Since I’ve been working with the hardcore deer bum’s at NextBuk Outdoors for the last few years some of their tricks and tactics have rubbed off on me. I’m always open and willing to almost any new idea these guys run past me. I’ve learned to think more like a deer, to scout more, and hunt less. My role on the team has traditionally been more of a sales/PR/marketing position. One thing all the NextBuk guys do that I couldn’t quite buy into was filming their hunts.
I’ve really been pretty intimidated by the whole filming a hunt process. I support my wife and four young children on a humble teachers salary, so I’ve never really had a lot of extra money to invest into expensive camera equipment. Time’s also a precious commodity in my life so I rarely have time to invest into swapping spots in the treestand with a worthy cameraman. If I got any time to hunt, I was determined to be the one pulling the trigger. I also had some concerns getting permission to bring another guy to my coveted hunting sports, would we get busted more often, get winded more, etc… I had all kinds of excuses as why I didn’t film my hunts.
This summer while wrapping up the loose ends on NextBuk’s third video, one of the company owners Jarrod Erdody showed me something cool. He had an offer for me I couldn’t refuse. Jarrod showed me the InsaneArchery camera mount. The mount is really solid and simple. It’s thin mount arm fits on a bow through the stabilizer mount. The other arm sits at a 90 degree angle perpendicular to the bow and swivels back and forth, covering 180 degrees from left to right. It’s designed for a palm size camcorder to screw into the swivel arm, allowing the hunter to film every aspect of the hunt, shot, and recovery.
The first thing I liked about the Insane mount is how affordable it is. The mount is just over forty bucks after shipping and handling. I didn’t have to spend any more because my wife and I already owned a Kodak Easy Share camera. If someone didn’t own a camera, Insane has a great deal on a combo which includes a mount and a Kodak Playsport ZX3 camera.
OK, so the mount’s affordable, easy to use, but how does it perform? As soon as I got home that day I installed the mount on my bow, grabbed camcorder, and got to work. I was amazed at how sturdy it sat on the bow, yet the whole setup is almost weightless and I didn’t notice a thing as far as my accuracy! In fact, it helped me analyze my shots and improve my form a bit. So far so good, but how would it hold up on a hunt?
Early in our bow season I had a chance to put it to the test. I was positioned perfectly next to a river with the wind in my face and acorns raining down from above. It didn’t take long for the local does to start feeding around me. I picked out the largest doe with a long horse-head and a keen eye. This girl got pretty good at busting me last season and I was happy to have a chance at her. I quietly turned the camera on and raised my bow. In one smooth, fluid motion I had drawn back, took a solid anchored aim, and squeezed the release. WHACK! She immediately leapt up, mule kicked, and ran into the nearby bedding cover, thrashing the whole way! Sweet! I was pumped. I couldn’t believe it, I just filmed my first kill and it was easy. Then, as if God were playing a joke on me, I could hear the camera turn off? (an energy saving feature that the camera offers when nothing happens in a certain amount of time) I thought it strange, because I never stopped recording. But then again, I NEVER HIT RECORD! Arghhhhh! Well, the mount worked fine, the camera would have worked, and I really felt a sense of accomplishment, although no amount of technology can overcome human error.
I really like the idea of self filming this way. Even if a hunter is using a traditional cameraman, having another film angle can be helpful and come in handy. A lot of hunters are falling back on their film footage to help analyze shots to better decide when to take up the track. Also, many video teams like to have two cameras just in case one fails at the perfectly wrong moment.
Check out the InsaneArchery camera mount. I’ve had a lot of fun with it this season. Many times I would simply sit in the tree and film deer that I had no intention of shooting. My kids at home look forward to me returning from each hunt and showing them new footage. I like sharing the experiences I had in the woods with them at home until they are old enough to tag along. Good luck and have fun! If you ever have any questions, I know the guys at NextBuk Outdoors are sold on the Insane mount, give them a shout or post something on their Facebook page and you’ll get a quick response.