Round-the-clock reconnaissance

Mat Manning puts the HikMicro M15 4G Trail Camera to the test

- Mat Manning

Using a trail cam to see what’s going on around your shoot when you’re not there can be a real revelation. While any form of observation can provide useful information, it can be very surprising to see what quarry species get up to when left to their own devices. Of course, trail cams can also provide a valuable insight into the activities of unauthorised and unwelcome human visitors who don’t realise they’re being watched.

A lot of my shooting time is devoted to the control of grey squirrels, and I often use trail cams to monitor activity around my bait stations. Information gleaned from these cameras helps me to make sure the hours I spend in the hide with my air rifle coincide with the times when the destructive rodents are most likely to put in an appearance.

I also know lots of shooters who use trail cams to keep tabs on the comings and goings of foxes and deer, and these clever gadgets can play a very useful role in security. Photographs captured on a motion-activated camera helped me to put a stop to the repeated vandalism of my squirrel feeders a few years ago.

Earlier this year, HikMicro launched its M15 4G Trail Camera, which I’ve been putting through its paces over recent weeks. This unit retails for £164.99 and uses 4G cellular connectivity to send still images and videos directly to your phone. A free basic data plan allows you to receive 300 free photos per month until the end of 2023, and other packages costing between £4 and £13 per month are available through the HikMicro Sight app.

NEED TO KNOW

Manufacturer HikMicro

Model M15 4G Trail Camera

Price £164.99

Dimensions 112x86x143mm