Hi everyone,

Taking excellent photos or videos to post on the web takes practice and skill, and posting them on Outdoor Channel's Community Site takes some rule-following.

Here are some tips for getting higher ratings from members and how to avoid getting your photo or video deleted by our team.

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When posting photos and videos on Outdoor Channel's Community Site do NOT show excessive blood on the mouth, carcass and surrounding area of your trophy. Minimize the blood as much as possible. Avoid it totally, if you can.

Do NOT show the insides of the animal or display the animal in an unethical manner.

DO share personal experiences with others, but do NOT reveal too much personal information that could jeopardize you and your family's personal identity or safety.

Do NOT post photos or videos with your cell phone unless they're in a high resolution. They don't make good photos or videos for others to view.

When taking scenic shots, DO focus in on points of interest rather than the entire landscape from a wide shot. It's more interesting and opens up good discussion.

Do NOT post small, thumbnail images that are difficult to see. They don't make interesting photos or videos for others to enjoy.

Do NOT show reckless behavior, unsafe firearm use, unsafe or illegal vehicular or boat practice.

Do NOT show too much skin, cleavage, or body parts that would be inappropriate for a family audience to view online.

DO keep your videos short and interesting. Less than a minute is good. Anything longer loses the viewer's interest.

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Here are some good web sites to visit for some photo-taking tips:

Photographing Your Big Game Trophies by George Bettas - http://www.boone-crockett.org/Bgrecords/records_phototips.asp?area=bgRecords

Taking Better Trophy Photos by Dave Coldwell - http://www.bowhunting.net/artman/publish/Fletchphotos.shtml

Taking Good Trophy Photos - http://arizonahuntingtoday.com/desertrat/2007/07/23/taking-good-trophy-photos/

Enjoy the community to share ideas, thoughts and experiences that's safe and fun for all ages to use.

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Thanks for being a loyal Outdoor Channel fan. Keep coming back daily!

Arnel
From Outdoor Channel's Community Team

Summer is almost here and one of the best ways to experience the beautiful weather is with a trip to your local shooting range. Before you go, make sure to check out Outdoor Channel's new Target downloads in the shooting section at OutdoorChannel.com. All targets are free to use and you can print as many copies as you need. Remember to check back often - we'll be adding new targets on a regular basis!