I started hunting in 1978 as a kid. In the late 80's, we used to rent VCR tapes on deer hunting. The whole show was pure hunting, and a few ads were at the end. If you watch one on the outdoor channel now, the whole show is an advertisement. Six year old kids are shooting B&C class bucks with a rifle locked in a tripod vise, while in a heated blind in a lounge chair. My first hunts were sitting in a ditch bank on the edge of a field freezing to death, and I loved it. I had to beg to go hunting. It seems now that people like to take kids hunting to put their pics up online somewhere.
I have not watched a hunting show in 10 years or so for the very reason you mentioned, they are just a commercial advertisement.
Now as far as a kid sitting in a heated blind with a rifle rested in a vise so that they can make a lethal shot on a game animal is alright with me. If it gets them in the outdoors and away from video games it can only be a good thing. Lots of young people did not like their first introduction to hunting because their father took them out in extreme cold/wet and they spent the day very miserable. Hunting needs to be fun and comfortable for young people. There is plenty of time to freeze their ass off during their adult time spent hunting.
This summer I signed up for the various outdoor shows, five channels, record and replay skipping the commercials and can usually bounce around and find something worthwhile. Shokey stages all of his hunts.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving or fist pumping in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Very little of what I watch is deer hunting, only mule deer hunts. Plenty of good hunts in the west, Canada, Alaska and Africa. I'm sure they are staged as well though.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Very little of what I watch is deer hunting, only mule deer hunts. Plenty of good hunts in the west, Canada, Alaska and Africa. I'm sure they are staged as well though.
I’ve checked out a few African hunting channels on YouTube.
My wife and I are booked for an RSA plains game hunt in May so it’s fun seeing the terrain and getting an idea of what to expect.
I occasionally watch a few bird hunting channel’s. The bird hunting channel’s aren’t bad but good lord they overhype the romance.
Not much. DVR Live to Hunt, Canadian Whitetails, and Steve Rinell's show. About once a month when I get in the mood to watch some hunting shows, those are the 3 that keep my interest.
I started hunting in 1978 as a kid. In the late 80's, we used to rent VCR tapes on deer hunting. The whole show was pure hunting, and a few ads were at the end. If you watch one on the outdoor channel now, the whole show is an advertisement. Six year old kids are shooting B&C class bucks with a rifle locked in a tripod vise, while in a heated blind in a lounge chair. My first hunts were sitting in a ditch bank on the edge of a field freezing to death, and I loved it. I had to beg to go hunting. It seems now that people like to take kids hunting to put their pics up online somewhere.
I just wondered what ya'll think.
As soon as I see a kid in a hunting video, I turn it off.
These special youth seasons have gotten out of control. Some dude trying to live vicariously through his 6 year old killing a deer. Turn the cameras off and Dad is the one pulling the trigger.
The outfitter I work for took Dez Young of the Dash & Dez show on a snowcock hunt, Dash was wore out early on the ride, 7 miles in, and had to finish on top of one of the packhorses. Most of the footage was interrupted with Dez hollering "Cut!" He didn't get a bird.
The best part was when they were loading the pack mules for the trip out Harold the mule strolled over to the lead mare and hopped on her while the cameraman was filming. Dez ran in front of the camera, "Cut, cut!" Cameraman kept filming telling Dez "I'm selling this to MTV!"
Harold was renamed on the spot, Floyd the Porn Star.
Don't you just love the tears and hugging every time they kill something lol.
I'm getting old, and i've never seen hunters hug about anything.
I loved the old videos. I remember Ben Lee helping find a buck his friend killed. He said," yeah that's a nice buck. Now roll him over and let me gut him" lol
Meat eater on Netflix! Hands down, the best hunting show on tv! Hunts it, kills it (most of the time), guts it and cooks it up and eats it! Not canned/planed and NO commercials!
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Very little of what I watch is deer hunting, only mule deer hunts. Plenty of good hunts in the west, Canada, Alaska and Africa. I'm sure they are staged as well though.
I’ve checked out a few African hunting channels on YouTube.
My wife and I are booked for an RSA plains game hunt in May so it’s fun seeing the terrain and getting an idea of what to expect.
I occasionally watch a few bird hunting channel’s. The bird hunting channel’s aren’t bad but good lord they overhype the romance.
u You will thoroughly enjoy your trip to Africa. I am looking for another trip there.
Only one I stream is The Hunting Public. It is as close to the real deal as I have seen.
Those guys seem to still have their feet on the ground and haven’t gone Hollywood yet. Seem to be making a bit of money as well of late. Nice guys that I could hunt with (if my old wrinkly ass could keep up with them).
OTOH, I have zero in common with the typical, big-chunk-of-private-land-in-the-Midwest bunch featured on many shows. They grow some great deer on those big farms, but I’d like to see how they’d fare on public land like the rest of us poor schlubs. Don’t begrudge them their success at all though.
I started hunting in 1978 as a kid. In the late 80's, we used to rent VCR tapes on deer hunting. The whole show was pure hunting, and a few ads were at the end. If you watch one on the outdoor channel now, the whole show is an advertisement. Six year old kids are shooting B&C class bucks with a rifle locked in a tripod vise, while in a heated blind in a lounge chair. My first hunts were sitting in a ditch bank on the edge of a field freezing to death, and I loved it. I had to beg to go hunting. It seems now that people like to take kids hunting to put their pics up online somewhere.
I just wondered what ya'll think.
I think you've said it all. I'd rather be in the woods myself than watch it on a screen.
There is very little hunting in hunting shows today... Sit your lazy azz in a heated blind at the edge of a food plot all day and wait for something to show up while your watching your cameras on your phone. GMAFB!!! If these people actually had to go hunt for their dinner they would starve to death.
Not a fan. TV hunting ruined Illinois years ago. Daddy warbucks buys the best land in the area, spends a fortune to feed the deer, Snot nosed grand son kills a Booner at 40 yards with a cross bow In the Tecomate 10K food plot from the heated blind. Kid acts like hunting is as easy as playing video game. Did I miss anything?
I’m guilty as I watch quite a few of them, mostly bow hunting. I agree with the OP about very young kids sitting in a heated condo, shooting trophy bucks when all they have to do is put down their game boy and pull the trigger. Other things that are a pet peeve are naming deer and the total fixation on inches and lastly the orgasm that some guys have when they make a shot. I guess I shouldn’t watch them so much😛
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Very little of what I watch is deer hunting, only mule deer hunts. Plenty of good hunts in the west, Canada, Alaska and Africa. I'm sure they are staged as well though.
I’ve checked out a few African hunting channels on YouTube.
My wife and I are booked for an RSA plains game hunt in May so it’s fun seeing the terrain and getting an idea of what to expect.
I occasionally watch a few bird hunting channel’s. The bird hunting channel’s aren’t bad but good lord they overhype the romance.
u You will thoroughly enjoy your trip to Africa. I am looking for another trip there.
I’m geeked up for it. We’re booked with Kuche Safaris. I did some research but still went in a bit blind. Everything I’ve read says that you’ll love your first trip and will be booking another.
I’m thinking about another for buff in a more remote exotic location but that will probably have to wait until retirement.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving or fist pumping in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Could not agree more man, it's all horsechit.
As an example, these chicks show up on PRIVATE PROPERTIES and pay big money to shoot B&C Bucks every weekend like they are grocery shopping and it's a simple and easy thing to do, and they do zero work to do it.
Far from reality and real hunting. I have been hunting for over 50 years, so I know what reality is.
I stopped watching hunting shows a long time ago, I hate phonies.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving or fist pumping in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Could not agree more man, it's all horsechit.
As an example, these chicks show up on PRIVATE PROPERTIES and pay big money to shoot B&C Bucks every weekend like they are grocery shopping and it's a simple and easy thing to do, and they do zero work to do it.
Far from reality and real hunting. I have been hunting for over 50 years, so I know what reality is.
I stopped watching hunting shows a long time ago, I hate phonies.
When you see ‘em shooting a Booner In full daylight in the middle of a grass field… hmm?
Fewer and fewer as time passes. Pretty much product placement for their sponsors.
Shooting Times magazine was good at one time, but every other page became an advertisement. I dropped them way back in 97. Really dropped out of all the hunting/gun videos and magazine world.
A lot of forums are turning this way too. Revenue over actual reality.
ETA: I really miss Jay Strangis of Petersens Bowhunting. I enjoyed his columns.
Neckbeards and enough high fives that it looks gay.
I would prefer to see older hunters break out a pipe and give an unhurried analysis of the hunt and bullet performance. But I guess that wouldn't sell.
Dudes or model chicks in full makeup high-fiving or fist pumping in a tree stand or a box blind over a deer that they kept tabs on with trail cams and shot over a food plot isn’t entertaining to me.
I have no problem with it. We have plenty of deer. Shoot ‘em however you want but it isn’t entertaining IMO.
Could not agree more man, it's all horsechit.
As an example, these chicks show up on PRIVATE PROPERTIES and pay big money to shoot B&C Bucks every weekend like they are grocery shopping and it's a simple and easy thing to do, and they do zero work to do it.
Far from reality and real hunting. I have been hunting for over 50 years, so I know what reality is.
I stopped watching hunting shows a long time ago, I hate phonies.
When you see ‘em shooting a Booner In full daylight in the middle of a grass field… hmm?
If I was the man that put the chick over a Booner, I would put her on film, but it would only be available on PornHub lol
The peak of hunting and fishing shows IMO was back when we had a few channels to watch even with cable TV.
The local hunting and fishing show was one of the few good thing on PBS that provided current and local info well before the internet. It was great must see TV back then. It was something that brought all of the men together at deer camp rather hunting, building blinds, or just talking about an episode that we saw a week before and something that everyone talked about.
Agree with others about the deer hunting shows, and the ones on turkey hunting aren't much better. I do enjoy some of the bird hunting shows, particularly The Flush, also some of the waterfowl hunting ones aren't too bad. Enjoy the dog work, they show misses as well as hits, and you don't have to put with all the heroic drama and celebration.
I haven't watched any hunting shows in years. About the only one I could stand was Randy Newberg, hunting public lands. All the others were a bunch of fat white guys on staged hunts, pimping gear and commercials.
I liked watching Trigger effect, but I guess I was the only one because it is now gone. Not sure what staged means, but I'm sure there are varying degree's of it. There is a couple good ones out there.
I doubt my epic whitetail hunt of shooting FA after 9 days is gonna draw many viewers lol.
Don't you just love the tears and hugging every time they kill something lol.
I'm getting old, and i've never seen hunters hug about anything.
Hell, I'd hug on Tiffany.
I do like Hornady's Dark and Dangerous and Tracks Across Africa. Most any show from New Zealand hunting big red stags also, that would be a dream hunt for me.
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
I occasionally watch one….but, most just don’t do anything for me!
The one exception is Bob Foulkrod’s shows. He seems pretty real, and gives some tips on preparing for the hunt, and equipment he is using as well. I only discovered his shows recently, and May later change my mind! memtb
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
There are some YouTube shows that are fun to watch. Especially waterfowl hunting because they show everything that can go wrong. It's hard to fake waterfowl like it is with big game as the birds will fly away whenever they want
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
Truth.
I love hunting and shooting but neither transfer over to spectator sports.
Alot of viewers around here may want to see a couple of fat guys wheel up real quiet, wait for it to lighten up abit, then slink into a logging block undetected, driving into the wind (or across it) careful not to alert any game to their presence...slowly rolling the window down...its cold out....shut the window...
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
Truth.
I love hunting and shooting but neither transfer over to spectator sports.
Outdoor Quest is a good hunting show in my view, husband and wife from Alberta, good hunters, they don't always score, but they cook well and give good pointers..
I don't know I never filmed myself I had to be told that..on one trip that we should probably take camera and take pictures of some of this stuff ....what a novel idea...
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
Truth.
I love hunting and shooting but neither transfer over to spectator sports.
Yeah, they are really boring in real life.
Wordsmith much? They’re awesome in real life. They don’t transfer over to TV well.
Some I like some I don’t. I don't lump ever show into the same pile. I think outdoor programming has come a long way in the last 10-15 years. 20 years ago you had a handfull of Jackie Bushman type shows and that was about it.
Not a fan of the high five “smoked em “ crowd. You just killed an animal show a little respect. I don't care that they do it , I just don't like to see it. Its ok to be excited but dang some go overboard.
I like watching shows that discuss hunting like podcasts. I also like watching shows that are from different locations and game I don't hunt. All of them I watch are on you tube. Not really wanting to watch some guys in a tree stand or blind.
I understand these shows have to be financed somehow so I expect some marketing with them. I dont buy into every must have new gimmick. Theres nothing free in this world and we shouldn't expect anything for free.
Its all mostly background noise to me as I find it hard to glue myself to the tv.
I don't and never really did watch a lot of hunting shows on TV.
Used to get a lot of hunting DVD's but that was varmint and ducks etc. Hard to stage a duck hunt I'd think.
I do watch some stuff on youtube but it's not anyone "big time" - mostly local/regional kids trying to make the big time. UP hunters, or regional out door shows like Discovering, Discover the UP, 906 outdoors etc.
There's a local bar here where I go to lunch quite a bit. 3 TV's over the bar. 1 TV usually has Brewers/Packers on it, 1 TV usually has MAVTV (racing/motorsports) and 1 TV has The Outdoor Channel on it.
Like most of you - I can not stand the hooting/hollering and dumb assed race to create catch phrases. "I put the crush on that freak nasty big daddy" - DAFQ? No one talks like that, it's stupid and fake.
If you have time to nick name the deer and know them by name - you're not hunting, you're selecting.
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
Greg Mc Hale is right there with Nate Simmons. Great show. Just a stud of a hunter. Most others aint a pimple on his ass.
I don't and never really did watch a lot of hunting shows on TV.
Used to get a lot of hunting DVD's but that was varmint and ducks etc. Hard to stage a duck hunt I'd think.
I do watch some stuff on youtube but it's not anyone "big time" - mostly local/regional kids trying to make the big time. UP hunters, or regional out door shows like Discovering, Discover the UP, 906 outdoors etc.
There's a local bar here where I go to lunch quite a bit. 3 TV's over the bar. 1 TV usually has Brewers/Packers on it, 1 TV usually has MAVTV (racing/motorsports) and 1 TV has The Outdoor Channel on it.
Like most of you - I can not stand the hooting/hollering and dumb assed race to create catch phrases. "I put the crush on that freak nasty big daddy" - DAFQ? No one talks like that, it's stupid and fake.
If you have time to nick name the deer and know them by name - you're not hunting, you're selecting.
Lot of truth in that. 90% of the bucks I've killed was the first time I ever seen them. Maybe more than 90%. And the ones I had seen before was from scouting and figuring out how to kill them, not from 78 game cameras to know their every step from bedding to feeding.
Heck I still don't own a single game camera. Never have. Nothing against 1 really and I might get 1, but I enjoy straining my eyes to see a deer coming through the woods and if I catch a glimpse of antlers to look them over and see what they are, and enjoy them either way as a deer I've never seen before.
To me it would take away from the hunting if I see a deer and instantly recognize it as oh that's so and so, and know already I don't want to shoot it. And I already know every detail about the deer because I've seen it 100 times on camera. The deer is already old news and a camera just robbed me of that first time experience in the woods. Maybe it's just me but part of the intrigue of hunting is all the new things seen and experienced, and all the unknowns of both.
I hunt sign, pinch points, and saddles, and hunt the wind. What I might see for the first time, who knows??
If they showed what real hunting is like who the fugg would watch? Day2...ain't FA here. Day 4...cricket sounds Day 6...wet and pizzed off Day 8...my pards an azzhole..
You ever watch Wild Yukon? This thread, as usual, is comical. Apparently a lot of non-walking hunters criticizing non-walking hunters.
Greg Mc Hale is right there with Nate Simmons. Great show. Just a stud of a hunter. Most others aint a pimple on his ass.
I agree. He is one of a very few I can stand to watch anymore. I also like Meateater and some of Shockey's stuff in wild and remote places. Mick Chappell's Elk Camp show is very enjoyable as well. 99% of it is garbage and unwatchable. When we were guiding hunts, we had Jackie Bushman and Larry Weishuhn on a couple of hunts. Nice guys, but they were a joke to hunt with.
I haven't watched any hunting shows in years. About the only one I could stand was Randy Newberg, hunting public lands. All the others were a bunch of fat white guys on staged hunts, pimping gear and commercials.
I have a good friend that is in one of todays hunting shows. there is no real "hunting " involved the people you see on screen are nothing more than KILLERS ! they have other people scattered around running cameras and reporting to the producers what they are seeing . then if the producer likes what he sees they go to said ranch and set up on the deer that someone else has patterned with cameras. no real hunting involved !!!
I know everyone hates Roger Raglin, but I liked his show. Of course, the Cough Muffler was hilarious but he is a fun guy to watch. And he can play that piano.
Most hunting shows are like Playboy. They don’t reflect reality. Having known a photographer for the latter once upon a time. Literally everything was airbrushed and touched up for the camera. Pre-photoshop days.
The most redeeming quality of many hunting shows or reality TV that seems to take place in Alaska - the scenery. You can fake it all but the mountains, streams and forests are still great to look at.
I like some of Randy Newberg's shows, but he talks too much. Would be better with more hunting and less of him right in front of the camera talking away.
I do like Rinella's MeatEater, one of the few I actually watch.
I enjoy watching just about any upland bird hunting shows, but that's about it. There was a new series on the Outdoors Channel recently, "Wild Upland", by the editor of GunDog magazine, Kali Parmley. There were only six episodes. I hope it returns next season. "The Flush" is also good.
I liked watching the hunting public for awhile, average guys with above average skills in my humble opinion, primarily because of the time dedicated to the sport, seems like after a few years for them it's all about views which I can understand but doesn't make me a fan.