BASIC GEAR FOR FILMING HUNTS

By: Colton Jones

Everyone wants to have lasting memories and capture all the amazing things that happen during hunting season, right? We decided to go over some basics when it comes to filming hunts for this upcoming season or even future seasons. So, what do you need to get started?
    First things first, you’re going to need a camera. Now you don’t need to go out and spend your life savings getting a super fancy Hollywood movie camera. Just pull out your phone and hit that record button. The best camera you can carry is the one you already have. Phones nowadays come with some super advanced camera systems that rival those of even higher end consumer cameras. You’ve got 4K resolution, wide angle lenses, telephoto lenses, medium distance lenses, slow motion, low light capabilities and more! Cameras on phones are getting so advanced that award winning movies have been shot on phone cameras.    
    Now if you are wanting to get an actual camera there are a few different options. You can film on a camcorder which is made just for filming or go the route that many people have been going and shoot on a DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. When going with these it's ok to save some money and get a cheaper camera body such as the canon rebel line or Sony a6000 line up. Spend more money on lenses as these are going to make better quality footage. Our recommendation is to try and go with a zoom lens with a low aperture such as a 18mm-50mm f/2.8. That low aperture is going to allow you to film in lower light conditions or those first light shots you’re trying to capture, while the zoom range lets you film close shots to medium distance shots. 
    So, you have your camera and lens setup all picked out, now let’s talk audio. It is possible to get decent audio out of the microphone built into your camera, but very rarely does it sound good. A good shotgun mic with a windscreen on it is the best setup for a run and gun style of filming. You don’t have to pair any wireless mics to anything or worry about being in range or if everything is turned on. Rode makes some very good affordable shotgun mics that mount directly to the camera. With these all you have to worry about is them being plugged in and turned on. Some even have auto power so when you turn the camera on it turns on the mic. At the end of the day get something that fits your budget and helps you achieve crisper audio.
    Another piece of equipment we would recommend but isn’t necessary would be a decent tripod. Being able to set the camera hit record and forget about it can be extremely beneficial especially for solo hunters. Keeping a camera steady can enhance the look of your footage to look professional just by being steady. We have found that a tripod that has a detachable leg to make it a monopod very versatile as it can also be used as a makeshift trekking pole. 
    So, you got your camera set up dialed in, what more could you possibly need. Well, you are going to need something to keep those power-hungry devices fed so having spare batteries and power banks are a must. Be aware that the colder temperature you are hunting in the faster your batteries are going to die. At an absolute minimum you should have two batteries for your camera. Before you go out in the field learn how to use your camera and get an idea on how long each battery is going to last you. If a battery is only going to last you two continuous hours of filming, make sure if you’re hunting all day, you have a portable charger to charge that other dead battery while filming, and you’ll keep a rotation going on between the two batteries. Also, if your mic takes regular batteries such as AA batteries, make sure you carry spares too. Last thing you want is the perfect shot but only to find out you had no sound due to dead batteries.
    Lastly, you need storage for all this footage. Memory cards are fairly cheap but make sure you get a SD card that has a decent read and write speed to keep up with all that filming you’re going to be doing. It never hurts to carry multiple too. Here at Brothers in the Wild, we typically carry anywhere between 4-8 SD cards just in case we run out of storage on a camera we have spares. Never want the dreaded task of having to go back through footage and delete what you think isn’t good footage to make space for new footage.
    Now like we stated before, you don’t need to go out into the woods with what looks like a Hollywood film crew that is breaking the bank with all this fancy gear you just bought. Use what you have for now, even if it’s just your phone and learn what you need through experience. At the end of the day not only are you making memories out there, but you are still capturing those amazing moments no matter what. You just have to start somewhere. So get outside, film your adventures (be it hunting, fishing, hiking, etc) and share those memories with others.