Well, one of my Moultrie Game Feeders went out of commission today. I went out to fill it, and discovered that the cone that leads from the bucket to the motor was missing. I searched the area, and it is flat out gone. I had noticed recently that it had been getting gnawed on, by squirrels possibly - which are seriously overpopulated in this area and had better watch out come squirrel season. Could a squirrel have gnawed off and hauled off that plastic cone? Either that or vandals... READ MORE ABOUT GAME FEEDERS

Wildview TGL2M

The Wildview Xtreme2 Digital Game camera is another low cost offering from Wildview.  The "2" stands for 2.0 Megapixel.  This digital scouting camera is designed for ease of use, and has a series of switches that are used for easily configuring the settings.

The passive infared sensor offers wide angle coverage.  It comes with the same test mode setting that allows you to verify both placement and coverage area.  This camera does use a flash, and has a switch that allows it to be set in On or Off position.  It will shoot multiple pictures in its Burst Mode, but is also capable of shooting daytime video.  You have the option of taking Low Res images, High Res images, or Video clips.  The front of the camera has an LCD readout that displays the number of pictures taken.  It also has both Test Mode and Low Battery LEDs on the front panel.  You have your choice of 4 different timeout settings, so you won't end up with a memory card full of images of the same animal.  You also have the option of connecting a 12 volt lead acid battery to the external power jack for extended life in the field.

The pictures are stored on SDRAM memory cards, and the Xtreme2 accepts memory cards ranging from 16 MB to 2 GB.  The TGL2M does contain 16 MB of internal memory, but you can't store much on it, so I highly recommend using larger capacity SDRAM memory cards.  While the size of the images may vary depending upon the conditions, you can get approximately 6,500 images on a 2 GB memory card when shooting in Low Resolution mode.  To get your pictures off the camera, you can either pull the memory card and insert it in a USB card reader connected to your computer, or you can attach the camera directly to your PC with the included USB cable.  So if you are in the market for a cheap camera, check out the Wildview Xtreme2.

Stealth Cam MC-2GV

I ran across an old Stealth Cam MC-2GV camera tonight.  It had made its way into a box that holds the hunting and fishing gear that I seldom use.  This box holds many things that I will probably never use again, but I just can't seem to part with.  That 35MM Stealth Cam MC-2GV was my first game camera.  I thought back to the love/hate relationship I had with that camera, and it made me realize that I really don't miss film one bit.

My first game camera.  I do remember how excited I was to get that camera.  I was hunting a leased piece of property a little over an hour away.  It was pre-season, and I drove down with a buddy to hang it that day  I remember struggling with the film to get it loaded.  It just didn't want to catch and feed.  I chalked that up to being a newbie, and worked with it until I was confident I had it set and ready to go.  After a 10 minute hike to a ridge I'd been eager to bow hunt, I dumped a 50 lb bag of corn and strapped the camera to an oak tree.  I flipped it on and hiked out.

Over the course of the next week, I resisted the temptation to to the farm after work, just to pull the film.  I drove down on the weekend with a fresh roll of film.  I found the camera in the same spot I had left it, and the LCD picture counter told me I had a full roll of film.

When I opened the camera, I was surprised to see that the film had not been advancing, and it hadn't re-wound either.  I could kiss that roll of film goodbye!  So a week's worth of scouting, and a what should have been a roll full of pictures were gone.

So I tried again.  READ MORE ABOUT WHY I DON'T MISS FILM

CamTrakker MK-8

CamTrakker has been building high quality game cameras since 1989, back in the 35MM days.  While they still offer 35 MM game cameras like the Original 35MM and the Environmental 35MM, they have some very attractive digital game camera offerings.  At the top of that list is the CamTrakker MK-8.

The MK-8 offers 1.3 or 3.2 megapixel images day or night.  Their infared technology eliminates any signs of a visible flash, and gives you black and white night time images.  Images by day are color.  They have an integrated 2" LCD viewing screen that allows you to view your pictures in the field.

Trigger speed is always an important factor when choosing a game camera.  Slow trigger speeds result in game-less pictures and frustration.  CamTrakker is known for their fast trigger speeds.  At less than 0.5 seconds, the MK-8 is up near the head of the pack. The 5 image burst mode is ideal for capturing multiple images of the game that triggered the camera.  And battery life is typically not an issue, as the MK-8 uses a sealed rechargeable lead acid battery.  This can save you a lot of money that is typically wasted on battery purchases over time.

Setup is a breeze, and the MK-8 is known as one of the most user friendly scouting cameras on the market today.  YOu can be up and running in a matter of minutes.

You will love the camouflaged pattern that helps this camera blend into hardwoods to avoid detection.  The housing also comes wiht a locking flange that allows you to secure your investment from theft.

At a list price of $429.00, the CamTrakker MK-8 offers a quality product that is guaranteed to perform.  And to make the deal a little sweeter, CamTrakker throws in a 512 MB SDRAM memory card.

Check out the CamTrakker MK-8 to see more pictures of the camera, as well as samples of the quality images it captures.

Look for added value in some of the kit offerings available from game camera retailers.  Retailers have been throwing in extras, like solar panels and rechargeable batteries, to racheting brackets and security boxes. If you prices these items out separately, you can typically see some cost savings built into the packages.

I recently purchased a ScoutGuard SG550 packaged with game camera security box.  I like the convenience of a package purchase.  I'm not going to spend $200 on a new game camera, and not have some type of good security lock for it.  Purchasing a package deal ended up saving me time and money.

CAMLOCKbox

This is an exciting day!  Not only because I received my new ScoutGuard SG550, but because my CAMLOCKbox Security Lock Box arrived!  I'm so impressed by the quality and design of my CAMLOCKbox, that I am compelled to write about it before I even set up my SG550 that it is designed to house.

SG550 in the CAMLOCKbox

What struck me the most was the solid construction and precision design of the enclosure.  My SG550 perfectly fit inside this all steel lockbox, just like a nut fits on a bolt.  The CAMLOCKbox is finished with a powdercoating and camo pattern.  The design of the outer cover allowed it to join seamlessly with the main housing.  Once my camera was enclosed in the housing, only the PIR, lense, and infared emitters were exposed through the cutout.  This security box can be locked via a padlock on the front, or by passing a cable lock through the center of the box.  Either method locks the case tight, and your camera is protected inside.

Fits Like a Glove

The cutout on the bottom is perfectly aligned with the external power jack of my ScoutGuard.  Cutouts in the rear of the housing allow the game camera's strap, or a bungee to be used to position the camera on a tree.  I like the fact that this still allows you to fine tune the positioning of your camera after hanging.  The screw holes in the rear of the box give you the ability to secure your camera to a flat surface, like a fence post or barn; or screws can be shot into a tree for added security.

CAMLOCKbox

CAMLOCKbox puts out a quality product at a very affordable price.   You can feel confident that your game camera will be secure, and the 30 day money back warranty will leave you feeling secure with your purchase from CAMLOCKbox too.