If your desire is to share your hunting experiences with family and friends or perhaps anyone else, this can be done most effectively with a properly designed video shoot. Due to the nature of hunting, the key is to keep your equipment as portable as possible. The idea setup would include two small DV video cameras of the same type, tripods, or monopods, and a flex fill (a small disk shape reflector). Some camera stores will offer kits which includes everything in one package. An option would include a wireless microphone or you can use the built in mics on the cameras.

Before you begin your project, it may help to take a few moments to jot down some notes on what you want to record. This will help keep you organized while out in the field and will keep you from missing anything important that you want to videotape.

While in the field, always use one camera for wide shots while the other for close ups, if videotaping the same subject (be sure both cameras are set to automatic exposure and white balance for best results). If you are taping someone shooting a buck for instance, keep one camera on the hunter and the other on the animal. You can later edit the footage together to create a clean sequence. It is always important to use some support for the camera so the footage will not be shaky. Use the reflector if your subject is in the shade. This will create a better image for your camera.

Now that you have finished videotaping your hunt, it is time to edit. For simple edits, Windows Moviemaker will do the job and best of all it comes free with Microsoft Windows. To get started, attach your DV camera to the computer using a firewire or IEEE 1394 cable. These cables usually come with the camera and plug into a firewire port on the computer. Once the camera is attached, start moviemaker and select capture from device. This will load the video clips into the program. From there, you may edit the clips using a timeline or storyboard method, add transitions such as dissolves or wipes, music, narration and titles. When your project is finished, you may save it to a web site such as YouTube to share. From YouTube you can embed your video clips to blogs or other websites such as midwestwildlifeconnections.com. Windows Movie Maker communicates with Microsoft.com to download a current listing of web providers available in your region. This list is based on your current Regional settings in your Control Panel and is stored in your Local Settings folder. Of course, be sure you have a Midwest Wildlife Connections, LLC. account set up when you decide to show off your adventures in the Midwest.

Once you have completed your first project, you may want to produce some more videos to create a series. Not before long you will be coming up with all kinds of ideas for shows. All that is left is to invite some friends over to enjoy your adventures.