Versatile Self Filming Setup Suggestions & Advice

[Coues104]

As the years have gone by and I've collected more trophy-quality animals, I've begun to wish I had more than just a few photos to remember the experience. Looking down the barrel this year at a premium Coues hunt in Arizona and high quality mule deer hunt in Utah, with some international mountain hunts next year, I'm wanting to get some kind of camera setup for these hunts. If you don't mind, I'm looking for some advice on the following:

1. Is filming hunts even worth it? I would hate to ruin a great experience by trying to get a video of it and getting frustrated at the hassle of that. If anyone has tried this and thought better, you might be able to save me some effort.
2. I hunt whitetail in the east the majority of the year so I am wanting to get something that works from anything to solo treestand hunting to open western hunts with 500+ yard shots.
3. I'm not trying to create any kind of consumer content, all just for my own/family viewing to relive an experience, so simplicity will certainly be prioritized over video quality, as well as keeping it fairly affordable as I don't need this to make money for me online.

With the above in mind I would appreciate any advice you folks can offer on some simple, economical camera systems/setups. Thank you!

 

[Jordan Budd]

I’m deep into the game and if I can lend one word of advice is don’t let the camera ruin a shot opportunity. If you get it great, but don’t fiddle around and blow an opportunity, just go into it being ok with that. They’re cool to have and can be helpful reviewing where you hit but the point is to document the experience, not just the shot.

As for setup I would lean towards a GoPro with a media mod and use your phone to film through the spotter to start with. That would be about as hands free as you can get. Lots of different mount options for the GoPro and the media mod will have useable audio. I have a little stake that’s threaded so I can stick it in the ground anywhere with a GoPro. Plus you can use your phone for filming stuff.

Beyond that, a small camcorder with a good optical zoom and a rode videomicro microphone on it. I’d have to do some research on a model, I don’t have any experience.

I definitely think you should try it. You don’t have to be all tv like about it, just film and talk about what you want to remember and share.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[thadf]

We got my son a small Sony camcorder and it’s been great. No YouTube content. Just for our personal use.
As far as good video, you win some… you lose some. No big deal