To Film or Not To Film...

Lately I have been getting a lot of questions about what it takes to film in the outdoor industry. If you are interested in filming your hunts for personal use, any recordable device will suffice. Of course quality of footage varies depending on your equipment. For the hunters wanting to obtain TV quality footage or to become part of an outdoor television show, a whole new set of guidelines come into play.

Some hunters think all you need is a camera and you are in business, but there is so much more to this equation. To start, it is a good idea to have a quality tree arm. My team uses the Muddy Outdoors Boss Hawg tree arm for our camera. You may ask, “What about a shoulder mount?” To achieve smooth and steady footage the arm is ideal.

Next, sound quality is a big concern. We use a couple of Sennheiser products including a wireless microphone and a shot gun microphone mounted on the camera. Wireless microphones improve the sound quality when the hunter is whispering or is at a distance from the camera.

Also, having two people in a tree or blind can create limited movement for the cameraman. A useful tool is the Verizoom controller, which mounts on the arm of the fluid head. This controller allows the cameraman to zoom, record, and focus with just the use of a thumb.

Another must have is a tripod, for hunting out of a blind or hero shots following the recovery. My recommendation is a Bogen Manfrotto tripod. You will want to make sure you are using at least a 501 fluid head for the tree arm and tripod.

Most importantly is the camera. Be sure the camera is capable of filming in 1080p. My team currently uses the Canon XH-A1. There are many cameras with features relative to the Canon; therefore, any of them will work just fine. Since the majority of networks hosting outdoor television shows are broadcasted in High Definition, it is a must to have an HD Camera.

Finally, I know it sounds like a lot of equipment and you are right. Carrying all this equipment, including your gear and weapon of choice, can be a challenge. I recommend the Camera Pack by Game Plan.

Now that I have you all geared up, price tags can be an issue for the consumer. For the beginner, used equipment is available through a variety of Web sites.

To film or not to film…

After all this information, you may realize filming hunts is not for you. I have talked with people who think filming takes away from the experience of hunting. Then there are those who hunt for the wrong reasons – for the freebees. (Freebees shouldn’t be your motivator.)

It is my belief that filming adds a whole new level of excitement. Attempting to capture all that Mother Nature has to offer and sharing it with others is quite the challenge. Filming is more than just the gear and your surroundings. In order to produce quality footage, you need an eye for the small things. Someone once told me years ago, “Anyone can kill big deer, but a good cameraman is one in a thousand.” In order to produce a TV worthy hunt, many factors and elements must be met. Unfortunately, I can’t give you a “secret recipe” for success – each show has its own format.

To film or not to film is totally up to you. I hope this blog was a useful reference for your decision. Good luck!

I personally film for Struttinbuck Outdoors. They are a stand up organization and a great group of guys/friends. If you are interested in filming with this organization go to www.struttinbucks.com to fill out an application.