Review of videohadgets for hunting

If a couple of decades ago, hunting equipment was limited to rifles, ammunition and, at best, special ammunition, today it is accompanied by numerous gadgets. In addition to the usual navigators and communications, the forest began to take and various video devices.

So, a video devices for hunting will help you to find the target, analyze the game behavior or simply save a record of spectacular hunting. As a rule, cameras for hunting work on the principle of security cameras. Recording starts when the device captures any movement in its field of view. Also, there are models that record in a constant mode or at certain intervals. Depending on the type of camera, video or image can be transferred to the phone, or stored on a memory card. Specialized cameras of this class are equipped with a moisture-proof enclosure, and therefore can be used in any weather.

Cameras for hunting are used for the following purposes:

To replenish the personal archive;
For the preparation of training materials;
As a way to track the movement of game.

What characteristics of the device are minimally necessary, when it is possible to save money and when to buy a more expensive model – all these questions are regularly discussed by users of specialized resources.

The capabilities of the camera depend on the needs of the hunter. Some users claim that they have enough conventional car DVR. This choice allows you to save money, but the reverse side will be insufficient image quality. One of the main criteria when buying a device is the resolution in which the record is saved. The higher this parameter is in the action camera, the clearer the image will be.

Another necessary characteristic is the ability to lock the device. It is attached to the head of a hunter or to weapons. This arrangement will capture all the user’s actions. There are also special glasses with a built-in action camera, but it’s better to refrain from their purchase.

The problem is not in the parameters, but in the legislative regulation: in Russia, Art. 138.1 of the Criminal Code, providing for the punishment for the purchase of devices for hidden tracking.

An additional parameter is the reliable protection of the camera. It is used in harsh conditions, requiring the presence of a housing that protects the device from damage.

Action camera for hunting

Hunters who decide to shoot a video face a dilemma: to purchase a conventional device and adapt it for their needs or to buy a ready-made model specifically designed for their hobby. The correct solution depends on factors including:

Financial opportunities;
Degree of enthusiasm for hunting;
Purposes of creating commercials.

Each of the types of devices used has its advantages and disadvantages.

Standard cameras used for hunting:

It’s about popular GoPro devices and their counterparts. They are recommended by users of specialized forums, noting a number of advantages of such cameras.

Possibility to buy a device in any electronics store.
High quality pictures in motion.
A simple and affordable interface.
Resistance to mechanical damage, confirmed by the extensive use of these devices in extreme sports.
The possibility of using not only hunting.

Along with the pluses, such cameras also have disadvantages.

A short battery life is noted. This problem is aggravated in the winter.
Limited selection of accessories specifically designed for hunters.
Plastic mounting of the camera is easy to damage in the woods.

Such a device will suit any user who wants to demonstrate to others the process of how he hunted.

Specialized cameras:

On the market are devices designed for hunters. In comparison with standard devices, they have additional advantages.

Manufacturers provide the ability to equip the cameras with a number of accessories (motion sensors, GSM-modules and infrared illumination). This allows the user to track the movement of game even at night.
The hull of the action camera, created for hunting, has additional protection against shocks.
The cost of the device is much lower than that of GoPro products.

Among the shortcomings of such cameras are the following:

They are deficit and, as a rule, are delivered to order;
The use of devices in everyday life is limited.

Specialized cameras will suit hunters who devote a considerable amount of time to their hobbies.

The acquisition of a video device is associated with large expenses. For this reason, experienced hunters recommend to pre-test the shooting using a conventional mobile phone. This will help determine whether there is a real need to create a video.

Forest Camera Recorder

A forest or hunting chamber is an autonomous video recording device in a waterproof enclosure camouflaged in the color of the forest. It is used by forestry workers to observe the migration routes of animals, as well as a camera for hunting, in order to know at what time and what animals appear in the right place. Also, this camera can be used for security purposes as an autonomous CCTV camera with recording.

This is a modern equipment that allows you to quietly keep an eye on what is happening in the forest. Thanks to its special design and appearance, it is invisible to representatives of the animal world. Such a camera can be installed on a forest trail, at watering points, on feeding grounds and in other places that require attention from:

Rangers;
Naturalists;
Hunters;
Participants of research expeditions.

The world presents various variations of recorders for hunting. Each forest camera has an individual set of functional features. Depending on your needs, photo traps can be equipped with:

Invisible to the world illumination;
Function of “planned” shooting;
Night and day mode;
Work both at high and low air temperatures;
Language interface localization.

Regardless of the set of functions, a high-quality modern forest camera should be compact, unobtrusive, stable. If you are going to buy a DVR designed for hunting, pay attention to the battery reserve – it should suffice for a long time in the wild.

Drones on the hunt

Quadrocopters in our time are developing and enjoying frenzied popularity, both in Russia and abroad. For most, the device may seem like a kind of toy used to achieve different goals. One of the areas of application of drones is hunting.

Thanks to drones, hunting is easier and more convenient, because it’s impossible to stay without prey even from beginning hunters. But not every UAV is suitable for this type of leisure. As a rule, such drones cost a lot of money.

Before using drone in the field, you must first learn how to confidently manage it. Remember, it should be chosen taking into account the weather conditions of the terrain, as well as the planned time of use. Otherwise, you can not only be disappointed in the result, but also lose or seriously break an expensive device.

To use a quadrocopter for hunting is not just for shooting the process of hunting, but for tracking down game, it is recommended to use not the standard equipment supplied with the drone, but the more advanced professional line. So, the quadrocopter suspension will require the installation of professional FPV equipment of high range, preferably using signal amplifiers. They will allow tracking animals and birds not only at a short distance.

The best version of the camera for this application is with the shooting mode of the thermal imager. This approach will allow us to track, in a cool weather, where the beast hides. In order for the data to be as precise as possible, it is worth giving preference to models supporting GPS navigation. They will not only give an opportunity to fix the place of dwelling of the beast, but also help not to lose the technique.

As for coloring, there is no unambiguous solution. Bright colors of the case can scare away the prey, and camouflage colors increase the chances of losing the device in forest thickets, especially when the backlight is off or without an audio signal.

Required characteristics for an effective drone:

Quality of the camera. For hunting, the ideal option will be a model equipped with a device for large-format video shooting and broadcasting it to the gadget screen. Thanks to this characteristic, it will simply catch in the shot prey.
Duration of flight. In addition to the functional camera, the device must have a long flight time. Therefore, amateur quadrocopters, the flight time of which is only 8-15 minutes, will definitely not work, since the optimal time should start from 25 minutes.
Flight distance. Another important criterion is work at a great distance. For this function in the drones are the signal amplifiers. Thanks to their work, the operator will not lose control over the device, even at a distance of several kilometers.
Working temperature. In addition, it is worth noting the operating temperature, affecting the seasonality of hunting. The higher the temperature range, the wider will be the spectrum of the UAV application. Most often, Copters are not suitable for work in a particularly cold period of time, since they have an operating temperature of -10 to +40 degrees Celsius.

Rifle-Mounted Camera for hunting

Such devices are designed specifically for operation in the most unfavorable conditions for the machinery, such as rain, snow or fog, and are made of lightweight but strong enough materials. In most cases, it is an aluminum alloy, which is used in aviation. Some rifle-mounted cameras are performed completely waterproof, able to work even under water. Possessing significant shock resistance, the cameras easily withstand vibrations from a gunshot of even 12-caliber weapons.

The devices have a fairly wide viewing angle. The most modern of them are able to shoot video with sound with a resolution of FullHD 1920×1080, which greatly improves the quality of the footage. High resolution video will be especially relevant when shooting with the approach. The video is recorded on a memory card located in a special slot inside the camera. The devices support memory cards up to 32GB. Some models have built-in memory of a small size. Cameras automatically split the video into separate videos. The length of such a roller depends on the model of the camera and is on average 20-50 minutes.

To minimize the noise level, even when working in low light conditions, many models of cameras use noise reduction technology.

The time of continuous operation of such cameras when shooting at maximum quality averages 2.5-3 hours. Models on the market are equipped with both built-in and removable lithium batteries. There are also rifle-mounted cameras that are powered by conventional finger batteries.

With the help of the included mountings, the recorders can be fixed not only under the barrel of any weapon, but also on the handlebars of a bicycle or a motorcycle, as well as on a headdress or any flat object.

Nevertheless, when evaluating the features of the rifle-mounted cameras, do not forget about their main purpose – to fix the moment of the shot, and not to shoot a film about hunting. Therefore, you should not compare the characteristics of such recorders with the indicators of high-grade video equipment.