If you are like us, and enjoy filming your hunts…check out the checklist in this post.  There are certain things you “need” when you are finished, to make a quality online episode or video production.  We were not trained on how to film hunts, but figured we can pass along what we have learned hoping to help out you fellow hunters….who trying to capture a hunt with your camera.  This is a pretty basic/high-level version of what you could do.

Equipment we bring into the woods consists of the following:

– Main Camera with Shotgun Mic & Zoom Controller

– 2nd Angle Camera (we use Gopros & Sony Handycams)

– Extra Batteries or Charged Batteries

– SD Cards / Enough Memory

– Camera Arm/Base & Fluid Head

The next step is about being a “Field Producer” and getting all of the right footage to tell the story of your hunt.  We’ve included a shot list of all the different film shots you can get for a hunt in order from beginning to end, with an example of where and when to film them:

Pre-shot

1. Explanation of the current hunt/goals (in truck on the way to hunt)
2. Unloading gear and getting dressed (at the truck)
3. Packing backpack with gear and grabbing bow to go hunt (walking away from truck)
4. Walking to stand (down edge of a field or two track)
5. Climbing into stand or blind
6. Setting up your camera arm/main camera (use 2nd angle camera above you looking down)
7. In stand/blind interview (use main camera)
8. Pan the area you are hunting (pan no more than 45-90 degrees of your surroundings)
9. Take close up shots(cutaways) of bow, arrows, leaves blowing, birds, sky, calling, rattling, etc (these shots will be used as fillers in the film)

At this point you are ready to film your shot on your target animal, and hopefully that all goes well.  It is not easy, but try to keep from sudden camera movements and try holding the camera as steady as possible.  A lot harder than it sounds when Mr. Freak Nasty is within range and buck fever takes over.

Here are a couple of our shots taken right before the buck takes off.  You can see the lighted nock in each shot.

Once you shoot your target animal, it’s time to get serious.

Post-shot

1. Catch your emotion immediately after the shot.  This is natural and cannot be replicated.
2. Film closeups/cutaways if you haven’t already, as soon as the shot was made.  You need to have the same lighting.(do a lot here, you cant always go back and redo this)
3. Lower your bow/gun to the ground (2nd angle or main camera)
4. Start to track – get detailed here.  Information you are seeing and finding along with the trail.
5. When you see the animal, film as you walk up on him.  This will catch your natural reaction, which again cannot be replaced.  We hate seeing the camera already past the deer as the hunter walks up.
6. Get closeups of entrance and exit holes, rack, etc.
7. Add license to your harvest
8. Dragging harvest out of the area you hunt.
9. Tell the story of what happened in detail, while the animal is in a presentable position with good light. (this could be the next day or back at camp telling to your hunting buddies, high-fives, hand shakes etc.)

I know it seems like a lot of work, and believe me it is.  BUT, you will be happy you did all of this when you are editing your footage into a online episode or a video to watch down the road.

Be creative!  There are many things that you can do in addition to what we have listed above.

I hope this helps anyone trying to put together their hunts with a video camera.  Like I mentioned, we are not experts and are still learning everyday.  Ask anyone who has been successful filming a hunt….it is very challenging and cumbersome, but the reward of watching it over and over again and showing all your friends is worth it!!!

As always, thank you for reading.  If we missed anything really important, please let us know in the comments below!