Trail Cameras

[101RRS]

I would like to find out what is going on afterdark in and around my place - ie possums, bats, cats, snakes, lizards etc so I thought I would investigate getting a "trail camera".

They seem to range in price from about $70 to $400 but I know very little about them.

So I need one that is motion sensitive (for small animals), doesn't to have large memory or battery life as I can check it regularly - doesn't need to be 4K but at least HD would be good - oh and within reason cheap as possible.

So for those who know about these things and recommendations on what might work.

Thanks

Garry

[Tins]

I would like to find out what is going on afterdark in and around my place - ie possums, bats, cats, snakes, lizards etc so I thought I would investigate getting a "trail camera".

They seem to range in price from about $70 to $400 but I know very little about them.

So I need one that is motion sensitive (for small animals), doesn't to have large memory or battery life as I can check it regularly - doesn't need to be 4K but at least HD would be good - oh and within reason cheap as possible.

So for those who know about these things and recommendations on what might work.

Thanks

Garry

I don't know much about them either, but I have been using a security cam located inside my ceiling to try and track possums. It's ok, but not great, so i have been considering something from this lineup. The wifi would be my pref.
Hunting camera - K&F Concept (https://www.kentfaith.com/hunting-camera)

[windsock]

I have used one for a while now to keep an eye on my wind monitoring towers and equipment in the past and in other locations to see if I can put a face to footprints I find.

I use a Moultrie M. Considered entry level mid level trail camera. Have looked at higher spec ones but I still only have just the one.

Placement is critical. Watch out for wind and moving branches. You will simply get a lot of pictures of trees moving.

Make sure that if the animal is quick moving, you get one that can take a high rate of photos. You say you can check it regularly so battery life should not be an issue to be concerned about with higher rate of photography. I find batteries last me about a week to two weeks depending on how much wind... [bighmmm]

Some can take high def video. I have tried this once and it used all my card in a quick time filming the wind blowing branches. It was a good rainstorm though. See first point [biggrin]

Avoid facing the camera into the rising or setting sun.

Use the type of memory card recommended by the manufacturer. I wasted money on high speed cards when the camera is not capable of using them. Moultrie recommended normal speed cards.

Check the range (distance) of motion sensing and place accordingly inside of that. I tried placing on the edge of the range for security purposes thinking more was better but the further you are away the more the photos turn into landscapes rather than people shots. Closer is better.

Make sure you get a suitable trigger time for the camera to activate after motion has been detected. Trigger time is critical if the target is moving perpendicular to the camera.

Get as high a resolution of camera as you can afford. Clarity of night photos is awesome for facial recognition from mine but higher would have been better at times for my use.

If you are not using these as security you may not need one but I am also thinking of critters that chew things. I have a manufacturers steel security lock box for mine. For me it is securing to the tree by screws and piece of mind my camera cannot be cut off and taken away. For you something like this might stop things chewing something new in their back yard.

For security you can also get some cameras made for using the Master Lock Python locking cables in smaller 8mm diameter. Bunnings sell the bigger cables in their range but the smaller diameter cable is needed for the back of the cameras with this feature. If you didn't want to go steel lock box but still wanted some security.

Good luck.

[Tote]

I've got a couple of the Aldi ones of different generations that I have in trees at the farm. They have allowed us to identify dogs attacking our sheep. Agree with everything Windsock has said. The biggest Issue I have is remembering to check the batteries and SD card on a regular basis. Most seem to have a capability to plug in power and if you are not trying to keep them discreet a mounting position that is easy to get to is an advantage.

Regards,
Tote

[101RRS]

Thanks for the advice - tips are great.

I have a cat and possum problem - the cats knock off at least one native pigeon a week and the possums have killed a few parrot chicks in my nest box - I still dont know how the possum gets into the nest box given where its located - the jump to get in is a major leap even for a possum.

I found him in there last week and thought I would use an old dash cam to see how he gets in and out but I thought the opportunity to catch him was there - so I locked him in and took him down to the river and let him go.

I have been in this house for 20 years and always had a healthy population of possums and never had an issue. The exception was this particular possum who seems a bit smarter than the others - found his way into the garage and the nest box when none of the others ever did.

Now that he has gone, a new one will move into his own territory in a few weeks so I am hoping the new one is as stoopid as the ones I have had before and does not learn the tricks of the one I have just removed.

So looking to see whose cats are killing the birds and what the inevitable new possum gets up too.

I could just put a cat trap out but I will see who culprit is. My neighbour has a cat trap and has caught them before and takes them to the local pound where the owner has to pay to get them back - what works better is that he does a letter drop before hand indicating he is going to set up a trap in the backyard and all cats will go to the pound - magically the cats stop appearing in his yard after the letter drop, and he no longer has to actually put the trap out.

169850

[windsock]

That's a big old buck. We have a possum problem (https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests/possums/) over in NZ also, though our remedy doesn't involve 'that' kind of relocation. [bigwhistle]

Encountered many a problem buck in my bush days. The doe seems to be placid and docile whereas the bucks seem to go looking for trouble.

I have seen bucks jump huge distances seemingly fearless of the consequences but the little buggers are brutish tough if it goes wrong for them.

I had a rough and tumble old collie heading dog called the Skipper, and one day we were working on a fence line neighbouring some bush and he roused a possum out from the bush side of the fence. As the possum crossed under the bottom wire of the fence into the farm side, the dog pushed his head through the second or third wire from the bottom and grabbed the possum by the back leg. The possum turned around and rushed back under the bottom wire of the fence towards the bush and found himself stuck with the dog holding his leg. The buck possum grabbed a big mouthful of the dogs hind leg. They were locked like that for what seems a long time with me rolling around laughing as the two of them howled and growled and yelped and cackled at one another through clinched teeth. Crikey I still remember the determined savagery of each of them as neither would let the other go.

To catch a jumping buck get a 0.3 second trigger on the camera otherwise you'd photograph thin air.

[101RRS]

That's a big old buck.

So you spotted the huge gonads [bigrolf].

[JDNSW]

I've been using one overlooking my front gate for several months. It came from Jaycar, I don't have the model here as I am away at the moment.

It has been OK, no suspicious activity, got a waving branch (now cut off the one in the field of view), otherwise mostly roos and the odd bird. No unexplained visitors so far.

[Tombie]

Look up Wyze. Get the outdoor unit.

[Tins]

I am hoping the new one is as stoopid as the ones I have had before and does not learn the tricks of the one I have just removed.



Good luck with that. I reckon they pass info down through osmosis.

And jump? Yep, they can. More than I ever believed.

[101RRS]

Look up Wyse. Get the outdoor unit.

I looked up Wyse and got

Wyse - Presbyterian Ladies College (https://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjzysDixNXvAhVJxDgGHaJJBg0QFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwyse.plc.vic.edu.au%2F&usg=AOvVaw37AYDeSgB5QxImwqRJqJFV)

[Tombie]

I looked up Wyse and got

Wyse - Presbyterian Ladies College (https://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjzysDixNXvAhVJxDgGHaJJBg0QFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwyse.plc.vic.edu.au%2F&usg=AOvVaw37AYDeSgB5QxImwqRJqJFV)

Sorry. My phone corrected its spelling.

WyZe

[Tote]

I was triggered [biggrin]

169881


Regards,
Tote

[101RRS]

Sorry. My phone corrected its spelling.

WyZe

A great range of products there - will check them out in detail.

[Gav 110]

I looked up Wyse and got

Wyse - Presbyterian Ladies College (https://www.google.com.au/url'sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwjzysDixNXvAhVJxDgGHaJJBg0QFjAAegQIAhAD&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwyse.plc.vic.edu.au%2F&usg=AOvVaw37AYDeSgB5QxImwqRJqJFV)

Works on your search history?????

[101RRS]

Haven't got a camera yet - the one from Jaycar that John suggested looks OK albeit a bit expensive but seems quality and would last. I saw a Youtube vid from an Aussie shooter who tested a $49 ebay special. While he gave it the thumbs down and a not recommended for trail work it could be Ok for around the house - but I do like the the Jaycar one - I will see if I can get the same camera online elsewhere for cheaper and then make a move.

News on the possum front - as expected but a lot quicker than expected a new big fat possum has moved in - as expected BUT the sucker is going straight to the same places as the old one hung out - namely my garage so he must be following the scent of the old one - I had hoped the new possum would not have picked up the habits of the old one.

At this stage he has not worked out how to get into the garage but I know it will not take long. What annoys me is my neighbour caught him in his cat trap last week and then let him go - should have taken him down to the river like the old one.

At 4.25 I got woken up with a big ruckus outside and here is possum sitting on the roof beam above my porch - a poke in the ribs with a stick sent him on his way for now - time to shore up the battlements to repel borders. The weakspot is the space between the roller doors and the house cladding at the top where the roller door rolls up - with the doors in the down position, the gap is big enough for him to get in but I dont thing he has found it yet.

Garry

[101RRS]

I came across this video comparing cheaper cameras on Youtube Adventure Kings Trail/Game Camera vs. Oztrail 16MP Covert Trail Camera // UNBOXING, COMPARISON - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNqjpYnCd7k)

Both the Oztrail and Kings cameras seem to work well so I have ordered the Kings at $89 delivered. I will set this up out side.

Yesterday morning I noticed an attempt to break my defences in my garage but a search did not show anything up. So i wired up another possible entry point with steel mesh.

Last night my house mate came home and said something noisy was in the garage - lifted up the garage door and noticed piddle on the floor and running down the roller door - and then there was ole mate sitting on the rafters grinning at me. Looks like he had just realised he was stuck in the garage and emptied his bladder. I closed the garage door and got the broom and even with everything locked up he was able to exit through the 2 1/2" gap between the top of the roller door and the garage cladding. With the door down the gap is 2 1/2" but with the door up the gap is minimal. So I will have to work out how to block that gap - plastic mesh up to the door should do it.

So after that - I bought a $34 trail camera off ebay and I will set up in the garage to check where else he can get in.

Did I tell you I hate possums - my guess this possum must be following the scent trail of the previous one as it would seem this one is hiding behind a heavy cupboard I have where the old one used to get. They can handle being prodded and poked but they hate the garden hose :firedevil:

[JDNSW]

I don't recommend it, but I recollect that my father (a school teacher) used a water pistol (confiscated from a kid at school) loaded with household ammonia.

[austastar]

Hi,
One pesky possum I met, was immune to a squirt of metho, much to my surprise.
I was in a mountain hut and at my wit's end from lack of sleep.
Ended up hanging my gear from a rafter with a length of wire.
Cheers

[101RRS]

so I have ordered the Kings at $89 delivered. I will set this up out side.

So after that - I bought a $34 trail camera off ebay and I will set up in the garage to check where else he can get in.



Both cameras now received and set up for the first time yesterday last night - the Kings in the front yard and the Ebay on the front porch where the possum tries to get in.

The ebay camera was a surprise - seemed to work well, particularly given its low price.
Day and night - all seems to work OK
170393170394

The Kings "proper" trail camera was a disappointment.
Day, Night, early morning
170400170401170402

So it would seem that while the Kings is activated by movement as it should, the infrared illumination is not working as evidenced by the night pic just picking up lights in th distance and not illuminating the area in front. Also the lens is fogged up in the cool of early morning - the pic was at 6.00 but did clear by 8.00.

So the ebay camera works really well for its price and the Kings looks as if it is faulty.

I will get onto the 4wd SuperCentre today to return it but suspect there will be the usual argument about who pays for the return postage - they are supposed to but it is always argued.

Garry

[101RRS]

After a week back and forwards with the 4WD Supercenter they are sending me a new unit - haven't asked for the old one back as yet. I thought they were an online seller but they have a store locally - if I had known that I would have got it there.

The $34 ebay special continues to monitor my front door and seems to work well for what it is. Detects changes in sunlight so goes off a lot during the day but is pretty quiet at night except when a car drives past as it picks up the heat and movement of the headlamps.

Number 2 possum has been making regular visits but cannot get into the garage but did find a little spot under the rafters outside where the mesh I used makes a little spot for him to sleep.

170698

I have got an old mesh bag used for washing clothes so I rigged it over the hole and then shoved the hose up him and straight into the net he jumped - cotchcha - number 2 in 4 weeks :firedevil:. Let go with the other one at the camp ground down by the river. I will leave this spot to catch any that come back.

[scarry]

The weakspot is the space between the roller doors and the house cladding at the top where the roller door rolls up - with the doors in the down position, the gap is big enough for him to get in but I dont thing he has found it yet.

Garry

The possums used to get into our garage that way as well.I flashed along the gap and they haven't been back,that was at least 17yrs ago.

They would climb up the brick columns, and crawl over the top of the shut roller door, then pee and poo all over the place[bigsad]

Had the D2a in those days, so it was ages ago[biggrin]

[101RRS]

Over the past month or so have moved two possums on to greener pastures with no evidence of new move-ins - until [bigsad]

I have put up some trail cams around the place - nothing to see here, picks up the aircon going into defrost mode really well.

I have them set up on hi detection mode and takes 3 pics and a 20 sec video - there must be a bit of a delay taking the vid after the pics as normnall nothing the see on the vid. With Hi detection selected the cams run every couple of mins, particularly in the day as it is triggered by reflection from the sun.

Anyway - on Sat I set a cam up on a small tree in the front yard and just went through the pics and nothing there except something had bumped the cam at about 11 on Sat night and tilted it about 10 degrees off the vertical.

On checking the videos again nothing but at about 11.30 on Sat night a little movement detected on the bottom left corner - yes another bloody possum on the ground - seems to be wary of the infra red LEDS so must be able to see them.

Vid is too long to post here but here are a couple of screen shots - critter is bottom left. No evidence of hitting the house yet but are around.

171164171165

[Don 130]

Both cameras now received and set up for the first time yesterday last night - the Kings in the front yard and the Ebay on the front porch where the possum tries to get in.

The ebay camera was a surprise - seemed to work well, particularly given its low price.
Day and night - all seems to work OK
170393170394

The Kings "proper" trail camera was a disappointment.
Day, Night, early morning
170400170401170402

So it would seem that while the Kings is activated by movement as it should, the infrared illumination is not working as evidenced by the night pic just picking up lights in th distance and not illuminating the area in front. Also the lens is fogged up in the cool of early morning - the pic was at 6.00 but did clear by 8.00.

So the ebay camera works really well for its price and the Kings looks as if it is faulty.

I will get onto the 4wd SuperCentre today to return it but suspect there will be the usual argument about who pays for the return postage - they are supposed to but it is always argued.

Garry

Garry, could you provide a link for the ebay camera please?
Don.

[101RRS]

Garry, could you provide a link for the ebay camera please?
Don.

This is the one I got from ebay - different seller though - I could not recommend the guy I got mine even with his 99.5 feedback rating.

Trail Hunting Camera 12MP 1080P Game IR LEDs Infrared Night Vision Scouting Cam | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/353458536918?hash=item524bc541d6:g:0sIAAOSwaSlfzur N)