In the market for a trail camera

rockytopmojo · Aug 5, 2017

Suggestions? Looking at the Bushnell aggressor as a point of reference.

TheLBLman · Aug 5, 2017

Unless you're mainly wanting to use this cam for large food plots or fields,
I'd prefer the Browning Dark Ops for these reasons:

1) Comparable reliability, lower costs.

2) Smaller in size, and uses only 6AA batteries

3) I have found the cams (such as the Browning line) which have a small door to open near their bottom
to be more weatherproof over time (as compared to those cams where half the cam opens up as a door (like the Bushnells).

In time, cams which have a door opening across their top (most do) will typically eventually leak or pick up moisture,
as the rubber seal deteriorates. Cams which have no "break" on top are much less susceptible to moisture.

That said, Bushnell has one feature I prefer for using over large food plots & fields,
and that is their 2x field scan that can be very custom programmed.
Also, the Bushnell has a greater flash range.

Over mineral licks, scrapes, and trails, I prefer the Browning Dark Ops,
in part because it's less noticeable, in part because it can be programmed to take more pics per triggering event.
I often set the Brownings to take 4 or 5 pics, and you can set them to take those about a second apart (or faster if you prefer).

By contrast, the maximum number of pics (per trigger event) the Bushnell will take is 3,
and there is no customization feature as to how much time between those pics (will take all 3 in less than 2 seconds).

Think about this:
You have a buck chasing a doe, and she runs down the trail.
The Bushnell cam triggers, snapping 3 pics in under 2 seconds.
The buck is 2 seconds behind that doe.
But if you had the Browning cam set for 4 "slow" pics (4 pics one second apart),
you would be more likely to get the trailing buck.
Or you could set the Browning to take 7 "slow" pics (7 pics over 7 seconds) --- a setting I like on trails.

For the money, imo, both the above mentioned are good options.

How would you mainly use a new trail cam?

TheLBLman · Aug 6, 2017

One other thing that probably should be emphasized:

The Browning Dark Ops is a true "black" flash cam;
whereas the Bushnell Aggressor is typically "red" flash (visible to deer), or you pay extra to get the "black" flash version of the Aggressor.

I've found the newer Bushnell "red" flash units are not as noticeable to deer as the older versions were, and they do offer the advantage over fields of greater flash distance. However, "red" flash will often spook mature bucks over scrapes, an application I will not use them. This "spooking" is even more noticeable if you use red-flash cams in video mode.

Also, speaking of deer "noticing" a cam, generally speaking, the smaller the cam, the less chance deer will "notice" it. Noticing it doesn't mean they always "spook", but does make them more inclined to spook, say they notice it, then a red flash hits their eyes. All the newer cams are smaller in physical size than older cams of just a few years ago, some of which were absolutely huge by today's comparisons.

And, "noticing" the cam is not limited to just "seeing" it ---- more "noticing" (and "spooking") is often from their "smelling" human scent on around the cam location. I always prefer to place or check my cams close to late-morning or mid-day (more opportunity for scent to dissipate before deer come near), and then, ideally before an approaching rain. There are numerous ways to reduce your human scent, but I've found nothing works as well as a good rain hitting right after you've been there.

Southern Sportsman · Aug 6, 2017

I'm also looking. The other one on my list other than the two posted above is the Covert MP8 Black. It doesn't have as many features, but I have run Coverts since 2013 or so and they have been great, especially for salt licks. They're a little cheaper. You can get one on ebay for $99 shipped with a 2 yr warranty.