Hunting Shows on TV

[Mayfly]

So as of a few weeks ago I now have direct tv and get all the outdoor shows. Because I have them I have been checking out a lot of the hunting shows that the have on. I have seen everything from boar hunts to elk to deer and they all have one thing in common.....They are HORRIBLE!!! I cannot believe they pay these people money and can you not find someone that can actually talk in front of a camera and not sound like a complete idiot? The shows are fake and if you look into them it is not hard to see. On one the other day they were hunting in 15 inches of fresh new snow. The camera cut and in the next scene..."when they found the elk" it was about 2 inches of crusty old melted snow. And anytime I see they are hutning in Texas..I just think if the bs stories about hunting down there.

Who wants to make a REAL hunting video!?

Complete garabage out there.....is there any competion in this market???

[22lex]

Tim,

From what I have experienced with hunting videos/tv shows is that the mainstream stuff is all garbage like you talked about. The decent ones that I have seen are the low-key videos that do not get the airtime on t.v. The only reason I have bought videos the last couple of years was to learn more about elk hunting out west and something to watch when traveling 15 hours in a vehicle.

I have friends who contract out to Drury's and Driven TV and they usually hunt ND, KS, IA, and MN. Truthfully I think after they get paid for their clips it covers the expenses of the hunt and that's about it. With this I mean travel expense, hotels, outfitters, tags, etc.., but I think they mainly do if for a paid chance to take more deer in different states. From what I have seen of thier clips I have really enjoyed the experience with them.

I know there are a few low-key videographers in the state that have collaborated a few videos over the years. I think one was 100% pure adrenaline, some guys by the names of Steve Snow, Mitch Hagen, Justin Brown and others from down here put a nice video out a few years back that was all done on state or private land (no guides).

You are right though, mainstream hunting videos these days are all fake and completely paid for guided garbage.

[JohnWester]

you guys should check out the video that Matt Keller makes on waterfowl hunting.  totally minnesota hunting.. I know they have some samples out on youtube.  very nice production IMHO.  his site is minnesotawaterfowler.com.

[Faceman]

Another problem I have with some of the hunting shows is that they are on game farms. They know exactly when and where to post a hunter and then tell him which one to shoot. I still watch them from time to time just to get the adrennalin flowing. I love seeing the wildlife.

I do enjoy the few that appear to be real and show the missed shots and the ones where they need to shoot quickley because they did not make a perfect kill shot. I love knowing that these paid hunters are not perfect.

[22lex]

JWester,

Took a look at a couple of those videos, definately top-notch and I'm not even a waterfowler!

Also awesome to know it's all MINNESOTA!

[deadeye]

I got to admit I watch a lot of these shows.  I agree many of them are staged.  I've never seen a deer come to an opening and start eating off what looks like bare ground like they do in Texas. 
I watch them for entertainment, not because I think these are real people on actual hunts.

[tattguy12]

for watereck out the "take em collection" very cool just normal guys hunting there a off..otherwise the regular shows bother me like magazines he who pays the most wins no matter what.

[Mayfly]

Even the ones that aren't obvioulsy staged the personalities are pretty bad. They need better people doing these.

[22lex]

You're right on that, personalities are lacking in this market.

If we all only had enough time to be in the field and put together enough realistic clips to make a MNO vid.

[tattguy12]

My little brother puts together videos and does editing.Could always send me clips and I could have him put together a promo vid even if it was just members out on the water or in the field. Just a thought.

                          Kevin   

[Mayfly]

My cousin and I have been playing around with cameras and editing a bit.

Here is a video I put together. Just tied some random clips together. He was not actually shooting at these bear.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-7Xgh5nGzE[/youtube]

[JohnWester]

NO BEAR!!! teaser.

some thoughts, dont zoom in and out as much.  when you do, try and do it more gradual.  and a camera stabilizer of some sorts would be nice.  Other then that, pretty nice.  Tim, we should ty and do a bow hunt one.  I could hang a hanger stand up above my ladder stand and we could do some taping.  there are a lot of deer out there... we could do a black pwder one too.  I plan on doing a lot of hunting in that spot.  there are some bucks in there. 

[22lex]

Nice clip, sure made me believe the bear was eventually getting stuck.

We've got some clips over the years but not the greatest quality. A friend of ours just recently got a professional outdoors camera that we are going to play around with this year. It's alot of planning and set-up, but if it works out you have a kill on tape for life!

[22lex]

Here's a vid with a nice deer harvested, but all the truths from the original thread about crappy tv hunting shows. It's a little lengthly, but give it time and watch it all.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEg0NOcMet8[/youtube]

[wischunter08]

Anyone ever hear of Doug Below?  He hunts with the Drury's on the Outdoor Channel......he's from Antigo, Wisconsin.  Small town of maybe 8,000, same place I live.

[Big E]

Thank God someone said it. Thank you Tim . My brother and I have been talking about doing a Minnesota hunting DVD. There's only a few shows that I watch and even then I fast forward to the kill. It's all marketing for foodplot companies, bows etc.. I woul love to make a REAL MN hunting DVD that actually explians and informs hunters on what to plant, where and when to hunt and sign to look for. Show me why a big buck is going to travel in that area and how you know he will be there. Don't hunt over a feeder or high fence. Not saying that is wrong but I want to learn more about hunting, planting and grooming my land. I know why a deer is by a feeder! Show me the tracking of a deer the excitement of a first deer or the disapointment of a loss or miss. The night before a hunt and the expierience of seeing friends and family on opener. No wonder PETA get's more supporters every year. People don't see the hard work the blue collar guy has to go through to get a doe even. The show Whitetail freaks say that all the guys on there are working class guys but yet they still send them to hunting ranches. I CAN'T AFFORD THAT! I want to see someone shooting a 115 class whitetail and get tears in his/her eyes from the joy that gave them. I want to hear other gun shots in the woods on a cold MN opener and the frustration of other hunters walking by. Tell us how to make a bedding area on our land and what shape to make a foodplot. What to plant in shady areas, for late season, early season, antler growth and name the plant not the brand and when to plant it. Show us you using hand tools and a 4 wheeler and a hand sprayer for your food plot like we all do. I bought all of my seed this year from the co-op and it was a hell of a lot cheaper and came up great and the deer are using it. No big name brand stuff. Sorry guys I had to vent. This was like therapy for me. Thank you Tim once again.

[deadeye]

Not a rant at all.  I understand the sponsors pay for the shows which is fine.  I don't mind advertising spots.  (great time to check on kids, get a drink, snacks, etc) but I hate it when it is a major part of the show.  Sometimes they plug everything they use or have on from the car navagation system that got them to the ranch down to and including their underwear.  Give me a break for crying out loud.   

[thunderpout]

Yeah, I definatly agree with you guys, all that plugging can ruin a good show...and it makes bad ones even worse.  Tim, your "slapped together" video shows ya how simple it is to make something decent... A buddy of mine has a nice cannon pro set up, & he was with me in the Black Hills turkey hunting.  He got me callin in half a dozen merriam toms gobbling in on me, and got a nice one on video, then we pieced some prelim stuff and did a bit more closing things to put together a 10-15 minute segment for a "show"... kinda like yours, but no music added... It's better than half the stuff you'll see on the tube!  I cant watch the bad shows... it amazes me what gets on the outdoor shows.  Ive got basic cable so I dont see all thats on, but my favorite shows are/were,  "Upland days with Dez & Dash" and "Get Wild" with Cindy Garrison.  Ive met Cindy and Dez and his setter, Dash, and they are real, honest people that do good work that isnt compromised by the commercialism alot of shows rely on.  Its as bad as companies advertising in movies, you know, like when Bruce Willis holds up a coke and drinks it... that kind of deal.... Nothin wrong with having sponsers or letting people on to good products, but there's ways to pull that off without turning a show into an infomercial..... Another one I always liked was "Sporting Clays Journal"... I dont think that one's on anymore...