Bow Mounts for Cameras

Midland XTA-108 in UseThe size and weight of high quality action cameras have been decreasing exponentially lately.  They are now light enough and sufficiently small so they can be mounted to a bow and not dramatically effect the stability.  There are a lot of reasons why archery and cameras can go together but the most popular user of these mounts are hunters wanting to record the hunt.  Today, we discuss how to mount a camera to a bow.

The key component to mounting any camera to a bow is the availability of a common tripod screw hole on the bottom of the action camera.  The typical pattern and size is 1/4″ – 20 threaded screw.  While there might be other patterns, I’m not aware of any so it’s safe to say that the vast majority of tripods are 1/4″  – 20 threaded screws.  The availability of the hole should be on the bottom of the camera since all the mounts are expecting that location.  The mounts will typically curve upwards and attach to the camera at the bottom.

Many bow mounts will attach to the stabilizer on the bow.  Most stabilizer holes measure 5/16″ – 24 threaded so ensure that this pattern exists on your bow as well as the mount that is purchased.  Most bow camera mounts then extend several inches to account for the depth of the camera.

The most basic of archery camera mounts is the Midland Bow Mount for Action Cameras.  This is a solid metal mount with the  5/16″ – 24 threaded stabilizer pattern on one end and then curves up to a 1/4″ – 20 threaded pattern on the camera end.  The camera end has a small round support shelf.  This is the easiest to install and use of all the mounts that I have seen.  This is the one that is in use in the photo that accompanies this article.  As an important side note, the popular GoPro has the common 1/4″ – 20 threaded on the bottom of the camera itself meaning it needs to be removed from the weatherproof case.  It’s a no frills mount that is solidly made and simply works.

The Bowfinger 2.0 Bow Mount for Action Cameras is similar to the Midland mount but has more features and is heavier duty.  You can mount this almost anywhere on the bow but typically will attach between the stabilizer and the riser.  A nice feature allows the mount to fold parallel to the bow for easy storage as opposed to removing it so it isn’t sticking out and potentially not fitting within a storage case.

If wanting to use the GoPro within the weatherproof case, the Bowfinger Archery Bow Mount for GoPro has the special connection needed for the case.  It’s made of aluminum and comes with a lifetime warranty.  This mount connects to the stabilizer and puts the GoPro a bit off to the side.  There are two mounting holes to select from.  The mount is drilled and tapped to counterbalance the GoPro.  This particular mount is made specifically for a GoPro in a weatherproof case and will not fit a standard action camera.

Lastly, for a complete solution, the Tactacam 2.0 with Bow Package features a sleek camera and mounting kit.  This is a top-notch camera featuring a 12MP low-light sensor, one-touch power on auto record with vibration indication and a rechargeable lithium battery good for two hours of recording time.  There is included hardware which matches up to the camera and allows it to attach to the bow.  And as an added bonus, the camera is waterproof.  It’s unusual to see a high quality camera like this paired with a bow mount.