Smile Mr. Whitetail…You’re On Candid Camera!

There was a time not too long ago when hunters would hunt hard all day then return to camp in the evening to sit around the fire and spin stories with their buddies about the events experienced during the day.   It was a reflective time often used to laugh at one’s misfortune, while occasionally rejoicing in one’s great accomplishment.   Sure, there were lies typically told…there would even be half truths frequently uttered.   The point is the post-hunt gathering relied on good ol’ fashioned storytelling which is quickly taking a back seat to technology.

Here’s the deal.   There seems to be a growing cadre of sportsmen who don’t head to the woods unless they have their gun AND their video camera in hand.   That’s right.   It’s not enough to simply sit in a tree stand and shoot their quarry with gun or bow, nope these hunters won’t be satisfied until they get the entire action all captured on video.   What’s the intrigue of video, you might ask.   Mostly to brag.

Indeed, there are a growing number of sportsmen who would rather capture the event of their kill on video to subsequently replay to their buds than to simply recount the story to skeptical ears.   Moreover, many of these same hunters take greater pride after the hunt in the footage than in the trophy mount hanging on the wall.   To some traditional sportsmen this might all sound sort of strange, but chances are good you probably know someone who takes their video camera out in the woods with them at times during the fall.

I think most of this need for footage comes from the plethora of outdoor shows on cable network emphasizing the kill.   Fact is, you could probably spend a Saturday morning watching outdoor programming and witness dozens of kills captured on TV.   It’s exciting…and the show producers know what attracts viewers.   Only seems logical that “Joe” Hunter might start thinking that he could just as easily do that.   And quite honestly, with the many devices on the market today it’s entirely possible.

I also think that some seasoned hunters won’t admit this but they are getting somewhat bored with the hunt.   By toting a video camera into the woods they have something new to play with.   They also have the increased challenge of not just firing a gun, but pointing the video camera in the right direction.   Call it a form of multi-tasking for the hunter.

Back 2 1/2 years ago I first wrote about the Rifle Cam mount that actually attached your video camera directly to your gun/scope or even your bow.   Today, there are also several styles of flexible arms that attach to the tree, stand or blind and permit the video camera to be pointed at will.   See an example of what I’m describing by linking HERE.

Canon_hf100Now don’t get me wrong…I am certainly not down on the concept of taking video cameras into the woods.   In fact, quite the opposite.   I just purchased a new Canon HF100 High Definition recorder and it is nothing short of awesome.   I purchased it to take my stepson’s athletic videos, but it would take spectacular nature shots, too.   I’m just not that gung-ho about using the camcorder in a manner to capture myself waylaying a big buck…at least not like some people seem obsessed to do with it.

Could it be that in years to come sitting around the campfire after a day’s hunt would mean everyone showing videos of the day’s action?   Possibly, but probably not likely.   Yet, you might be interested to know that for a growing number of hunters being videographers is a dual challenge they willingly attempt during the hunt.   How about you…have you ever been tempted to capture the excitement of your hunt on video?   Perhaps you’ve already been doing it for years.   Let’s hear your take on this subject.

2008 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved. No Reproduction without Prior Permission.