Does Solar Power Matter for Trail Cameras?

Trail cameras are revolutionizing hunting in the United States and around the world, allowing hunters and wildlife enthusiasts to gain valuable insight into wildlife of all types.

Wireless cellular trail cams like those from Tactacam REVEAL operate on cellular networks, feeding imagery and intelligence to smartphone apps. Now, hunters can understand what wildlife are present in their hunting areas, and learn about their behaviors–all without having to visit the site frequently.

But trail cams do have their limitations, and perhaps the main one is battery life. Depending on how busy your plots are, cameras may burn through batteries in a matter of weeks as they capture and transmit data to your app. AA batteries are not cheap, and frequent visits to your study plot will do no favors to your wildlife surveillance efforts. Rechargeable battery packs can save you money and allow you to go further between site visits as you swap in fully charged packs, but for hunters and wildlife enthusiasts seeking an even more hands-off solution to battery wear issues, there’s an even better option–solar panels.

Solar-powered trail cams are catching on for good reason, especially as hunters and wildlife photographers become increasingly focused on convenience and sustainability. This blog looks into why solar-powered trail cameras should be on your radar, explores their benefits, and explains why they are changing the game outdoors.

Trail cameras, also known as game cameras and deer cams, allow users to set up cameras in remote locations in order to capture images and videos of wildlife. Think of it as having eyes in the field 24/7–without the risk of human disturbance or residual scent. The best trail cams send motion-activated alerts to smartphone apps containing images of what was captured, a time stamp, and relevant weather and moon data.

Traditionally, cheap trail cams were powered by disposable batteries. Newer options, like the REVEAL, can be powered by long-lasting, USB-charged battery packs. While effective, batteries and battery packs do have their limitations: they eventually lose power, and replacing or recharging means you need to troop into the field and handle the cams–a real pain if you have multiple cameras or if those cameras are in hard-to-reach spots.

Enter solar-powered trail cameras. These cameras have traditional rechargeable battery packs, but battery power is augmented by the sun–solar panels absorb sun energy through a small panel and convert that energy to power the camera. This eliminates the need for frequent battery changes and ensures that the camera remains functional for weeks and longer–even in remote locations.

1. Convenience and Reduced Maintenance

Probably the main advantage of powering your wildlife cam with solar panels is convenience. Depending on location, temperature, and frequency of image capture, traditional battery-powered cameras may only last for a few weeks in the field before needing battery replacement or charging. Visiting these sites to replace or recharge can be a hassle, particularly if the camera is in a remote area where access is limited.

Solar power solves this by significantly reducing the need for maintenance. As long as the panel is placed in a location where it can get adequate sunlight, it will remain powered. This means hunters and wildlife enthusiasts can leave their cameras in place for extended periods–potentially months.

2. Convenience and Reduced Maintenance

While solar panels for your trail cam may cost more upfront, the panel will pay for itself quickly. With AA batteries costing 50 cents per battery if purchased in bulk online–and more than $1 per battery if purchased at a gas station on the way to your camera site–the REVEAL Cam Solar Panel will pay for itself in a matter of months. If you use trail cameras frequently, these savings can add up quickly. Add to this the time savings and cost of gas to get to your site, and the savings can be dramatic.

Further, solar-powered trail cams provide a more reliable and consistent performance–you likely won’t need to worry about losing camera power at critical moments.

3. Better Performance in Remote Locations

Solar-powered cameras are especially useful for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts who rely on trail cameras in remote, hard-to-reach locations. Some of these areas may be far from the blacktop, making it challenging to keep batteries charged. This is where the self-sustaining nature of solar-powered cameras becomes invaluable.

4. Sustainability and Eco-Friendliness

Solar power is also becoming more popular because it’s easy on the environment. Using solar power cuts down on the need to buy batteries, dispose of used batteries, and make trips into the field to replace batteries. You get less waste, a lower carbon footprint, and minimal environmental impact.

Batteries contain chemicals and heavy metals–these elements can leach into the soil and water, creating environmental hazards. By using solar energy, hunters and wildlife enthusiasts reduce their reliance on disposable batteries.

Cameras like the REVEAL also work with rechargeable batteries, which further promotes sustainability.

The continuous power supply from the solar panel allows hunting cameras to operate without the constant need to swap or recharge batteries, making it ideal for long-term monitoring. Whether you’re tracking game in the wild or simply observing wildlife behavior, solar power provides a reliable solution for remote trail monitoring.