BowTech_Shooter

I don't watch too many hunting shows (or much TV at all) but do you think it would be very interesting if the hunter just sat there for hours on end (like we do) and not say anything?

I think they need to show the excitement of the hunt (maybe it will get some newbies interested)and talk about the products they use. After all, the sponsors are the onessupporting the show and that's whatmarketing is all about,getting your name out there.

One thing that I can't stand is when a hunter has their picture taken with the game they killed or even a shooter at a tournament that took home 1st place and they have a blank look on their face.

Jeez, I'm always happy when I do either, let's show some excitement in the woods and on the podium.

PA Bow/Flinter

I agree, it has become to much of a money sport. I wish it would be like back then, wayyyy before I was born (atleast 20 yrs ago) when bowhunting was bowhunting....no cameras, no commercials, just plain old man/woman hunting one on one with the deer.

davidmil

Yup, there's commercialism in everything we enjoy. If there wasn't, we wouldn't have all these neat toys to play with. Be thankful there is commercialism, advertising, competition among manufacturers and all that stuff. Other wise you'd have the option of building your own bow and arrows or hunting with a club. When I started bowhunting 35 years ago I was lucky to be living in San Antonio. Lucky because there was actually "A" bow shop in the town. That's right, about one place that had any thing or anyone that knew what it was about. Heck, 25 years ago if you wanted something in most parts of the country you had the option of driving miles and miles(like 50 or more) or ordering from a catalog(no internet remember). About the only catalog going around my part of the woods was Bowhunters Discount Warehouse(now out of business) But, you have to remember too, NO ONE BOWHUNTED. I think I bowhunted public land for 5 years before I saw another bowhunter in the woods. It was probably longer than that. There was NO ONE out there with a stick. There was no where to get a stick. When you said "Stick" ....no one knew what you were talking about. Yup, be thankful for commercialism.

JeffB

Of course not, but thats not what I'm advocating either. The best hunting videos I ever owned were the original Drury Brothers stuff (before they got too commercialized). The vids (Right Place Right Time, First Time in, etc)would consist mostly of footage of what was going on around themin the woods. Deer behavior. And yep, sometimes the camera would roll for 4 minutes on just shots of the woods of an ear flick. BUT when that deer finally DID roll into the sceneI was 100 times more excited than when I watch a modern video where its

Talk to camera about setup
cut to big buck milling aboutfor 30 seconds
shoot big buck
stupid dance ("I'm about to fall outta dis tree I'm so excited!", I sure wish some of them would j/k of course)


oh and lets not forget...

5 second bloodtrail/recovery

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

And what does this SAY to the newbie? It says "wow..Bowhunting is easy" cos alot of people have a hard time separating "reality TV" (whihc is basically what hunting vids have become) with "reality". So they go blow their money on big ticket items, find out Bowhuntingis not soo easy, get frustrated as hell, and drop out. Sure, lines the pockets of the manufacturers with their one time big purchase. But in the end is it worth it?

Getting your name out there, and beating us upside the head with infomercials disguised as a hunting video/TV show are two different things, Pat And hell I've beenguilty of it too!

Silent Assassin is totally correct (btw, brilliant post, SA). There are the hunters "in the know", and there are the vast majority who are "sheep" for lack of a better term. I'd sure like to see the industry start catering to those who TRULY support the sport instead of the sheep.

Unfortunately, due to the #'s of "sheep", there's alot more money in "sheep". Believe me I understand the business aspect Pat...you know that. However there *IS* a point where things go overboard and the focus is lost. Now the focus is on the marketing, not the hunting..and that's when it becomes an issue for me.There has to be a balance.

I deal with this crap everyday in life...both at work and outside of it, damn if I wanna deal with it in my fun time too. [:@]

BTW...not being argumentative, jesfussin in general

JeffB

I also want to add in that this oversaturation of marketing is hurting the industry in another way.

It creates what my dad used to call " a parts changer". My Dad ran several Sevice Station/Garages to make his living. He was a fair mechanic himself. Car tech got to the point where the computers took over all the diagnostic work that a mechanicused to have to learn.

In a similar way this is creating alot of "Pro Shops", that really don't know much. Any guy who likes bowhunting these days and has some money opens up a "pro Shop". Prob is, most of these guys don't know squat. They know how to SELL you the latest gadget, but they cannot fix your bow...don't know how to do the diagnostic work. Hmm...getting bad arrow flight? Try this new rest or better arrows!

This board is evidence to that phenomenon. How many people come here with simple basic questions they cannot get answered at thier local Pro-Shop? How many dealers screw up people's bows and then they come here looking for answers? Most of the people getting screwed out there by thier "pro shop", never find places like this where they can get (for the most part) sound advice...whether it's on a bow, hunting technique or whatever else. Those people drop outta the sport too.

OK..I'm done...got a marketing meeting to get to

quiksilver

I agree Jeff B. I'm a young guy, but I have been bowhunting since I was 13, that makes this my 13th season. There is no doubt that the bowhunting culture has changed.

Back in the day, the question was "did you get a deer with your bow?" "Tell me about it..." Now, people actually ask you what kind of bow you shoot, as if it matters. They're more concerned whether you have a coppernuts sight or a Vital Bow Made Dropaway rest, a Whammytec bow or something with a wheel and a half?? That apparently now gives you credibility among the archery community.

Commercialism in hunting has actually convinced people that they need this junk.

Bow sights - For chrissakes, people spend hundreds on bow sights for hunting! They're PINS! One pin is the same as the next. It just sits there. I guess some of them are stylish and pretty, for whatever it's worth. Now worth the $100+ pricetag, IMHO. Get something metal that won't bend, has the little tru-glo fiber optics and you're set. How is micro-adjust gonna make you a better hunter or get you the big buck? Does it really matter if the camo on your sight matches the camo scheme on your bow? Does it really matter if your sight is camo at all? Probably not.

Broadheads are another funny one. Everybody has the next great broadhead, so it seems. For chrissakes, they're all the same. Different variations of the same thing! Just pick one that's no-nonsense and replacement blades are easy to find. Tune out the rest. Commercials for broadheads crack me up.

Another favorite of mine is camo - Realtree actually convinces people that they need to be "in style" to hunt effectively. They prod the buying public into hoarding up a new outfit every year because we "need" it. I've seen what some hunters wear in public when they're not hunting- believe me - they should spend thatextra doughon a new pair of khakis and a few polo shirts.

It's all pretty ridiculous. My best advice is to tune it all out. Stay away from the proshops unless you need something, and use your head. You know what equipment you need, so follow your instincts. You can waste thousands on gear if you listen to the marketing.

I'm not saying that there isn't some great stuff available, because there is. You just have to find it through the maze of marketing, product placement, bad advice and sales pitches.

PSENJersey

Unfortunately, these shows and magazines primary objective isn't to provide useful insight into hunting and tips to make us better hunters. It's on the air and being published to make money - and it will always be that way. Personally, I think the only hunting show on right now that isn't going overboard with useless nonsense is "Cabela's Outfitter Journal" on OLN.
On the topic of Pro Shops, it is really getting out of control. Everyone is buying bows from Cabela's, E-Bay, Dick's, or other online vendors because they get a good price. However, they then have a bow that isn't set up for them and may be out of tune. I only shop at a local, family owned pro shop that has great customer service. And when you buy your bow there - they will maintain it for free and make any adjustments you wish. Although their price's are a little higher it is worth working with someone who actually knows what they are doing and won't just push you out the door after you buy it.

GRIZZLYMAN

I have to agree with DavidMil. A lot ofinnovations that we have now were driven by this commercialism. But the question is; Are we at the top of the curve? Look at bass fishing. We went through a time when there were a lot of innovations (late 80's, 90's). Now we are at the top of that curve and all of these tackle manufacturers are just repackaging old ideas (kind of like the movies). I've got a ton of soft plastics sitting on my work bench. I save them because I figure after a few years, I'll see them being advertised as "new and improved".