I just read over on Fox News that an outdoor 'celebrity', Steve West, killed a world record caribou. On camera. That's a big deal.
The story has an....interesting twist. The animal was wounded when he shot it. The wounds are stated as a broken leg and punctures, presumably from fighting.

Being a skeptic my first thought was 'interesting', in an contrarian way as opposed to being intriuged at the circumstance.

FOR THE RECORD, I know nothing of the celebrities ethics or background. My response has more to do with the money and fame associated with hunting these days and the fact that we KNOW there are hunter types that would set up that scenario. Wound an animal, then kill it on camera. the results would generate status and $$$.
AGAIN, this is not an indictment on Mr West but me being intrigued by my own response.

A part of me hates that hunting has become commercialized to that extent.

Perry

I appreciate big animals as much as the next guy, but their measurement and bragging rights to me is stupid.

The hunter had zero to do with the animal becoming a "world record".

Outdoor celebrities are just like other celebrities only more lame, there are some nice people. I have met some of them, but a lot of them are complete douchebags. Including many of those that I have met.

The more obscure the species, the easier it is for it to be a world record.

I've seen his show, and he isn't egotistical or obnoxious, like many other show hosts. He IS a big, fat guy, easily going 350-375lbs, so every show has him sucking wind, sounding like he is about to have a coronary. I often wonder how they get him out into the high, remote country that they hunt on the show, because he certainly doesn't look like he could make the hike.

I consider myself to be overweight, but you are right that guy could eat two of me.

I didn't know Kuiu made that size, he must have got them special.

Lastly it was shot with a muzzle loader, so it could have been a muzzle loader world record. Not quite the same. Nice caribou though.

I just had to post this. My uncle and I were up hunting by Tok, Alaska. He had finally drawn a sheep permit after many years of appying for a certain area. We flew in and after a couple of days we had spotted many sheep but none past 40 inches plus. We spotted a herd of caribou that had a monster in it.Jim wanted me to shoot it but I would not. I shot my mountain grizzly at 302 yards. The caribou was at 200 yards. It was his sheep hunt and I didn't want to ruin his chance at sheep. This caribou has two shovels on each side, one growing in front of the other.Each going out about 18 inches in front of his double shovels.Nobody believes me until I show them the picture That I took of him.I often regret not shooting him.defineitly world class.

On the subject of wounded animals:

I live on a golf course, largely surrounded by wooded areas. It is within the city limits. There is absolutely no hunting .

It is astounding the number of deer we see that are injured. Broken legs, blown out knees, big cuts, etc.

I have not seen the show but these injuries can occur naturally. I have no idea whether they did or did not here.

I agree, Steve is a big boy.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
On the subject of wounded animals:

I live on a golf course, largely surrounded by wooded areas. It is within the city limits. There is absolutely no hunting .

It is astounding the number of deer we see that are injured. Broken legs, blown out knees, big cuts, etc.

I have not seen the show but these injuries can occur naturally. I have no idea whether they did or did not here.

I agree, Steve is a big boy.

Larry, we see that from car accidents near the golf courses.

Some that we see are pretty clearly car related injuries. Others are not. The general area has a very low speed limit. 25 MPH or lower.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
On the subject of wounded animals:

I live on a golf course, largely surrounded by wooded areas. It is within the city limits. There is absolutely no hunting .

It is astounding the number of deer we see that are injured. Broken legs, blown out knees, big cuts, etc.

I have not seen the show but these injuries can occur naturally. I have no idea whether they did or did not here.

I agree, Steve is a big boy.

Hummmmm Golf course and wounded animals , guess deer don't know the meaning of ' FORE"

It pretty interesting. My wife is an orthopedic surgeon. We will be out exercising. She analyzes the way the deer walk and the way the joints look. On a few occasions, we have seen deer with their lower legs just snapped in half.

I have seen a couple with large scrapes . Large section of the hide were scraped away. Raw muscle could be seen. My guess is that those tangled with a car or golf cart.

I have only seen two killed in 16 years living there. I damn near hit one last night.

I shot a pronghorn last fall that was limping. It had a break in the lower leg with bone through the skin. It had healed and the antelope seemed to be doing OK. It had not been eaten by coyotes. I gave it to a friend who is a paleontologist and is studying some fossil pronghorns in Oklahoma that appeared to be about half the size of currently living pronghorns.

JUST TO BE CLEAR

My point is not whether or not this situation occurred as stated. My observation is one from the mindset that the hunting entertainment market has become SO commercialized that an unethical hunt is now a consideration when hearing such stories.

Perry

I just saw that show. It was a Québec-Labrador or Newfoundland Caribou that Steve West shot with a muzzleloader, so it was a muzzleloader world record of that sub-species.

As to Steve West, he is a big man. I believe he is 6'-8" or 6'-10" tall.

quote:

Originally posted by Gracedog:
I've seen his show, and he isn't egotistical or obnoxious, like many other show hosts. He IS a big, fat guy, easily going 350-375lbs, so every show has him sucking wind, sounding like he is about to have a coronary. I often wonder how they get him out into the high, remote country that they hunt on the show, because he certainly doesn't look like he could make the hike.

I love his shows; I think they are now my favorite, esp the adventure series ones. I thought it was funny when he talked about what great shape this older guy was in - "he can outwalk me!" Steve exclaimed. Well...

When he walks uphill he is sweating like a whore in church, but he never gives up, at least not on camera. Only complaint is the constant product peddling but that is minor - he says they are his sponsors so understandable.

I have never once seen him at the shows. Always found that interesting.

I also just watched the show and it all looked legit to me.