Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Gut Shots on Film

We've been in the midst of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow, rinse, repeat off and on since Friday (12/22). So I've spent some time on the couch with the dog watching TV. I occasionally stop on the Outdoor Channel, especially for the cooking shows, but, sometimes other shows catch my interest with their intro.

I probably shouldn't be, but, given that the principals of these TV show's main job is to showcase products, there's an awful high percentage of poorly placed shots. It doesn't seem to matter if they're shooting arrows or bullets, there's a LOT of poor placement.

"We're going to back out and go check the film before we follow XX critter, we think the shot may be a little far back." Ya think? Someone oughta remind those folks ahead of the camera that the vitals are AHEAD of the diaphragm.

The crown jewel in all of this is probably Greg Ritz's huge bull elk shot right behind the ear with an arrow. The bull was certainly DRT, but, I can't imagine that's where he was aiming. He missed the traditional "vitals" by at least 2'.

Uff, I need this precip to stop so I can go shoot some birds......

With few exceptions, the recurring theme in most hunting shows; "I hit him a little far back so we're going to give him some time (or wait until tomorrow)".
Memo to all of them - more shooting practice, less time stirring hype on Instagram and Facebook.

Szchit, I tuned-out hunting shows quite some time ago and without watching, now you've gotten me riled up.

I wonder just how many are wounded and lost in "long range" hunting?

I do like "Farming the Wild" as he makes some pretty doggone tasty looking dishes. Also his shooting (at least that which makes it on the show) is typically quite precise. The driven Boar hunting guys also seem to be able to shoot quite well, and more often than not, on moving targets to-boot.

"Behind the Shoulder" looks to mean "behind the ribs" to an awful lot of these clowns.

Amen.

You mean by the people who manage gut-shoot deer with bows/crossbows @ 20yds off the corn-flinger pile?

I have to admit , I been known to hit them too far back.

I think for me it was inherent. Aim “ just behind” means ( try to miss your mark). The anatomy of ruminants usually has the diaphragm attach at the 7 th rib on the sternum. So there is little if any lungfield behind the front leg ventrally .

I started aiming at the intersection of the front leg with the center of neck. Positive aiming point, proper anatomical placement. Have had much better results.

If you did that where I hunt they will be some well fed coyotes. All you will get is a torn up hide, some scattered bones and, if you a lucky, a chewed up head.

On the archery shows "double lunged" means anything in front of the back legs.

I watch YouTube during slow times on night shift. The amount of clowns with no business shooting at anything, who are trying to shoot 500-900 yards or more is ridiculous. And then they publish it, blows my mind. Ass shots, gut shots, airball misses by 3 or more feet seem the norm. But they all, “think it was a good shot” or “smoked him”, when it’s clear for everyone to see that it was a poor shot.

One I watched recently two guys lobbing shots at mule deer in NV or AZ and one guy finally “smokes” one after several misses that could be measured in yards. The hit luckily broke the buck’s spine but it was immediately in front of his hips and he thrashed until expiring since they were too far to go put a finisher in. And the dumbass is in the comments defending his skills and equipment, he’s good enough and does this all the time, it was just a little windy that day but we shot anyway. Fuggin clowns

They almost always shot the animal in broad daylight, and is full blown nighttime when they recover it.

In a nutshell this is exactly what 95% of them are. I find the vast majority unwatchable. The idiots at Gunwerks, the "1000 yards out of the box" clowns, actually had a couple of published youtube videos with obvious ass shot and gut shot elk. Clowns is putting it nicely.

I see that I am not alone in feeling most shooting on these shows is nothing short of appalling.I won't even tune in to any show with bow hunters on it......

Saw a mini-series put together by a bunch of noted outdoor writers -our own JB was NOT amongst them-in South Africa. They were easily the poorest bunch of shooters I've ever seen, worse than the run of the mill Bubba on regular outdoor TV.

The Driven Boar Hunters over in Europe are a class act. Unfortunately Outdoor Channel always puts them on on Saturdays when I'm usually hunting or fishing so I don't see them often

and hunters wounder why they are looked down on from non hunters

Funny, I'm watching the OC right now and a bowhunter just stuck a trophy whitetail in the azz at less than 20 yards. After reviewing the footage they were "excited" because they think they got the femoral artery. Deer went 100 yards and now they're calling it an "awesome, awesome hunt". Too funny

As one who has had a lot of shots filmed and filmed many more I know video shows things many hunters didn't see at the time.

There is a video of an elk I shot where all shots can be seen clearly hitting in the vitals, on HD video, and a few here still lie about hitting a horn.

People see a lot of what they want to see. Just like in real life if you watch other people shoot your going to see bad shooting at times.

Yep.

We see and hear enough of you to know you're a lardass, drunk, loser with no family.

Although it is ruining hunting, YouTube has good stuff.

I just don't understand putting a poor shot out there for people to see. If you make a bad shot don't let everyone (especially those people who are against us) see it. I will occasionally watch a show and half the time I think If I was a sponsor I'd pull my sponsorship.

Certainly no shortage of shytty shots on youtube.

I can't even watch the northeast deer tracking videos anymore. It is all about putting a bullet anywhere in the deer because they are easier to track when they are bleeding.

Oh, I'm with ya, but the insatiable drive for "content" and the animal somehow, potentially getting turfed far exceeds any worry about exposure as a half-a$$ed archer or marksman, chalking it up to "well, we've all been there".

I quit watching the hunting shows long ago because of this same BS.

I also have no respect for "professional" TV hunters that scour social media until someone screws up and posts a trail cam pic of a monster trophy buck and then they move in and try to lease up the land surrounding the property where the buck is hanging out.

I remember the TV shows but tired of the constant sales propaganda so I called DirecTV several years ago and stopped paying for the outdoor channel

Lotsa junk out there made by apprentice level hunters on both TV and youtube. I can't do the TV thing at all.

I do watch an occasional youtube hunting channel, where I feel I can learn something and see some interesting country. If I wanted to learn about woodworking for example, I wouldn't watch a youtube channel to watch a chitty carpenter hack out something crappy.

When it comes to hunting, I want to see the country, watch good stalks to within sane ranges, with hosts that aren't annoying, and good shots on the game they are after. In most cases, I could care less if they actually kill something.

I suspect, especially on videos of long range shooting, that many “gut shots” and misses are edited out! memtb

I called direct in 2020 and told them to send me boxes if they wanted their junk back. I have been free from propaganda since. ;-)

I suspect the reason people put video of those poor shots out for other people to see is that's all they got from their trip so they have to show it. That doesn't excuse the poor shooting and/or taking risky shots, but they have a deadline (length of trip), budget, and often only 1 tag per hunter (or budget for one animal when not limited by tag availability). They've put themselves in a position where they HAVE to produce video content, so they do, apparently thinking bad content is better for their purposes than no content.

I agree that the sponsors should be paying more attention and pulling sponsorships when needed.

What really gets me is....

"After reviewing the footage the hit looked a little far back, so we are going to do the right thing and leave the elk over night and follow up on the trail first thing in the morning. It will be cool enough so the meat will be ok."

As they are archery hunting in short sleeves with green grass everywhere, and the film shows the sun high in the sky the next day following the trail 100 yards to their stiffened up and soured "absolute giant".

And high-fiveing, back slapping, and hugging, " we put in the hard work, we got it done, a great hunt!"

I think that I saw the exact show to which you refer! Either that, or it’s happened many times! I know that I’ve made some comments, while in utter disbelief, about this to my wife!

Also, the videos showing all of the backslapping concerning the great shot, done while the sun was pretty high in the sky. Only to open the next scene in pitch darkness as they approached the downed animal! Just how damned far away was the animal ……when the great shot was made! memtb

I have several times seen "hunting" shows where the animal they shoot at is NOT the same animal they walk up to. Close, but no cigar! Once, the first animal shot at showed an obvious hit, so one wonders how many animals they actually shot to make the video.

I loved the "reality" Alaska show segment when Kirchner shoots a wolf out on the Fox River flats., rides over, and loads it across the saddle. Long range, obviously, and a helluva good shot, because by the time he rides his horse over there, the wolf has rigor mortis. Of course, it was the next day, or at least hours later so as to get the camera crew down there and "re-enact" it.

I was impressed the horse stood for it tho.

Have we done this before? Tracker Randy Flannery from Danforth told me personally he puts up a “wall of lead” at deer knowing if he hits it he can find it. I know jumping deer is fast and in thick cover is hard shooting. I think it happens a lot around here.

knowing if he hits it he can find it.

That right there is a whole week's worth of stall horse pucky. IMO.

Unless he's using dogs.

Thats kind of the dirty little secret in hunting big-woods deer. And before videos and social media, it was generally unspoken.

An episode of Meateater that I watched recently comes to mind. Steve Rinella and his partner were on a ranch in South Texas hunting whitetails. They rattled in a buck, the guy took a straight on shot with his bow, hit the deer through the chest and it appeared to be a short recovery. On pretty much any other hunting show they would be high-fiving and celebrating the kill. Not Rinella, he was obviously very upset about him intentionally taking that shot.

After watching a few of the Maine tracking "hunting" videos I see why they prefer a pump gun. Shuck and luck shootin'.

My spidey senses tells me you are correct on the DLS.

I haven't seen quite as much of this stuff on the shows as some of you seem to. Many of the shots I have seen were placed just fine, though I have no clue why many huntrrs on the shows (especially whitetail hunters) wait an hour after what was obviously a well placed shot, before following up and getting to the animal.

I won't defend the slob shots/scenes that I have seen, as they could for sure be edited and cleaned up but taking anything 'bad' out and bowing down to appease the anti-hunters likely isn't a good option either.

When I watch hunting shows, it is for the different scenery and seeing the animals. Ignore the rest of the BS.

When I was hunting in Africa the first time. They let it be known that a renown Hunter/Writer had hunted there a few times.

Being curious I had to ask what he was really like and how did he shoot? Being a gunwriter and all.

Stated he was a dear friend, but would only say " that he always got his animals" with a smirk and would not go much further. One of the PH's told me later that he was not a very good shot.

He’s got more club bucks on his wall than I have ever seen. I guess to be more clear that guy said he mounts them in their attitude when he first fired; most are turning to look over their shoulder. This suggests he stalked them close. To me it’s the idea of missing the first one then firing away. A good hit on the first one I usually mark and watch them then listen for the crash. If I don’t hear that I sit and wait then flag my shot position and go to the spot they were when I shot and flag that then track as needed with flags until I find it. Up there in some of that mess maybe if I thought I hit it I’d keep letting it fly too. He surely could run the action on that old Marlin 336. He threw that 30-30 up to his shoulder and showed me. Fastest I’ve ever seen anyone run a gun. It never left his shoulder while he cycled it. Guess I’d have to see it all in action to really form my opinion. I will say a northern Maine WT buck dressing out better than 250 lbs is quite a formidable creature to successfully track so credit is definitely due on that piece.

I'll admit that whacking a deer you have tracked several times is very commonplace. My point remains that these guys shooting 5,7, 9, 11 times (or putting up a wall of lead) at a buck drives me nuts. I just watched some video where the guy emptied 3 magazines, called his buddy to tell him he wounded a deer, and then tracked it and finished it off. In my mind the deer deserves better than that.

I'll back-track a bit.....

If an animal is hit first shot and leaving, with the hunter not knowing for sure if it is a "good shot", or near no-go boundary lines, etc., "putting up a wall of lead", however crass that sounds, is indeed what is called for.

Keep shooting until the animal is down or out of sight.

I agree with that.

There's not many deer tracks in the snow in the north woods. And if those guys slow a deer down at all they will catch up to it.

Here in the East we can't afford to bump an animal. Too many property lines and too many hunters. In Archery season I like to give them a half hour. In rifle I don't worry about that

That is the proper way to shoot a levergun

I can accept a gut shot it happens. But killing a buck just so you have a video to post on YouTube is low life BS.

I seen that. Rinella is a cool dude. He's like, the heck you doing you idiot? Lol

Nothing wrong with that I guess, if it works for you.

Archery or rifle though, if I am 100% confident it was a solid hit, I immediately followup. With one exception (rifle shot doe antelope) I have never had an issue doing so. I have bumped deer that I was blood trailing for sure, but they weren't hit where I wanted. I absolutely will wait a while if the hit didn't give the warm and fuzzy.

More than they’ll ever admit. An acquaintance films for one of the big long range shows. Says there is a good bit of missing edited out, and a number of gut shot critters taken in the name of long range “shooting”. It’s not hunting, regardless of what the folks on the long range forum here would tell you.

I was at a ranch a few years ago hunting and at the same time, the crew of perhaps the best known long range show on tv was there. They ended up getting into a little pissing match with the guide. The guide got them on an elk at around 350 or so yards and they insisted they needed to back out to at least 750 yards, preferably more, before they’d film the shot. The guide held his ground, they didn’t take the shot. Long story short, they ended up leaving and moving on for a ranch that would allow them to properly experience their wet dreams.

Go to YouTube and watch “The Real Gunsmith” Randy Selby. He has a few videos about this very subject and has been calling out the long range guys using target bullets for a long time! He’s not the most articulate person but I agree with him 100%! It is the hunter’s responsibility to the animals to take them as humanely as possible.

Probably no more than game spooked by someone trying to get closer.

Good for the guide! Phuggin’ douche bags.

And the two are not equitable.

Saw a “channel” on YouTube today that the dingbats have footage of shooting a big buck in the hindquarter with a bow on their “intro/highlight reel”. So everyone gets to see it every time they tune in. 🤦‍♂️

Fairly professional editing and filming along with high end gear and some expensive and exotic trips makes me think that these dudes weren’t just Joe Shmoe from the tire shop filming with his phone either.

I'm one that doesn't mind naming names. My buddy up in the Oklahoma Panhandle town of Knowles worked for Texaco, and was a hunting machine. This was back when Kansas still had the landowner tags. He pumped wells for Texaco in OK and KS and knew every landowner up there, and this was when SW KS was just starting to get famous for big whitetails. He gathered up some landowner tags every year and started guiding on a very small basis and I got to help him for about 4 years. One year Bill Jordan and Michael Waddell showed up. Suffice it to say Jordan was an [bleep], and Waddell was a smartass punk and [bleep] as well. They both thought their schittt was ice cream and there weren't enough spoons to go around. Another time Jackie Bushman hunted with him and he was a great guy but quite the goofball. He passed up trying to get closer to a 170 class whitetail in a wheat field and shot a 150 class buck instead because he had better film footage.

Another time Larry Weishuhn hunted Texas sandhills mule deer with us. He wouldn't walk/stalk at all and wanted to hang out around a water hole. He wound up shooting a 160 class muley due to his lazyasssedness. A couple of the Buck Commander dudes hunted aoudad with us. One of them was Jep Robertson, and he hunted his butt off and killed a really nice ram. Can't remember the other guy's name.

Most of the TV hunters are living proof if you have the money to buy the air time, you can have a hunting show irregardless how good or bad your show is. Put those guys on a piece of property where they have to figure out everything themselves and they'd starve to death.

Amen!


Bill Jordan and Waddell live up the road a piece from me. Another friend of mine films for them. Jordan is a nice guy but can’t hit the broadside of a barn with a bow. When he does connect with a rifle or bow he has his own post-kill crew come in and pretty up the buck for the walk up shots. They actually “groom” the deer. Mop up the blood, clean it up, brush the hair AND insert some sort of taxidermist supplied “contact lens” that make the eyes appear fresh…not glazed over. Crazy!

David Blanton is a dang good hunter and one of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. I can’t say enough about him. Great person, just a wonderful soul.

The other hunter mentioned. Fake personality. Would chase your wife back in the day and try and convince you it was in your best interest. He elk hunted one time on the ranch I frequent and took a very nice bull. Scentlock paid for the hunt, every penny of the $18K hunt. His only obligation was to cover the guide’s tip. I know the guide personally, see him every year. The guide was tipped by him $125 ( he told me $125 one time, $145 a second time). Ten percent of the hunt would have been $1,800. Pissed him off naturally. Every year I see him or hunt with him he always says “If you see Mike, tell him I said to kiss my ass!”

Nick Mundt is part of that crew. Very nice person. Very intense hunter. My friend guided him to a 340’ish 6x. He told me he was one of the hardest hunters he’s ever guided. “Never ever give up” attitude. He’s been guiding for elk there over 40 years, so that says a lot.

We have a number of film crews shoot hunts in our county and I’ve seen em all. Some are pathetically incompetent. Many years ago two turkey call manufacturers came to shoot whitetail hunts. Neither knew which end of the gun went bang, nor how to scout for a stand location.

They can’t compare to the pro bass fishermen though for pure arrogance. The absolute worst…..with the exception of Hank Parker and Bill Dance. Both are true gentlemen who would do anything to help you.

You do know one of the deer show guys you see every week is gay as can be don’t you? People in the industry call him “The Rump Ranger”. 😆

Who might the "Rump Ranger" be?

I am admittedly not the best tipper, though I would tip better than that assuming the hunt went well.

That said, your friend holds a permanent grudge due to a bad tip? Or, was your friend's wife and/or the fake personality also involved? I am reading your post as in the bad tip was all in all what pissed off your friend/guide.

No my guide buddy busted his hump all week to get Waddell a dang nice bull and he was severely stiffed on the tip. I told him he should have just given the $125 back to him and told him “You need this more than I do”. He agreed…

I have pretty much quit watching the hunting shows on TV. For the most part, they fall into one of two categories............well known hunters who get to hunt in places that the average hunter will never have a chance to hunt, or some egotistical goober that thinks he is an expert. I got tired of hearing the excuses for gut shooting an animal, and then the hunter acting like an idiot when he finds it the next day, jumping up and down and high fiving his entourage.....when he should be ashamed that he let an animal suffer.

I'm sure there are still some good shows out there, but they are few and far between. What it all boils down to for me, is that I'd rather be out in the field doing it, that sitting in my recliner and watch someone else do it.

The only one's worth watching IMHO are Jim Shockey and Steve Rinella. Neither do canned hunts or high dollar leases, they both seem like good responsible hunters who respect the land and it's wildlife. That's just my impression of course, ymmv.