Setting up near open areas can make filming easier.
Hunters have pursued deer for centuries. With the advancement of technology in video cameras and the growing popularity of hunting television shows, hunters are starting to film their own deer hunts. Deer hunting is challenging by itself, but the trophy can only tell half the story. Adding the element of video can be a rewarding way to relive the hunting memories for a lifetime.
Instructions
1. Clean the camera. Having a clean camera is not only the first step to filming your deer hunt, it's one of the most important. Dirty cameras can result in a lost opportunity at capturing the once-in-a-lifetime hunt for a trophy deer. Time spent outside in the elements, wind and dust can be hard on the camera, and will eventually lead to damage. Use a cleaning kit with a lens cloth or lens wipes to clean the lens of the camera to remove dust.
2. Clear shooting lanes. If you have brush or limbs in front of the camera, it's impossible to film the deer. Predict the movement and travel routes of the deer as they approach your position. Use a tree saw or pruners to remove brush, limbs and twigs. Give yourself room to film the buck as he approaches and then have a clear view of the deer for the shot.
3. Set up the camera. Use a tripod if you are hunting from a ground blind and a tree arm if you are hunting from a tree stand. Adam Hays, a professional outdoor videographer, suggests setting the tree arm at waist height. If you are right-handed shooter, set the camera on your right as you are facing for the shot. This allows your left hand to stay on the bow or gun while you adjust the camera with your right hand. Use the LCD viewfinder screen to see what you are filming. Finish setting up the camera by concealing the tripod or tree arm by wrapping it in burlap or covering it with natural vegetation.
4. Capture the shot. When you see a deer approaching your position, focus the camera and capture the movement with a smooth panning motion. Avoid jerky movements and track the deer as he moves through the timber. Avoid excessive zooming in or out. Ideally, you will split the viewfinder into thirds and the deer will take up one of the outside thirds. Give the deer room in front of the viewfinder. For example, if the deer is walking from left to right, position the deer in the left-side of the viewfinder so the deer has room to walk into the picture if you stop panning. This also sets you up for the shot as the deer is most likely going to run straight ahead after the shot. Anticipate the deer's movement and prepare for the shot.
5. Add extra footage to create the story. Capture shots--referred to as "static" shots--such as the weather, time of day or local scenery. If you are hunting deer in Illinois, for example, capture some shots of corn fields, tractors or combines. Sunsets and sunrises also provide excellent transitions between scenes that help tell the story of the deer hunt.
6. Be prepared for the unexpected. Hunting in the outdoors can expose you and the camera to extreme elements. Electronics and moisture don't mix so carry a rain cover in your backpack. Carry extra batteries and tapes. You can't film the deer hunt if your batteries are dead or the tape runs out.
Tags: brush limbs, deer hunt, deer room, film deer, hunting from
