How-To · Scope Cam
How to film hunts through your scope
By James · Published · Updated · Editorial policy
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Field protocol: every load gets a 10-shot chronograph string (average velocity, extreme spread, energy) before it's trusted on game. Holdovers are confirmed at real distances, then re-confirmed in field conditions. Shots are recorded through the scope cam, and claims on this page link to footage where it exists. Full methodology & editorial policy →
What scope-cam footage looks like: a rabbit through the Zulus 4K.
Two ways to get scope-cam footage
| Digital day/night scope with recording | Camera on a regular scope's eyepiece | |
|---|---|---|
| Example | DNT Zulus 4K (what I run) | Phone or action-cam adapters |
| Image | Recorded directly from the sensor | Filmed through the glass. Alignment matters. |
| Night | Yes, with an external IR illuminator for real darkness | No, unless the scope is night-capable |
| Extras | Laser rangefinder, ballistic tools | None |
| Cost | Higher (Zulus 4K ~$944 at DNT when checked) | Lower if you already own good glass |
| Downside | Weight (24.3 oz), battery, digital lag | Fiddly mounting, easy to bump out of alignment |
What I've learned from two digital scopes
- Before the Zulus I ran a ThermNight day/night scope. For the price, it was hard to beat, and its laser rangefinder matched my separate rangefinder. But the image got pixelated around 80 yards and was really soft past 100.
- The Zulus 4K records in 4K, and its battery outlasts my ThermNight units. Its 30fps mode lags a little on fast targets, and real darkness needs an external IR illuminator. Full review →
Filming yourself: mount it, don't hold it
I tried hunting with a selfie stick and a camera in one hand. It was miserable, and I asked viewers for a better way. The answer is to mount everything: the scope cam on the rifle and a GoPro fixed on your body or a tripod for the wide shot. Your hands belong on the rifle.
How do I film a hunt through my scope, step by step?
Mount and level the scope cam, zero it, set the recording mode, check power and storage, add IR if you hunt at night, then record before the shot and through the follow-up, and review and back up the footage afterward. That is the sequence I run with the Zulus 4K on my FX Impact M4, and most of it applies to an eyepiece camera too. Still choosing hardware? See the best scope cameras for filming hunts.
- Mount and level it. Fit a digital scope in solid rings and level the reticle with the rifle, or clamp an eyepiece camera snugly so your eye still sees the full picture. A canted scope puts the crosshair out of plumb in the footage. How to mount and level a scope →
- Zero it. Sight in at a known distance before you film anything. An eyepiece camera shouldn't change your zero, but anything that bumps the scope can, so confirm with a few shots. How to zero an air rifle scope →
- Set recording and resolution. Use 4K/30 for the most detail on settled shots, or 1080p/60 for smoother motion. On my Zulus 4K the 30fps mode lags slightly on fast targets, and DNT's spec sheet lists 1080p/60 as the alternative.
- Check battery and storage. Charge the battery, format the memory card in the device, confirm free space, and carry a spare battery or power bank. 4K files fill a card quickly.
- Add an IR illuminator for night. A digital scope needs infrared light to show a usable picture in real darkness, and my Zulus 4K needs an external IR illuminator for night work. A clip-on camera records only what your scope shows, so it has no night view unless the scope itself is night-capable. Check your state's night-hunting rules before you hunt after dark.
- Record before the shot and keep rolling. Start recording as you settle, say the range and your hold out loud, and keep recording through the result and any follow-up shot.
- Review and back up the footage. Scrub to the frame where the shot breaks and note where the reticle was, then copy the files to a computer or drive before you wipe the card.
Settings and habits that make footage useful
- Record before you settle. Hit record when you start the stalk, not at the shot. You'll miss moments otherwise.
- Say the range and the hold out loud. "Ninety-five yards, holding two mil-dots." Future you will thank you.
- Name the species on camera. Especially for doves, it shows the hunt was legal. Mine are Eurasian collared doves.
- Keep the misses. A miss with the reticle position on video is data. Misses often teach more than hits.
- Wind noise: it's the most common complaint on outdoor audio. A foam or fur windscreen on the body cam helps.
- Carry spare power and storage. A dead battery at golden hour is a lost hunt on camera.
Reviewing footage like a coach
After each hunt, scrub to the frame where the shot breaks. Where was the reticle? Was it moving? Did you flinch? Compare that with where the projectile hit. Often it's range or wind rather than the rifle, and the footage shows which. More on long-range misses →
A full hunt shot through the Zulus 4K on my FX Impact M4.
FAQ
What is a scope cam?
A camera that records the view through your riflescope, either a digital scope with built-in recording (like the DNT Zulus 4K) or a small camera mounted to the eyepiece of a regular scope. It shows exactly where the crosshair was when the shot broke.
What is the best scope cam for airgun hunting?
For recording and night use in one unit, a digital day/night scope with built-in recording, like the DNT Zulus 4K I use. It records at 4K/30fps or 1080p/60fps and has a laser rangefinder. If you already own good glass, an eyepiece-mounted camera is the cheaper route.
Should I record hunting footage at 4K or 1080p?
4K/30fps gives the most detail for settled shots. On the Zulus 4K, 30fps lags a little on fast targets, and DNT's spec sheet lists a 1080p/60fps mode that trades detail for smoother motion.
How do you film yourself while hunting alone?
Mount the camera instead of holding it. I run a scope cam for the shot and a GoPro fixed on me for reactions. A handheld selfie stick while trying to shoot is miserable. I've tried it.
Why film your hunts at all?
Scope-cam footage shows where the reticle really was at the shot, so misses become fixable instead of mysterious. It also proves your claims, which matters if you review gear.
How do you film a hunt through your scope, step by step?
Seven steps: mount and level the scope cam, zero it, set the recording mode (4K/30 for detail or 1080p/60 for smoother motion), check battery and storage, add an external IR illuminator for night, record before the shot and through the follow-up, then review and back up the footage.
Do I need an IR illuminator to film at night through a scope?
For real darkness, yes. A digital day/night scope with no built-in IR, like the DNT Zulus 4K I use, needs an external IR illuminator for a usable picture, and a clip-on camera can only record what the scope itself shows. Check your state's night-hunting rules before you hunt after dark.
