How to Hide a Trail Cam for Home Security (An Expert Weighs In)

A trail camera is a type of camera that is small enough to blend into the environment around your home, it’s usually painted in a camo color to be unnoticeable, but what if you want to use one for home security? How would you hide it?

In general for home security, the best way to hide a trail camera is to camouflage it against a tree or bush putting just enough brush over it so it can record but not have its field of view blocked. For a suburban home you can put a plant in front of your chosen area and strap the trail camera on.

Placement Process

Because of their versatile design, the cameras can help you capture images from a variety of angles. They are ideal for use in both indoor locations, like your house and outdoor locations. They can capture night vision and daytime vision as well.

• If your garage is the entrance to your home, you must keep it as safe as possible. Thieves will always target a home that has an easy pathway to the rest of your home.
• If you have a yard that could use more security, we suggest investing in a doorbell camera with motion detectors.
• When locating your game camera, look for a place that blends into the environment. A natural location camouflaged by trees is a good choice, but keep in mind you’ll have to clean the camera off regularly to avoid blurry images.
• Sunlight will heat the camera body and lens. The resulting high temperature will melt your recording media and may ruin the camera or cause it to capture an overexposed video image.

Taking Distance into Account

You will want to put the trail cam in a strategic location. It should stand in an area that has a good amount of activity. This will let you know when someone is loitering around your property. It should be a reasonable distance and that the intruder will not see the camera if they happen to look directly at it.

Before installing your camera, make sure that it will capture all the activities you want to see. Trail cams have a detection range of 40 feet, but some may shoot further than others. Test it before making any permanent commitments.

Strategies for the Perfect Location

Before you decide on a system, be sure to measure your property and know how many cameras you’ll need. Whether you have about an acre of land or a much smaller space, it’s essential to know how the number of cameras will affect the layout of your motion detector. (1)

One of the security cameras should face the backyard to cover the shed and the house. Another should face the house to cover the main entrance. The third should face the house and driveway at a 45-degree angle to capture a wide area without being obvious.

If you have 1 acre or more, you need to plan out how to best distribute your cameras for placement. It would be best to place a camera overlooking the yard from the rear and another facing the entrance. When placing your security cameras, think strategically about where they are best placed to capture relevant footage.

Best Hidden Places 

Some of the best-hidden trail camera locations are hard to find. 

• The classic hiding place for a security camera is on or inside the garage. Placing the camera on your garage allows you to capture evidence of someone approaching your front door. The video stream can be sent directly to your smartphone.
• Mount the camera on a tree or bush to capture footage of the home. By placing it away from the home, you will have a bird’s eye view of the structure and its surroundings without obstructing your view with the camera itself.
• Light posts allow a homeowner to easily see onto their property and the yards of the neighboring homes. Light posts are an excellent way to keep track of your belongings, particularly your children. The light post will allow you to view the entire neighborhood for suspicious activity.
• Trees provide plenty of cover for trail cameras, giving them the perfect location for a game camera or binoculars. Ideal locations include brushy areas, near the trunk of a large tree, or between branches.
• Lighting up the exterior of your property will also give you the perfect setting for a trail cam. The tracking camera can then be set up in a good location facing the house.
• Easily disguise your trail camera as a birdhouse to go unnoticed at your business, home, or outdoor store. These camera covers are designed to cover all types of trail cameras, including Moultrie, Bushnell, Browning, Covert, and Drocon.
• For covert security, place a trail cam near the ground with the lens facing upwards to capture intruders in the act. Cover your tracking camera with decorative shrubs to make it appear inconspicuous.
• Placing a trail camera in windows can provide an extra layer of security. This is because people are less likely to mess with the camera if they notice it. Place the trail camera where it is hard for burglars to reach and where they would least expect it.

Final Words

There is a wide variety of trail cams available for home security systems. With proper positioning and efficient utilization, a trail cam can provide great security and home safety.

Trail cameras are more than just for hunting. They have many uses around the home. With a trail camera’s incredible range, high picture quality, and connection strength, they make monitoring the perimeter of your home simple and efficient.

Reference:
(1) motion detector – https://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/question238.htm