Today I’ll show you a list of 5 best action cameras for hunting that enables you to document and capture your hunting trip.
The ultimate guide will deeply compare and review in the first part, and then you’re going to know how to choose a good quality hunting camera.
Now let’s get started:
- Best Overall: Tatacam 5.0 Hunting Action Camera
- Top-rated for run and gun: GoPro HERO 10
- Highest footage: Sony FDRX3000/W Underwater Camcorder 4K
- Most reasonable price: LiDCAM LC-WF Hands Free Digital Camouflage
- Good for mounting: iON CamoCam Realtree Xtra Camo
Best Action Camera for Hunting Reviews:
In this part, I'll share with you 5 best action camera for hunting with detailed reviews, so keep reading:
1. Best Oveall: Tatacam 5.0 Hunting Action Camera:
If you are looking for the best camera for bow hunting elk and deer, check out the Tatacam 5.0 hunting action camera.
Fantastic Video Footage
The video footage offers the quality of up to 4k, but I prefer the 1080p. 1080p maintains high quality, and the file size isn’t too large.
The optical zoom allows you to enlarge the picture up to 8 times, which is fantastic. You can capture your prey from a far distance without any issues.
Note:
However, this camera is not the best option for low-light recording in dawn and dust.
Simple to use
There is only One touch to on/off without complicated menus. It starts by shaking without noticing your deer around.
Waterproof
Since this camera is waterproof, you don’t have to worry about hunting in the rain or snow.
No Fish-Eye Effect
Since there is no fish-eye effect, the recordings will look just like they would on a regular video camera.
You will get plenty of great memories of your hunting trips.
Decent Battery Life
The battery lasts up to 2.5 hours, so it’s more than enough for turkey or whitetail hunting.
In case, you can get additional batteries to expand your filming during hunting.
Amazing Mounting Options
The Tatacam 5.0 has many mounting brackets, which is an advantage compared to most action cameras.
You can easily mount the camera on your bows, crossbows, rifles, shotguns, or the hat.
The best part?
You can also use the standard brackets from other cameras.
Pairs Easily
You can pair the camera with your phone and enable live streaming, sync, and preview.
The camera is also highly durable to last you for many years. Even if you drop the camera plenty of times, it won’t sustain any damage.
Remote Control
Once you sync many cameras with your phone, you can even use the remote controls.
You must activate one camera, and the rest will start automatically. This is especially helpful if you set the camera up to get many different angles.
FTS - Film through Scope
The Tatacam 5.0 has the FTS feature to look through your crossbow or the rifle scope.
It‘s super convenient and easy to set up. However, you will need to order the long-range shooter package. Have a check this video:
Downside
I didn’t like that this camera is not great for low-light recording.
It’s also quite expensive, but it’s worth every penny.
It’s bulkier than the GoPro but doesn’t offer wide-angle recording.
There is also no LCD screen, so you cannot get a preview of the field. And you must connect your phone to do that.
Pros:
Cons:
2. Top-rated for run and gun: GoPro Hero 10:
If you are looking for a second angle for deer and turkey hunting, there is no other action camera than the GoPro Hero 10.
Super Clear Quality
The Hero 10 camera has a 5k360 frame, which is a particular advantage, as it has more frames than the Hero 9, which has only a 4k60 frame.
This camera enables much better and sharper footage than any other 4k camera on this list.
The built-in audio is brilliant, and it can capture your voice fantastically.
But wait, there’s more…
The low-light recording is undoubtedly improved, but it can still be grainy and needs a bigger sensor for better quality.
The LCD touchscreen at the back is convenient. It will let you know if you are setting up everything right and enable you to play back the video quickly.
The slow motion allows you to slow down the video 8 times.
Fantastic Stabilization
The stabilization is incredible; considering it’s a HyperSmooth 4.0 stabilization, that’s to be expected.
You can get steady video quality in a first-person view on your head or bow mount.
The camera is also waterproof up to 33 feet deep in the water. So, you can easily hunt in the rain without needing a protective case.
Fish Eye Effect
The fish-eye effect offers a wide angle in close-up distances under 20 feet.
Note that it will make your objects seem further away. For instance, if your deer appears within 20 yards, it will look 50 yards out.
No matter what mode you choose, the fish-eye effect will be present.
So, if you choose the narrow shooting mode, the fish-eye product will be less prominent than the linear shooting mode. On the contrary, Wide and super wide shooting modes have plenty of fish eyes.
Short Battery Life
The battery life is relatively short - around 1.5 hours.
The battery life is even shorter in cold weather, and the camera could also not work.
The total charge takes around 2 hours with the included charger. If you want to extend the shooting time, I advise you to get an extra battery.
The best part?
You can use extra batteries from other GoPro models if you want to upgrade it, as the design of the battery hasn’t been charged.
Remote Control
The remote control is neat, enabling you to shoot at a second angle from a distance.
Voice commanding allows you to control the camera via the built-in commands remotely.
Live Streaming
You can easily share your happy moments with live streams with your friends.
Downside
What I didn’t like about this action camera was the overheating issue. It can auto shut down due to the new GP2 processor performance.
I have some tips to reduce the work for your camera:
The cloud storage requires an extra fee if you want to auto-upload the feature.
Even More
The Quik app allows you to connect to GoPro, so you can upload videos to your phone or live stream. However, it’s only compatible with Android 8.0, which can be a problem for iPhone users.
The camera is expensive but worth the money.
Last but not least
Low-light capturing is not the best; the battery quickly drains out, and the fish-eye is not great.
Pros:
Cons:
3. Highest Footage Quality: Sony FDRX3000/W Underwater Camcorder 4K
The combo of the best Sony action cam, tripod, and Live View Remote simply produces top-quality sound and images for your hunting season.
In my opinion, this is the best head-mounted action camera.
Remote Control Looks Like A Smart Watch, Live Viewing
You can also have access to the device through a smartphone app (Imaging Edge Mobile) via Bluetooth and wi fi connectivity.
It also offers a remote controller that looks like a smartwatch to give you a live update of activities happening around.
3x Smooth Zoom
This compact action camera also sports a Handy 3x zoom that lets you zoom your pictures in and out and bring them 3 times closer to you.
Action Mount
The Mount, which is the selling point of this device, is designed to work flawlessly with the action camera.
Thanks to the included Vivitar Curved Helmet, Vented Helmet Mounts, and Flat Surface, which helps to mount the action camera to bows, rifle, and tree stand surface.
4k Video Resolution
Like other top-notch and best image quality action cameras, this device will capture high-resolution videos in 4K.
The sweet part is that it houses a Zeiss lens, which happens to be one of the best quality lenses you can find around.
And this is one of the reasons the camera is quite expensive. But, the included Zeiss lens of the Sony action camera worth every dang penny.
Anti Shake
With 125 min record time and 170-degree angle, the Sony Cam also comes with a super-steady and anti-shaking Balanced Optical SteadyShot to help you capture a more stable shot.
This two-way adjustable handle enhances camera handling to give you permanent and static shots.
Support Voice Recorder
While the Sony action camera supports a voice recorder that allows Live Streaming via Ustream, it also supports an H1n and Rode mic unit’s audio quality using a third-party device.
Waterproof
The Sony also comes with a reliable splash-dustproof and a fully waterproof body designed to go down to 197 ft(60m) in water.
Thanks to its Underwater Housing, which ensures it is securely waterproofed to keep it dry during wet seasons.
Drawback
While this unit looks well-thought-out and gorgeously built to rule and reign over other action cameras for hunting, it does come with its downsides.
One of my gripes is that the 2 mounts were glued incorrectly, and the part held by a screw has a rubber grommet that wasn't properly seated.
While it is a little bit expensive, the audio quality needs a bit of work. It usually gets muffled when it’s in the waterproof case.
Pros:
Cons:
4. Most reasonable price: LiDCAM LC-WF Hands-Free Digital Camouflage
Sometimes, you are looking for a reasonably priced action camera, and the hat-mounted LiDCAM LC-WF is undoubtedly the way to go.
Good Video and Sound Quality
The LiDCAM camera shoots in 1080p, and it offers stunning sound quality. You can record your voice within 10 feet of the camera.
The zoom is fixed, meaning it has two variations - 1x and 4x, and there are fewer variations for you.
Note:
Light and Low Profile
The camera is slim-designed, so it weighs under 4 ounces.
It’s easily and quickly mounted to the hat.
It works great as a first-person view, allowing you to see your hunting game without shaking.
Handy 1-Button Operation
The LC-WF camera has two LED lights instead of an LCD.
The LED recording light will let you know if you are recording or not without spooking your deer.
The bright hat lights are excellent if you need to track short-range blood trails on the ground.
Short Battery Life
The battery life is relatively short, and the battery might even stop working in cold temperatures. I advise you to take several extra batteries.
A car charger is included, so you can charge your cam in the car when you are hunting.
I liked that this camera is pretty priced, so if you don’t want to spend lots of money, this is a safe bet.
Downside
I didn’t like that the camera could only be mounted on the hat and could not be attached to a bow or a rifle.
The camera is also not waterproof, so it’s not ideal for heavy rain.
Even More
There is also no LCD touch screen, but the camera is Wi-Fi compatible - you can connect, playback, and download your images and videos wirelessly.
On the other hand
The camera has a 120-degree wide-angle lens but still has a fish-eye effect.
Also, there is no independent device for remote control - you can only control the camera using the installed app, which is useless.
And lastly, the camera has a short battery life, and it’s not a very durable product.
Pros:
Cons:
5. Good for mounting: iON CamoCam Realtree Xtra
Unlike other action cameras, the the Ion Camocam is one of the best gun mounted cameras for hunting that is silent and only vibrates when turning it on and off.
It offers one-touch silent recording system that lets you operate the device with just a single finger.
Camera Vibration
Another nice feature about the Ion Camocam is that it won't scare your deer away due to its vibration. The camera is silent and only vibrates a little when turning it off and on.
14MP Image Capture
This camera has 1080p HD Video @ 30fps full capture with a crystal clear 14MP Still Images.
The Ion Camocam also comes with an ultra wide-angle lens to capture Beautiful Photos and amazing moments and show you big games even while on a treestand.
Waterproof
The CamoCam is shockproof and waterproof and will go deep up to 32 ft (10 meters). So, taking it out with you on the boat will be a total joy when bowfishing.
Recording Time
With an Anti-shake feature and a 180-degree angle, the CamoCam has 2.5 Hours of consistent shooting, with free 10GB of Cloud Storage.
Wi-Fi Enabled
Like other top brands on this list, the CamoCam comes with a Wi-Fi-enabled setup that lets you connect the camera to your smartphone.
Besides that, you can control it remotely and share video content with family and friends.
Save Money with High-Grade Aluminum Mount
The CamoCam does not only offer a mount alongside its accessories, but it also ensures that the mount is of high-grade aluminum quality.
The best part is that the mount is camouflage to resist heat and corrosion. So that means you can easily mount your camera to be well-positioned with your rifle barrel, fishing rod, bow, or net.
Realtree Xtra camo print
Did you know the CamoCam is completely camouflaged?
It will ensure your Camera fits perfectly with the environment, offers overall concealment, and keeps you hidden and prepared for a perfect shot.
Easy-To-Use Button Controls
The buttons are easy to use — thanks to its one-touch and one-click capture that lets you slide the record button easily without making any noticeable movements.
Downside
While this Action Camera looks fantastic, one of its downsides is it doesn't come with a zoom feature. Meaning, it isn't great for long-distance shots (80 yards and above). So the distance clarity needs to be improved.
Pros:
Cons:
What To Look For In An Action Camera For Hunting?
In this second part, you'll know how to choose a good quality action camera for hunting before find out the editor's choice in the last section. So check it out:
Vibration
One essential feature to look out for in a hunting camera is its quiet operation. It shouldn't be noisy or come with a loud vibration that will startle the game and make them notice your presence.
If this happens, you might end up losing your long-awaited prey. Besides that, it must be able to capture your moves without shaking.
Waterproof
Another critical feature to consider is to buy an action camera that can withstand different weather conditions. If you record rainy or wet seasons for a long time, then this feature is a must.
Similarly, it is better to choose a device with a shock proof design, to stay strong in both rough and severe weather conditions.
Zoom
While some action cameras offer a zoom-in and out feature, others do not. If you want your target image to appear a bit closer than its actual distance and give you much better quality images, then you want to consider this feature.
Fisheye View
Also, ensure the action camera you want to buy features a fisheye lens as this will let you have an ultra-wide-angle lens that will give you a full hemispherical or panoramic image.
Cameras with fisheye do not come with images that have straight lines or rectilinear photos.
Instead, it uses a lens that sports a unique mapping and provides characteristic convex and non-rectilinear images. It will ensure you have a clean and perfect shot on your target.
Low Light Filming
If you are an active hunter who wants to shoot in both dusk and dawn, ensure the action camera you want to buy can capture high-quality footage in both high and low bright conditions.
Don’t make the mistake of choosing something that only works in daylight if you want to use it at night.
Mounting Options
The action camera you want to buy for hunting should be easy to mount and well constructed to do the job effectively.
It should offer an easy mounting system that allows you to attach it to your head, bow, rifle, and treestand with ease, as well as a stable shot on target.
Battery Life
You don't know when the action will eventually set in, so you need a good camera with a lithium ion battery to have the full backup when taking a shot on prey.
You want to make sure the device has a good battery life to let you capture action sequences nonstop.
Video Quality
An action camera with High footage that is not shaky, and grainy, should be considered.
Having a camera that offers at least 1080p resolution to take high hunting footage will do a perfect job.
Budget
High-end action cameras with a great resolution usually come with top-dollar prices.
So, if you want to get the best action camera that will make your hunting adventure a wonderful experience, then ensure you go with the camera that falls within this category.
But if you are on a budget, then take, GoProtime to choose the right action camera that falls within your budget and do a fantastic job giving you the most experience.
The Bottom Line:
All the 5 best action cameras we have reviewed are among the best cameras you can get for the money.
While this is true, our editor's choice as the overall winner of the best action camera for hunting is the Tatacam 5.0 Hunting Action Camera.
Editor's Choice:
Here are a few factors that set it apart from others:
With all these first-class features in place, the Tatacam 5.0 stands as the best action camera for hunting.
How does the Tactacam 5.0 with the soon to be released FTS (film through scope) compare to the Hero 7 Black? I will primarily use for hunting with Crossbow, gun and vertical bow. Thank you
I’ve never tried Tactacam 5.0 new, so can’t give you a suggestion. But at the time of these reviews, Hero 7 is my recommendation.