Filming Finally Cost Me

[SheddingLightTravis]

Missed a good chance today. Had this ten come in perfect and my filming got in the way. Set up overlooking a ridge. He came in from left in front of me. I wasn’t thrilled with where I had placed my Hawk camera arm. I had the base to the left side of the tree but this tree was bigger that I’d been in before which changed things a little. Buck worked his way slowly through some thick stuff but was coming toward an opening. I had the camera aimed at that spot but the arm was kind of in the way. The buck stepped out into the wide open at 30 yards. I should’ve already been drawn but was too focused on the camera. I didn’t get drawn before he hit the gap and he looked my way. So I had to wait for him to pass by the tree. So he heads to my right. I take my bow up and over my bridge. I leave the camera on the left side of the tree and just try to point it in a general direction. It was brushier so I was looking for a gap. For some stupid reason I tried to mess with the camera again and he caught my movement and bolted. I never even got drawn.

Very frustrating to get my first chance at a shooter buck this year and not even get drawn back. I know I’m new to saddle hunting but I’m better than that when it comes to filming...or at least I thought I was. But I learned a lot today. Main lesson is to never let that camera make me miss out on a good deer again! Really need to experiment on different sized trees as to where I mount the base. We live and learn and I’m not giving up. Just regrouping and making sure to be drawn next time and let the chips fall where they may in regards to the camera.

Ten Point

Wide open gap where I should’ve shot him


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[huck72412]

Missed a good chance today. Had this ten come in perfect and my filming got in the way. Set up overlooking a ridge. He came in from left in front of me. I wasn’t thrilled with where I had placed my Hawk camera arm. I had the base to the left side of the tree but this tree was bigger that I’d been in before which changed things a little. Buck worked his way slowly through some thick stuff but was coming toward an opening. I had the camera aimed at that spot but the arm was kind of in the way. The buck stepped out into the wide open at 30 yards. I should’ve already been drawn but was too focused on the camera. I didn’t get drawn before he hit the gap and he looked my way. So I had to wait for him to pass by the tree. So he heads to my right. I take my bow up and over my bridge. I leave the camera on the left side of the tree and just try to point it in a general direction. It was brushier so I was looking for a gap. For some stupid reason I tried to mess with the camera again and he caught my movement and bolted. I never even got drawn.

Very frustrating to get my first chance at a shooter buck this year and not even get drawn back. I know I’m new to saddle hunting but I’m better than that when it comes to filming...or at least I thought I was. But I learned a lot today. Main lesson is to never let that camera make me miss out on a good deer again! Really need to experiment on different sized trees as to where I mount the base. We live and learn and I’m not giving up. Just regrouping and making sure to be drawn next time and let the chips fall where they may in regards to the camera.

Ten Point

Wide open gap where I should’ve shot him


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Ouch!! I wish it had turned out differently for you. I am in the process of buying up my filming packing and often think about your situation. It must be really cool to successfully film a kill , but I’m not sure if it’s worth potentially screwing up the whole reason why you’re there to begin with. Time will tell!

 

[dalton916]

It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. Hate it happened on damn fine buck.

It’s easy to say you’ll never let filming get in the way, but it’s a heckuva lot harder to act on it. Good luck in that pursuit

When you get caught by one like that zoom is your friend. Zoom out, guess on camera position, leave it there and shift gears to killing.

If you find you can’t do that because you keep going to the camera then take that message to heart. Maybe, just maybe filming the kill is more important than the kill itself. And that’s fine, but if that’s the case then you need to shift gears to only killing deer you can get on film. In that case the camera becomes number 1 and the bow becomes number 2 in your arsenal. If this is the case then I recommend you find a buddy to film and hone your camera skills on him where you don’t have to worry about the bow.

 

[Jefferson10940]

I really wish the cameras like the tactacam would get a good solid impact shot but the vibration and movements in general seem to make it impossible.


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[g2outdoors]

Man I feel your pain. The camera has cost me more than 1 buck. I kinda wish I'd never even started filming lol.

 

[SheddingLightTravis]

I enjoy filming. It’s neat telling the story. And it’s awesome to go back and watch those videos. My problem was not switching from camera mode to kill mode. Lesson learned. I will be ready next time to flip the switch.


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[g2outdoors]

Yeah, but the problem is it's really hard to stay only in either kill mode or camera mode. If you don't give them equal attention, neither works. It's tough for sure.

 

[flinginairos]

Buck first, footage second. That’s my motto. I don’t get enough opportunities to mess up killing a buck just because I can’t get footage. You can still put together a great story without a kill shot. I usually just leave the camera wide and point it in the general direction. If I get the shot awesome, if not no big deal. I’m not doing this for anyone other than myself.


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[dalton916]

There ya have it in a nutshell.

 

[bowhuntr09]

I don't film yet, but if faced with get it on camera or get the shot I'm taking the shot every time. Hope you get another chance!

 

[dalton916]

I know where my priorities lie because I’ve forgotten to film, but I’ve never forgotten to shoot

 

[huck72412]

I’m gonna hire a permanent camera man.

 

[trainhardlivefree]

This was my first season self filming, definitely not easy. My buck came in hot on a calling sequence and I never got the camera on him.

 

[donnieballgame]

Actually got most of my gear ready to hunt this year and haven't taken it out once, partly because I don't have a solution to carry everything yet but also because I worry about this exact issue, obviously until I get comfortable with the gear it's not going to get any easier, ah well!

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[SheddingLightTravis]

We started Shedding Light Outdoors in 2015 and since that time I can’t think of another time where I messed up like this. Got my first self filmed buck kill last year. Last year I stood up, turned on the camera...pointed it at the gap and waited for him to walk into it. I had the mentality that I was going to kill that deer. Yesterday that switch didn’t flip but I know it will next time. I love to film and capture the story of the season and the hunt. So I plan to still do it. But I can’t let it dominate moments like that.


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[Nutterbuster]

I’m gonna hire a permanent camera man.

That's the only way I'd do it. I've ran a camcorder for buddies, and had the favor returned a couple of times. Better footage AND a better chance ar tally-whackin' something.

 

[BudgetBuck1]

I filmed public for ten years and I had more missed opportunities even with a camera man than I did successful ones. It was fun when we got really good footage but I missed out on all of my biggest buck opportunities. I did get most of them on film though, just not on my wall. This was all with a camera man. I don't even take the camera when I am by myself anymore for this reason. My biggest buck came by three good shooting lanes and each time the camera man said "Wait, I don't have him yet..." and I waited and watched him walk off. I still to this day....during quiet moments...see him walk off The best thing about the camera is just after the shot you could rewind it and watch the impact to know whether or not it was a good hit.

 

[DaveT1963]

Perhaps all this new camera gear will just be used for filming scouting and DIY projects....... it is hard enough to get on a solid buck down here - I am not passing up an opportunity to introduce them to Mr. Simmons

 

[Apex7]

I know how hard it is just to harvest a big buck without having to worry about filming. I give you guys that film your hunts solo style alot of credit. Don't give up when it comes together you will have memories that you can view rest of your life.