filming your hunts

jonsimoneau · July 12, 2011, 02:08:00 PM

How many of you guys try to film while hunting? I have not done much of this, but am in the process of buying a nice camera. I hear that it can be very difficult. The thing is, I really do not care if I get footage of a deer being shot on camera. I am mostly intersted in filming the ones I pass up. Most of the time, if a buck I wanna shoot is coming, I doubt I'm going to mess with the camera. Does anybody else do this?

scbowhnter · July 12, 2011, 02:15:00 PM

I've done it some with both a handycam and a flip cam. Obviously the flip cam is easiest but not as good on the quality or zoom. Buying one of the tree brackets seems to work fairly well with the handycam but it adds that much more you have to carry. I got one of the Primos ones and it works very well, but I did shorten it.

On the down side, I have gotten caught with camera in hand filming a small buck when another bigger one popped up. But it is really cool to share the footage with everyone after the hunt. I generally use a small coolpix camera now and take the photo/video thru my bino if the animal is too far. Mostly because I hate carrying the extra stuff.

PM me if you want to borrow my tree bracket to try it before you buy one.

BowMIke · July 12, 2011, 02:16:00 PM

Works well for bear hunting. You just focus on the bait area and turnit on when you have some bear activity. It's fun to look back and watch them at the bait. Also captures your shot on camera to verify your arrow location after the shot. I mount the camera over and beside my right shoulder.

steadman · July 12, 2011, 02:19:00 PM

Good to see you on here Jon, I use my still camera to video when I can, but it has only been my bear hunt. Good luck I hope to see some video clips this year. Here is the one I'm refering to.

TexasStick81 · July 12, 2011, 02:26:00 PM

Nice video Steadman. I take my wife's flip camera when I'm hog hunting for a stand. I bought the gorilla pod's smallest mount. it's awesome, will wrap around anything, and screws right into the base of the camera. Haven't been able to use it too many times yet but did get a hog on it but the camera died right before the shot. the set up is very manuverable and I can take it any where with me, plus it's very small and light. I'd recommend if you aren't looking for production quality film. I'm hoping more guys do because I enjoy watching the hunts.

stevewills · July 12, 2011, 02:47:00 PM

ive only filmed from ground blinds..and its pretty easy to set up a tripod and when you see or hear the deer or turkeys just turn it on and let it all unfold

Mint · July 12, 2011, 03:33:00 PM

For me it has worked pretty good for hog hunting but for deer it has been more trouble than it is worth. Where I hunt the deer can come from any direction so it is very hard to set up. Also the deer are so pressured and constantly looking up in the tree any noise or movement and you are busted.

July 12, 2011, 03:36:00 PM

i tried it last season, its tuff. but i did get a little bit,but no shots on camera, and i still aint figured out how to get them on the computer,...dangit!

SAM E. STEPHENS · July 12, 2011, 05:07:00 PM

It is a lot of extra work but is a lot of fun also to get to go back and watch. I started last year and have got 30 or so good hunts on film now , you will either love it or hate it.It will cost you some shots at game and make you pull your hair out ( good think I dont have any )
,,,,,,Sam,,,,,,,

BUFF · July 12, 2011, 07:39:00 PM

The Hawk · July 12, 2011, 07:48:00 PM

Very tough. I have tried elk on the ground with my dad or uncle following with a camera,in a blind with a camera on a tripod and from a tree stand. Having a good cameraman is nice if he can read your mind. I alway opt for the shot over getting it on film. I am wanting to try a HERO helmet cam on my had this fall, anyone have any experience with that????

excelpoint · July 12, 2011, 07:54:00 PM

I have just started using a POV camera. Check out the vid I posted below. The vid is in my second post. Just click on Vimeo

http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=75;t=000399

zipper bowss · July 12, 2011, 09:12:00 PM

Yep!

Bill

BradLantz · July 12, 2011, 09:26:00 PM

I just bought a Canon HF R20 HD Camcorder - 3 years total replacement warranty too because its going hunting with me ! I hope it works well

Product Features

8GB internal flash drive and 2 SDXC-compatible memory card slots
Genuine Canon HD video lens with 28x advanced zoom
Canon 3.28-megapixel full HD CMOS image sensor
Canon DIGIC DV III image processor
Dynamic IS stabilizes a wide range of movements for smooth, steady video

Technical Details

Brand Name: Canon
Model: R20-Silver
Optical zoom: 20 x

2 pounds

kraven · July 12, 2011, 09:39:00 PM

I use a GoPro Hero on my motorcycle and when I'm hiking and such. Haven't taken one hunting because I do still hunting in some pretty thick stuff. If I hunted from a stand or in a paper mill forest, I'd probably use one.
I don't mind getting footage, but I make sure it doesn't get in the way of my good time.

snakebit40 · July 12, 2011, 11:48:00 PM

A few of my friends and myself have done a little. Its very tough doing it with somebody else and hunting on the ground without a popup blind (the only way I hunt). That being said its AWESOME when things work and you catch it on film. Here a little clip we did right when I started getting into traditional archery. This was two years ago on public land.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQB0JVYCBK0&feature=related

toppredator · July 13, 2011, 11:06:00 AM

I love videoing my hunts but I will say it is very difficult. Lining up the camera and trying to get good video is challenging and rarely works out but when it does there is nothing like it. I've been trying for 3 years and have managed to get my cousin shooting a button buck with his bow and my brother filmed me shooting a turkey with a shotgun. Watching these videos, as well as the ones I have that don't have a harvest on them, are great ways to spend the off-season.

rolltidehunter · July 13, 2011, 03:14:00 PM

i bought a sony HD handy cam a few years back at best buy. bought a tripod and camera arm off the internet very cheap. i h enjoy taking my camera with me in the woods. it has cost me a few shots but it really outways the negative when you get a shot on film. i wanted to start filming my hunts so that when i get older i can look back and enjoy them. here are a few hunts i have ilmed

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthernHuntN

SheltonCreeker · July 13, 2011, 04:16:00 PM

Havent tried it yet. Looks like alot of fun. Great Video there rolltide. Very Impressive!

Landshark160 · July 13, 2011, 06:03:00 PM

I've been doing it for a few years now, mainly as a way to document my hunts. It's definitely not easy to get good footage of a kill while self-videoing, but is very rewarding when everything goes right. I enjoy the extra challenge. Here's a sample:

http://www.youtube.com/user/landshark160