What happened to the "REAL" hunting shows?

[Newtosavage]

That's not how I meant it. You are right ,he does do some wild stuff and gets to go all over the place. Which the majority of people (myself including,never been east of Ohio) don't have the funds or chance to do.

I was aiming towards the point of his show is about the essence of hunting,and what you take away from it,and the memories created. Not just a bunch of repetitive bang flops over feed or casting bullets 700 yards ,or reserve hunting massive Texas racks. Which most hunting shows now a days seem to be.

I'm a big fan of Steven Rinella and Meateater is the only hunting show my wife will routinely sit down and watch with me. Parly because she cooks the wild game I harvest, and partly because she appreciates the way he approaches and describes his experiences.

As far as him "getting to do" things the average guy can't do, I call B.S. on that. I work damn hard to stay in shape, and even after back surgery (and pushing 50) I was still able to solo elk hunt above 10K this year, on an over the counter DIY tag. Anyone that isn't taking advantage of the same kinds of hunts/trips he's doing is just making excuses IMO. If you want to stay back East and hunt whitetails from a stand, that's fine. I do it all the time myself. But don't make excuses because one guy is out there busting his ... to live out his dreams.

 

[Paul7]

As far as him "getting to do" things the average guy can't do, I call B.S. on that. I work damn hard to stay in shape, and even after back surgery (and pushing 50) I was still able to solo elk hunt above 10K this year, on an over the counter DIY tag. Anyone that isn't taking advantage of the same kinds of hunts/trips he's doing is just making excuses IMO. If you want to stay back East and hunt whitetails from a stand, that's fine. I do it all the time myself. But don't make excuses because one guy is out there busting his ... to live out his dreams.

Good for you, I'm jealous, but due to a leg condition I was born with I wouldn't be able to do that no matter how many times I went to the gym I'm now headed to. Luckily I can afford (enabled by also "busting my ***") a guide and 'easier' hunts on private land, and have been fortunate enough to take elk, pronghorn antelope and Barbary Sheep here in NM. I think people confuse two different hobbies as if they were one and the same, hiking/climbing and hunting. I doubt the settlers or Indians ever hunted the hard way if they didn't have to. I reject the notion that one way to hunt is 'better' than another. If someone is hunting to the best of their physical abilities that's all that matters.

The day will come when you won't be able to hunt as you do today.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Real hunting shows were replaced by large scale productions of people hunting on farms looking at the camera and saying stupid stuff like, "Yeah, he was a nice buck, probably 150+, but he was only 2 1/2 so we let him walk."
That would be great to be able to be that picky in real life, but the fact is 90%+ of us cannot. If you let a decent buck walk in the real world, you likely won't see another for 3 years.

If you want real hunting, there are some channels on Youtube where guys film their hunts and are quite good at it. They are much more realistic.

I like Catman Outdoors' channel. He is a young guy, still in his 20s and does a pretty good job filming hunts. He kills a lot of deer and he isn't picky.

 

[MidRoad]

I'm a big fan of Steven Rinella and Meateater is the only hunting show my wife will routinely sit down and watch with me. Parly because she cooks the wild game I harvest, and partly because she appreciates the way he approaches and describes his experiences.

As far as him "getting to do" things the average guy can't do, I call B.S. on that. I work damn hard to stay in shape, and even after back surgery (and pushing 50) I was still able to solo elk hunt above 10K this year, on an over the counter DIY tag. Anyone that isn't taking advantage of the same kinds of hunts/trips he's doing is just making excuses IMO. If you want to stay back East and hunt whitetails from a stand, that's fine. I do it all the time myself. But don't make excuses because one guy is out there busting his ... to live out his dreams.

I agree yet disagree with you. I guess my excuse and that would be finances. For me to get out there and do a hunt like that it would take a few thousand bucks. But I am personally at a time in my life where I'm ready to propose to my gf and I'm starting to save for a house. And actually moving into a new place to rent this weekend. So lots of expenses coming up.Maybe someday I can afford it though. Definitely on my bucket list! Money is a limiting factor for many of us. But I'm glad to hear you were able to make a hunt like that happen after a back surgery.

 

[Newtosavage]

Good for you, I'm jealous, but due to a leg condition I was born with I wouldn't be able to do that no matter how many times I went to the gym I'm now headed to. Luckily I can afford (enabled by also "busting my ***") a guide and 'easier' hunts on private land, and have been fortunate enough to take elk, pronghorn antelope and Barbary Sheep here in NM. I think people confuse two different hobbies as if they were one and the same, hiking/climbing and hunting. I doubt the settlers or Indians ever hunted the hard way if they didn't have to. I reject the notion that one way to hunt is 'better' than another. If someone is hunting to the best of their physical abilities that's all that matters.

The day will come when you won't be able to hunt as you do today.

Great post.

That day has already come. Lost a lot of feeling in my Right leg when my disk ruptured and not all of it has come back. I wish over and over that I had started elk hunting in my 20's instead of my 40's, but I'm glad that I am doing it now. We all make choices. Some choose to go to the gym or hit the road or bleachers, and some choose to sit on their butts and wish.

 

[Newtosavage]

I agree yet disagree with you. I guess my excuse and that would be finances. For me to get out there and do a hunt like that it would take a few thousand bucks. But I am personally at a time in my life where I'm ready to propose to my gf and I'm starting to save for a house. And actually moving into a new place to rent this weekend. So lots of expenses coming up.Maybe someday I can afford it though. Definitely on my bucket list! Money is a limiting factor for many of us. But I'm glad to hear you were able to make a hunt like that happen after a back surgery.

Been there, done that. Finances were a big reason I waited so long to go elk hunting, but then once I did I realized that $1K I set aside (that includes the OTC tag) every year to drive to Colorado and chase elk is worth far more than that to me in terms of peace of mind.

Just don't overestimate what it costs. If you can save $1K, you can go elk hunting.

 

[0ne3]

Is is just me are have the hunting shows on the boob tube gone to crap. I tried to watch a show last weekend. Out of the 30 minutes allowed 12-13 minutes of it was commercials and during the hunting part they still plugged their wares. Even the articles in the monthly rags have become too commercialized. The only thing that keeps me sane is Netfix and you can only watch Meat Eater so many times.

I am sorry for the rant, but I grew up reading the outdoor magazines and watching the hunting and fishing shows that showed the lowdown on the sports. Articles from the pros like Jack O'Connor, Archibald Rutledge, Homer Circle and Russel Annabel took me to places that I will never see. I miss it.

Do not watch the shows for the same reason I do not buy gun or hunting books. They are so full of adds, even the articles plug every thing, and do not really tell you any thing. I do not wast my money on the things.