How To Properly Film Your Hunt
The excitement of a good hunt should be shared with others, and there’s no better way to do that than with video footage. Anyone can film a hunt, but it takes a bit more time and effort to get some truly great footage worth sharing. However, as a good general rule, never compromise your safety for the sake of a good camera shot.
Choosing Your Equipment
On solo hunts, you’re the only one in control of your camera equipment when you’re out in the woods. You have sole responsibility to store is properly, maintain it, protect it, mount it safely and control it. If you just want some static footage of a single spot while you hunt to catch some nice footage of animals passing by or an attempted shot, a fairly cheap camera in the range of $400 to $500 will probably do the job.
Get a good camera arm to mount your camera firmly to a tree and start recording. Remember that durability, lightness, and protection from the weather elements are vitally important. A good example of a smaller camera that meets these requirements and can come with a waterproof cover or a clip mount for your gun is that of a GoPro. GoPros can also come with remotes for when you’re by yourself filming.
If you want more high definition and professional footage that you have more control over, you can spend upwards of $1000 on a camera and hundreds more in microphones, mounts, bags and other accessories. Know what you can carry with you on a hunt, have a plan for protecting every piece of equipment and do thorough research on everything to operate and care for them properly.
Get a Friend to Film for You
It can be difficult to struggle with your hunting gear and your camera equipment, and it can be even more frustrating to control a camera while you’re trying to look out for game. If you can, get a friend or family member to film for you. Teach them how to properly handle the equipment and even teach them about where they should be directing the camera during the hunt. It’s much easier to act as a director while hunting than it is to be a cameraman.
Choose a Great Location
Location is everything to a hunter, and it’s also invaluable to your footage. Ideally, the camera should always be pointing wherever you’re looking. Camera arms allow for easy angle adjustment, so you can always have it following your line of sight. Your weapon and body should not block the shot, but you shouldn’t have to adjust your position for the sake of a camera angle. You should be able to move freely around the camera without bumping it. Also, keep in mind the area lighting and the wind direction for sound purposes.
Practice Filming During Scouting or Hikes
One of the best ways to get great hunting footage is to practice filming when you’re not on a hunt. You don’t want to be fumbling around with equipment while you’re trying to stay quiet and looking out for game. Go on a practice hunt with your camera while scouting or on a hike. You can get used to how everything works, get a feel for camera angles, adjust your audio and more to get the best footage on an actual hunt.
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