# Trail cam question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349 "2020-11-24T14:26:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![urbanredneck2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/5f8ce5/32.png) [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/1 "2020-11-24T14:26:35Z")
I’d like to set up a trailcam on my land to keep track of any animals coming thru (or people). Thing is I only get up there about twice a year. The area is secure so I’m not worried about theft. Would a camera with a 16 GB sd card keep taking pictures for 6 months? What other problems might I have? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/2 "2020-11-24T14:49:35Z")
I have one that I seldom use anymore, so my experience is somewhat dated. They make trail cameras that send images to your phone in real time, so i theory at least the card is secondary. They make SD cards a lot bigger than 16GB and they are cheap, so be sure the camera you choose can take a bigger card to alleviate that issue. My shooting club is using the Cell service cameras with success. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/3 "2020-11-24T15:04:22Z")
If the thing is going to connect to the network, that will drain the power - so check the specifications regarding expected run time between charges. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/4 "2020-11-24T15:18:45Z")
That’s a point to consider. I believe ours have auxiliary battery packs. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/5 "2020-11-24T16:53:55Z")
Whether or not 16GB will be enough will depend on the format the pictures are stored in, and how often the camera is triggered. I think the battery life will be the limiting factor though, as even the most energy efficient of monitoring is going to cause some constant power drain. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/6 "2020-11-24T17:43:30Z")
> [@naita](#): > > I think the battery life will be the limiting factor though, as even the most energy efficient of monitoring is going to cause some constant power drain. You can buy some pretty big aux battery packs. You can also buy **[solar-powered USB chargers](https://www.amazon.com/s?k=solar+usb+charger&crid=3LSDDX6X27UXU&sprefix=solar+usb+%2Caps%2C195&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-a-p_1_10)**. OP would want an aux battery and/or charger that are weather-resistant. ---
**Author:** ![urbanredneck2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/5f8ce5/32.png) [@urbanredneck2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urbanredneck2)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/7 "2020-11-25T13:14:40Z")
Does waving grass, snow, random birds, or insects set them off? What I’m hoping to use them for is a semi security system so I know what vehicles or people come onto the property but also what animals wander by. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/8 "2020-11-25T13:23:28Z")
Typically they use a PIR sensor to detect movement and trigger the video recording; this is the same sort of sensor as used in intruder alarm systems and typically it’s only triggered by a moving object which is at a different temperature to the objects in the background. Some trail cams have adjustable PIR sensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![Sigene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df788c/32.png) [@Sigene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigene)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/9 "2020-11-25T13:48:05Z")
I have 854 pictures of the same damn stick waving in the wind. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/10 "2020-11-25T14:01:37Z")
> [@Sigene](#): > > I have 854 pictures of the same damn stick waving in the wind. - You could make a flip-book. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2020, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trail-cam-question/926349/11 "2020-11-25T19:24:44Z")
Look into the specs of the trail camera you will be using. My car dash camera came with a 16GB card, but it will take a 128GB. So I did. SD cards are not very expensive, Your trail cam will probably take a much bigger one.