Cellular trail cameras have been on the market for a few years now and there are many options to choose from. I recently tested a set of Stealth Cam Fusion Max cameras and a Muddy Mitigator to see how useful and how easy they were to use.
The Stealth Cam Fusion Max and the Muddy Mitigator use the Stealth Command Pro App, which is a free download on your smartphone. Once that is downloaded on your phone, the camera is merely minutes away from being operational, even if it is your first time using a cellular camera.
Once the app is downloaded, users set up an account which has on-screen guides to speed up the process. Screw on the antennae to the camera and install the batteries and SD card, then scan the code in the camera with your phone and turn the camera on. The rest is all on the screen.
I appreciate how the app allows you to control the camera and customize how you want the photos. You can get them instantly, hourly, twice a day or once per day. Also customizable is the "reduce-blur setting," PIR sensitivity, camera name, DVR mode, operating hours (if you only want to get photos during the day or when you know you will be hunting), erase card, transmit files on or off and ”on demand.” I use the on-demand feature to determine if I am about to walk up on a stand with deer already in front of it so I do not spook them!
You can also decide the upload time of photos if you choose twice or once a day. With an 80' detection range, I am picking up deer in the background that other cameras I have used did not catch. The trigger time is .35 seconds on the Fusion and .7 seconds on the Muddy Mitigator.
During the setup process you do give a credit card number and select a data plan to use. I initially chose the $5 a month plan for my cameras which gives me 600 photos. I now have five cameras total, so I figured $25 a month to not have to spook all the game, burn gas to go to the lease and so on was a decent deal. One of the cameras is in a very active area where the same four does and a little buck graze acorns and oats I planted daily, so I upped the plan to 1,200 photos for $8. I could have done the unlimited plan for $20 but on my lease, I do not need that many photos.
The Stealth Command Pro app has a mapping feature so I can find the cameras if I forget exactly where they were placed. Solar and lunar tracking as well as wind speed, temp, etc., is on the photo details in the app. The Fusion cameras have 36MP capabilities, 760 HD video and low light sensitivity, while the Muddy Mitigator has 24MP capable images. Both have a Quick Scan set up, burst mode and time out delay features. They are easy to mount and have a 12v DC jack. Solar panels such as the SOL Pak 3X keeps your cameras going and going for much of the season further reducing visits to the camera and disturbing the area.
In short, these cameras are easy to use and packed with features to make your time hunting more efficient. I found them very easy to set up my first time using them. The photos and video are great. Don’t let the new technology keep you from getting one today. Stealthcam.com or GoMuddy.com
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