This is something I have to get off my chest, because me, like many others are getting tired of watching these shows. What is the purpose of these shows? In the past 5 or so years, I don't think I have learned one thing from them, other than how to plant crops for the deer to eat. I honestly have to question whether some of these guys could actually come to an unfenced or unmanaged place and harvest a decent buck like they do on these shows. They use managed areas, which the owners raise and feed deer to enormous size, know where they travel(becuase they have been watching them for years), have they hunting show outfits come in, set them up in perfect areas, and shoot that particular deer.
I think these shows may be hurting our sport. Kids see these shows, and expect the same kind of action when they go afield each fall, and suddenly lose interest when they see its not all peaches and cream like what they see on TV every week.
These people have been glamourized having people think they are good hunters and unbelievable woodsman, when in fact, they are not. I'm sure they are good hunters, but not like they are portrayed.

Maybe I'm just a little critical of how our sport is looked at, but I think I should be. Its something I love, and want it to remain that way. I would like to see these shows take a more informative approach. Put scenerio's into it, and show what can be done in certain scenerio's to bag a buck that keeps giving you the slip. Show deer behavior, and types of strategies that can be tried during certain parts of the year. I think too many people don't get to learn the animal you pursue enough to understand them. It makes you a better hunter, and a more successful one in the long run. I think hunting shows need to take a look at what it is that they are trying to do.

Sorry for the long winded post, but I just had to tell someone. Dad's getting tired of it for one day!

There are informative vids out there (so you want to be a bow hunter?) The ones you see with the HUGE bucks are the only ones that will REALLY sell....or so the publishers think.
Not many would pay good money for "Prime time SPIKES Volume 6" or "Basket bucks X".
They aren't VERY informative...but you can see how some things work.
I for one would LOVE to see a realtree, or HS scents video called "Public bucks" or something similar.
BAD for the sport? nah. Kinda helps get you pumped before the hunt. NOT that you expect to see a 220 class buck....but the thoguth that it IS possible.

muzzyman, i think that if you take the show for what it is worth then i think you would have a new perspective. those shows are not produced for the hardcore hunter. they are produced for the wannabees. the guy who gets his bow out the day before season opens shoots it a couple of times says "its all good". then goes in to the drawer and gets out his "huntin camo" that has the wondeerful smell of lanudry detergent(floral i beleive). hen watces a couple of those huntin shows, then heads to the lease opens the gate drives to his stand has the guide hold his bow while he climbs into his heated blind then tells the guide to rustle up the boys so they can drive the deer towards him. oh there's that 30 point buck that everyones been talkin about. finally he draws back his bow shoots and misses then says "boy mabe i need to watch a few more of them shows"

your right, those show are not for the hardcore hunters. the problem is that if they produced shows for the hardcore hunter there would be no interest from the sponsors.

hunt on and hunt hard

AMEN MUZZYMAN,
While I do think TEAM REALTREE and especially the PRIMOS BROS. are skilled hunters with oporatunities you and I can only dream about... Yeh, I'm jealous....
My kids think I'm crazy when I load up the truck and head off on a scouting trip in AUGUST, OOOOH. They just can't understand how much preparation it takes to hunt the highly pressured deer you and I hunt...


TO FAVORABLE WINDS GOOD HUNTING FRIENDS.... FLETCH

Edited by - fletchdp on 09/10/2002 09:24:39

You have to take the shows for what they are. They are purely for entertainment. They are not meant to be a "how to" anything. I watch them soley for the entertainment value, fi nothing else to get me excited about the possibilities of the upcoming season. Don't take them so seriously. If there is something I want to learn about the sport, there are several informative books & magazines available for that.