ORIGINAL: JeffB
As some of you may know..I’ve been out of the Bowhunting loop for about a year for the most part.
So having been bitten by the bug again, I picked up a couple current magazines…a couple hunting DVD’s etc.
Moreso than ever the “commercialism” of bowhunting hit me in the face. There was a time, even only 10 years ago, when Bowhunting was not a big to-do. Or big business.
While watching these current DVD’s and looking through the magazines, I both laughed and was saddened at the utter BS the industry churns out.
I was watching a poular vid series , and it was just a huge infomercial basically, built on Nike type marketing principles…be part of the “team”…after you kill a deer….whoop and holler, and nearly spike your bow like you just made the game winning touchdown. JUST DO IT. And then the zoom camera shots of each hunter’s equipment…right on company logos. And for products that have no visible logo (or it’s too small), lets plaster big stickers with company names all over your bow/arrow wraps/clothing.
And god forbid we forget to mention our sponsors every 5 seconds. “that (insert broadhead brand here) sure put that PIG down…and if it weren’t fer my Invisiscent suit and MossyLeafyTree camo, I’da never shot that there HAWGGGG..YEAHHH “ (more whooping and hollering ensues punctuated with an absolutely ridiculous “butter churn” dance move that literally makes me cringe)
Oh, and by all means totally reiterate what we can plainly see happening on camera. After all I’m sure there are plenty of blind people watching (no offense intended, but I don’t need a 10 minute whispered/muffled recap of what I cleary just saw for myself) Gotta fill up that time between commercials I guess
Does this crap annoy anyone else? I tolerate it, as I enjoy watching bowhunting, but jeez the production/commercialism is getting to such excess, there’s very LITTLE *HUNTING* going on.
I’m sure this post may result is some controversy, but perhaps (heh, I know...not possible) we can all have a rational discussion here.
OK class, discuss
Are they to blame???..............or are we??
If it didn't work they wouldn't do it. So what does that say about the hunting target market in general that we fall for this stuff and hand over our hard earned money pretty much just because someone tells you to. I started my "scams" thread to try and figure out this very point.........it got sidetracked and product specific so this point got lost...........but I would love to know what people think the answer is.
We all seem to agree that these ads and claims and antics are all stupid.........but they obviously are working...........the only questions is why?? Is the hunting market in general gullable?........lazy?.....uneducated?.........des perate?? You would almost HAVE to answer yes to a certain degree on all of those if these are the kinds of marketing gimmicks we fall for wouldn't ya??
I look at stuff the same way you described the way you do..........I find myself rolling my eyes and almost cringing in embarrassment sometimes at how stupid some of these ads and product claims are.............yet I must be the serious minority because people are buying this stuff and handing over truckloads of money because of what they saw on TV or read in their magazine last night.
I mean seriously............have you EVER read a magazine give a bad product review?? EVERY bow they review gets 4 1/2 or 5 out of 5 stars........EVERY product is the best thing since sliced bread.
I really think a lot of guys out there just don't know that much and have real lives and families that are a much bigger priority in their life then spending 365 days a year chasing a deer with a camera and then a bow and then a gun.
I really believe there are 2 kinds of products in the hunting world and they are marketed as such. There is the high quality products that are well known thoughout the hunting world by the well educated, detail oriented, focused hunter who wants a quality product and is not afraid to pay for it..........but knows enough to spot junk when he sees it.
Then there is the weekend warrior products that are marketed to the guy who blows the dust off his bow the day before the season and runs out to get his license and a few of the latest gadgets and gimmicks in hopes of finding magic in a bottle that will do all the work for him........this stuff is usually very affordable and guys grab tons of it off the shelves because even if it doesn't work it was worth the try. So they head into the woods and rub stuff all over themselves and spray things in the air and blow a few calls and shake their bone bags and hope that they get lucky and SOMETHING works. If not it's no big deal.........they have gone out and saw nothing a million times........why would this be any different. They may even head back to the store and buy some other stuff in the hopes that they just grabbed the wrong magic bottle and this time they will get the right one.
Look at mechanical heads for a good example............"Fly just like field points" You know this was marketed at the guy who can shoot field tips OK but when he put on a fixed head he shot the neighbors garbage cans..........forget tuning the bow......that takes too long and requires too much effort. Just buy the quick fix mechanicals and your problem is solved. No mention of KE needs or anything like that.........Nah........just sell 2 1/2" cutting diameter mechs to people shooting a 25 year old compound pulling 40 lbs..........no problem
An entire product line geared towards those that didn't want to bother doing things correctly and were looking for a shortcut.
Are there guys that use mechs properly and are well educated to their needs and limits?? Of course...........they are a serious minority IMO. Most mechs are sold to people that tried fixed blades and were shooting all over the place.
Everything out there promises a short cut............just use this broadhead, bow, suit, scent, stand, call, camo, hat, boots, gloves, arrow, gum, soap etc and YOU too can kill a HUGE buck like the one on our package.
I really think that people lose touch with reality sometimes when spending too much time on this forum. This is a GREAT forum with tons of information and hundreds of well educated and experienced hunters who know what to do in the woods and what to expect from products............but it's not reality. We make up a tiny drop in the bucket of the hunting world. Millions of hunters are out there gobbling this stuff up hook, line, and sinker.
Hard to believe............and sad but true.