I guess that this topic/ argument has been covered in various ways over the past few years, and it is always fun!I have the Outdoor cannel, and vrs, and I am really glad that I do. There are alot of shows with alot of hosts that I really like and respect, and there are several that I can't stand and wouldn't want to hunt with if you paid for the whole hunt.
One thing is, I feel that we shouldn't judge and criticize, or lump the whole idustry together in one general group just because of the actions of a few, or our own opinions of them.
One thing that drives me nuts is when someone starts slamming someone for a bad shot they made. Now on the other hand, if I see a show where someone is constantly making bad shots, and calling them perfect shots, and trying to hide the shot placement, well then there is a reason to voice a complaint.
But man, we are all human. It seems like Lee and Tiffany are usually the ones who are brought up. I have seen them make alot of great shots over the past few years. I have also seen them make a few not so great shots. The same with alot of other of the hosts. I won't call them Pros!! No how many on this forum, if you have bowhunted alot of years, can honestly say that you have never made a bad shot? Or that you made a shot that you swore was a perfect double lunger, only to find out at the end of a long, grueling blood trail, wasn't even close to where you thought? Be honest, I will, it has happened to me, and more than once. And it gnaws at my gut every time. And I am sure that it does to the so called pros that so many are so quick to rip apart. It happens. It sucks, but unfortunately it does happen. And it happens to even the best bow shooter. Now I will agree, there are some guys on these shows that I have no idea why they still have a show, or why any company would want them to be the face of their product, but I am not the one in the boardroom making that decision.
I will be honest with you, I would love to be in some of these peoples hunting boots!! I would love to be getting paid to be out in the woods up in a tree. To have all my gear given to me. Heck, I do it for free about every day during bow season!! Most of these people are just good old nice people who found a way to turn there passion into a living. And like in all walks of life and every job out there, there are some real great people and some real jerks!! It is that way at the corporation I work for, and it is like that when these people are sitting around the camp fire or in the lodge of the area that they are hunting that week.
I know this for a fact. I have a cousin who is very involved in the hunting industry in the video/ TV production field. He made me promise to never reveal who he is or who he works with but that I could generalize things that he has told me.
He has told me in depth alot about the so called pros and the things they do. I will say that there are some shows that about 90% of the hunts are in fenced enclosures, something that is not a big secret. I won't even watch a second of those shows! Most of the shows are complete fair chase hunts. He has told me a few stories of a few hosts who weren't succesful on a hunt , so they took some footage with an aniaml that someone else had killed and said it was theirs, stuff like that. But the majority are on the up and up.
Like I said before, he said that just like anywhere elso out there, some are great people and some are jerks. I won't say the bad ones, but he said that Lee and Tiffany are some of the most down to earth and fun people to be around. Micheal Waddell is one the funniest human beings that you could ever be around. He is like a big kid, always having fun and brightening every one up. He absolutely hates it when he hears people rip on Bill Jordan and him being Mr. Rich and arrogant. He said that nothing could be farther than the truth. He said that everyone who says that should sit down with Bill for a while, hear his whole business story and see the great things he has done with his money, and the loyalty he has for his employees, then you will have the utmost respect for the man. He said that Jay and Tammi Gregory are great people, as is Ralph and Vicki. As for the NA Whitetail guys, he loves Stan Potts. Said he is great guy, one of the harderst working and hardest hunters he has ever seen. A real nice genuine guy with an absolute passion for big whietails. I won't say what he said about Gregg Miller. Won't go there.
Out of all, Will Primos is his favorite. He said that you may meet someone in your lifetime tha is as nice, caring, honest and genuine asWill Primos, but you won't find one that is more! Guarenteed!!My cousin said that when Goddecided to make a truly good man, he made Will Primos. And the guys on his staff are just like him. He said that Dave Watson is a close second to Will.
Man didn't mean to ramble on that much. Too much coffee this morning
Bottom line is, most of these people are alot like most of us on here. They love to hunt and the made opportunitied for themselves. Mycousin siad that is is alot tougher than most people can imagine. He said that most people couldn't handle the pace and the pressure that is involved and that it really takes alot of dedication to do it. He said that he has seen alot of gung ho young guys come in ready to set the hunting industry on fire, only to burn out real quick because they had no idea it would be that tough. Like the old saying goes " Don't judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes" In this case, I would say his hunting boots!!I'd like to give it a shot!!