What Is the Best Height to Place Your Cellular Trail Cam?

Your wireless cellular trail cam can do great things for your hunt, but the quality of the images it sends you–and in some cases, whether you get any images at all–will have a lot to do with how you place it.

The Tactacam REVEAL wireless trail camera has advanced motion detection capabilities and sends crisp, clear images using a built-in SIM card straight to your phone, tablet, or computer through our data plans. To ensure you get the best possible images from your trail cam, you need to make sure it’s not placed too high or too low. Not sure what the optimal height is? We’re here to help.

Trail camera height is important for several reasons. The right height gives you the best view of animal movement, reduces glare from the sun, and minimizes the chances of detection by animals or other people. Placing your camera too high or too low means you run the risk of having a situation where an animal walks into your plot but the motion detection system is not activated. Or, if you place your camera too high, you might only get pictures of the tops of animals' heads. Go too low, and you may end up with blurry images, pictures of irrelevant things on the ground, or images of animal feet.

With cameras like the Tactacam REVEAL, choosing the correct placement height maximizes its functionality, helps you get real-time images, and minimizes the need for unnecessary trips to the camera site to check footage.

Most experienced hunters and wildlife enthusiasts will agree that placing a trail camera at about chest height, 4 to 5 feet off the ground, is a good starting point. This height will help you capture a balanced view of both small and large game while also offering the flexibility to adjust the angle up or down depending on terrain and the specific game you are interested in. At this height, a camera like the REVEAL can easily capture clear images thanks to its wide field of view and trigger sensitivity.

Besides being the optimal height for most wildlife, placing your camera 4-5 feet up means it’s easy to reach if you need to retrieve the camera or replace the battery or memory card.

It’s important to keep in mind that you may need to adjust your camera based on the animals you are interested in seeing.

• Deer: Deer are most commonly captured at 3-5 feet. Many hunters prefer placing the camera 4 feet off the ground, as this generally offers the ideal angle for detecting bucks and their antlers, which are key for identification.
• Smaller game (i.e., raccoons or wild turkeys): For smaller animals, positioning the camera about 2-3 feet off the ground is a better move. At this height, you can capture small animals more clearly. For turkeys, setting the camera about 2 feet off the ground will capture their ground-level foraging behavior. If you are looking for animals like grouse or pheasants, 2 feet will also be a good height.
• Larger game (i.e., elk or bears): For larger animals, placing your wireless game cam a couple of feet higher–between 5 and 6 feet off the ground–will provide an optimal angle.

Looking for even more mounting options? Tactacam has a variety of adjustable mounts and camera stakes so you can get the perfect angle.

More should go into your camera height equation than just the animals you are after. The terrain that you are operating in should also influence camera height. If your camera is on a slope, for instance, you might need to adjust the height to account for elevation changes. Make sure to test your camera before you leave your site.

If you are in dense woods or areas with a lot of foliage, positioning the camera a bit higher can help minimize visual interference from branches and leaves.

Many animals, especially deer, are wary and will notice changes in their environment. Positioning your cellular deer cam above their natural line of sight will reduce the chance that they notice it. For deer, this means going slightly higher than what you might otherwise choose, but keep in mind that going too high is going to increase the chances that passing wildlife will not trigger the motion sensor. 

Besides wary game, you may also want to put effort into hiding your trail camera from humans, especially if your camera is on public land. To shield your camera from human eyes, consider mounting it above eye level, at around 7 feet off the ground. Also, employ other tactics to hide and secure it: don’t use black straps and use a mounting bracket instead, secure it in a lock box, and consider using additional camouflage such as artificial leaves or a different pain scheme if your camera doesn’t blend in well enough.

1. Bring a small ladder: If you are placing your camera higher, using a small stool or ladder can make installation much easier.
2. Angle and tilt: Experiment with the camera's angle to get the best field of view. You don’t want to wait to get home to discover that your cam is at the wrong level.
3. Test the setup: Before you walk away from your site, test your camera to ensure you’re getting the scene you want. Since the Tactacam REVEAL offers real-time wireless feedback once the SIM is activated and a data plan chosen, you can quickly find out if the height and angle work the way you want.

Your cellular game cam can revolutionize your hunt. Make sure it’s set up for success by ensuring it’s at the right height. By understanding what game you are targeting and what the terrain is like, and then by testing your camera, you can increase the chances that your game cam will provide clear and insightful footage.