Wildgame Encounter Cellular Trail Camera Review
The Wildgame Innovations Encounter got a few things right; case design, trigger speed, and easy setup. Unfortunately, the poor battery life and average picture quality is a detriment to the overall performance. Other than that, this is a fairly solid cellular trail cam. - TCP Staff
Model # wgi-enctrat
Trailcampro Comprehensive Score:
74/100
Wildgame Encounter Cellular Camera Review
Pros
- Fast trigger speed
- Easy cellular setup
- Solid case design
Cons
- Below average battery life
- No internal setup or viewer
Photo resolution: 26 mpxl (interpolated)
Flash Type: No glow IR
Night pictures turned out to show more flash range than expected. They are a bit grainy, but overall have good illumination and show the animal pretty well.
Day pictures are adequate but not ideal. The clarity is below average and the pixelation on full resolution images is noticeable. However, for folks that just want to see what is in front of the camera it certainly does that.
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Night IR Blur Test The equipment for the test consists of a target moving along a track from left to right at a constant speed controlled by a stepper motor and a sensor to trigger the capture of a picture near the center of the field of view of a trail camera. The target is moving at 1.25 feet per second and is 10 feet from the camera at the center of field of view. The test is conducted in a dark room. Two pictures are taken, one with the target not moving and one with the target in motion. A visual comparison can now be made of the two pictures. All settings that affect the quality of night photos will be tested. |
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What if you purchase from us and aren't happy with the image quality?
This is a common question and we have a very simple solution. Call, email, or chat with us and we can take a look at the images and offer suggestions or immediately tell if something is wrong with the Wildgame Encounter camera. If so, we will warranty the camera for you (with the free 2-Year warranty you receive from us) or return the camera for a full refund (within 90 days of purchase). You have control of the process, remember, we work for you.
Megapixel Ratings:
In the past, many people get confused with the megapixel rating trail camera manufacturers advertise. Companies inflate the mpxl rating to attract eyes to their products. They do this through interpolation, which digitally adds megapixels to a photo without actually improving the picture.
The best way to judge picture quality is to look at actual pictures. You will notice this the most when you zoom in on a full-size image that a Wildgame Encounter camera has taken. The details of the photo will appear hazy or even digitized. This is normal, and to be expected.
Picture & Video Resting Power (on): 1.02 mW
Picture Daytime/Nighttime Power Consumption: 41.4 Ws | 44.6 Ws
If this camera took 15-day pictures and 15-night pictures every 24 hours, it would last 1.9 months on a set of lithium batteries. This is below average.
Picture Trigger & Recovery Speed: 0.21 s. | 50 s.
Detection Range & Angle: 80 ft. @ 45.1° detection angle (41.3° field of view)
Trigger speed is exceptional and recovery time is average for a cellular camera (and varies based on how good the reception is). The detection range and angles are very standard. Overall, this is a solid detection circuit.
Dimensions: 5.5" x 4.5" x 2.75"
Battery Type: 8 AA
External Battery Jack: 12-volt
Case Design
The Wildgame Encounter feels solid in your hands, is small, and has been really easy to conceal in the woods. The back of the camera has a tripod mount for your favorite mounting accessory and a slot for a python cable lock.
The latch opens and closes easily revealing a few programming buttons and the battery release for the battery tray. Batteries load easily and are held snuggly in their compartment.
Camera Setup
The camera does not have an internal screen so the majority of the setup is done on the Wildgame smartphone app.
- Download the Wildgame App
- Create an account
- Scan the QR code found on the inside of the camera.
- Select your camera settings
- Insert batteries and SD card into the camera and power on. There are a few status lights that tell you the signal strength.
- Press the Sync button to force the camera to take a photo and upload it. This will help to make sure the camera is connected.
- Make sure to select and purchase a data plan, but it should be ready to work!
Durability
Keep in mind, our 2-year warranty program is your free insurance program in case something goes wrong with a camera you purchase from us. This warranty protects you from any manufacturing defect the camera might experience for two years.
Since 2005, our mission has to been to provide consumers with unbeatable value, advice you can trust, and customer service that exceeds expectations. There are plenty of places you can choose to do business with, if we are lucky enough to earn your support, we promise to give you our undivided attention. Trailcampro has grown each year not only by relying on your happiness but on the assumption that if we blow you away with customer service, you will brag about us to your friends (have you seen our referral/reward program?).
As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to call, email or chat with us. We look forward to helping you find your next trail camera!
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FAQ's: Trail Camera
Q: Will this trail camera trigger on small animals (birds, rodents, etc.)?
A: Trail cameras detect on a combination of heat and movement, so, yes, small mammals will trigger the camera. However, if you are going after smaller warm-blooded mammals, we recommend getting the camera closer to your target. For best performance, place the camera in an area that would enable picture detection from 3 - 20 ft.
Q: Can animals see the infrared flash on this camera?
A: This is somewhat controversial. Humans can't see the flash as the nanometer spectrum is above what the human eye can detect. It's also much harder for an animal to see, but that could depend on the species of animal as different species see in different light spectrums.
Q: Where can I purchase this camera?
A: From us! We hope to woo you with our incredible charm, two-year warranty, 90-day returns, free continental U.S. shipping, and technical expertise.
Seriously, though, we know you have plenty of options of where to spend your hard-earned money. The internet can be the wild, wild, west of too-good-to-be-true deals. If you choose to do business with us, we will go out of our way to make sure you are happy with the camera you select and the service we provide you.
We are passionate about testing and reviewing trail cameras, but most importantly, we are passionate about treating our customers the right way. We do things differently from what you have come to expect from other internet retailers and we hope you give us the opportunity to prove that to you.
All test results are achieved through the use of proprietary equipment used exclusively by Trailcampro. Any re-publication of this data without prior written consent is strictly prohibited by law. COPYRIGHT TRAILCAMPRO, L.L.C. 2023, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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