So you’ve decided that you want to film your hunts this year and become the next big thing to hit outdoor television! You figure “How tough can it be to just point a camera in the general direction of the action and let it rip?!” The moment arrives and one of your shooter bucks has read the script. He’s coming down a trail leaving you a perfect 20 yard broadside shot. But before he gets to your shooting lane, you are turning cameras on, fumbling around to get the shot, and somebody catches a glimpse of movement. BOOM! Mr. shooter buck is off for the next county. Maybe this filming thing isn’t so easy.
Generally the first thing I advise people to do when they ask questions about starting to film their hunts is to decide what they are going to do with the footage? Is this something you just want to share with family and friends? Is the footage possibly going to be used to promote product/s? Maybe you want to post your hunts on the internet? Or even, try to broadcast your footage on an outdoor television show. Each one of these expectations is a topic all of its own. This decision will not only dictate what type of equipment you should consider, but also be a consideration whether or not to have a camera man climb up in the tree or blind with you. Ultimately you are making a decision on the quality of the footage you are capturing. And of course with quality, comes cost. Are you on a shoestring budget or do you have a little nest egg built up to purchase some decent prosumer gear and start at the next level? Again equipment is something that we could go on with for days and will be topics of future blogs.
Here’s an example of a professional setup that costs roughly $3,000. There’s a wide range of HD and now 4K cameras on the market today, so research is a must!
Another consideration is preparing for the days that you will be filming. No longer are making sure your bow is sighted in and clothes are dry the only concerns that you need to be aware of. Now we need to make sure your camera equipment is charged, you have all your camera mounting equipment, rain gear for the camera and the list goes on. Another part of your preparation is determining if you are trying to tell a story with your footage to show the viewers what you experienced. The planning of what needs to be captured can be as detailed or vague as you want. It all boils down to what you want to show your viewers. Again, another topic that can be long winded. A little pre-planning goes a long way and will benefit your footage in the long run. Your time to set up in the stand or blind should also be considered. If you are running a couple of POV cameras, generally the extra time to set up is minimal. If you throw in a camera arm with a ratchet strap, now you are going to need a bit more time. Have a cameraman with? Now you are going to need even more time. You get the point….a little pre-planning will make your hunt and your footage successful.
Adding a cameraman to the mix certainly increases the difficulty of any hunt.
So far we’ve touched on a series of high level decisions that you need to make if you want to enter the arena of filming your hunts. In future blogs, we will look at some of these topics in more detail. I have been filming hunts for some time now and looking back on old footage will always be something I enjoy! Like looking back through an old photo album, only better! If you have been thinking about filming your hunts, do it! It is so much fun to share your experience with family and friends.
Have some suggestions for future topics on filming hunts? Let us know in the comments below.
