Regarded as the father of wildlife photography, George Shiras III, a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania, devoted his life to cataloging America’s wild creatures engaged in activities seldom seen prior to his invention of the trap camera — the foundation of modern trail cameras. While his adventure began in 1889, his first trap camera images were not captured until the 1890s. Once he found success, however, it became much more of a passion. Armed with little more than pans, powder, a camera and, at times, remote dark rooms to process photos, Shiras went on to produce hundreds of captivating wildlife photos eventually published by National Geographic. Shiras passed in 1946 and never realized the magnitude of his impact on our outdoor heritage, from scientific wildlife observations to modern-day scouting with digital trail cameras. 

No matter how people feel about trail cameras, they are here to stay, and their benefits for hunters who pursue greater knowledge of their prey’s activities, behaviors and routines cannot be emphasized enough. To be sure, trail camera technologies have advanced on a jaw-dropping fast-track. While trail photography experienced quite a gap after Shiras’ passing in 1946 to Cuddeback’s endeavors in the mid-80s, the past 40 years have seen trail camera innovations advance by leaps and bounds, especially in the 2000s. Now, with the industry full of cellular camera systems (and more introduced in this roundup), trail cameras are in a heyday! 

In states where trail cameras are legal, their usage continues to increase, signaling that there is no better time than right now for interested hunters to jump into these tried-and-true observation systems. What does this mean for retailers? Put simply, if trail cameras are not part of your current inventory, you are missing out on sales. Consider this roundup of 10 trail cameras for retail space to capture those sales.

Spypoint Flex-S Cellular

The Flex-S Trail Camera is an affordable, feature-rich system that solves a decades-long problem — battery life. The Flex-S boasts a dual power system comprised of a top-mounted integral solar panel and onboard lithium battery. As a backup, the camera can also be powered by eight AA batteries or Spypoint’s LIT-22 lithium battery. The Flex-S features a 100-foot flash and detection range and .3-second trigger speed. Photos and videos (with audio) are recorded at 36 megapixels (MP) and 1080p respectively. Time lapse and time-laps+ photo functions also are included. 

With the Flex-S camera’s dual-SIM system, photos and videos are transmitted wirelessly to the Spypoint app using the cellular service with the strongest signal in the camera’s location. An internal GPS allows users to map all their Spypoint cameras on the app and can be downloaded. The Flex-S even continues to record during transmissions. With the Flex-S, users are given a free Spypoint photo subscription allowing up to 100 photos per month to be downloaded; however, multiple subscription levels are available including unlimited photos, as well as video packages. www.spypoint.co

Spypoint Force-Pro

A clear leader in advancing trail camera technologies, Spypoint, headquartered in Quebec, Canada, sprouted from three employees in 2004 to more than 200. In 2020, the company invested $35 million back into talent recruitment and product development. One of the latest results of this investment is the affordable yet high-tech Spypoint Force-Pro Trail Camera. 

The Force-Pro boasts a lightning-quick .2-second trigger speed, 54-LED flash with Infrared Boost technology, 4K video recording with audio, 30MP still photos, 110-foot detection range and 90-foot nighttime flash range and a 1.5-inch display. The Force-Pro is designed to deliver rich color images by day and IR-illuminated photos at night and is powered by eight AA batteries. Of course, Spypoint’s Force Pro includes an external 12V DC port for an external battery or solar charging. and is considered the workhorse of Spypoint’s trail camera lineup. The Force-Pro is compatible with up to 128GB micro-SD cards, and a 16GB card is included with the camera. While the Force-Pro is exceptionally affordable, it is billed as Spypoint’s flagship workhorse system. 

Tactacam Reveal Pro 3.0

Founded in Caledonia, Wisconsin, in 2013 by outdoor enthusiasts Jeff and Tara Peel, Ben Stern and Ben Thorud, Tactacam created significant industry buzz with rifle- and bow-mountable action cameras; however, in 2020, the company began producing trail cameras. Soon after, trail cameras became the company’s primary product. Unveiled on July 1, 2024, the Reveal Pro 3.0 is quickly becoming a Tactacam fan favorite.  

Tactacam’s new Reveal Pro 3.0 features stealth No-Glow IR-flash technology, robust 2-inch LCD screen with Live Aiming, built-in 8GB media storage, optional SD card slot, pre-installed antenna for enhanced durability, integral GPS, 4K photo and 1080FHD video resolution, three-shot burst mode, 80-foot detection range and on-demand video. With cellular trail technology all the rage in recent years, Tactacam doubles down by offering a multi-carrier system capable of utilizing the area’s strongest wireless signal. The Reveal Pro 3.0 works with Tactacam’s app to view and download photos and videos, and plans start at a modest $5 per month. www.tactacam.com

Moultrie Micro-42i Kit

Little things also come in big packages! Moultrie has become quite the expert bundler over the years. In fact, Moultrie was the first to unveil a cellular trail camera, the Moultrie Mobile, back in 2007. As bundles go, the Moultrie Mobile incorporated digital camera technology with wireless camera management and media file transmissions. Some 18 years later, Moultrie remains an industry-leading trail camera producer. A splendid non-cellular example of Moultrie’s trail-camera product development is the Micro-42i Kit. 

Housed in a surprisingly compact case measuring just 3.25 x 3.5 x 2.625 inches, the stand-alone non-cellular Moultrie Micro-42i certainly lives up to its name. Of course, it also lives up to the advanced trail camera technology hype. While the kit includes four AA batteries and a 6V Feeder/Micro Camera Power Panel with built-in 140 mAh lithium battery, the Micro-42i Trail Camera features 42MP photo resolution, 1280x720 HD video, invisible IR flash, 80-foot invisible IR flash range, 70-foot detection range, .4-second trigger time and SD card compatibility (up to 32GB sold separately). www.moultrieproducts.com

Covert MP32

Founded in 2008, Covert Trail Cameras rose quickly enough for Feradyne to take notice. That’s what seems to happen in our industry when a newcomer sets a foundation with quality products, innovating with advancing tech and features, and delivering rock-solid customer service. Feradyne swept up Covert quickly and since then has injected plenty of research-and-development horsepower to keep Covert perched squarely amid the industry’s best camera producers with cameras like the MP32.

A heavy non-wireless hitter with a price point sure to appeal to your hunting customers, the Covert MP32 Trail Camera delivers pristine 32MP photos, including up to five-shot bursts and time-laps functionality, and 1080HD video prompted by an impressive .35-second trigger speed. The MP32 also features a 1.5-inch display screen, 40 infrared LEDs for a 100-foot flash range and 85-foot detection range. The MP32 stores media files on a SD card (up to 32GB), not included, and is powered by eight AA batteries. www.feradyne.com

Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL Nano

Let’s be honest, with more than 145 years behind a brand, your customers know Browning isn’t likely to disappear anytime soon. As an heirloom brand and more importantly, a household name, opting for a Browning trail camera is an easy pill for customers to swallow. After all, Browning’s reputation was built on quality products with reliable performance through multiple generations. For more than a decade, Browning’s trail cameras have reflected well on the brand’s name and reputation, and the Dark Ops Pro DCL Nano is no exception. 

With Dark Ops roots dating back to 2014, the latest, greatest Browning Dark Ops Pro DCL Nano Trail Camera delivers more features than any previous DO model and does so in a more compact design measuring 4.25 x 3.5 x 2 inches. The Dark Ops Pro DCL Nano’s features include stealth, high-performance infrared LEDs with 100-foot flash range; Dual Camera Lens Technology comprised of a daylight lens and a nighttime lens; 1.5-inch color display; 26MP picture resolution; 4K UHD video with audio; wide 54-degree viewing angle; long battery life and the fastest trigger speed in our roundup — just .15-second. The Dark Ops Pro DCL Nano camera also boasts Smart IR video to ensure video continues to be captured as long as subjects continue to move. All media files are captured to an SD card, up to 512GB (not included). www.browningtrailcameras.com

Stealth Cam DS4K Ultimate

For average Joes like me, Stealth Cam holds one of the most recognizable names in the trail camera game, and perhaps the most recognizable family of cameras in the history of modern systems — Wildview. The Wildview is now 20 years old and offers great performance for your customers’ hard-earned dollars, but there are better Stealth Cam trail cameras out there. The DS4K Ultimate is a fitting example of where Stealth Cam performance and features land in 2024. 

The Stealth Cam DS4K Ultimate Trail Camera delivers premium trail camera performance with an exceptionally reasonable price point — you get what you pay for comes to mind, considering features like 32MP photos, 1440P resolution video at 30 fps, 100-foot detection range, .2-second trigger speed, six 850nm infrared LEDs, 12V DC Jack for external power like solar energy, camera sharing technology, 128GB compatible SD card slot and a glare-free matte finish. www.stealthcam.com

Stealth Cam Revolver Pro

Jumping into another Stealth Cam product well worth your retail shelf space makes good sense, considering the uptick of new trail camera technology employing 360-degree photo and video capture capabilities. For Stealth Cam, this is the Revolver Pro. 

In successful business, the only constant is change, and we find ourselves in exciting yet unfamiliar trail camera territory with 360-degree surveillance. A couple models currently exist, and I expect other producers to follow suit. That said, in my view, Stealth Cam’s Revolver Pro ranks at the top of these precious few. A single camera system provides eyes in every direction, six full zones of surveillance with a .4-second trigger speed, and delivers up to 40MP photos and 1440P QHD video with audio out to a 100-foot detection range. Night Image Color AI and Infrared LED flash provide exceptional, richly contrasted nighttime images for 24-hour tracking. The Revolver is powered by 16 AA batteries and also includes a 12V DC jack for an external battery or solar power. The Revolver is available for AT&T and Verizon cellular carriers with three tiers of wireless preview and download programs ranging from $5 to $20 per month. The Revolver also includes camera sharing and has been integrated with HuntStand so hunters can create detailed maps of their trail cameras, stands and property lines. 

Cuddeback Tracks LTE

While Cuddeback was founded in 1984, the Cuddeback cameras hunters know and love did not begin rolling off mainstream production lines until 1989. Even so, the company has amassed more than 40 years of research, product development and strategy, resulting in the Cuddeback Tracks LTE Trail Camera. 

Renowned for quality, reliability and, for many years, the industry’s leader in trigger speed at just .25-second, Cuddeback has remained the go-to trail camera producer for countless hunters over decades, and the Tracks LTE continues to build upon the company’s solid reputation. The Tracks LTE certainly includes Cuddeback’s iconic .25-second trigger speed as well as LTE cellular coverage with dual SIM cards, third-generation animal sensor with seven sensitivity levels, patented auto delay, Prime Time timelapse, adjustable burst mode, external power port, extended battery life from four D batteries, and 850nm IR LEDs for nighttime imaging out to 100 feet. A 940nm IR LED (stealth) model is also available with a 75-foot detection range. Users can also use the Cuddeback app or web interface to control the Tracks LTE Trail Camera remotely. Cellular plans for previewing and downloading media files range from $4 to $13 per month. www.cuddeback.com

Black Gate R4G-Gen2

Founded in 2015 as a premium producer of simulated haybale hunting blinds, Black Gate quickly found another niche: trail cameras. Owner and CEO Ryan Lawwell had enough of high-priced trail cameras offering marginal features and set out to do something about it. Black Gate Scouting Cameras was his answer. A decade later, Black Gate’s mission remains the same: “To help hunters get closer to the game with the utilization of our hunting products. We want to make these products easy to use, affordable and of a very high quality.” When it comes to great bang for your customers’ bucks, the Black Gate R4G-Gen 2 Trail Camera deserves your hard inventory look. 

The feature-rich R4G-Gen 2 Cellular Trail Camera is designed for 4G/LTE wireless compatibility and includes Black Gate’s OneSim technology, as well as an enhanced passive infrared (PIR) sensor. Additional R4G-Gen 2 features include proprietary dual-lens and dual-sensor technologies, 12V external power port, 30MP daytime photos, 12MP nighttime photos, HD video and a respectable trigger speed of just .4-second. www.blackgatehunting.com