quote:

Originally posted by BaxterB:

quote:

Nah, just a well dressed metrosexual. Wink

I hope you aint implying i'm a well-dressed metrosexual mister, thems fightin words... i been in the same costco jeans for a month... just stand 'em next to the bed at night and hop back in 'em in the morning... wear a vest to cover the holes in my shirts... I gots better things to spend my money on fabric to cover my hide... ;-)

I believe the sexual preference reference (say that three times fast) was for my use of the word So.

As far as your wardrobe choices, I know what city you live in and you would drown wearing jeans daily.

Ha!

I didn't know modifying adverbs were an indication of sexual preference... learn something new on AR every day...


and we have been drowning...uggg

I don't know if its good or bad, but I do know I do not watch any hunting shows on tv. Generally, i'm not too impressed by the talent doing the show, its more ads than show and the show is more a commercial for sponsors than actually hunting.

I like Tracks Across Africa but those two idiots that think they are bow hunters and get excited shooting South African animals from a concrete bunker are morons.

I never watch their show and avoid anything they advertise, especially Bushnell products.

It is ironic that so many speak about "American Sportsman."

The Fred Bear polar bear scene resulted in tons of viewer complaints, sponsor threats, etc. Curt Gowdy later said that show was the death of big game hunting on broadcast TV.

I liked the show myself, but it wasn't perfect. Hell, read the shots that Fred Bear took in book "Field Notes" - just about as bad as "Best of the West."

As for celebs hunting, no thanks. Give me a real guy who paid real money. Tell me what you do in life, how you saved for the hunt. Show the real life hunt - for better or worse. That will do a lot more for hunting than watching outdoor communicators shoot yet another animal.

I agree with AnotherAZWriter. Your celebrities are not necessarily mine.

This is brought home whenever I'm around my son-in-law and his friends who follow all the running, jumping and throwing games. I'm totally lost when they talk about people and sporting events I have zero interest in.

I also have no idea what or who they're talking about when they watch programs that show nothing but race cars driving in circles.

On the other hand, they have no idea who Capstick, Ruark, Bell, Hunter and others were, either.

Bill Quimby

Reading this thread reminds me of some of the hunting articles published in Safari Magazine.

They are supposed to be written by ordinary people, after their hunts.

But, the editors ruin everything by making all the hunts sound the same. Making some of teh claims sound so outlandish as to make anyone who has hunted before give up and reading.

I think they are getting too much of the "Hollywood" mentality into it, and ignoring the reality of hunting.

What's exciting about watching a bow hunter shoot a pronghorn antelope at a watering hole at 15 yards, and with a blind set up right at the windmill? I was not only embarrassed and disgusted when I watched it last evening, but that type of hunt crosses over the ethical boundary in my hunt book.

Kim,

Thoughtful response and fits well with the way I feel and, I think, many AR members. Thanks for taking the time and effort to respond.

Tom

I was a big fan of American Sportsman when I was growing up, too. It was a very well-made show, and Curt Gowdy was a great host. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe that show was filmed with TV cameras, which gave the show a more polished look. Remember, back then video cameras were too crude to be used for anything that would be shown on TV. All the hunting shows today are, I believe, filmed with video cameras. Filming these shows today with more sophisticated cameras would likely be too cost prohibitive.

But even if the Fred Bear polar bear episode had never been made, American Sportsman might not have lasted very much longer on network TV. Sadly, hunting has become politically incorrect to the masses in today's society. You can blame it on a variety of reasons, but these poorly made whack-em and stack-em outdoor shows certainly aren't helping the situation. Many of these shows depict some good-ol-boy hunting whitetail herds that have been fed, culled and "managed" to produce bigger racks. Then there's the whooping, fist-pumping and back-slapping after the shot. And just who was it that decided that heavy metal music is the proper sound track for a hunting show? The essence of the hunt is not even visible in these types of shows, and I feel sorry for the younger hunters who are growing up watching this crap and thinking that this is what hunting is all about. I just hope their parents are teaching them what hunting is really about.

There are certain things on a hunt that simply can't be captured on film, mainly the smells - the smell of the animals, the smell of the morning dew on the grass and leaves, the smell of burnt gunpowder, etc. Then there are the emotions - the tightening of the gut when you first catch a glimpse of your quarry, and the emotions you feel after the kill.

But there are a lot of good things about a hunt than CAN be captured on film, and there are certain shows which do a very good job at this. I'm pretty sure Craig and Dave are reading this thread, and to you I say, keep up the good work on TAA. As for me, what I'd like to see a little bit more of is the small details. Close-ups of the thorns you are constantly moving through in Africa and the blood they draw on your arms and legs. Close-ups of the hunters, sweat-soaked and out of breath after a vigorous stalk. Close-ups of jacking a round into the chamber and jacking a spent shell out. A shot of the sun rising on the horizon, and more shots of the beautiful landscape you are hunting in. It would take more editing, but including this stuff would take up very little time on the show, yet would improve the feel of the show.

I guess some would say that it sounds like I'm trying to glamorize hunting. So what's wrong with that? There are far less noble pursuits being glamorized on TV every day. Our ancestors have always hunted, and it is only very recently that hunting has become "distasteful" or "unnecessary" in the eyes of many. If hunting is our heritage, then any show depicting what we do should be made in the best possible way, and an effort should be made to depict hunting in the best possible light. If you can't do that, then don't make the show. Just my opinion.

SDhunter, don't ever go to Africa, as you will be disappointed, with your level of expectations.

I think there are few shows that are good for our sport. Tracks Across Africa is a good example. One not mentioned is the Pheasants Forever show. Both share some traits. Good stories, well written and edited, and good messages. They have an emphasis on the fun and interest of the sport and the places we enjoy it, conservation, the tools, the companions and all the while trying to describe the esoterics of the sport and not demeaning.
It's a hard row to hoe. The good ones should be aplauded.
Bfly

There is from time to time a TV hunting video that cathes my eye, but that is rare. Often shown are a couple guys, guide, tracker, etc., slowly in hunched position stalking the game.
Now, in the U.S. those folks are many times depicted with backpacks, big ones, and yet in the background is the Ford F250(fully equipped of course) and the game is in sight on the ridge or in the valley? What the hell is the backpack for since the truck is only some few hundred yards away at best! Showtime at it's best.
African hunt shows must supply their clients with the same clothing or uniforms. Got to have those binos with cross straps holding close to the chest, ammo pouch of finest leather, hunting knife(seriously doubt that very many can sharpen a hunting knife) and those gators around the ankles with shorts!! Must have protection you know. Might also mention that the shirt and trousers are very crisp and freshly laundered. Now of course just behind the PH and the client are trucks, crew of trackers, film crew, and who knows what else. Recent showing of fellow shooting Cape Buff. and off sticks of course, and shot clearly hit just forward of the hip and low! Well, it is what most call a gut shot and the critter ran off. They did get it, but what a charade. Nah, not for me and I'll stick to watching folks catching Tarpon in the Keys.

Well, MFD there is some validity to your comment, but apparently you haven't been to Africa.

With shorts and gators, most PHs I have hunted with that is their attire, personally I wear long trousers even when it is 110 degrees F. Crisp and freshly laundered shirts and trousers you betchum first they are cooler and secondly that is just they way they do things in Africa. How else would you get TV quality film with out a crew etc.

What you like "shown are a couple of guys, guide, tracker etc." How do you think you see that with out a crew etc and how do they get the equipment with out trucks etc.. Also PLEASE don't call PHs "guides", also you forgot the ever important game scout.

I guess in other words maybe it would behoove you to know what your are talking about, nuff said!

Each one to his own but I find the over the top screaming and hollering and jumping in the air and flaying your arms wildly that goes on in some shows is pretty offensive.

But to answer the Q, I suppose it is a good thing for our sport.

Having produced/hosted a bunch of outdoor shows, I think whether TV is good or bad for hunting is totally dependant upon the quality of the television production.

I agree that there is too much whoo-hooing and high fiving after the kill. I don't do that in "real life" and I didn't do it on any of my shows either. I like loud, thumping rock music, but not as a background to a hunt!

I like to try to "take the viewer along" on my hunts or fishing trips. I've always tried to "tell the story" of the trip and give the viewers some information that they could use on their own. But in order to do that, it's not easy, nor is it cheap. It's much easier to do a glorified informercial for the sponsors.

That's why I like watching Tracks Across Africa and other QUALITY programs. There aren't many out there, and there are a LOT of poorly produced shows. To me, it seems many of these shows are on only because they've got a great marketing person!

Die Ou Jagter,
Mercy, mercy, had no idea you were so validated on Africa. That's impressive, did not realize that perhaps you were the leading man or even the "star" in one of these video hunts. Good for you, glad you enjoyed, but you should not jump to conclusions as to where I or anyone else has been or what they have done.
Rest assured that in the future and having any questions about Africa and filming of hunts, you can safely bet I will clear all inquires with you and draw on your vast knowledge of the Dark Continent and all the correct terminology required to speak intellingently about same. You have a nice day now.

quote:

Originally posted by butchloc:
I do know that i find myself watching fewer and fewer shows...

Me too. I couldn't wait for cable TV lines to be strung in my neck of the woods, just to be able to finally watch the 24/7 hunting (and fishing) shows on the Outdoor Channel. What a letdown it was. I dismissed Michael Waddell and all the mush-mouthed bubbas like him. Also that uncle Nuge coward. The competitive bass fishing where yanking them into the livewell the fastest wins, seems so unsporting and is a turnoff. Same for the mindless racegun, plate shooting shows. Thank goodness for the remote clicker.

I've whittled what I now watch down to 2 shows; Boddington's Tracks and Jim "it's a BONGO!" Shockey. And I never have a coronary if I miss them on the schedule. I'm not absolutely sure if either one of these 2 shows is actually 'good' for hunting but they're a damn site better than the rest which IMO are in bad taste.

Re: the post kill exuberant celebrating...Penn State's football coach Joe Paterno said it best; act like you've been in the endzone before, give the ball to the referee and exit to the sidelines. Then act like a kid in a candy store.

Re: American Sportsman. I recall it being a 1 hour show. Perhaps it had more depth because of that extra time compared to the 1/2 hour shows nowadays. In that context, permit me a rant: if we'll agree that a show has approximately 3 seven minute segments, why do they feel the need to recap what happened after returning from 3 minutes of commercials? It's irksome to me and just a waste of my viewing time.

Well now that the pissing match has started so this conversation can degenerate into minutea, I think TV could be good for hunting, if the shows dealt more with the whole experience, not just the sales of equipment.

Yes, sponsors need to realizer something from their efforts, but there could be some desperately needed moderation in the amount and duration of infomercials.

All the post shot celebrating is not needed, as is the whispering after a shot has been made and an animal is hard hit or down. Why whisper when the critter is dead?

I guess my main gripe with the various hunting shows, is that there is probably not a single one of us on this site, that could nlot do just as good a job or even a better job, b ut we just don't have the "On Air Personality Or Look" that the PTB's want in a "Hunter".

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Reading this thread reminds me of some of the hunting articles published in Safari Magazine.

They are supposed to be written by ordinary people, after their hunts.

But, the editors ruin everything by making all the hunts sound the same. Making some of teh claims sound so outlandish as to make anyone who has hunted before give up and reading.

I think they are getting too much of the "Hollywood" mentality into it, and ignoring the reality of hunting.

The problem with many of those articles (as well as some hunting reports here) is the hunter/author thinks he is Hemingway or Ruark reborn.

MFD, you are most welcome and if you have any more questions I will try to be of assistance. Now you have a good day!

By the by I haven't done any videos or plan to in the future.

Have any of you seen the new show that comes on the Travel Channel called The Wild Within? I know that it is not specifically billed as a hunting show but so far that seems to be the backbone of it (I know the Travel Channel taking a pro hunting stance what is this world coming to.)The primes of it is that it is about living off the land in modern times by hunting, trapping and fishing. For the most part not relying on grocery stores get all of your food. I have only caught 2 episodes so far but I am liking it and the guy that it follows. It shows a more realistic view of what hunters go through and how we respect the game that we chase before and after the shot takes place. Just for an example in one episode he came upon a freshly killed pronghorn that someone else had shot and only took a small amount of meat off of and left the rest to rot. After verbally reprimanding whoever had left it he explained what the proper butchering would have been he salvaged what good meat was left and took it with him. If any of you have seen this show yet your thoughts please.

SDHunter,,, if you go to africa,, you by your own choice can spot and stalk with a bow, traditional, compound etc. ,, just like here in the US.. just pick the right outfit and Ph.....Been there and done it! will again July 2011,,, If you rather take a gun do so as well.To each his own. I have seen them ride around in the truck,, see a animal from the truck,, close as well,, get out make a short stalk and shoot with a rifle,,, if that's what they want,,, that is their choice as well... Don't paint everyone with the same brush,,, Africa is an "amazing" place to hunt with great opportunities for all types of hunting and all styles of hunting,, even for the handicapped as well.