Best Produced African Hunting Shows

23 May 2011, 06:21

Watched a little television today. The quality of the productions by Tracks Across Africa, Hornady's Africa and Under Wild Skies is heads and tails above the other African hunting shows. I should throw Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures in there too when they do African episodes. The camera work, the editing, the vignettes, all is well done. Some of the outdoor shows seem to be not much more that two buddies with a video camera from Best Buy. The effort and expense of the shows mentioned really shows.

23 May 2011, 06:52

LittleJoe

+1, I record both of Boddington's shows and Jim Shockey's as well. I really like The Professional's that Shockey's produce as well.

23 May 2011, 07:17

KPete

True enough, Mike. Our own Dave Fulson and his team do an exceptional job producing 'Tracks Across Africa'. I just wish they would consolidate more of the programs into DVDs; I think they just offer the first two seasons. Come on, Dave!

Regarding Shockey, I can't get past the extraordinarily ugly rifles he carries ...

23 May 2011, 19:38

Jeff Wemmer

"Tracks" is by far the BEST thing going in African TV programs!

JW

23 May 2011, 20:02

Wildlife Gallery

I cast my vote for Safari Classic's Tracks Across Africa!!!

23 May 2011, 20:03

JTEX

"Tracks" has my vote and is the best!

Also the best advertising Ruger, Trijicon and Hornady have

23 May 2011, 20:46

Aaron Neilson

Yep, TAA is the best when it comes to Africa!

But man, I did catch about 3 minutes (all I could stand) of "Wildgame Nation" yesterday afternoon. Hard to compete with 3 dudes playing golf, and then hunting turkeys.

23 May 2011, 21:00

CARLOSTHEJACKAL

If anybody has Direct TV, what channel does the Ivan Carter, Craig B show on. What is the actual title of that show? I found "tracks across africa" but can't find hornady one.

24 May 2011, 02:20

dogcat

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Watched a little television today. The quality of the productions by Tracks Across Africa, Hornady's Africa and Under Wild Skies is heads and tails above the other African hunting shows. I should throw Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures in there too when they do African episodes. The camera work, the editing, the vignettes, all is well done. Some of the outdoor shows seem to be not much more that two buddies with a video camera from Best Buy. The effort and expense of the shows mentioned really shows.

Agreed.

Those two idiots that pimp Bushnell products and act like they know about hunting drive me off the TV.

24 May 2011, 03:17

Dutch44

I would say 1) Hornady's Africa then, 2) TAA. All others pale in comparison. KPete +1 on that ugly rifle.

Dutch

24 May 2011, 03:24

Alaska Hunter

Both Boddington shows and Shockey. Those are the only ones I DVR. I'm sure there could be others I'd like, but I have no time to find out.

24 May 2011, 04:20

Mark Clark

quote:
Originally posted by CARLOSTHEJACKAL:
If anybody has Direct TV, what channel does the Ivan Carter, Craig B show on. What is the actual title of that show? I found "tracks across africa" but can't find hornady one.

Hornady’s Africa with Craig Boddington and Ivan Carter
It is on "The Sportsman Channel" See http://www.thesportsmanchannel...scription.php?ID=240

24 May 2011, 07:57

surestrike

quote:
Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
"Tracks" is by far the BEST thing going in African TV programs!

JW

I agree there is nothing that can compare.

24 May 2011, 18:02

CARLOSTHEJACKAL

quote:
Originally posted by Mark Clark:
quote:
Originally posted by CARLOSTHEJACKAL:
If anybody has Direct TV, what channel does the Ivan Carter, Craig B show on. What is the actual title of that show? I found "tracks across africa" but can't find hornady one.

Hornady’s Africa with Craig Boddington and Ivan Carter
It is on "The Sportsman Channel" See http://www.thesportsmanchannel...scription.php?ID=240

Thanks!

24 May 2011, 20:15

Jeff Wemmer

quote:
Those two idiots that pimp Bushnell products and act like they know about hunting drive me off the TV.

Ahhh, yes, the large corporation want'n to be cool!

Sorry! Our little fraternity don't accept "posers!

24 May 2011, 22:23

Dave Fulson

Dear Mike and the guys
Thanks so much for the nice words and comments on our work. We really work hard to present programming that depicts the safari experience as it exists from the very best destinations we can visit. Last year between our two series I think we hunted 10 countries, and we still feature dangerous game on over 95% of our shows. We are coming out with "Trijicon's World Of Sports Afield TV " in July on Sportsman Channel. With this series, we are now producing 52 new international shows a year. The new show will feature big game from around the globe, but will feature 3 or 4 African episodes. It is always nice to be recognized by our peers , and the AR opinions and comments are always seen as valuable feedback. Men, thanks for the nice words and tuning in each week. But... sometimes I envy those guys that go to SA and shoot 13 animals over the 'cement pond' and come home with 13 episodes ! Much easier and cost effective that what we do !!!!! LOL There is a difference and we appreciate you for realizing it.
Cheers
Dave

25 May 2011, 00:27

maki

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
sometimes I envy those guys that go to SA and shoot 13 animals over the 'cement pond' and come home with 13 episodes ! Much easier and cost effective that what we do !!!!! LOL /QUOTE]

Yeah, but who has more fun with their job? I've never actually seen either of the shows mentioned above but will order a season or two on DVD tonight and change that.

Dean

25 May 2011, 00:35

CCMDoc

I wish friggin Comcast in New Jersey got Sportsman Channel.
God damn piece of crap cable network.

25 May 2011, 00:44

woodsie

THese are my favorite shows as well.
I dont know if you have ever seen "Youngblood" but although not nearly on the same level as these others, its pretty cool becuase its a 14 year old who shoots the big five, the little five, and all sorts in between. he's on like a 28 day safari.
Like I said, its not on the same level, but its pretty cool way to see more of africa.
W.

25 May 2011, 00:59

butchloc

tracks is great and so is shockey and hornadys africa, but my favorite just has to be jurassic park - the part where the trex eats the lawyer

25 May 2011, 04:29

Tembo

IMO, Under Wild Skies is heads and shoulders above everyone else.

25 May 2011, 05:50

strapman

I love all these shows. Tracks Across Africa is excellent. Tony Makris does all us African hunters a favor by promoting the culture of the sport. He doesn't cheapen it, he makes it even more interesting. One thing Tony does is discuss his firearms. Most never discuss the firearms they're carrying. For the life of me I don't understand why not. To pick one of these wonderful shows is not saying that we don't appreciate the others it's just saying that one or the other gets our vote. I will say that Ivan Carter, Craig Boddington, Jim Shockey and Tony Makris are all highly professional, exciting to watch and in my opinion an asset to our sport and the culture of our sport.

25 May 2011, 20:46

degoins

I used to love UWS when Tony did most of his hunting with old and interesting guns and did the intro in his normal tone of voice. Now I can hardly stand the show.

25 May 2011, 23:31

MikeBurke

quote:
Originally posted by MJines:
Some of the outdoor shows seem to be not much more that two buddies with a video camera from Best Buy. The effort and expense of the shows mentioned really shows.

I watched one with the host talking about the hunt and a tracker urinating in the background. Cannot remember which show it was but it was classy.

26 May 2011, 06:57

Navaluk

Mr. Boddington has 2 shows this week in the Zambezi Valley. That is a nice change for his programs. Hopefully they are with Chifuti, this time.

26 May 2011, 18:44

Bwanamich

quote:
Originally posted by Tembo:
IMO, Under Wild Skies is heads and shoulders above everyone else.

Camera quality...... yes. But Makris' narration turns me off BIG TIME. I would prefer to watch it without sound. Oh and the thing all of these shows have in common which is a complete pain is the endless commercial breaks! a 45 minute show is practically 20 min of actual show with like 10 x 2 minute episodes! The rest is commercials!

26 May 2011, 19:40

Dave Fulson

There are no 45 min shows, either 30 min or one hour. Did you catch the Super Bowl last year ? Took 3 1\2 hours front to back and the game was only 60 minutes. American Idol, Survivor, Oprah, or Tracks or whatever, sponsors pay the bills and they want a message delivered. It costs a fortune to do what we do, and in Africa of all places, and we have this annoying desire to actually turn a profit , so sponsorship is a reality. But don't tell me outdoor programming is any different than anything else you watch outside of PBS, and even then they have 15 min. breaks begging for viewer support. Until a rich hunter with unlimited wealth decides to produce a hunting show, this will be the reality of this game. " All these shows ", Good Lord!

26 May 2011, 19:49

MJines

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
There are no 45 min shows, either 30 min or one hour. Did you catch the Super Bowl last year ? Took 3 1\2 hours front to back and the game was only 60 minutes. American Idol, Survivor, Oprah, or Tracks or whatever, sponsors pay the bills and they want a message delivered. It costs a fortune to do what we do, and in Africa of all places, and we have this annoying desire to actually turn a profit , so sponsorship is a reality. But don't tell me outdoor programming is any different than anything else you watch outside of PBS, and even then they have 15 min. breaks begging for viewer support. Until a rich hunter with unlimited wealth decides to produce a hunting show, this will be the reality of this game. " All these shows ", Good Lord!

Maybe we need to get some of that pulled NPR funding redirected to subsidize good African hunting video productions.

Then I would feel better, only slightly, paying my taxes.

26 May 2011, 20:05

Dave Fulson

Now your talking Mike !!

27 May 2011, 07:36

KPete

If not PBS maybe Pay-Per-View? (Ahh, maybe not.)

So Dave, when will we see seasons three and four of TAA on DVD? You can't keep us waiting much longer ...

27 May 2011, 07:42

dogcat

quote:
Originally posted by Bwanamich:
quote:
Originally posted by Tembo:
IMO, Under Wild Skies is heads and shoulders above everyone else.

Camera quality...... yes. But Makris' narration turns me off BIG TIME. I would prefer to watch it without sound. Oh and the thing all of these shows have in common which is a complete pain is the endless commercial breaks! a 45 minute show is practically 20 min of actual show with like 10 x 2 minute episodes! The rest is commercials!

Makris strikes me as one who is very impressed with himself and his little costume he likes to wear. I turn him off everytime and refuse to buy whatever he is selling.

27 May 2011, 09:12

7MMNut

quote:
Originally posted by Dave Fulson:
Dear Mike and the guys
Thanks so much for the nice words and comments on our work. We really work hard to present programming that depicts the safari experience as it exists from the very best destinations we can visit. Last year between our two series I think we hunted 10 countries, and we still feature dangerous game on over 95% of our shows. We are coming out with "Trijicon's World Of Sports Afield TV " in July on Sportsman Channel. With this series, we are now producing 52 new international shows a year. The new show will feature big game from around the globe, but will feature 3 or 4 African episodes. It is always nice to be recognized by our peers , and the AR opinions and comments are always seen as valuable feedback. Men, thanks for the nice words and tuning in each week. But... sometimes I envy those guys that go to SA and shoot 13 animals over the 'cement pond' and come home with 13 episodes ! Much easier and cost effective that what we do !!!!! LOL There is a difference and we appreciate you for realizing it.
Cheers
Dave

I had the chance to meet you at SCI this year. As I said then and now repeat, Tracks and Hornady's Africa are my favorites. So happens my 8 year old loves Tracks too.

I've not heard much about Craig, hope he's doing well and will be hunting soon if he's not already.

Keep up the great work!

27 May 2011, 10:10

Bwanamich

Hey Dave,

I understand why it is necessary........

I personlly would prefer having 10 min of commercials at the beginning and at the end of a program (I can make a cup of coffee, take a s...t or whatever in between programs) but then have 20 min of uninterrupted programming.

27 May 2011, 10:48

surestrike

I have to say that the other day I caught Craig on Petersons Hunting doing a public land public draw Desert Bighorn hunt. The show wasn't anything special in terms of camera work or clarity but I really appreciated the fact that it was hunt any of us could one day find ourselves doing for a very hard to come by species if you don't happen to have a pile o cash lying around.

I really enjoyed the very simple and very honestly portrayed, humble public land hunt. And with all the hunting that Craig does he seemed to really be enjoying himself. I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Craig's writing style. But I really find him to be genuinely enjoyable to watch on film. He enjoys what he does I think and it shows, no false bravado no BS just good clean hard hunting the way I like to do it. I guess what I enjoy about Craig's shows is that I can very strongly identify with him and his hunting style.

30 May 2011, 07:04

kudu4u

Is Safari Hunter's Journal by Steve Scott running now? I'm on DISH and cannot seem to find it. I have always enjoyed that show as well all the others mentioned here.

30 May 2011, 09:07

Zephyr

I concur with all of the above. Does anyone remember the American Sportsman series? Their african shows were very well done.

30 May 2011, 10:48

7MMNut

quote:
Originally posted by Zephyr:
I concur with all of the above. Does anyone remember the American Sportsman series? Their african shows were very well done.

With Curt Gowdy? If so, I was just a little kid when that show was on. I was living in the Washington D.C. area where I grew up. I was hooked by that show as just a little guy and knew hunting would be something I'd do, much to my parents chagrin.

Good memories of Curt hunting antelope on the Wyoming plains.