Share Your Hunt: How To Take Your Hunting Stories to the Next Level

Share Your Hunt: How To Take Your Hunting Stories to the Next Level

By Aaron Stonehocker

Every Successful hunt is always capped off with a story that you will be telling for years to come. As sportsmen, one thing we all can agree on is that the memory of a hunt is as vivid in our minds today as it was the day it played out before our very eyes. What if you could put the people you tell your story to, into the stand with you? This is why I started to film my hunts. Filming your hunt not only captures that moment in time exactly how it happened in the field, it adds another element to sharing your story. If you have been thinking about filming you hunts, this article will get you up to snuff with a basic knowledge of equipment to get started, as well as some recommendations tailored to your style of hunting.

Gear Basics
I know most of you are already seeing dollar signs and thinking, “Great, more stuff to haul in and out of the woods”. It may surprise you that most gear used to film modern hunting TV shows can fit right in your current hunting pack, takes about as much effort to set up as screwing a bow hanger into the tree, and costs less than half of a new bow! Knowing what gear you need to shoot footage of your adventures is the first step, and to get you started, here is an overview of each to get you filming like a red neck George Lucas:
1. Camera: There are three basic types of cameras used to film your hunts: POV, DSLR, and Camcorder. A basic knowledge of each is listed below.
a. Point of View Camera (POV): These are typically small camera’s (less than a pound) that are specialized to capture “your point of view”. They can be mounted on the person, directly to your weapon, or several other mounting options to capture your entire hunt, or a second angle of the action.
b. DSLR or “Point and Shoot” Camera: This is your typical “picture taking” camera. Most modern DSLR’s have video capabilities, are relatively small, and can easily be packed in your hunting bag. They will have a zoom limited to the lens they have attached to the camera body, so the lens you need is dependent on each situation, sometimes requiring you to change lenses for each situation. The best part is you are ready to take trophy pictures with the same camera.
c. Camcorders: These are your typical “video cameras” and come in with more price points and options than a used car lot. The best advantage is that you can get models that don’t break the bank while still offering a ton of features. Camcorders will have your best zoom capability, as well as accessory options, depending on how Hollywood you plan to get with your filming.
2. Camera Arm/Tripod/Fluid Head: These are essential if you are planning to film with a DSLR or Camcorder.
a. A camera arm attaches to the tree and holds the camera out on the end of it, usually allowing you to maneuver the camera to the desired position. These come in a variety of sizes, dimensions, brands, capabilities, and the best choice depends on what you are wanting to do, and what camera you are supporting.
b. If you plan to ground hunt or are hunting from an elevated blind, you will want to consider a Tripod to hold and maneuver your camera. You get what you pay for here, however a cheap Wal-Mart tripod will do just fine if you don’t use it more than a few hunts a year.
c. A fluid head is the piece of equipment that allows you to tilt, angle, swivel, and generally maneuver the camera smoothly while filming. They attach to the top of the tripod, or business end of a camera arm, and are worth their weight in gold for great footage. Some low-end tripods and camera arms come with a fluid head “built in” and they can work great for the weekend warrior.
3. Pack: With a camera, tripod, or camera arm now coming with you to the woods, you may think you need a whole new pack just for this gear. While they do make packs specifically for camera gear, I find that a separate pack is unnecessary and that with a little trial and error you can get your current bag packed just right to carry your camera gear and your regular equipment.
Now you have an idea of what you will need to make a movie set out of your best hunting spot, lets explore the exact gear you will need depending on your personal hunting scenario.

“What Gear Do I Need for How I Hunt?”
While there are many types of cameras, arms, tripods, and accessories out there for you to choose from, not all will fit the bill when it comes to filming “your” hunt. Here are some common hunting scenarios and filming set ups that will have you ready to roll when the moment is right:
1. Long Range Hunting (Tree stand): Most people don’t think about Iowa as a place that provides “long range hunting” opportunities. That may be true, but I personally have taken deer at 200yds, and on camera…that is a LONG SHOT. If you hunt over food plots, ag fields, or pasture ground you may encounter some long-range filming situations. In this case, your best camera choice is going to be a camcorder with good zoom capability and a strong camera arm to support the weight of your camcorder. Sony makes some great options for lightweight cameras that have outstanding zoom capabilities, and typically have options for any budget. Most camera arms will be fine for this type of hunting, just pay special attention to the weight limit on the arm you are considering.

2. Short Range Hunting (Tree stand): Short range hunting for filming purposes will be anything 100yds or closer. For this type of hunting, you will have more versatile options when it comes to camera’s because most DSLR cameras, Tactacam POV camera’s, and all Camcorders will perform well at these distances with moderate zoom capabilities. Personally, I like to combo with my Sony a3000 (and entry level DSLR) on my tree arm and my Tactacam 4.0 POV attached to my weapon. I choose a DSLR over a camcorder here because the zoom capabilities are adequate, and the camera is much more compact for carrying in and out. Your Tree Arm can be lighter duty as well because it won’t be supporting as much weight. My Tactacam 4.0 (POV) has a unique lens coupled with a 5x zoom feature that makes filming out to 100+ yards with a tiny camera possible.

3. Ground Hunting/Blind Hunting: Hunting from a blind or the ground will require a tripod with a fluid head, and your camera of choice. This will give you height adjustment depending on the blind window height or the height of the cover you are concealed in, as well as the ability to maneuver the camera 360 degrees for situations when the animal comes in behind the blind. As with the short distance hunting, your camera choice will depend on the zoom you are wanting for your likely shot distance.

I use a Tripod with a Lightning Camera Arms “Tripod Arm” for filming on the ground or in a blind. The “Tripod Arm” is a great tool that allows me to move the camera around the blind to different windows without having to pick up and move the tripod. For a POV, I also like the Tactacam because it has the option to mount it on the riser of my bow, scope, gun barrel, or even on the blind itself to make sure I can get the shot on camera no matter what the situation.

Other Considerations
Sound Quality: Most camera models will offer a built-in microphone that can capture sounds within 50’ or so of the camera fairly well. Unfortunately, a lot of the sounds we hear when hunting come from distances greater than that. Getting an external microphone will add to the sound quality of the video substantially. For your DSLR or camcorder there will be several options that will work fine, just be sure to research what mic options will work with your camera brand and model, because not all will fit every camera.

Weather: As with most electronics, DSLR’s and most camcorders are not weather proof. This means that you either hunt out of a blind, pick your hunting days based on the weather, or improvise a way to keep the camera dry. There are tree umbrella’s you can set above your stand that will keep rain from your camera, or I have even seen improvised grocery bag rain flies for cameras in a tree.

Overall Recommendations
Ultimately, filming your hunt is meant to add to the experience, not take away from it. For this reason, I recommend finding a simple affordable set up that fits you hunting scenarios. If walked up to me on the deer trail and asked, “what should a beginner outdoor videographer get, that will allow them to easily film almost any hunt without breaking the bank?”. I would give you two options:

a.) Get yourself a decent DSLR in your price range (you can find refurbished models as good as new with small price tags), an entry level tree arm that is light weight, and a lightweight entry level tripod. Most entry level arms and tripods come with basic fluid heads, so all said and done you are looking at around $300-500 for a full set up. Add in a fluid head and external mic and you are looking at $500-800.

b.) For the average joe who wants a simple, easy to use, and cost-effective option: I would tell them to go with a Tactacam 4.0 POV camera. These camera’s mount right on your weapon, head, tree stand, or wherever you decide to mount them, have a built-in microphone that pics up a turkey gobble out to 200yds, and are weather proof right out of the box. The camera’s sport HD footage that looks exactly how your eyes see it, and has 5x zoom capabilities to broaden the range of situations it is built to film. The only accessory that isn’t included in the box is an SD card. All said and done it will run you around: $350.

Experiencing the hunt in person is something that we all love. The next best thing is sharing those memories through stories that pass down from generation to generation. Filming your hunt allows those you tell your story to, to be right there in the moment with you. The only problem I have found with filming your hunts, is that you will never go into the woods without your camera after your first successful harvest on film. So, all that is left is to set your budget, get your filming gear, then it is as easy as: Sunrise, Camera’s…ACTION!