Self Filming Hunt Tips

[StruttinGobbler3]

Looking for some tips and advice on filming my own hunts with a camcorder and tripod. I have a tactacam 5.0 gun package and a head strap, but it's not working for the kind of footage I want to get, so I plan on selling it. I bought a Canon Vixia G10 camcorder that is like new for a good price. I also got a slik tripod, a small external microphone, and a LANC controller for start/stop and zoom control. I think I'm set as far as basic equipment. Any other equipment that would help get better footage? Also, how do you handle movement to pan the camera when a gobbler is in sight and moving? I carry a small bipod for my shotgun so I am able to support it and shoot one handed if need be. Just looking for advice. Any help is appreciated.


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[StruttinGobbler3]

Nobody here films their own hunts??


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[MK M GOBL]

Here's mine!

I have a Canon Vixia HF20, Rode Mic and VariZoom. Make sure to get some High Quality SD Cards, you write and rewrite all the time on these, also extra high capacity batteries. Do you have dead cat? and glass lens cover/filter (cheap to replace so you don't scratch cameras lens.

Camera sits right of me, easy to move and close by. Of course my gun swing is  strong to left as righty. Other tips to, just ask.
(if you are looking for B-roll might hang on to that 5.0 Tactacam, I have the 4.0 and is great for it.


MK M GOBL

[StruttinGobbler3]

Here's mine!

I have a Canon Vixia HF20, Rode Mic and VariZoom. Make sure to get some High Quality SD Cards, you write and rewrite all the time on these, also extra high capacity batteries. Do you have dead cat? and glass lens cover/filter (cheap to replace so you don't scratch cameras lens.

Camera sits right of me, easy to move and close by. Of course my gun swing is  strong to left as righty. Other tips to, just ask.
(if you are looking for B-roll might hang on to that 5.0 Tactacam, I have the 4.0 and is great for it.


MK M GOBL

Thanks for the help. I do have a higher capacity battery and a snap in lens cover for protection. Using a rode shotgun mic, can't quite recall the brand of the LANC remote I have but it seems to be solid and very smooth. My tripod is a slik, with a "fluid like" head, but not a real fluid head per se. What exactly is a dead cat? Also, how do you carry your setup in the woods, and how do you hide your hand and camera movement? My idea was to throw a piece of camo netting over the camera and tripod, with cutouts for the lens and viewfinder, so I can see what's going on and cover my hand doing the movement.


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[MK M GOBL]

Thanks for the help. I do have a higher capacity battery and a snap in lens cover for protection. Using a rode shotgun mic, can't quite recall the brand of the LANC remote I have but it seems to be solid and very smooth. My tripod is a slik, with a "fluid like" head, but not a real fluid head per se. What exactly is a dead cat? Also, how do you carry your setup in the woods, and how do you hide your hand and camera movement? My idea was to throw a piece of camo netting over the camera and tripod, with cutouts for the lens and viewfinder, so I can see what's going on and cover my hand doing the movement.

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Dead Cat is wind screen/protector on mic, I used to use a should strap I could clip to tripod and Velcro to bottom (legs) but couldn't set up quick when I wanted. Now I just slightly angle the camera arm down, tighten good and hook over my shoulder, arm goes over back tripod is on front, actually very stable this way. I had the leafy cut camo for a while, then just wrapped everything. When the bird is close I have already set my camera on kill shot/spot and a wider field of zoom, you should have same autofocus function, once bird is in view camera will keep it in focus itself.

I don't get everyone of the self-filmed, nature of the beast but that's where I am using the Tactacam for backup footage. I run camera RH and shoot RH so at some point I just have to let camera go. I have the viewscreen on my right (leftside of camera), easy to see if bird is in frame. Also I am using decoys quite a bit so the birds focus is on my DSD and give me a slight wiggle room when moving.


MK M GOBL

[StruttinGobbler3]

Thanks for the help. I do have a higher capacity battery and a snap in lens cover for protection. Using a rode shotgun mic, can't quite recall the brand of the LANC remote I have but it seems to be solid and very smooth. My tripod is a slik, with a "fluid like" head, but not a real fluid head per se. What exactly is a dead cat? Also, how do you carry your setup in the woods, and how do you hide your hand and camera movement? My idea was to throw a piece of camo netting over the camera and tripod, with cutouts for the lens and viewfinder, so I can see what's going on and cover my hand doing the movement.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Dead Cat is wind screen/protector on mic, I used to use a should strap I could clip to tripod and Velcro to bottom (legs) but couldn't set up quick when I wanted. Now I just slightly angle the camera arm down, tighten good and hook over my shoulder, arm goes over back tripod is on front, actually very stable this way. I had the leafy cut camo for a while, then just wrapped everything. When the bird is close I have already set my camera on kill shot/spot and a wider field of zoom, you should have same autofocus function, once bird is in view camera will keep it in focus itself.

I don't get everyone of the self-filmed, nature of the beast but that's where I am using the Tactacam for backup footage. I run camera RH and shoot RH so at some point I just have to let camera go. I have the viewscreen on my right (leftside of camera), easy to see if bird is in frame. Also I am using decoys quite a bit so the birds focus is on my DSD and give me a slight wiggle room when moving.


MK M GOBL

Oh ok I see, yes I do have a wind screen over my rode mic. My idea was to use my left hand to control the camera. I use a small bipod to support the forearm of my shotgun. That way my trigger hand stays on the gun at all times and I can pivot or shoot without the left hand if need be


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[MK M GOBL]

Oh ok I see, yes I do have a wind screen over my rode mic. My idea was to use my left hand to control the camera. I use a small bipod to support the forearm of my shotgun. That way my trigger hand stays on the gun at all times and I can pivot or shoot without the left hand if need be

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So your view screen is on left side of camera, unless you add additional screen going to be hard to see if bird is in frame. Have you tried "test run" filming this way yet?


MK M GOBL

[StruttinGobbler3]

Oh ok I see, yes I do have a wind screen over my rode mic. My idea was to use my left hand to control the camera. I use a small bipod to support the forearm of my shotgun. That way my trigger hand stays on the gun at all times and I can pivot or shoot without the left hand if need be

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So your view screen is on left side of camera, unless you add additional screen going to be hard to see if bird is in frame. Have you tried "test run" filming this way yet?


MK M GOBL

Very good point. I have not tested any methods as of yet. I'm simply concerned about the movement involved in lifting my right hand from the camera to the gun when ready to shoot. Since I use a bipod, I don't raise my knees up but rather keep them closer to the ground when in my lounger chair. So my other thought was to put the camera directly in front of me between my knees and control with the left hand under a camo drape. That way I could keep an eye on the viewfinder at all times. Have you tried it this way?


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[Ctrize]

Learn your equipment inside and out.Chances are you will be setting up in the dark and even with a head lamp it can be crazy. Know what your lighting setting should be.And film every thing, flowers wildlife anything that will add to the day. there is a lot more that goes into successful footage than just the shot. Extra batteries and SD cards try to think a head as an animal comes in and get hunter reactions as quick as possible.

[misfire]

Patience!!! I have been trying to get self filmed hunts done right, and just when I think I got it, I messed it up. Keep that Tactacam!!! I use one as well as a tripod camera and no matter what, that Tactacam mounted on my gun is always on point. I shot one this past Saturday, had the big camera on the decoys and the Tactacam on my gun, got the footage on the Tacatacam, but the big camera I only got a partial. Its tough to do sometimes

[Greg Massey]

I just can't find the room in my double wheel , wheelbarrow for anymore stuff pushing it to my blind, so i had to leave the camera equipment at home.  My memories are my video's ....

[WisTurk]

Check out Shane Simpson's youtube page Calling All Turkeys.  He's a master at self filming.  I know I've seen videos that he's posted in the past on both the equipment he uses and just how he sets them up while he's hunting...very informative.

[mmorgan9812]

Thanks for the info fellows! Been looking at getting started with an inexpensive setup

[simpzenith]

Check out Shane Simpson's youtube page Calling All Turkeys.  He's a master at self filming.  I know I've seen videos that he's posted in the past on both the equipment he uses and just how he sets them up while he's hunting...very informative.

Thanks WisTurk.

StruttinGobbler3, here's a Q&A video that I did about my setup: https://youtu.be/8w_ss0eX4zE

I've since updated a few things but nothing major.

[Dfowlup]

Nothing like filming your own hunt and being able to watch and analyze success and error while hunting and filming.  Sounds like you basically have what it takes for starters.  I have been videoing my turkey hunts for well over 30 years.  VHS, High 8mm, Super VHS, Canon GL1 Mini DV, and finally got a Canon Vixia HF G30 a few years ago.  I have always been "bare bone" with equipment and setup but have gotten some great footage over the years. The Tripod is one of the best investments for a solid steady and fluid video.  I have had a Manfrotto Bogen tripod for the past 25 years but there are lighter and better ones than my older version.  I acquired a Manfrotto Lanc remote a couple of years ago that mounts to a tripod handle that works nicely and allows less movement than the camera switches and zoom.  I also have a Rode mike with a dead cat wind muff.  Most of these items you've already saw but it's just another reference. I hunt primarily now out of a blind so my setup may be a little different as I can get away with a lot more movement.  I sit with the tripod raised high enough to get a lot of clearance over my right leg and have easily used a shotgun and bow from this position. (I replaced the long tripod extension with a shorter one.) Decoy and blind placement are the key to my setups and much easier when hunting fields, food plots or open areas. My position has always been to video it if at all possible.  I've let a few gobblers and many deer get away just trying to get footage of the shot.  Many times it helps to have this footage to analyze the shot and what may have went wrong which happened to me just a couple of weeks ago.  I misjudged the location of my last bow shot and hit a gobbler about 3 inches low and forward of the vitals. I was able to analyze this with the replay and hopefully make better adjustments in the future. Here was that footage for reference:

https://youtu.be/XRflF69k3io

Good luck with your hunts and video.