It wasn’t so long ago that the only hunts you’d ever see filmed were on your favorite Sunday morning hunting show.
My how things have changed.
Thanks to the introduction of more compact and affordable home video equipment for the everyday Joe, and the ever-growing use of websites like YouTube which allow sportsmen to share their video hunting experiences online, the practice of filming wildlife hunts has exploded in popularity.
Today, tons of video camera accessories for compound bows have flooded the hunting market. Some tiny digital cameras made specifically for bows have started to creep onto shelves too. However, unless you like poor sound quality and grainy video, the most practical innovation is still in the form of bow camera mounts.
For all intents and purposes, bow camera mounts work well. Versus some of the earliest, primitive versions, the mounts you’ll find in stores today are easy to attach (most just screw into your stabilizer hole) and will have you shooting video in a matter of minutes.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement. Most mounts I’ve used for my compound bow are so heavy and bulky, it is distracting when aiming at a target, not to mention hard to hold a tight shot -- even with a small, light weight camera attached. And, reducing recoil or “camera shake” is something that has been a problem as well.
However, there is a new bow camera mount on the market and it’s one of the best designs I’ve seen so far. It’s called the BowCamTreeCam. Shaped just like your bow’s existing stabilizer, the easy-to-attach mount fits any bow and it offers several advantages over other bow camera mounts.
BowCamTreeCam Size and WeightThe mount is lightweight when compared to other mounts. And, it's not much bigger than your stabilizer, as you can see in the photo below. This means there is a seamless transition when equipping your bow with the mount. When I hold the BowCamTreeCam in one hand, and my stabilizer in the other, I cannot tell a difference. They are nearly identical in weight.
If you compare designs with other mounts, it seems like most are designed for the shotgun or rifle hunter. It's easy to see this particular mount was designed with the bow hunter in mind from the beginning.
Bowtreecam vs. other bow cam mountsBeyond the bulkiness and weight of other bow camera mounts, the problem to me is the placement of the camera. While they may in fact screw into your stabilizer as the BowCamTreeCam does, the video camera always sits on one side of your bow, and that can really cause serious balance problems with your shot.
Because the BowCamTreeCam is shaped similar to your existing stabilizer and features an attachment arm that extends vertically, not horizontally, the camera rests out in front of your bow, not to the side, so you don't have the imbalance issue. For a visual, check out the two photos below:
This keeps your shot balanced because weight is evenly distributed; your bow isn't weighed down on one side.
The mount below would instinctively cause you to over-compensate for the added weight, potentially causing a poor shot.
You'll notice I used the silver extension for my bow, increasing the length of the mount a bit. In most cases, you will not need this extra extension to fit your bow. However, they are available on BowCamTreeCam.com to ensure the mount will fit your bow. The adapter screws directly into your stabilizer, as does the mount itself. Because it screws secure and tight into the "meat" of your bow, a lot of the camera shake you'll find with other mounts is eliminated. Obviously you'll have some camera shake, but the more you use it, the better you'll get at reducing it.
One of the coolest features of the BowCamTreeCam to me is the fact that you can open up the tube opens into a storage compartment. They suggest using the tube to store your bow rope or your favorite scent, which are both great ideas. Lots of times I carry snacks into the woods if I’m going to be sitting all day -- breakfast bars, beef jerky, etc. -- and I’m already planning on using the tube for that. Perfect way to sneak scent-loaded snacks into the woods with you. Check out the photo of the storage tube below:
Last but certainly not least, the BowCamTreeCam easily screws into a tree. So if you hunt a treestand the majority of the time, it's perfect ... especially when you've done a lot of scouting and have a pretty good idea from what direction deer travel. Just screw in the BowCamTreeCam, aim your cam, adjust the zoom, and you are ready to film the action. No velcro, or straps or anything like that. Just a simple screw-in install.
Check out
wwwBowCamTreeCam.com. You can also get the mount in camouflage, and 10% of proceeds go to cancer research. Truly a great idea from the BowCamTreeCam team.
