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

Double Creek

I've really began noticing it the last few years.. I very rarely even flip through my magazines anymore. And most of the TV shows are total BS.

mobow

Yes, it annoys me. It is driving the cost of hunting up so high, it is hard to afford anymore. Then, they complain that the number of hunters in America is decreasing.....LOL.....I wonder why. I mean, a certain bow manufacturer out there has to take $150 right off the top of every bow sold to cover advertising. I know advertising is necessary, and all manufacturers do the same...but geez......$150?? That seems extreme to me.

ButchA

I agree... I checked into those professional outfitter packages (you know like you see on ESPN2 and the "O"nly "L"ance "N"etwork ( [:'(] - God, I hate OLN!!!) ) and read all the details on their websites. I will say this as nicely as I can....

HOLY $*%&@& GOD ARE THEY EXPENSIVE!!!! [&:][] I was like, "Excuuuuuse me?" when I saw the total price tag for a one week package deal!! Whoa, never mind.... I mean, it was like one whole semester of a major college's tuition!!

Hunting is getting really expensive nowadays. A nop notch compound bow costs more than a nice rifle w/scope!! The hunting shows are now all about money and sponsors and really really commercialized.

Two shows that I absolutely refuse to watch are:
Tred Barta(I just can't stand this guy!!! [:@])
Buckmasters (puh-leeze... Jackie Bushman? You gotta be kidding... Commercial... Jackie whispers about a big buck... Commercial... Commercial... Jackie raves about his Nikon scope and all the sponsors... Commercial... Those stupid childish puppets Shotgun Red and the deer come on... Commercial... Commercial... Question: have they ever shown Jackie Bushman shooting a deer, or does he always sit in a tree stand and hawk the sponsors products? [:'(])

danowak

Don't watch hunting shows anymore, and never did watch any of the videos. The few shows I did watch seemed to be the same thing over and over. Mostly it was a couple of guys talking about how excited theywere to be hunting on so-and-so's ranch. Then, after 15 minutes of dramatic backgroung music, they show the kill shot. Not a lot to learn from that.

I think that there is some value in advertising. After all, if they didn't advertise stuff we would never find out about a lot of it, and if the companies that make hunting products don't make money at it, they will go out of business. That said, it is obnoxious when a long commercial is presented as a hunting show.

JeramyK

I really enjoy watching hunting shows but I rarely watch a regular broadcast these days. I have my PVR set to record all my favorite shows and then I'll watch them at my leisure. It's nice being able to control the playback and skip commercials. You'd be surprised just how much hunting is actually shown on some of the half hour shows. I recall one recently (don't remember the show name) where they had 10 min of bear hunting and the other 20 min were for advertising either products or the outfitters that they used. [:'(]

Arthur P

Jeff, all that stuff is one big part of the reasoning behind my decision to never buy another compound bow. I refuse the support any company that uses such obnoxious advertising practices. It's like all the marketing people for the modern archery industry have taken graduate courses under the tutelage of Ron Popiel.

Thank goodness it's not like that on the traditional side.

I've started stocking up on Fred Bear videos, so I CAN watch bowhunting. Sure, he always had the Bear logo prominantly displayed here and there, but he never beat you about the head and shoulders with it.

Bravak

My good friend recently brought over about 20 issues of past deer hunting and bowhunting mags for me to peruse ( I was looking for a new site) and I could not help but notice the same thing. As well, I watch any show I can and always chuckle at the blatant commercialism. Also, I wonder how many of these "monsters" were penned in or on land that only Bill Gates ($$$$$$$$) could hunt.

I often have dreamed about starting my own show for "real" hunters. It would show us all getting fat on ice cream at night, picking cards (lowest get's choice) for our limited stands, wearing torn bibs, one guy leaving the stand early cause he drank too much beer the night before, and the utter joy we share (my family and hunting party) when one of us get that "monster" basket 8, even after tracking it for 4 hours cause Jimmy gut shot it then ran after the deer withing 30 seconds.

Now THAT is deer hunting and you all know what I mean!!!!!



Happy and safe hunting all

JeffB

Two words:

Paul Brunner



Hee hee..jes teezin Art..(well..not about Paul..but ya know what I mean)

Bees

yep JeffB that's why I don't watch or get magazines any more.