Filming Your Own Hunts.

[Risner11]

Hopefully you guys can help me out here. I am going to start trying to film my own hunts (either this late season or next season) and i want your guys opinions on a few things. What is the best camera to use that is still cheap? I am planning on spending $200 -$500. Also whats a simple tree arm that works for you guys?
Now what pointers does anyone have to make filming my hunts successful? Thanks for any help you guys can give.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Here's my pointer: Save your money and frustration. It ain't worth the frustration IMO.

Muddy makes a great camera arm. Been a while since I have looked at cameras, so I'm no help there. Check out Cambells Cameras site for cams and such.

 

[dante322]

Filming my hunts would be pretty boring. Lol.

Unless you like squirrels, birds, and blowing leaves.

 

["J"]

Filming my hunts would be pretty boring. Lol.

Unless you like squirrels, birds, and blowing leaves.

With the occasional yote??? lol

 

[Risner11]

I think my 1st few attempts will come from a ground blind of a corn pile. This should make it so i don't have to move the camera just turn it on a focus it.

 

[jeremy44230]

I got into this a couple years ago. I got an Oak Sturdy Arm(so,so) and a canon Vixia camera.

As for self filming, it is tough... I do find it enjoyable but I've told myself I will not risk loosing a buck kill due to the camera aspect. Last year I had my camera set up and didn't even touch it when my buck came in due to positioning and timing. This year was a different story.

Good luck!

 

[hickslawns]

I bought an arm, a fluid head, and pretty decent camera. Never have taken the arm or fluid head out. I stuff the camera in my pocket. I film deer from a distance or take pictures. Enjoy the heck out of it. Guess I found I just enjoy doing that more than the thought of dragging extra stuff into the tree or risking getting busted moving around. I am out there for me. Not going to kid myself. No plans of trying to make any TV shows or anything so if I film some footage of a target buck it is just a bonus. I do use the camera a lot for road scouting, vacations, the kids' sports, etc. Probably take another go at filming if my kids find an interest in hunting. Right now, they have lost the interest.

 

[Risner11]

hickslawns i agree with you. I want to film myself shooting a nice buck but it is not a have to. I just want something to be able to watch from time to time. Also, i want to get my dad on film shooting one i think that would be a blast. As far as tv shows, its tough to make tv with a face like this. lol Maybe i could do a radio show from the tree stand.

 

["J"]

Smart phone and a mount too your bow??? Quick easy relatively inexpensive and most have the camera in their pockets already.....

 

[Outdoorsfellar]

Smart phone and a mount too your bow???

Unless you're busy texting as your deer comes in. haha

 

[Rutin]

I videoed for 8 years and let me tell you it's a pain the ass!!! I ran a canon xha1 with a 3rd arm pro extreme tree arm, manfrotto head and lanc controller. Its a lot of fun being able to recap your hunts and when everything comes together its one of the most rewarding things. The problem is being a full time hunter and camera man at the same time is TOUGH!!! I blew a lot of easy opportunities on 140"+ deer that would be on my wall right now if it wasn't for filming. $200-$500 is a pretty low budget but can be done. Buying a cheap camera will cost you that much, then you need a tree arm, fluid head, lanc controller, ect, ect, ect. This was the first year I wished I was still filming but its a lot of work lugging it all to the tree and setting up every time. It will take you several years to get good at it honestly, and if your a trophy hunter more like 4-5 years to make "good" footage! Best of luck to you. I'd start looking on eBay and forums for used stuff with your budget. A "cheap" budget for good equipment is close to $1-2k. Check out the canon hfs200 on ebay. Same lense size as a lot of prosumer cams and they sell around $300 +/-, muddy outdoors and 3rd arm make nice camera arms but you will have to buy a fluid head after that. Self filming you will NEED a Lanc controller so that your only filming with your thumb or you'll almost never make it happen in the tree.

 

[rgecko23]

got out of it, and happy I did. Takes the fun right out of it. I'll sell you all my stuff if really want something good to begin with. Cannon HFs20, muddy arm, fluid head, remote, etc. I wont ever use it again. its collecting dust right now.

 

[Rutin]

PM Carpn on here, he is selling his camera setup. Camera, arm, head, ect, ect,