Ride ATV happy , ride ATV safety
You ’ ll want a pan-and-tilt head to move the camcorder in all directions to capture the right angles . These heads have an arm extending backwards , allowing camcorder control with minimal movement . Wildlife responds poorly to somebody waving their arms about .
Using a shooting stick helps stabilize your shotgun under one arm while freeing your other to operate a camcorder . A Ghillie suit is highly recommended to fully camouflage the human silhouette . This textured camo gear regained popularity in recent years among paintball enthusiasts , and it works just fine for turkey hunters too .
I recommend camo face paint instead of a mask . Masks can be a hassle with a constant need for adjustment , which means more movement . For a successful turkey hunt , you want to blend into your surroundings and keep movement to a minimum . A turkey ’ s eyesight is its most effective tool , but keeping movement down means I ’ ve had turkeys a foot away without knowing I was there .
For my setup , I use a half-ground blind which rolls neatly into my pack . It hides the lower half of my body , and with the camcorder placed just above the top of the blind I can move a wee bit while remaining mostly hidden .
If you ’ re not using a full ground blind , you will want an external microphone with a “ dead cat ” ( the audio industry formally calls it a “ wind muff microphone cover ”) to reduce wind noise and an improved , cleaner sound . I don ’ t go into the field without one . It ’ s a shame to go through all that effort hauling gear and setting it up , but coming away with terrible sound .
Before you prepare your gear , go out scouting a few weeks before the season starts . It ’ s crucial to find where the birds are hanging out , and you need to plan your setup as well . Hunting on a farm property , I often choose a corner with plenty of trees , brush or a fence behind me to break-up my silhouette . If I ’ m in the hardwoods , a clump of trees to my back does the trick .
Set your tripod up slightly in front of you , opposite to the side you shoot from . This makes it easier to adjust the camcorder with your free hand . Before the birds show up , record some footage of the surrounding area and of any gobblers calling out first thing in the morning .
A head mount is perfect for a headcam , and a remote control ( most headcams have them ) makes it easy to start and stop recording . I ’ m not a fan of mounting a headcam on a shotgun . It ’ s OK on a bow ( although it may take some creative mounting ), but the kickback from a shotgun will jump the footage at a key moment .
Later , back from the field with your successful hunt edited , you can upload it to websites like Vimeo and YouTube to share with friends , family and of course , your fellow hunters .
If you have past hunts on film reel , VHS or camcorder tapes , I run a video transfer business – Memories2dvd . I can transfer those memories into an easy to view and share format : www . memories2dvd . ca /.
Ride ATV happy , ride ATV safety
By Sheila Ascroft
You have to know the rules and use common sense to stay safe on an ATV . For starters , the Ontario Ministry of Transport recommends that riders
• take an ATV or off-road vehicle safety course and learn to ride from an expert
• know your vehicle and read the operator ’ s manual before you ride
• know about the province ’ s graduated licensing system for young or novice drivers . Whether in cars or on ATVs , if you ’ re on a road you need a licence . See “ It ’ s the Law ” for off-road rules .
• do a pre-ride inspection of oil , gas and other fluid levels , lights , brakes , and tire pressure
• stay in control : never ride beyond your abilities
• pay attention to the condition of the trail or road you ’ re riding , and keep an eye on the weather
• use extreme caution when turning , crossing , climbing and descending hills , and cross obstacles the right way . Find out how at www . atv . com / products / basic-atvriding-techniques-624 . html
• drive sober : it ’ s against the law to drive while impaired . Drugs or alcohol skew your judgment and slow your reactions
• ride with others and let someone know where you ’ re going and when you expect to return
• be responsible and courteous , and respect others on the trail
• ride in designated areas only
• protect the environment and keep noise down .
www . fishhuntandride . ca FISH , HUNT RIDE | 15