What are some of the tactics and strategies used by today's leading television hosts and cameramen, and what kind of equipment are they using to successfully videotape the exciting whitetail hunts that we all like to watch?
By Travis J. Faulkner
With one of the most recognizable faces on outdoor television today, Michael Waddell has had vast videotaping experience both in front of and behind the camera. Michael currently hosts "Realtree Road Trips" and "We Live Outdoors" television shows.
Anyone who has ever climbed into a tree stand during the fall knows there are a million things that can go wrong while hunting a trophy whitetail. Sometimes the subtlest movement, the slightest sound or the least switch in wind direction at the wrong time can be all it takes to eliminate a possible shot opportunity at an absolute wallhanger.
And if that's not hard enough, try to imagine closing the deal with a monster buck while contending with double the scent, double the noise and double the movement. Throw in trying to get the right camera angle or proper lighting to capture professional-grade video footage, and you've got yourself some major challenges to deal with!
These are just some of the obstacles that today's leading television hosts and cameramen deal with on a daily basis throughout the course of a typical deer season. Somehow these guys always seem to find a way to make things happen and capture hunting footage that is so good it's almost like you're in the stand with them, getting ready to drop the hammer on that buck with intimidating headgear walking by. Without question, successfully videotaping a trophy whitetail hunt can be very difficult and demanding to say the least, yet more and more avid hunters are doing it every year.
If you've never tried it, wouldn't it be nice to have your own hunts on video to share with all your family members and hunting buddies? Being able to relive the hunt and feel that sudden surge of adrenaline just before the shot would be the ultimate hunting achievement. The good news is that with today's equipment and the following advice, you, too, can successfully video your own hunts like a professional. With that being said, let's take an inside look at how some of the best hunters and cameramen in the industry capture amazing whitetail footage and what gear they depend on to get the job done.
MAKING IT HAPPEN WITH MICHAEL WADDELL
It's hard to watch any outdoor television without seeing Michael Waddell in a tree stand somewhere "laying the smack down" on a bruiser buck. In fact, Michael is currently the host of both "Realtree Road Trips" and "We Live Outdoors" hunting shows. Michael may be young compared to other hunters in the field of television, but he is wise beyond his years when it comes to taping hunts from the perspective of both a hunter and a cameraman. Working at Realtree has enabled him to gain experience as both cameraman and hunter. According to Michael, in order to pull off a quality hunt on video, it takes a team effort from both ends of the camera.
"In the past, I've learned that you have to establish a strong partnership between hunter and cameraman," Michael says. "This means working together with a common goal of capturing the best footage possible. For things to run smoothly, communication in the stand is critical so that you don't spook the deer or take a shot when the camera has a bad angle or bad view of the target.
"Basically, I want to be on the same page with my cameraman at all times during the hunt. I like to go over hand signals and other subtle forms of communication prior to entering the stand to prevent possible confusion when the moment of truth arrives."
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