Why do more people not film their hunts?

[DanielB89]

[DanielB89]

Originally posted by Guru:
I fought the urge for years...
One because I didn't want to carry extra gear.
Two because I didn't want the distraction.
Three because I thought it might take away from the experience.

The game changer....hunting with Cade!

After watching him kill 2 deer his first year out when he was 12yrs. old and realizing I'd missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime to capture something that would mean even more to me as the years went on....I got a camera!

Started out the cheap route because I wanted light and easy. After one year and enjoying every second of it, I upgraded!  I'm hooked!!!!!

Is it a pain sometimes? Does it make my pack #15 heavier? Does it complicate things at times? Has it taken away(at times)from my total focus on making the shot?

Yes to all!!!

But after capturing what I have the last two years, do I have any regrets.....

NO!!!!

I have and will continue to capture memories that I will cherish and be able the re-live until the good lord calls.

And after that, hopefully my kids with continue to enjoy them.

I don't film for other, I film for myself.  Do I share, yes, only because I know some will appreciate the time and effort it takes to get good footage of traditional bowhunting.

As a matter of fact I'm about to start a thread with a video link attached.....I hope some will enjoy...

Curt, I for one, THOROUGHLY ENJOY your footage and I am thankful you share it.  I look forward to the new footage!

SIDE THOUGHT:
Isn't the reason were all here to share something with someone else?  I mean, this is the "virtual campfire", isn't it?  I don't know what you fellas do around a camp fire, but when i'm around one, we typically share hunting stories.  I would enjoy it even more watching hunting footage around a camp fire.

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

WOW! Very surprised with the posts here!

Almost feel like I'm on "the other" site with the strong opinions of most who have never even tried filming their own hunt. Not much validity in most of the words here. Kinda like a "A" vs. "B" broadhead comparison.... do you really have a legit opinion before you've tried both? Also, to lump all filmed hunts into the same chest pumping category is wrong.

Do I film my hunts...Yes, most of the time.

Has it cost me opportunities....Yes, many.

Is it lots of extra work....uh,,yup!

I also shoot a stick because its not easy and enjoy the challenge. Add a video camera and especially the "solo" hunter approach with a stick and you've just made it 4X tougher than usual. And...like Guru said, there are plenty of memories out there that to not capture would be a shame.

[Eric Krewson]

I took almost all of my antler collection off the walls of my shop the other day, there were a bunch. I couldn't remember anything about the majority of them, where I killed the deer or what it was. I viewed them as unnecessary clutter and I was in shop cleaning mode.

I look through my old hero pictures and they they don't impress me anymore.

I can pull up a few memories of a specific deer encounter and relive the moment to great satisfaction.

I guess I am getting old, I don't care much for the trophy/memento aspect of the hunt anymore, just the memories.

I won't be filming any of my hunts, I feel the camera would get in the way of the experience and I am all about the experience.

[beaunaro]

Because like Bisch says it is a pain!

Also because if I did it a lot, I would want it to be perfect, and I would be fiddling with the editing all the time.

And I don't have the time or knowledge to do that.

It would just take up good hunting time, which is precious as it is.

Also...and I'm not saying you guys do it for this reason, but some folks film just to feed their egos.

The videos I like are the ones showing the hunting world as it truly is, good days, bad days, good weather, bad weather, good shots, missed shots,etc.

A few guys who do that are Bill Langer, Clay Hayes, South Cox. I know there are others.

It's also a bonus if you can watch a video and learn some skills. I like the ones on the Stalker website done by Ryan.

Those that can hunt and self film are more talented than I.

JMHO

[old_goat2]

I have enough trouble getting an animal down for a still photo without adding difficulties of getting shot on camera.

[Michael Arnette]

https://m.youtube.com/results?q=michael%20arnette&sm=1

 https://m.youtube.com/results?q=michael%20arnette&sm=1

I filmed these two recurve kills this year as well as another mature doe kill.

That being said I'm not sure I'll do it again next year.
The biggest thing I liked about it is that I was able to share it with my friends and family and I think it helped them better understand the rush of the moment and the skill involved. They now have more respect for the hours I put into practice and scouting.
Negatives would be the extra time it took to edit and get the film but especially the fact that I personally don't have as good of a memory of the actual moment of the encounter...I have watched the film so many times that it has replaced the memories of the moment for me.

If I do it next year I won't watch the film...ever! I'll have someone else edit it and review it and the memories of the intense moment will stay in that special place of my memory.

[huronhunter]

I prefer a picture and a great storie . Weird ?

[maxwell]

I just discovered my cell phone can do video and record your voice- I'm behind in the tech world. One thing I found was it is a nice way to remind yourself of the terrain and any new ideas you might come up with.Leave a message with the voice thing and take notes later.  Filming is beyond   :confused:   my skills.

[Mark Savage]

It's personal for me.

[Herdbull]

Some folks equate a filmed hunt with a filmed kill. As a solo hunter who has made many trips into the wilderness of Alaska and the mountains of the west, I know full well what I give up by  bringing the video camera, and I also know the tremendous rewards the camera and the bow bring. Some of these rewards come years and decades down the trail. The hunt has always been the main focus, and filming the kill of lesser priority. Mike

[Bowhunter4life]

Originally posted by bear bowman:
Maybe I'm weird but I always felt hunting was a very personal thing. Especially the kill. For me it would take that away.

Pretty much me in a nutshell...

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I enjoy seeing  a well done film as much as the next guy.  I do not care if it doesnt end with an animal stumbling around and dying.  

Turn offs, fist pumping and celebration while the animal is dying. People pushing gear, Rock music and swear words.

I would consider filming but I still need to work at being a better hunter before I add extra hurdles to jump.  At this point in my life I am a meat hunter. I have killed so few deer I can remember every one.  

Have I passed a lot of "gimme" shots over the years.  Yep, hundreds,  back when I was a trophy hunter.  

Film or no film, it seems like its personal preference like someone mentioned earlier, choosing broad heads. I think whats most important is the content of the film.

[ozy clint]

Originally posted by Michael Arnette:

Negatives would be the extra time it took to edit and get the film but especially the fact that I personally don't have as good of a memory of the actual moment of the encounter...I have watched the film so many times that it has replaced the memories of the moment for me.

If I do it next year I won't watch the film...ever! I'll have someone else edit it and review it and the memories of the intense moment will stay in that special place of my memory.

Thanks for putting in words what I also feel.

To you guys who put out the quality footage, keep it up, I enjoy it a lot. Just can't see myself doing it for lack of skill in using a camera and lack of desire in dealing with computers in the editing phase and of course the reasons above.

[Blessed One]

I tried it for a season, and just took all the relaxation aspect of hunting out of it for me. I was constantly checking battery level, card capacity, and trying to not forget to hit the record button. Before the hunt I was worried about clearing the sd cards, making sure the batteries where charged, and getting the footage downloaded. For me it became more about the camera and film than the hunt. I have more than enough busyness  in my normal life than to add stress to the time I am suppose to be unwinding, but like others I like watching other people film, and yes I do appreciate how much work goes into it. Filming is for those who get as much joy out of telling the story as they do making the story.

Dan

[Tedd]

Nice Arnette!

[KentuckyTJ]

I do like watching them but for me as many have stated. It takes away from that personal experience between me and the beast. My daughter plays field hockey and a few years ago I started filming her games. Having your eye stuck on a little screen did drastically take away me being able to enjoy the game and seeing the plays develop. Film on though, I will surely watch and enjoy yours!

I do really like my after the fact photos documenting everything about the particular hunt and I do that for personal reasons so when I am old and can't get out anymore I will remember and be able to relive my travels and success's.

[Bowjunkie]

Eric Krewson said, "I took almost all of my antler collection off the walls of my shop the other day, there were a bunch. I couldn't remember anything about the majority of them, where I killed the deer or what it was. I viewed them as unnecessary clutter and I was in shop cleaning mode.

I look through my old hero pictures and they they don't impress me anymore.

I can pull up a few memories of a specific deer encounter and relive the moment to great satisfaction.

I guess I am getting old, I don't care much for the trophy/memento aspect of the hunt anymore, just the memories.

I won't be filming any of my hunts, I feel the camera would get in the way of the experience and I am all about the experience."

Eric, I feel the same way. I took all of my antlers off the wall years ago and have been cutting them up any time I need them for anything practical, like the antler and osage bow rack I made a few weeks ago.

When I'm looking through pictures looking for one related to bow making and come across the 'kill pics' I've taken over the years, I just want to throw 99% of them away... and I haven't taken such a picture in years.

I do, however, take pictures and video of wildlife, plants, scenery and such while I'm out in the woods, enjoy like photos by others, and those are much, much more special to me than the 'look what I did' pics.

Maybe it depends where we're at in our journey. Pictures or videos of animals dying at my hand seem exceedingly morbid, and nearing as much so as it would be for me to take video or pictures of a dying or dead family member. It's bizarre. That's not what I want to remember about them... any of them.

[dnurk]

For those of you on the "con" side of filming hunts or not wanting to see animal perish because it is morbid....I'm curious to know your opinion of the old Fred Bear hunting videos?  All kinds of animals killed all over the world.   He and his production folks do (in my opinion) an AMAZING job telling the story of the hunt.   Not glorifying the kill, but telling incredible stories about incredible hunts that most people will never experience.

[jonsimoneau]

I bought a nice camera a few years back. Same one The Wensels used on the last Primal dreams. I thought I would try to film hunts but I never get a kill on film. I use it when in a turkey blind and I have it hanging in the tree with me during deer season and I like to film the big one that wouldn't come close enough. I also really like it for blood trailing etc. I use it for filming velvet bucks etc. I really enjoy it. I do have some kills on film. Mostly stuff in Africa where another person was in the blind with me filming.