Best Trail Cameras 2023

The best trail cameras are silent sentinels of the forest. Whether you’re tracking game or keeping tabs on local wildlife, these compact units provide an unobtrusive way to capture images and video of animal behavior. Built to blend in with the natural environment, they’re hardy and weatherproof, and the rugged designs ensure they keep working through inclement weather. And even if you don't intend to go all Elmer Fudd on the animals in your backyard, trail cams make for good home security cameras, too.

The best trail cameras spot wildlife from afar.

In search of a trail camera for your property or preferred hunting grounds? In this guide, we’ve compared multiple models against one another to bring you the best trail cameras you can buy today. That includes budget buys and high-end offerings, as well as trail cams that store information on a standard SD card, and cellular trail cams that instantly deliver content to your phone. And if you’re not sure what trail camera you need, skip to our comprehensive guide on how to choose the best trail camera below.

Amazon

Photo Resolution: 30 megapixels | Video Resolution: 1920 x 1080 at 60FPS | Night Vision: Yes | Power: 6 AA batteries | Battery Life: 1 year

With its 30-megapixel resolution and 1080p video at 60 frames per second, Bushnell's Core DS No Glow camera captures high-quality content across a variety of landscapes and conditions. That's because, unlike entry-level trail cameras built with one sensor for day and night photos, the Core DS No Glow features one sensor for daytime use and another for improved illumination at night. Meanwhile, Bushnell's "No Glow" technology eliminates light emissions while capturing photos and video, so animals won't get spooked when the camera triggers, and would-be burglars won't know they’re being filmed.

Beyond the basic stats, Bushnell builds this trail camera with a weatherproof housing that's designed to withstand Mother Nature's fury, from heavy storms to claws and antlers. The unit is easy to set up, and an integrated LCD display allows you to review content on the device—no need to remove the SD card or pull the camera from its hiding spot every time you want to view content. Powered by 6 AA batteries, Bushnell claims one year of battery life, and it ships with a respectable two-year limited warranty.

There's no denying that the Bushnell Core DS No Glow is expensive—when it's not on sale, this single trail cam costs about as much as an entire home security system. But at the end of the day, you’re in the market for a trail camera that delivers crystal-clear quality, and anything less is a waste of your hard-earned money. For that reason, we think it's worth the upfront investment.

What the reviews say: After returning a couple of less expensive units, [I] spent a little extra for this name-brand trail cam. Outstanding picture quality in both still and video mode. Been running 2 of these for about a year now in rain, snow and 100 degree heat with no problems at all.

Campark

Photo Resolution: 24 megapixels | Video Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160 (4K) | Night Vision: Yes | Power: 8 AA batteries | Battery Life: 6 months

The Campark T90 Trail Camera won't get you an interview with David Attenborough, but it will capture respectable 24-megapixel shots and 4K footage for less than a couple of tanks of gas. The wallet-friendly unit features built-in WiFi to quickly and easily move footage to your phone or laptop, and the files are compressed to save space, which means you’ll spend less time buying and swapping full SD cards. For what it's worth, Campark also ships the T90 with a 64gb memory card, so it's ready to use right out of the box.

Low-glow lights similar to those in the aforementioned Bushnell allow the T90 to capture photos and video in total darkness without spooking wildlife. And the 0.2-second trigger time makes it highly unlikely that you’ll ever miss a shot (unless you’re keeping tabs on the Road Runner). Should you choose to install the T90 on your house as a dedicated security camera, you can also hook it up to a 6V power supply, thereby eliminating batteries completely.

The only feature we wish the T90 offered was a built-in display that gave you ability to review photos and video before uploading content to your phone or laptop. That said, the available app still syncs the camera with your phone in seconds, so you’ll have to step outside to link up with the camera, but you can evaluate media from the comfort of your home.

What the reviews say: This is my second Campark camera. I liked the first but they have made some nice improvements on this one. Better latches, robust case, full sized SD card, and the ability to check with phone. You do have to be close for the camera to hook up but once it does you can review all the pictures with thumbnails and just download what you want to keep.

Amazon

Photo Resolution: 42 megapixels | Video Resolution: 1280 x 720 (HD) | Night Vision: No | Power: 4 AA batteries | Battery Life: 13,000 images

If the latest trail cameras leave you feeling more overwhelmed than excited about the prospect of monitoring wildlife, dip your toe in the water with the Moultrie Micro-42i. This simple, beginner-friendly unit features the basics without all the bothersome bells and whistles, allowing you to better understand the ins and outs of trail cams before committing to more advanced options.

Under the hood, Moultrie outfits this simple trail cam with a 42-megapixel sensor that captures clear photos and HD video (without audio) of objects up to 70 feet away. Its 0.4-second trigger is fast enough for most movements, and it stores content on a 32gb SD card (sold separately). If you register the unit within 60 days of purchase, Moultrie will provide a two-year extended warranty, but you’ll still receive a one-year warranty if it's not registered in time.

Realistically, the Micro-42i doesn't capture clear photos or video unless conditions are right, and some reviews suggest that nighttime photography is grainy, but if that's what you’re after, you’ll need to pay a bit more. If, however, you’re comfortable with a simple trail cam that caters to hobbyists and lets you learn the basics, this one will serve you well.

What the reviews say: Nice and concealable, pictures are good for a little camera and on par with the other newer Moultrie cameras I have. I gave this a 4 star rating because I would like to see the longevity of this camera. If it's like some of the other Moultrie cameras I have, it could stay out in the woods for 5 or more years. Happy with it so far. No frills and easy to use.

Amazon

Photo Resolution: 3 megapixels | Video Resolution: 720p HD | Night Vision: Yes | Power: 12 AA batteries | Battery Life: 5,000 images or 1 year

Cellular trail cameras are equal parts impressive and irritating. While they have the ability to remotely transmit content from distant, hard-to-reach locations via a cellular phone network, they’re more expensive than localized trail cams and most are incapable of sending video. They also require a cellular plan that’ll cost you anywhere from $5 to more than $20 per month.

If you find yourself monitoring wildlife in remote locations, then you’ll probably need a cellular unit, and the Reconyx HyperFire 2 is about as good as these units get. Known for its quality images and bombproof housing, the HyperFire 2 is designed to be reliable, thereby reducing the likelihood that you’ll need to check on it in person. Reconyx builds this camera to capture three megapixel stills or 720p HD video with audio, but it can't send any recorded video to the cloud (video is stored locally on internal memory). Its detection range of 100 feet should capture a plethora of wildlife, and there's no visible flash from the infrared flash that captures content at night.

Thankfully, Reconyx outfits the HyperFire 2 with a number of handy features that make it easier to stomach the $600-plus price tag. For instance, it comes with CodeLoc password protection that adds a four-digit security code to prevent unauthorized use. The 512gb of memory storage is also impressive, and BuckView software lets you map and manage your cameras and images. While you’ll be paying a lot up front, you can expect some quality features in return.

What the reviews say: I've owned many different cell cams. The Reconyx is expensive but so reliable. I have 7 of them running. They sip batteries. They trigger well. The phone app is easy to manage them. Customer service is great. You get what you pay for.

Amazon

Photo Resolution: 12 megapixels | Video Resolution: 1080p HD | Night Vision: Yes | Power: 8 AA batteries, integrated solar panel | Battery Life: Unlimited with integrated solar panel

Most trail cameras will run for months or years before they need more juice, but if you’d rather avoid batteries altogether, consider picking up Spypoint's Solar-Dark Trail Camera. While it can run on a set of 8 AA batteries or a battery pack (sold separately), the unit is built with an integrated solar panel that delivers unlimited battery life. If conditions are right, you’ll never need to fuss with batteries again.

Spypoint outfits the Solar-Dark with reasonable optics that should get the job done most of the time. The 12-megapixel photos offer plenty of detail, 1080p footage looks good on a small screen like your phone and invisible LEDs prevent animals from getting spooked by a flash. The camera quality isn't breathtaking by any means, but it's well-suited for most needs. Consider your environment before investing in the Solar-Dark Trail Camera—if it's usually cloudy, this might not be the model for you, but if it's sunny, you can kiss all those batteries goodbye.

What the reviews say: I bought this camera to use in my yard looking for roof rats that have been reported near our neighborhood. The motion detection was very good, the best thing I found on it which was a value over other trail cams is the solar battery. I live in a very hot and direct sun location and the battery has yet to go down. It runs all night and recharges during the day. No extra AA batteries needed since I bought it.

Investing in a trail camera requires you to consider everything from image quality to battery life to storage capacity and beyond. Like most modern technology, there are hundreds of trail cameras on the market boasting nearly-identical specs, which makes the decision process all the more overwhelming. For that reason, we’ve identified the most important factors to consider when investing in a trail camera.

Image quality is an essential factor to consider when shopping for a trail camera. If photos or video come out grainy, blurry or discolored, odds are higher that you won't know what you’re looking at, rendering your trail camera useless. When assessing image quality, you should consider the resolution, color accuracy and clarity of the images captured by the camera.

The detection range refers to the area in which the camera can detect motion. Consider the size and sensitivity of the detection zone to ensure that you capture all movements in the area of interest. If you’re setting up your trail camera in an open field, you’ll want a larger detection range that picks up animals in the distance.

The trigger speed is the time it takes for the camera to capture a photo or video after detecting motion. A camera with a fast trigger speed will ensure you don't miss any animals, including those moving quickly through the frame. Generally speaking, you’ll want to look for trail cameras with trigger speeds of less than 0.5 seconds. Some high-end trail cameras, including units on this list, boast trigger speeds of 0.02 seconds.

The battery life of a trail camera will dictate how often you need to swap batteries or charge battery packs. Most trail cameras use very small amounts of power to ensure they keep working over the course of months or years, but you might consider investing in a solar-powered camera that has unlimited battery life if you live in a sunny environment.

Storage capacity refers to the amount of data (photos and video) a trail camera can hold. Cameras with large storage capacities will capture more footage and reduce the likelihood that you’ll need to swap or clear memory cards.

Some trail cameras have wireless connectivity features that allow you to transfer images and video to your mobile device or computer, but others require you to remove internal storage cards and upload content to your phone or computer. You should consider a camera with wireless connectivity if you want quick, easy access to your footage.

Trail cameras are designed to withstand harsh weather, rough handling and the occasional run-in with wildlife. Most trail cameras are camouflaged and fortified, but take a look at the reviews if you’re concerned with a unit's build quality and long-term durability.