Favorite Camera Arms Of The Pros For Filming Hunts
Tom Petry - Film The Hunt
"My favorite tree arm for my primary cam is the Stiff Arm Pro 2.0. For me, running a larger rig I want to ensure rock solid stability as after all, that’s the point of having one to begin with. Matched with fourth arrows fluid video head, it keeps our content smooth and stable, when quite honestly, “we” are not 😜."
Nick Ventura - Art Of Wild
"Perhaps I am different than most, I am after the most beautiful footage I can get. I want my saddle set up, bow set-up, and pack as light as they can be, because I want to lug in a heavier camera arm. Now I am not talking about a more is better scenario, for me the Fourth Arrow Stiff Arm Pro arm is the perfect weight. At just over 3lbs, to me it allows me flexibility to run a small dslr all the way up to a much heavier rig. What you gain with weight is less bounce, imagine having a light carbon arrow and balancing something with weight on the end of it compared to a steel rod. Your heavier steel rod will be more stable. To me, your only disadvantage to a lighter arm is the obvious, it is more to pack in.
If you are trying to shed weight in all ways possible, then a carbon arm or a triple arm is probably the better arm for you. But if you are trying to push yourself deep into public land, then you are probably willing to sacrifice weight for stability. Everything in the camera world is a tradeoff and to me the camera arm set ups are no different. The more bells and whistles a camera has, the more weight it is going to be. I always tell people when investing in a set-up that a fluid head is important, but your weight ratio is something to take more seriously. You can have a nice fluid head and camera set up and if your arm is too light your footage will always seem shaky.
There is a saying in the camera world that goes “date the body, and marry the lens” which means that you will get a better return on your lenses as bodies will continue to change and adapt but good glass does not change. I have a stiff arm pro that has been through the test of time, and I have no intentions of that changing. Every drop, scratch, and dent is just part of the journey. I have spray painted it, dropped it out of the tree, and had it rattle around the back of my truck across the Midwest. I have no intentions of changing my set up, different camera bodies will sit atop the arm but when all is said and done it is a very useful piece of my set up, to me it’s the anchor to smooth footage in extremely tense moments."
Daniel Mallette - Growing Deer TV
"Our team’s go-to Fourth Arrow setup is the Stiff Arm Kit! It handles any camera setup we throw at it. Whether we’re doubled up in a tree or self-filming, the Stiff Arm provides great stabilization and quick, easy set up. No tools are needed for leveling, even in the most wolfy tree. It’s quiet, light, and packable, and still meets all needs for filming every hunt. We can’t wait to be swinging it around the tree to capture a big buck in range again this fall!"
Larry McCoy - Smalltown Hunting
Cody Kelley - Smalltown Hunting
“When it comes to filming hunts professionally and for fun, versatility and reliability are everything. For our production at SmallTown Hunting, we have completely relied on the Stiff Arm Pro. Its lightweight design makes it easy to pack into the woods, but it’s also rock solid once you’re set up. The easy set up and functionality of the arm and base gives me smooth, professional-looking footage no matter the angle or situation. What I really appreciate is how fast it sets up, I don’t have to fumble with gear and it’s rock solid with how it’s designed. The Stiff Arm Pro gives me the freedom to focus on the hunt while knowing I’ll capture every moment the way I want it. It quickly became a must-have while filming hunts for SmallTown Hunting.”
Michael Lee - Backwoods Life
"Ever since I started using the Fourth Arrow Stiff Arm Pro 2.0, it’s become my go-to for filming. The build feels rock solid, it’s strong enough to handle up to 15 lb. rigs while still being lighter and a bit shorter than the original model, letting me maneuver more easily in tight spots. What I love most is how smooth and stable my footage comes out: there’s hardly any unwanted shake, even when I’m fully extended. Leveling the arm in any tree is a breeze thanks to its clever shoulder design, and the kit’s tight, secure mounting means fewer worries about slipping or noise. In short: it gives me confidence behind the camera and helps me capture clean, professional shots every time."
Kevin Knighton - Backwoods Life
"In our world of big heavy professional cameras, obviously the Stiff Arm Pro reigns supreme, but on the occasion of running a smaller camera, I love the functionality of the Triple Arm with a Talon mount. Easy to set up and extremely versatile to move around in a tree. The 3 section arm allows a tremendous level of flexibility and adjustment to make sure you can get the camera in the right spot at crunch time plus it’s silky smooth and steady!"
Todd Graf - Bowhunt Or Die
After years of self-filming and experimenting with different camera arms, the Fourth Arrow Stiff Arm Ghost has become my go-to setup. It strikes the perfect balance of lightweight mobility and rock-solid stability, making it ideal for a true run-and-gun style in the woods. Despite its minimal weight, it still offers impressive reach and strength, easily supporting a full camera rig without compromise. When paired with my 3.0 shoulder, it locks in quietly and securely—even on the most crooked trees—so I can stay undetected and focused on the hunt. I also love the flexibility of being able to leave extra shoulders in my favorite stands, saving precious time during setup. And when it’s time to pack out, the arm folds down neatly to fit right in my pack. The Stiff Arm Ghost really delivers the best of all worlds—light, strong, and dependable—which is why it’s earned a permanent place in my kit.
Justin Zarr - Bowhunt Or Die
"I use different arms depending on whether I’m hunting from a treestand or a saddle. Regardless of how I’m hunting I always carry the 3.0 Shoulder with the Talon base. I’ve found this to be the most compact and rock-solid attachment of any camera arm I’ve ever used. When I hunt from a tree stand I love the original Stiff Arm which is incredibly light weight and gives me the added length I need to record those tough off-side shots. The Micro Triple arm is my go-to for saddle hunting when I need the added versatility to get all the way around the tree without sacrificing stability."
Josh Anderson - Southern Dirt TV
"My favorite Fourth Arrow camera arm to use is the Stiff Arm Ghost! With deer constantly on the move and my hunts taking me from place to place, I never know which stand I’ll end up in. The Stiff Arm Ghost’s mobility, versatility, and lightweight design make it easy to pack in and carry out. Plus, with its 360-degree leveling availibility, I can film from any tree, no matter how the trunk or branches are leaning!"
Victor Guarisco - Crimson Trail
My go-to camera arm from Fourth Arrow is the Triple Arm. Offering a maximum reach of 40 inches, it provides the versatility of an additional axis that can be extended for wide positioning or folded down discreetly behind the tree. Despite its reach and stability, the Triple Arm remains lightweight, highly packable, and fully capable of supporting a rigged cinema camera.
John Ruiz - Crimson Trail
Over the last several years my film style has evolved. During that evolution came changes in camera equipment. New bodies, new lenses, new monitors, etc. That’s what I’ve always loved about FA equipment. They’ve had me covered from the inception of the original stiff arm, through their evolution of the carbon arm, and now to my current favorite the Stff Arm Pro 2.0. In conjunction with the 3.0 Pro base, that combo can’t be beat! If you’re the type that likes to fully rig out your caged mirrorless system, the Stiff Arm Pro is for you! It can handle just about anything you can mount on it. It’s super solid!
Steven Robinson - Working Class Hunter
"I’ve been filming my hunts for well over 10 years and in that time, I’ve experimented with a lot of different camera arms. I’ve been using Fourth Arrow for several years now and hands down, they have the best camera arms on the market. I primarily use the Stiff Arm Pro. This is a heavy duty camera arm that handles the weight of a pro rig like a charm. It’s quick and easy to set up and adjust. Where I hunt, finding a straight tree is nearly impossible so having a base that can be adjusted to fit in any tree makes the Fourth Arrow Camera Arm the only Camera Arm in my kit."