HIKMICRO New Trail Camera, Round the Clock Observation Made Simple

1. Mat sets up the Trail Camera M15 to observe his shooting ground.

2. The Trail Camera M15's camouflage casing makes for discreet observation.

3. Controls are easy to operate and connecting with your phone is a simple task.

4. The supplied tree attachment strap makes for quick, secure fastening.

5. The Trail Camera M15 is threaded for tripod attachment.

6. A grey squirrel caught raiding one of Mat's bait stations.

7. The M15's PIR was sensitive enough to capture this tiny mouse visiting at night.

----------------------Mat Manning shares his thoughts on the Trail Camera M15---------------------

The new HIKMICRO Trail Camera M15 is an extremely useful piece of kit for hunting applications and a wide range of other outdoor pursuits. Apart from its obvious use for observing target species, it should prove very handy for monitoring other wildlife, as well as for security. Considering its impressive performance and exceptional list of features, including cellular 4G connectivity, the M15 is an entry-level trail camera offering excellent value for money.

Setting up the M15 is very simple; all you need to do is open up the weatherproof cover and insert either six or 12 AA batteries and an SD card for data capture. The device can then be synced with your phone at the press of a button. This enables you to use the HIKMICRO Sight app for easy remote setup and to receive and view images and videos via a cloud album. A free basic data plan gives you an immediate connection with up to 300 images per month, and you can subscribe to more comprehensive plans to increase capacity right up to an unlimited package.

By accessing the M15's easy-to-navigate setup menu via the Sight app, you can choose whether the device is set to capture video (WVGA, HD 720P or Full HD 1080P), photographs (3MP or high-quality 10MP) or both. You can also adjust PIR sensitivity and flash output, as well as select from Delayed Shot and Scheduled Shot modes. The camera can be set to run for two working times per day – either for short periods or right around the clock – and you can choose how many images are uploaded per day. The Sight app enables you to access and control all these features remotely via your phone.

The M15 comes supplied with a tough tree strap which features a simple clip for fast and secure attachment. The compact trail camera's camouflage finish makes it inconspicuous, and its weatherproof armoured shell, which provides protection from rain and harsh weather, also features threads for tripod attachment, so all mounting options are covered.

I was very impressed with the M15's image quality – full colour by day and sharp black and white by night, courtesy of a discreet onboard 940nm IR light. Even when targeting very small, flighty pests such as grey squirrels, the sensitive PIR trigger, which has a delay of just half a second, was able to capture the action. Its after-dark image capture is also very good and even recorded tiny mice visiting my bait stations. This proves that the M15 should be able to capture the activity of rats very easily, and its 25m detection range will prove very useful to hunters targeting larger animals such as foxes and deer.

My main purpose for using a trail camera is to observe target species and identify the key times when they are active on my shooting grounds. This enables me to time my visits to coincide with when they are most active, which helps me to achieve the best results. The M15's date, time and temperature stamp information makes it very easy to observe and map the behaviour of animals through the day and night, and in changing climatic conditions. And its 4G cellular connectivity means you are always in touch with your hunting grounds.

The HIKMICRO Trail Camera M15 is supplied with installation strap, SIM card, antenna, USB cable and quick start guide.

Over recent weeks, I have been using the Trail Camera M15 to wildlife monitor when pest species such as grey squirrels are visiting my bait stations, but it is also very interesting to see what other animals are active in the area. It is also used by conservationists, researchers, and wildlife enthusiasts to study the behaviour and habitat of animals in their natural environment. These cameras can be set up in remote areas to capture footage of elusive species such as badgers, foxes, deer, and birds of prey.  From a security and safety point of view, a trail camera can be very useful for identifying when other people are present on your shoot – I know several gamekeepers who use them for anti-poaching surveillance as well as river keepers who use them to keep an eye on predator activity. Hunters can also use it to scout for game animals and determine their patterns of movement. By setting up cameras in strategic locations, hunters can gain valuable insights into the behaviour of their target species and increase their chances of success.

Other uses for trail cameras include: education and information sharing to improve people's understanding and appreciation of the natural world; monitoring fish migration, predation and poaching; data gathering for scientific research; monitoring and assessing population levels and behaviours of wildlife, game animals and livestock. The HIKMICRO Trail Camera M15 looks set to be a strong and reliable performer in all these areas.

HIKMICRO M15, capture game efficiently