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Filming deer hunts not as easy as it would seem

• Bob Hanna: Someday
• February 10, 2021
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It's been a while since I've written a profile, so a few days ago I saw a post on Facebook from a gentleman that fits the “pursuing your dreams” philosophy I encourage in this Someday column. I met Ben Rising a few years ago when I was working for Millersburg Tire. I knew right away he was a go-getter sort of guy.

Ben was taught by his father and grandfather to hunt, fish and trap and developed a work-hard ethic at an early age. Beginning at age 12, he began working on local farms and sawmills. By age 20, Ben had started his own logging business.

Like a lot of us, his passion for hunting and the outdoors led him to begin filming his hunts. In 2002 he met the Drury Brothers from Missouri, who recruited him to begin filming their hunts for television.

In 2012, along with his wife Melody, Ben started their own outfitting business. Their team began guiding clients and soon gained a reputation for quality bucks and service. Along with being a pro staffer for several companies, Ben has had the notoriety of hunting with several professionals such as Michael Waddell of "The Bone Collector" hunting show.

After stepping away from the outfitting business, all of this came full circle when Ben’s passion for filming hunts led him to start a webcast show called “Whitetail Edge.” Along with his team of 12, these seasoned hunters try and capture the excitement and anticipation of the hunt, as well as use it as a training tool for those who share a love of hunting deer.

Here is where the story really begins. To the outsider, filming deer hunts would seem like a “gravy job,” one anyone could do and cool to show your buddies, but this is hardly the case. I have tried filming some of my own hunts with a mechanical arm to hold the camera. Rarely does the deer know which way the camera is pointed, so by the time you get the deer in the monitor and in focus, he’s already spotted you and gives you “the white flag.”

So in talking with Ben, he mentioned that on top of all the normal challenges of getting close to a quality buck, let's add a camera person, extra stand, camera and gear, additional human scent (which is always a challenge), and then once the deer comes within range, making sure the camera is on, has enough light, is in focus, is positioned correctly to show the viewer the flight of the arrow, the shot placement, the path of the deer running away and the excitement of the hunter. Piece of cake, right?

I have had the privilege of meeting many of the hunting professionals from Jim Shockey, Colorado Buck and even the legendary Jim Zumbo. In talking with some of these celebrities about putting together a hunting show, they have shared the fact that they are away from family a lot while their sponsors and producers expect results for every hunt. If you’ve noticed lately, some of the shows are more realistic in the fact that they miss sometimes, can't get the shot on film or even get skunked.

But beyond the notoriety, Ben and his team maintain their own leased properties, monitor trail cameras and feed stations year round, and do their own scouting, which the celebrities do not. This is where the end result is even more gratifying. I like a quote Ben made that really fits our purpose. “If you’re going to do something, do it right.” Amen, Ben. If that’s not enough, besides continuing in the logging business, he also is a professional timber buyer for a company based in Sugarcreek.

Ben has recently become an owner of Spur Brand Apparel and also helped create a show for hunting turkeys called "Spur Season," which also can be seen on the web.

If you would like to see Ben’s hunts, they are available on their websites at www.Whitetailedge.com and www.Spurbrand.com (Mossy Oak app), or you can catch it all on YouTube.

Ben and his wife Melody reside in Killbuck, where they’re active in the community with their five children.

If you would like to consult with Ben on deer land management, he can be emailed at ben@whitetailedge.com.