natural surroundings, can be a great tool for snagging photos and video of local wildlife. Wild animals tend to run at the sight of humans, and they also shy away from shiny man-made items that seem out of place in the great outdoors.
Video clip length is limited to 20 seconds.