What's the deal with these cameras? The lens covering the motion sensor is always getting damage and the camera breaks. This is my 3rd camera replacement; anyone else having the same problem

Sorry man - have to get my BB gun practice in somehow

Your problem is a woodpecker…not the camera.

We;re not having that problem but we're having hell keeping batteries charged.

The new rechargeable battery packs suck

Get the solar panel. I haven't changed the batteries once in my camera since putting it out in May.

We have the solar panels - they don't seem to help.

I sprung for the SK version on two this year which have the built in solar panels. Have both feeding pictures twice a day to save battery. They run out of battery in about two weeks. My two year old Reveal X with no solar panel and 16 AA's is at 20% now after 3.5 months. Not sure what's the issue

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

What's the deal with these cameras? The lens covering the motion sensor is always getting damage and the camera breaks. This is my 3rd camera replacement; anyone else having the same problem

---

It's not the camera. You need to see if Mitch will green light you to kill that woodpecker.

Doubt you'll get permission though, as it's usually the young 'peckers (<3.5 y/o) that do this

I have had an ongoing battle with woodpeckers poking holes in the IR sensor lens (what Tactacam calls the "fresnel lens") on multiple cams for years. The woodpeckers aren't brand loyal. Glue a projecting "ledge" on top of the camera that makes it more difficult for them to peck at it but still doesn't interfere with camera function and then glue a plastic snake on top of the ledge.

I have had universally bad luck with game cams of all brands. Tactacam has performed better and been more reliable than anything else I've tried so far, way better than Spypoint, for example.

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

---

I have had an ongoing battle with woodpeckers poking holes in the IR sensor lens (what Tactacam calls the "fresnel lens") on multiple cams for years. The woodpeckers aren't brand loyal. Glue a projecting "ledge" on top of the camera that makes it more difficult for them to peck at it but still doesn't interfere with camera function and then glue a plastic snake on top of the ledge.

I have had universally bad luck with game cams of all brands. Tactacam has performed better and been more reliable than anything else I've tried so far, way better than Spypoint, for example.

---

I like your idea of a platform ledger on top of the camera however I had spikes there before and able to get around them. So frustrating when you go through these every couple months.

Scarecrow of some sort

Call Mike at Herd360.com 803-341-0938. I bought the SPP1025 solar panel and NEVER have a battery problem. Before this with the standard built in solar panel I was still having battery issues like y'all. I called Herd360 and Mike swears that I didn't need the largest solar panel but I didn't feel like taking a chance for the few extra dollars vs a 4.5 hour drive to the lease. I bought one to try and then once it proved to work I went back and put them on the rest of my cameras. Great guy and company to deal with.

My cameras have been great. I use the batteries from dollar tree and get tons of pics for about two months before they need new ones. The cameras let me know when they need replacement.

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

Thaddeus Beauregard said:

---

I have had an ongoing battle with woodpeckers poking holes in the IR sensor lens (what Tactacam calls the "fresnel lens") on multiple cams for years. The woodpeckers aren't brand loyal. Glue a projecting "ledge" on top of the camera that makes it more difficult for them to peck at it but still doesn't interfere with camera function and then glue a plastic snake on top of the ledge.

I have had universally bad luck with game cams of all brands. Tactacam has performed better and been more reliable than anything else I've tried so far, way better than Spypoint, for example.

---

I like your idea of a platform ledger on top of the camera however I had spikes there before and able to get around them. So frustrating when you go through these every couple months.

---

The idea behind the projecting ledge is in part that it shades that curved plastic film and prevents the sun from reflecting off if it. I think one of the reasons woodpeckers like to peck at it is due to it being shiny. The ledge also means there's less room for them to peck without their heads hitting the ledge since the IR sensor is located so close to the top of the cam housing. It also gives s nice surface to glue a plastic snake to.

It was actually Tactacam customer service who gave me that idea when I called to order a replacement fresnel lens. The lady I talked to said another customer had done this with success. I tried it and it has worked for me so far. Either that or I've just been lucky.

Incidentally, you can buy just a replacement "fresnel lens" (the smoked plastic IR cover) from Tactacam and fix it yourself without having to buy a new camera.

I did this for another camera and now all my photos are blurry. I must have screwed something up when putting it back together

Can you share a pick of what you did?

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

Can you share a pick of what you did?

---

I'll try to remember to do so the next time I'm out there at my lease.

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

I did this for another camera and now all my photos are blurry. I must have screwed something up when putting it back together

---

I'm with ya. It's a pain in the arse. Woodpeckers have been hell on cameras in general for me and my lease members. I'm not entirely certain why they are so attracted to that curved piece of plastic.

That's weird, maybe I just got lucky with my cameras. I'm not kidding when I say I put batteries in once a year and forget it. I use Durcell's lithium batteries paired with Tactacam's solar panel and I haven't had one issue.
I leave the cameras up from May - January.

My pictures that came through this morning show the camera to still have 3/4 battery.

watching

As many have said, that is not a camera problem. That's a you problem.

In regards to battery life, you have to use their solar panels. I tried using my other ones and they did not work. The best batteries that have worked flawlessly for me have been the energizer rechargeable universal.

I set these cameras up March 2022. Have yet to change the batteries and it shows 100% on the app.

I have 4 tactacams. I use the lithium rechargeable pack and a solar panel. No issues with batteries at all.

Also I'm not sure how a wood pecker is getting to the lens. I put spikes on the top of the camera and I never see pictures of them at the front

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

Also I'm not sure how a wood pecker is getting to the lens. I put spikes on the top of the camera and I never see pictures of them at the front

---

They just hover in front of it and peck. They don't stand on the top.

Bud one last question, how far out did you extend the 'ledge'?

I just got back from the ranch and going to superglue a sheet of plastic to the top of the camera. I'm also going to glue those bird spikes to the front of the camera

I think our problem is not using the Tactacam solar panels. We'll give those a try.

Wood peckers made the best bait for bobcats using #4 victor trap.

joerobert_pete06 said:

---

Bud one last question, how far out did you extend the 'ledge'?

I just got back from the ranch and going to superglue a sheet of plastic to the top of the camera. I'm also going to glue those bird spikes to the front of the camera

---

About 4" or so.

I would not glue any projecting spikes in front of the camera. If they absorb heat, the UV emitting from the spikes can cause false triggers just with weeds or foliage moving in front of the cam. Movement + heat are what causes the cam to take a pic.

9 SK TACTACAMs in the family. 2 have replaced solar panels. Otherwise all good!

bqce said:

---

I think our problem is not using the Tactacam solar panels. We'll give those a try.

---

I have their solar panels and rechargeable batteries. I had to "replace one" since it was acting up and it was bad.

They ended up swapping it out, but their technical support is starting to lack.

No issues since.

Let's give this a shot

Yeah that should work. Glue a plastic snake on top and you have the anti-woodpecker trifecta!