3 Best Camera Arms for Hunting: get Stable Hunting Footage

Filming hunts allows you to immortalize your hunting experience in a way that photographs simply cannot. And all you need to film a hunt or your favorite prey is a good-quality camera. And the next thing you require is a camera arm.

Camera arms for hunting allow you to film a hunt without having to operate the camera physically. Instead, just set up the arm and the camera and position it in the direction of your prey. Now concentrate on your hunting, and the footage of your hunting gets captured without interrupting your aiming if you are self-filming. The camera arm will also help stabilize your camera and ensure the footage captured is not shaky.

There are many camera arm options available on the market, but we are sure what you want to know is which are the best camera arms for hunting. To answer this question, we tested a variety of camera arms to see which would stand out.

We eventually ended up with three of the best camera arms for self filming hunts. And here are a quick view of those 3 best hunting camera arm.


Last update on 2024-03-29 / Please note that Prices and Availability Are Subject To Change /Paid links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Our top pick is the Fourth Arrow Camera Arm for Filming Hunts - Camera Arms... which can withstand a weight of up to 10 pounds. Meaning it can support heavier cameras than the other two options on our list. It also features 360 degrees of rotation which gives exceptional filming flexibility.

For the second spot, we picked the MUDDY Hunt Hard Compact Durable Aluminum Lightweight.... It is capable of supporting weights of up to 6 pounds. Its simplicity and ease of use are what earn it the second spot. In addition, it is one of the most lightweight camera arms out there. As such, it will not add a whole lot of additional weight to your existing load.

Best Camera Arms For Hunting reviews

Advantages of Using Camera Arms For Filming Hunts

But first, what are some of the advantages of using the best hunting camera arm to film your hunt?

It Makes Using The Camera Easier

Using a handheld camera or your phone to film your hunts is tiresome and is not feasible, especially for long periods of filming. Utilizing a camera arm will help as it frees up your arms for more critical tasks, plus you will not get numb or overly tired from filming.

It Helps Stabilize The Camera

Typically when you hold a camera with your arms while filming, chances are you will end up with a very shaky video. This is because it is near impossible to hold the camera stable while filming a moving target by nature. A camera arm ensures that the camera is stable, meaning that the footage you get will be clear with no shakiness.

Provides Extension

Camera arms are designed to be extendable and adjustable. This means you can film deer that are some distance from you by extending the arm’s extension and thereby extending the reach of your camera. Also, since they are adjustable, you will be able to get wider coverage than if you were holding the camera with your hands.

Easy To Use And Set Up

Camera arms are ideally suited to hunters as they are easy to set up and use. When you are hunting from a tree stand, the last thing you want is to spend 30 or so minutes setting up your camera. Fortunately, the Best Camera Arms for Hunting are designed to be easy to set up. You can set up the arm in just a few minutes and focus on the hunt.

Documentation And Future Reference

Using camera arms to film your hunt is an excellent way to learn what you need to improve on. Also, it is fun and entertaining watching past footage of your hunts.

Tips on Using Camera Arms For Self-Filming

  • When using camera arms to film your hunt from a tree, it is important to stay in the shadows. Choose a tree with a lot of overhanging branches to attach your camera arms.
  • Pick a tree where a majority of the movement happens in front of you so that you get good footage of the deer feeding, loafing, and moving through. This will also give you pre-shot footage.
  • Attach the camera arm to a tree with multiple branches around you. This will give you options to set up multiple camera angles.

Where should you set your best tree hunting camera arm?

The camera arm and the camera should be mounted on a tree with overhanging branches so that the camera isn’t visible to deer.

Best Camera Arms For Hunting Reviews

Best Camera Arm For Self Filming Hunts: Fourth Arrow Camera Arm

Weighing 7.2 pounds, the Fourth Arrow Camera arm for filming hunts is more lightweight than most other camera arm offerings. But is this an advantage or a disadvantage? Well, it depends on your needs.

It is easier to carry around, and we found it to be relatively easy to set up. One of its best-selling features is the easy-to-adjust shoulder. Compared to some of the other arms we tested, it has an easier-to-adjust shoulder.

You get 360 degrees of rotation and 60 degrees of total angle. And while it is lightweight, it can hold up bigger cameras and is rated to hold up 10 pounds of weight. In addition, the multi-base system makes it easy to mount the arm on different kinds of trees.

While it is an excellent option for most people thanks to the ease of transportation, lightweight, and easy setup, it does come with some downsides. The most notable is that we noticed some camera shakes when moving the arm, most likely due to its lightweight.

PROS

  • This camera arm is lightweight, compact, and easy to carry
  • Can hold up heavier cameras of up to 10 pounds without drooping
  • It is easy to set up with all necessary accessories, including 3/8″ 16 threading for mounting a video head, though a video head is not included.

CONS

  • Does not have the longest or best reach
  • The camera tends to shake, especially when moving the arm.

The fourth Arrow camera arm is one we highly recommend for filming hunts. It is a highly adjustable camera arm with incredible flexibility.

Muddy Hunt Hard Camera Arm

The Muddy Hunt Hard Camera arm is a budget alternative to pricier arms such as the Fourth Arrow and Manfrotto options. However, its budget status should not deceive you into thinking it is of inferior quality.

As you might expect from a camera in its price segment, this Muddy camera arm is relatively lightweight. It weighs about 5.75 pounds and features a three piece system just like its pricier competitors.

The easy-grip camera tightening knob is decent and works best with a lighter camera. It is rated to hold weights of up to 6 pounds. Not as good as the pricier model, but also not terrible considering it is made from plastic.

Obviously, this is designed to work with lighter cameras and may not hold the same type of cameras you would use with the Fourth Arrow arm. And this is perhaps its biggest con, but it must be noted that this is a budget model.

PROS

  • A lightweight and easy to carry camera arm
  • Thanks to its weight it is possible to operate it using one hand
  • Significantly cheaper than other options on the market

CONS

  • The ratchet strap is not easy to set up and can be a bit loud
  • It is also not easy to set the base on/off

This isn’t for everyone, but this is it if you are looking for a decent hunting camera arm that will not break the bank. It is lightweight and easy to carry and should be a decent option for most camera types.

Muddy Outfitter Camera Arm, Black, One Size

The Muddy Outfitter camera arm is another lightweight camera arm from Muddy with a full extension. And just like the other camera arms, it comes with a three-piece set up, with a solid base and a ratchet strap.

When it comes to adjustments on this camera arm, they were straightforward. The base comes with levers that you loosen to adjust the arm. The bubble level on this camera does a decent job of keeping the camera level.

We did notice some sagging when using a heavier camera such as a DSLR, but this is to be expected from such a lightweight camera arm. Ideally, you want to use this with lighter cameras. The leveling system comes with a string that you can hang onto a hook with.

The ratchet strap was a bit noisy for our liking, though. The base is also quite bulky and may take up quite a bit of room. Nonetheless, for its price, it is an excellent option for most people.

PROS

  • It is solidly built and is easy to secure
  • It is possible to make horizontal and vertical adjustments without adjusting the strap
  • It is cheaper than the fourth arrow options

CONS

  • The arm tends to sag when fully extended and using a heavier camera such as a DSLR
  • The ratchet strap can be noisy.

This Muddy camera arm for hunting is another great option from a company with a track record of producing good quality treestand camera mounts and components.

Things You Must Consider To Get The Best Camera Arms For Capturing Hunting Footage

There are all kinds of camera arms for deer hunting available. However, not everyone will suit your needs. If you want the best camera arms for hunting, some key factors to consider when shopping.

Construction Quality

Camera arms are made from a variety of materials, with high-end models being constructed from aluminum. As such, they are usually more durable than their cheaper counterparts, some of which are made from plastic parts.

The Fourth Arrow, for example, is made from aluminum and will be an ideal option for people with heavier cameras such as a DSLR. However, if you are using more lightweight cameras such as a go pro, you can opt for a cheaper option such as the Muddy Hunt Hard Camera Arm.

Thus it comes down to what kind of camera you want to use. Nonetheless, a sturdy camera arm made from aluminum will always be the best option.

How Much Can It Hold

Camera arms are designed to hold cameras of varying weights. Some are built to withstand weights of up to 10 pounds, while others can manage up to 6 pounds. Naturally, the more the camera arm can hold, the better. However, camera arms with higher weight ratings tend to cost more. This is something to keep in mind, especially if you are using a lightweight camera.

Ease Of Adjustability

You should be able to adjust your camera angle and position depending on what you are filming. As such, the best hunting camera arm should give you the ability to do this. You do not want to spend a lot of time adjusting the camera arm.

Camera Compatibility

Different camera arms have different mounting systems. As such, not all will be compatible with your specific camera setup. Thus it is important to check the camera arms that are compatible with your camera.

Length And Size Of The Hunting Camera Arm

How long the extension arm is will determine the reach of your camera. The best camera arm for self filming hunts typically has long arms to allow you to film a wider area. The size of the arm is also important as it will impact how compact the whole arm is.

Angle and Rotation

The 360 degrees of rotation offered by pricey options such as the Fourth Arrow give you the flexibility to film from different angles. This is a beneficial feature to have if you want the flexibility to film from multiple angles.

Smooth and Silent

The camera arm you buy should be silent when being installed. This is to ensure it does not scare away deer because of its squeaking. In addition, the arm should be smooth when adjusting to give you an easy time.

Lightweight and Compact

The camera arm will form part of your hunting gear, and hauling heavy gear over a long distance or even a short distance isn’t ideal. As such, the camera arm should be lightweight enough and compact that it does not present transportation challenges.

Price

You get what you pay for. This is also true for hunting camera arms. Pricier models offer more stability and can hold heavier cameras. However, if you want a camera arm for using lightweight cameras, you can go for more affordable options.

Additional Tips on Filming Deer Hunts With Video Camera Arm

  • The camera arm you pick should be paired with the right camera. If you choose a cheaper and lightweight arm, it is wise to pair it with a lightweight camera. But one that will give you wide viewing angles and crisp images.
  • The place you choose to mount your camera and camera arm should be hidden from deer. This can be on a tree where you have your tree stand. Branches can hide the camera and arm but be focused on the deer you are filming.
  • Practice hunting with the camera and camera arm. In some instances, you can accidentally knock the camera out of position or drop it to the ground scaring away deer. Thus practice how to hunt with it in a way that you do not get in the way.

Conclusion

If you want to film your hunts, then you will need the Best Camera Arms for Hunting. It will allow you to set up a camera for filming while you concentrate on the hunt. A camera arm should be sturdy so that it can hold up your camera without falling or sagging.

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