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How to Self-Film Your Turkey Hunts

By Tracy Breen

Turkey hunting by yourself can be a challenge. Calling in longbeards when you are the one holding the gun and also trying to call birds within range can be difficult because calling and hunting can be a tall task to master. Sometimes you have to move around the trunk of a tree or switch calls. All of these things cause extra movement, which can spook a gobbler looking for love.

Self-filming can be extremely challenging, but with a little bit of luck and a healthy dose of patience, self-filming a successful hunt is possible. Photo credit: Joe Coy

Something that is even more difficult than hunting by yourself is filming and hunting by yourself. More and more hunters are filming their own hunts to post on social media or YouTube to share with friends and family. Producing quality video footage while hunting by yourself can sometimes seem nearly impossible. Notice how I said nearly impossible. With the right gear and know-how — it isn’t impossible.

FILM WITH A MONOPOD
Joe Coy from Fourth Arrow Camera Arms has self-filmed his fair share of turkey hunts. He recently successfully called in and killed a gobbler by himself. “I feel like the best way to film a turkey hunt when running and gunning by myself is with a monopod,” Coy explained. “We offer a monopod stake kit that allows hunters to stake our monopod to the ground. This allows hunters to get great footage without the added bulk of a real tripod. This is my favorite setup.”

With a monopod, the camera can be kept close to the hunter’s hand so they can easily adjust the camera angle when calling in a bird without making much movement.

Joe Coy after a successful self-filmed hunt. Photo credit: Joe Coy

DON’T FORGET THE GOPRO
One way to make a turkey hunting video is by putting a GoPro camera on the ground in the decoys and one on the ground facing the hunter. “We offer a stake for putting GoPro cameras on the ground that keeps them stable while filming,” Coy noted. A camera offering a second angle in the decoys allows the hunter to get footage of a gobbler coming to the decoys or beating up a jake decoy. It is really fun to watch. I like to have a GoPro facing the hunter so there is footage of the hunter calling and raising their gun to shoot.”

DECOY PLACEMENT
When placing decoys, place them about 10 to 15 yards away and bring three or more decoys, if possible. Calling birds in close can be difficult and a large flock of decoys will increase the odds of success. Cally Morris, from Hazel Creek Taxidermy, has filmed hundreds of hunts across America. He likes to have a lot of decoys out when hunting. “A large flock of decoys gives the real birds confidence as they approach the setup. Having three or four decoys out gives the gobbler something to focus on when I am filming and moving the camera around,” Morris said.

MORE IS BETTER
Turkey grand slam record holder and turkey hunting guide, Jeff Budz, puts out a half-dozen decoys in some situations. “Over the years, I have noticed that the larger the flock of decoys I have, the better odds of success I have. When a real gobbler sees six or eight decoys out, he will often run right in, which makes for great video footage,” Budz said. When placing large flocks of decoys out, make sure there is plenty of room between the decoys, giving a real gobbler plenty of room to strut around the hen decoys, which will make great footage — especially if a GoPro camera is in the decoys.

Lugging several decoys into the woods and having time to place them all out can be difficult, especially if a hunter is filming and hunting alone. This type of tactic is best employed first thing in the morning when there is time to put decoys out before daylight. When utilizing a large number of decoys, Budz often uses lightweight, inflatable decoys that can easily be transported.

USE A POP-UP BLIND
Filming from a pop-up blind is obviously the easiest way to film a turkey hunt. Filming from a blind allows the hunter to sit in a comfortable chair, allows them to move easily in the blind without being detected, and allows the hunter to bring a tripod into the blind, making filming much, much easier.

Placing a GoPro in a the decoys is a great way to get extra footage of the hunt. Photo credit: Joe Coy

One option from Fourth Arrow that makes filming in a blind easier is the Rex Arm Pillar Kit, which allows you to film in the blind without taking up any leg room. The Pillar Kit mounts directly to a hub-style pop-up blind. With the Rex Arm coming off the top of the monopod, you have 20 inches of movement.

MOVE QUICK IF NEEDED
When filming a turkey hunt by yourself, try to call the bird in as close as you can so that you can get high-quality footage. When hunting by myself over the years, there have been many times when I had to move or switch calls, and my gun was at my side when the gobbler walked into the decoys. My strategy when this happens is to move fast, not slow. When I tried to slowly move my gun, I typically didn’t get a shot. If I quickly grab my gun and aim, the gobbler throws his head up in an attempt to see what I am before running off. In most cases, waiting until the bird is close and grabbing my gun has worked well over the years. If you are filming and find yourself adjusting the camera when the bird walks in and the gun is at your side, don’t worry. Quickly grab the gun and shoot. Turkeys don’t always run off right away. When a turkey gets spooked, they typically stop what they are doing and throw their head in the air. This gives you an opportunity to grab your gun, aim and shoot!

Filming a successful turkey hunt can be a challenging and rewarding experience — especially if you are filming by yourself. The best part is that years from now you will be able to relive your successful hunt by watching it on your computer, social media and YouTube.

Awesome Over-the-Shoulder Turkey Hunt with 13-Year-Old Hunter

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