How to Link Trail Camera to a Cell Phone

From seasoned vets to enthusiastic newbies, people often ask: do all trail cameras work with any cell phone?

No. cellular trail cameras are a relatively new addition to trail camera types, where before their introduction, all that was available were traditional game cameras.

In this article, I’ll discuss the difference between cellular trail scouting cameras and traditional wildlife tracking cameras, and which one is suits your needs better.

Cellular Game Cameras vs. Traditional Wildlife Cameras

When hunting, preparation is very important. If you want to be successful, all your essential hunting equipment will need to be prepared.

One piece of hunting gear that will determine your success is a reliable trail camera.

Before buying a trail camera, you need to familiarize yourself with the various types on sale.

Generally, they are categorized in two groups: cellular and traditional. To assist you in picking the right one for you, we will briefly go over the differences, and identify their advantages and drawbacks.

Every hunter needs to carefully consider their trail camera strategy. This will help decide which type best suits your needs.

Traditional Wildlife Monitoring Cameras Advantages

Traditional game scouting cameras save the images they take on SD cards that have to be retrieved physically for review.

One such best-selling traditional deer hunting camera is the Wosports Mini 16MP 1080P Wildlife Scouting Hunting Camera (shown here).

The images it produces are of high-contrast and sharp, whether during the night or day. Animals are spooked less due to its infrared flash.

This type of traditional hunting trail camera takes 16MP pictures and Full HD video.

Check the price of the Wosports Mini Trail Camera at Amazon

Traditional Hunting Camera Benefits Include:

• Crisp and Clear Images
  Traditional trail cameras produce clear and crisp images due to the fact that they upload videos and photos directly to a SD card.
  They are ideal choices if your hunting grounds are not off the grid.
  They should be staged in places where your scent will not be left behind when you approach and leave them to retrieve the SD cards or replenish the batteries.
• Wildlife-Friendly
  Many traditional wildlife cameras come with either a low-glow or no-glow array of infrared bulbs that aid in low-light photography or night photography.
  Wildlife will not get spooked by them because they won’t detect them.
• Affordable
  Traditional game scouting cameras do not require wireless or network connectivity making them very affordable. This keeps the hunting hobby accessible to those on strict budgets.

Traditional Wildlife Monitoring Cameras Drawbacks

Whenever you go back to the areas in which you have hung your traditional game scouting cameras, you run the risk of scaring off the animals with your scent and presence, thereby altering their natural movements.

Since storage and battery life are not infinite, you will have to visit the traditional hunting trail camera sites.

Cellular Game Tracking Cameras Advantages

Also referred to as wireless deer scouting cameras, cellular game tracking cameras send image and video live feeds to your cell phone.

Similar to your cell phone, cellular trail cameras communicate with cell towers using radio waves, transmitting data through electromagnetic fields.

Once the camera captures an image, it is relayed to your cell phone using a cellular network. Typically, the wireless providers that provide this service are Verizon and AT&T.

The process is fairly simple: activate your cellular trail camera using an app (typically from the cellular trail camera maker), pick a plan, and input your payment details ahead of mounting it on your favorite trail.

Data plans are priced according to a monthly quota of videos and photos.

The number of photos you pick are sent to your phone, with the choice of downloading them in higher resolution.

The Moultrie Cellular Game Camera

Cell Phone Hunting Camera Benefits Are:

• Very Good Images
  The images a cellular trail camera sends to your cell phone are bright, vivid and clear.
• Saves Time
  With their ability to send you photos in real time, you do not need to your trail camera mounting sites as often. This gives you the option of expanding your hunting area beyond what is possible with traditional deer scouting cameras.
• Less Obstruction
  Visiting your hunting area on a regular basis risks spooking the game with your scent. When using a cellular game camera, your need to visit your sites reduces, giving you a more accurate animal movement record.
• Safety
  Cellular wildlife cameras contain protective features against adverse conditions. They are encased in rugged shells that are better suited to harsh climate conditions.
  Some models such as the Moultrie Mobile Delta Cellular Trail Camera extend GPS-enabled anti-theft notifications for further discretion.The Moultrie is easy to set up.

Cellular Wildlife Trail Cameras Drawbacks

A few of the challenges encountered by cellular game camera users are:

• Battery Life
  Because this type of trail camera transmits its images using cellular data and can be configured remotely, battery life is less when compared to traditional wildlife cameras, depending on factors such as total activity and weather conditions.
  If you have mounted your cellular deer scouting camera from you, it is advisable to supplement its original battery with either a solar panel or external battery.
• Pricing
  Due to their features being of higher quality, cellular game cameras cost more than in comparison to traditional wildlife cameras.