Hunters can spend hours sitting in the woods, waiting for game to pass by. In some cases, they may not even know the best hunting ground, especially if they’re newer to the sport. One way to avoid spending hours in wait is to use a trail camera to monitor the habits of your prey so that you can then prepare to show up when you’re most likely to get results.

As trail cameras have become more accessible to the average hunter, they’ve grown to be a very popular tool. In fact, you’ll rarely meet an avid hunter who doesn’t own at least one. You may even find that you’re more excited about the pictures you’re capturing on a daily basis than the activity of hunting itself. By the time you get around to your next hunt, you’ll already be all too familiar with the spot you’ve chosen.

In addition to their value in stalking prey, though, trail cameras have become an affordable type of security camera. They’re designed to be easily mounted while also remaining fairly inconspicuous in colors like black, gray and camouflage. If you plan to use your camera this way, look for a trail camera that specializes in capturing video in night mode and, if you want it, you’ll need to make sure it records audio.

Whether you’re waiting to capture intruders on your property or you’re using a trail cam for its original purpose, that invisibility is important. Some cameras use infrared lights or flashes to capture images at night, which could be an issue if you’re trying to keep it quiet that a camera is there. This is especially concerning if you’ve left it in the woods year-round since someone could come along and steal it.

For extra security, though, you can buy a locking cable that will hold your camera in place. Although this won’t guarantee it can’t be stolen, it will act as a theft deterrent. There’s also the fact that your camera will capture photo and/or video of anyone who tries to steal it. That may also keep a thief away out of fear that the images might be streaming to an external source.

You should also consider battery life while you’re shopping for a trail camera. Even if it’s only occasionally capturing images, you’ll be surprised how quickly your camera’s batteries need to be replaced. Some promise longer battery life than others, so look for this if it’s an important feature.

How the images are captured is important as well. Many trail cameras operate in motion-sensor mode, only activating when something or someone comes into focus. With trail cameras, you’ll also have the option of time-lapse mode to gather images over a period even when no activity is present. Some cameras can even capture motion-detected shots while the time-lapse mode is in place.

Lastly, there’s the issue of video. Some cameras shoot higher-quality video than others, even offering 1080P HD resolution. However, you may not find that this level of quality is essential. One feature that might be worth considering, though, is whether your camera captures audio along with the video it gathers. You’ll also be limited in the amount of video footage you can shoot, giving you only seconds before it cuts off.