How to Choose a Cellular Deer Camera?

Real-time deer tracking with a cellular deer camera can provide valuable information about the species' routines and habits for hunters, nature watchers, and scientists. The trail cameras we will cover will look at the features that make them stand out, such as the detection range, trigger speed, and ease of use. Whether new to the hunting game or looking for a new cellular deer cam to take your hunting to the next level, these game cameras are the best options.

Why Choose a Cellular Trail Camera

Most trail cameras fall into two categories, the wireless deer camera that works with Wi-Fi and a cellular deer camera. The deer cam with Wi-Fi requires it to be within a wireless network for it to work, meaning it needs to connect to your Wi-Fi.

The cellular deer cam is the best option because it can work anywhere as long as there is network coverage. These trail cameras do not need a Wi-Fi connection, giving you a wider range to set them up. 

A great selling point for deer cell cameras is that some, such as the Camojojo Trace, allow you to watch your footage in real-time instead of waiting for a Wi-Fi connection for them to work. This makes it easy to observe what your trail camera sees as it happens.

Best Cellular Trail Cameras

Below are some of the best cellular deer cameras available to suit your hunting needs.

Spartan Ghost Verizon 4G LTE

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: 1280*960p 

Trigger Speed: 0.6s

Detection Range: 80ft

Special Feature: 2-inch LCD screen

If you are in the market for a premium cellular deer camera, the Spartan Ghost trail camera is an excellent choice. The cell cam has some of the best industry-leading features that will take your deer hunting experience up a higher notch. 

You can take advantage of the trail cams user-friendly Spartan GoCam app to receive captured images remotely to your connected devices. With this advanced technology, you can stay connected to the wilderness from any corner of the world. 

Pros 

The build quality of the cell cam is great, and the company offers a two-year warranty on the product; this can give you confidence in your investment when purchasing it. The trail camera can capture high-quality thumbnails through its premium camera, and you can adjust the default setting to get higher-quality footage.

Cons

The price is the biggest setback in using the Spartan Ghost 4G LTE. This premium cell cam will not make your list if you are in the market for an affordable deer camera. The other downside is the recovery time after capturing footage, which can take up to an average of 7 seconds after uploading to capture the next.

Camojojo Trace LTE

Features: 

Picture and Video Quality:  Sharp 3k Photos and 1080p video resolution

Trigger Speed: 0.2 seconds

Detection Range: 80 feet 

Special Feature:  Smart Mapping 

Camojojo Trace LTE is the best overall pick for a cellular deer cam as it checks out most of the boxes on what one needs for a cell cam. The camera stands out from the rest because of its convenient multiple features while still retaining a relatively low price compared to similar cameras in the market. 

The trail camera has an in-built SIM card that primarily works with AT&T. It also offers affordable data plans starting from $11.99 that allow playing unlimited videos in real-time and sending unlimited photos. It has an internal memory card with a capacity of 32GB; this is adequate to store captured footage without needing to acquire an external memory card.

This trail camera stands out because of its ability to stream high-quality videos on a connected device. It also has an industry-leading trigger speed of 0.2 seconds that allows capturing videos and photos faster when it senses motion. The Trace utilizes no-glow technology to take clear footage at night without scaring the animals.

Pros

The cell cam is relatively easy to mount and use, with multiple features that enhance the user experience. Its low-glow LED flash can assist in capturing a clear image at night. It also has a great community where hunters can share their skills and learn from other hunters.

Cons 

It only works with AT&T at the moment. Though the cell service provider has a strong and wide network coverage, Camojojo needs to add multiple other cellular service providers. 

Reconyx HF2X Hyperfire 2 Trail Camera (Olive Drab Green)

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: 3 megapixels

Trigger Speed: 0.25 seconds

Detection Range: 150ft

Special Feature:

Although the cellular deer cam uses a 3MP camera, it has one of the best footage quality of other cellular game cameras. The company invested in a high-quality image sensor and a premium lens. That decision paid off as it can get crisp and clear daytime images with the perfect balance of color saturation.
It also set the industry standard for detection over a decade ago, so you can get clear images from a longer distance than a standard deer cam, with its detection range being an impressive 150 feet. It also has a unique clamshell design with multiple safety and anti-theft features.

Pros

The setup of the Reconyx HF2X Hyperfire 2 is quite simple. You can strap it on your designated spot, turn it on, and walk away. It also comes with a detailed manual for customization to have a better experience while using it. 

Cons

Although it is marketed as a no-glow camera, I have witnessed it flash when capturing footage. This can cause overexposure to close animals.
REVEAL X-PRO Cellular

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: Up to 16MP videos and Photos

Trigger Speed: 0.42 seconds

Detection Range: 96 ft

Special Feature: Blackout IR technology

The Reveal X-Pro cellular cam is one of the best products from the Tactacam Company for those concerned about image quality and fast transfer speeds when deer hunting. The first impressive feature that sticks out is their built-in LCD screen when opened to assist in setting up and customizing the cell cam. Activating the deer cellular camera is quite simple, as one only has to plug in the battery and choose between the SIM cards it comes with.

Pros

Besides having a decent battery life capacity, the cell cam also has a hybrid design where you can connect a Tactacam solar panel. This will reduce the overall cost of buying a set of 12 AA lithium batteries every time they run out. 

Cons 

Though it has a relatively fast trigger speed, it can take up to 30 seconds to recover. The Reveal X-Pro cellular camera also has a narrower detection angle compared to some brands

Bushnell CelluCORE 20 (Solar Panel Trail Camera)

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: 20MP

Trigger Speed: 0.9 seconds

Detection Range: 80ft

Special Feature: Stronger cellular reception

The first enticing feature of the Bushnell CelluCore 20 deer cell cam is its 20MP camera. This will ensure you get crisp and clear images. To set up the deer cell camera, you only need to scan the QR code and do the customization on your device. 

The integrated solar panel with the dear camera does a great job of increasing the life of the lithium batteries that are recommended for use. Once the batteries are fully charged, they can last up to 6 months.

Pros

The panel of the Bushnell contains researchable batteries themselves. This is an additional feature lacking in most other brands. The cell cam will connect to either Verizon or AT&T network as it will choose whichever is stronger in your area. 

Cons

Setting the highest possible image quality for the deer camera drains the battery at a very fast rate. It also takes a significantly long time to send videos to the connected device.

Stealth Cam Fusion X 26MP Trail Camera

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: 26MP 

Trigger Speed: 0.21 seconds

Detection Range: 80ft

Special Feature: Interpolated photo and video resolution

The Stealth Cam Fusion X 26 has a great design appearance that can blend into the mounted environment. That unique design adds a layer of un-detectability from deer and trespassers on your property. 

The 26 MP camera provides well-lit photos and video quality. This cellular trail cam records well-illuminated footage that also utilizes stop motion well. It also has an instant group mode that enables it to capture multiple images while sending media. This allows it to capture all activities so that you don't miss a bit while resetting itself. 

Pros

Besides the numerous incredible features of the Fusion X cell camera, its remote update feature makes it stand out. You will no longer have to stand countless hours in the wilderness updating your trail cameras as you can update its firmware from your connected device. 

Cons

The downside of using this variety of the Stealth cam brand is its narrow field of view. Most of the captured footage is not wide-angled like other cell cams such as Camojojo LTE. 

Skypoint FLEX Cellular Trail Camera

Features:

Picture and Video Quality: 30MP photos

Trigger Speed: 0.31 seconds

Detection Range: 70 ft

Special Feature: Dual SIM cellular coverage 

The design built of the Skypoint Flex cellular tail camera is sturdier than the previous version. This will ensure the durability of the cell cam even when using it in harsh environments. The manufacturers offer a two-year warranty on the product to give you confidence. 

The Flex cell cam has a 33MP camera that can capture high-quality photos, transmitting 1080p live video with sound to your connected device. The ultra-long optimized antenna will also assist it in connecting to virtually the strongest cellular network in your area, as it has been designed with a dual SIM configuration. 

Pros

The cell camera is GPS enabled to maximize its functionality. With this feature, you can also maximize the accuracy of the maps feature of the Flex cell cam application. It also has four capture modes that enable the user to set intervals of capturing footage when the sensor is triggered. 

Cons

Some users have reported issues with the trail camera's firmware, which mainly affects the storage of captured footage. A software update will mainly fix this problem; if it persists, it would be best to contact Skypoint’s customer service.

What to Consider Before Buying a Cellular Deer Camera

Finding the best deer trail camera depends on a few things; these ensure you get great value for your money. Consider the following factors when buying your cellular game trail cam for the best results:

Trigger Speed

The trigger speed is one of the most important features of any cellular trail camera. It refers to the time between motion detection and when the game camera starts taking pictures. That is especially necessary when hunting for deer, which are fast-moving animals. You will need a camera with a high trigger speed that can capture the animals before they get out of the detection range.

It is best to look for trail cameras with 0.5s- -0.1 seconds. This is fast enough to capture multiple photos of the animals as they pass across the game camera's range. A great recovery speed is also a bonus with most cellular deer cameras, as it helps take pictures faster.

Detection Range

The larger the area a cellular game camera covers, the better that trail camera is. Taking multiple pictures and videos of the game can be necessary when hunting. A game camera with a wide detection range, starting from at least 60 feet, is better as it gives the trail cam more time to snap pictures and take some videos.

Ease of Setup

Some people are less tech-savvy than others, and a cell trail cam needs to acknowledge that. The trail camera should be easy to set up for everyone, starting from beginner hunters to those with more experience. The cell game cams we mentioned above are some of the easiest to set up, with others like the Camojojo Trace having easy-to-follow instructions that guide you on setting your camera up faster.

Picture and Video Quality

Some hunters want to get as many details about the animals they hunt as possible, and having a good resolution on the cellular trail camera is necessary. If you are like this, you need to pick a high-picture and video-quality trail camera that will help showcase this. I advise a game camera starting from 720p for the video resolution and at least 5 megapixels with its pictures.

Network Coverage

Since you are dealing with a cellular deer camera, you need to ensure the area you set your camera in has coverage for the network you use. For example, the Camojojo Trace uses AT&T, so you should use it in an area with great AT&T coverage. 

Another feature to consider when dealing with a cell deer camera is the data plans that the game cam offers. Camojojo has great and affordable data plans to ensure you get your footage in real-time without breaking the bank. It also has an inbuilt SIM card, saving you money from buying an external SIM.

Power Supply

Your cellular game camera will be in the hunting area for a while, so you want to look for a trail camera with battery-saving features. The cellular deer camera you use should have strong batteries that hold power for a long time or a consistent power supply that ensures they don't die out. You might want to check a game camera with solar panels (you can also find this from Camojojo) to ensure a continuous power supply.

FAQs

Are Deer Cellular Cameras Worth It?

The simple answer to this question is YES. While there are many factors to look at, and they might seem costlier than trail cameras, they are a worthwhile investment for hunters that want to use them for regular wildlife watching or hunting. 

Most of the brands mentioned above, such as the Camojojo LTE, have some of the best features and implementation of technological advancement in the trail cam industry. This has enabled cell cams to be more adaptable and convenient. 

What Are The Benefits Of Having A Cellular Deer Camera?

The first benefit you will notice when using a cellular deer camera is saving time and money. You will no longer need long trekking hours to retrieve captured footage, as you can access them on your connected device.

Considering that you might have multiple cameras on a wider hunting area, the gallons of fuel used when making regular round trips will be costly in the long run. Cell cams are the best investment for a hunter and the environment as you will not constantly disrupt them. 

What Is The Difference Between Wi-Fi and Cellular Trail Cameras?

If you are considering a deer cam with Wi-Fi or a cellular game camera, it would be best for you to choose a cellular brand. Most wireless deer cameras work on a limited range of about 20 to 80ft. This distance can be short when you want to set it up deep into the wilderness. Most cellular camera brands use Verizon, AT & T, or both, providing relatively strong network reception in most areas.