Quick Guide to Mastering Trail Camera Settings
Trail camera settings can be confusing. What are all the modes? When should each be used? Here are 10 trail camera features you should know about.
In this post, Andre Rothove—avid hunter, outdoor enthusiast, & hunting instructor—discusses common trail camera settings. Andre is the founder of Huntress View, a blog helping women learn about hunting & the outdoors from other women. She also works for 70MAX Trail Cameras. Andre shares tips about the best trail camera settings on most models & what situations work best for each.
10 Common Trail Camera Settings & Tips
Trail camera technology has evolved. Now, there are more settings & features than ever. Packed into just one camera! Burst Mode, Timelapse Mode, video with sound, adjustable trigger speed, & more. But what do these mean? What are the best times to use them? Below, I’ll break down ten common trail camera features, explain some advanced settings, & give you tips on how to use them for unique situations.
1. Photo Mode
This is the most basic setting on all game cameras. It takes still images of animals during both day & night when movement triggers the camera.
Scenario: This mode is great for any use—hunting, surveillance, or just for fun.
2. Video Mode
Almost all trail cameras now have this setting. It records video clips of animals during both day & night when the camera detects movement. The video length depends on what you set it to—5 seconds, 30 seconds, etc.
Scenario: Video mode is ideal when you need more intel than still images. For example, if you capture a whitetail buck near the rut, the video lets you observe his behavior. Was he grunting, casually strolling by, or maybe chasing a doe?
A video clip in video mode captures a whitetail buck pawing the ground in the woods.
3. Smart IR Video
This feature allows a daytime video to keep recording as long as the camera detects movement. Once the camera stops detecting movement, it will end the video after the time you set in the menu.
Scenario: Smart IR Video is useful when an animal stays in front of the camera longer than your designated video length. It’s also perfect for surveillance. For example, if a trespasser is in front of the camera for more than 10 seconds, the camera will keep recording, providing more info than in regular video mode.
4. Timelapse & Timelapse+ Feature
Timelapse mode takes images at regular intervals throughout the day. For instance, if set to take a photo every 10 seconds, the camera will do this regardless of movement. The images can be viewed via software to create a video-like sequence.
70MAX Trail Cameras also offers Timelapse+ Mode, which works the same as Timelapse but adds photos when anything crosses the detection zone, as if it were in photo mode.
Scenario: Timelapse & Timelapse+ are ideal for monitoring larger areas, like open fields. In these modes, you can capture animals outside the camera’s detection zone. This is useful for hunters deciding where to place a camera or where to set up a tree stand or blind.
A trail camera photo shows whitetail deer grazing in a field. Another shows bucks around a Redmond Trophy Rock.
5. Burst Mode
This setting works in photo mode. Instead of taking one photo when triggered, the camera takes multiple images. For example, 70MAX Trail Cameras has a “Rapid Fire” setting, which takes up to eight images (the number can be adjusted) when triggered.
Scenario: Burst mode is useful when you expect animals to move quickly through the camera’s detection zone & you want multiple images. However, if an animal is feeding & in front of the camera for a while, this mode isn’t ideal.
A still shot of a wood duck taken by a 70MAX trail camera. The camera captures a wood duck landing on a log in a pond.
6. SD Card Management
70MAX Trail Cameras offers an SD Card Management feature. When the SD card fills up, the camera will erase the oldest pictures or videos. It will then overwrite them with new images or videos. This ensures you always have the most up-to-date content. If this setting is off, the camera stops taking photos or videos when the SD card is full.
Scenario: If you’re scouting for hunting & might not return to swap the SD card before it fills, enabling this feature ensures you always have the latest images & videos. This way, you can stay updated on animal patterns & behaviors.
7. Adjustable Trigger Speed
As the name suggests, this feature lets you adjust the camera's trigger speed within a predefined range. For instance, the 70MAX F8 trail camera allows trigger speeds from 0.1 to 0.7 seconds.
Scenario: You don’t always need ultra-fast trigger speeds for great images. When selecting the speed, consider your camera’s location. Slowing the speed to 0.7 seconds might work better if you’re setting it over scrapes, minerals, or food sources where animals approach slowly. If you expect fast movement, choose the 0.1-second speed.
A whitetail captured by a game camera at a deer mineral site. A whitetail buck still in velvet visits a Redmond Trophy Rock.
8. Adjustable Detection Ranges
Some models let you adjust or extend the detection range. This lets you capture wildlife images from farther away than the preset detection zone allows.
Scenario: For open fields, extend the detection range. In wooded areas, a shorter range might be more effective.
9. Adjustable IR Flash
70MAX Trail Cameras offers two adjustable IR flashes: Power Save & Long Range. This allows you to fine-tune your flash based on your camera’s location. Power Save provides a dimmer flash, while Long Range extends the flash’s reach.
Scenario: When placing cameras in the woods, Power Save mode works well for smaller areas. In open fields, use Long Range mode, as you’ll be able to see farther.
10. Capture Timer
This feature allows you to set a start & stop time when using Photo or Video Mode. This lets you control when the camera captures images or videos.
Scenario: Many turkey hunters use trail cameras to scout for turkeys. Since turkeys roost at night, you won’t get nighttime images. Set the camera to start capturing in the morning & stop in the evening. This saves battery life & SD card space!
A picture taken in Capture Mode. A male wild turkey struts & fans his tail in front of a trail cam.
Additional Cellular Trail Camera Features
Cellular trail cameras are very popular. They come with some unique settings, beyond those mentioned above, that users should know. 70MAX Trail Cameras’ Defender Wireless cellular camera has an app that lets you change camera settings directly through it. The settings above are included & can be controlled via the app, but there are extra settings that deal with how & when you view images/videos from your cellular camera.
1. Camera Sync Schedule
This setting lets you choose specific times when images/videos are sent to your phone from your cellular camera. You can set up to eight times for content delivery via the Strike Force Wireless app.
2. Thumbnail Upload
This lets you choose whether images/videos will be sent to you according to your selected "Camera Sync Schedule" or immediately. If "immediately" is selected, images/videos are sent in real time.
3. Categories
This feature lets you create different image categories, such as "Whitetail," "Turkeys," etc. Once you have an image, you can categorize it to keep your collection organized.
With the rapid advancements in trail camera technology, it can feel overwhelming to choose the right settings. I hope the info above helps you select the best features for your next camera setup, regardless of the situation!