The best trail camera setup for bear country
Moultrie Edge Solar
$79.99 listed price, changes oftenPicks by experience level
Beginner
SPYPOINT Flex-M bundle$115.99The SPYPOINT Flex-M bundle, about $116 with an SD card included, is a reasonable starting cellular camera for bear country on a site checked a few times a year, paired with a steel box from the start rather than added later.
Check priceIntermediate
Moultrie Edge Solar$79.99The Moultrie Edge Solar, about $80, adds a low-glow flash, GPS and a claimed 100ft range with solar power that sustains long unattended stretches, which suits the remote habitat bears typically use.
Check priceExpert
SPYPOINT Flex-S Dark Solar$389.99The SPYPOINT Flex-S Dark Solar, about $390, pairs a no-glow flash with a dedicated solar build for habitat visited only a few times a year. Skip it for a bear-active spot that is actually checked monthly; the cheaper Moultrie Edge Solar does nearly as much for a fraction of the cost there.
Check priceWhy does bear country change the trail camera setup?
Bears investigate anything unfamiliar at nose height and below, including a camera mounted at typical deer-scouting height, and can chew through a plastic housing or knock a camera off a low mount entirely. A bear-country setup starts from the assumption that a bear will find and test the camera physically, which pushes both mounting height and the housing itself higher on the priority list than image settings.
How high should a camera mount to survive a curious bear?
8 to 10 feet up, angled down toward the trail, is the standard recommendation, well above where a standing bear can easily reach and swat or bite the housing. This is noticeably higher than the 6 to 9 foot range typical of deer scouting or security mounts, and it changes the angle needed to still get a usable, front-facing shot rather than a shot of the top of an animal's head.
Does a bear-country camera need to be cellular and solar?
Both, more than most other uses on this site. Bear habitat is frequently remote, hard to access regularly, and far from any WiFi, which makes a cellular alert like the ones from the Moultrie Edge Solar valuable simply for knowing the camera is still functioning without a long drive or hike to check. Solar power matters for the same reason: a battery-only camera left for months in a rarely visited spot risks running dead long before anyone can swap batteries.
What box actually stops a bear from destroying the camera?
A locking steel box, not a plastic camera housing alone, is the baseline in bear country. The SPYPOINT SB-500S steel security box or the Hiweld steel box for Moultrie Edge models, mounted with a Master Lock Python 8418D cable lock run through a tree, gives the camera a real chance of surviving a bear's investigation rather than being knocked to the ground or chewed through.
Does cold, remote bear habitat affect battery choice too?
Yes, on top of the security concerns. Bear habitat often sits at elevation or in northern regions where nights turn cold well before a hunter's own visits stop, and an alkaline battery loses much of its usable capacity in freezing temperatures. Lithium AA batteries hold up to roughly -40F and pair naturally with the solar setups already recommended here, since the combination covers both the cold and the long stretch between visits.
More picks worth a look
Listed prices change often; the button shows the current price.
Beginner SPYPOINT Flex-M bundle $115.99 The SPYPOINT Flex-M bundle, about $116 with an SD card included, is a reasonable starting cellular camera for bear country on a site checked a few times a year, paired with a steel box from the start rather than added later.
Specs and variants Check price Intermediate Moultrie Edge Solar $79.99 The Moultrie Edge Solar, about $80, adds a low-glow flash, GPS and a claimed 100ft range with solar power that sustains long unattended stretches, which suits the remote habitat bears typically use.
Specs and variants Check price Expert SPYPOINT Flex-S Dark Solar $389.99 The SPYPOINT Flex-S Dark Solar, about $390, pairs a no-glow flash with a dedicated solar build for habitat visited only a few times a year. Skip it for a bear-active spot that is actually checked monthly; the cheaper Moultrie Edge Solar does nearly as much for a fraction of the cost there.
Specs and variants Check priceFrequently asked questions
How high should a trail camera be mounted where bears are active?
8 to 10 feet up, noticeably higher than the typical 6 to 9 foot mount used for deer scouting or home security, since a bear can reach and test anything lower. Angle the camera down toward the trail to keep the shot usable from that height.
Is a steel security box necessary in bear country, or is a regular housing enough?
A steel security box is worth it. A standard plastic camera housing can be chewed through or knocked off a low mount by a bear investigating it, while a locking steel box mounted with a cable lock is built to survive that kind of physical test.
Why is solar power emphasized more for bear-country cameras than other setups?
Bear habitat is often remote and visited only a few times a year, so a battery-only camera risks running dead long before the next check-in trip. A solar-paired camera keeps working through that gap as long as it gets reasonable sun exposure.
Do cellular camera rules for hunting season also apply to bear cameras?
Where bear cameras are used for hunting or scouting purposes, yes, the same state restrictions on cellular, transmitting trail cameras during hunting seasons or on public land can apply. Check your state wildlife agency's current rules for the specific season and land type before relying on a cellular alert during that window.
Researched from published specifications, brand plan lists and verified owner reviews; we do not claim hands-on testing. General information, not professional, legal or security advice. Trail camera rules differ by state: some restrict transmitting cameras during hunting seasons or on public land, so check your state wildlife agency. Recording and audio laws vary; only record where you have the right to.