Michael Waddell
 

Here's hoping all of us are lucky enough to enjoy our passion as a full time job one day:)

After graduating from high school, he started competing in - and winning - turkey
calling contests on a regular basis. He gained renown as one of the nation's top callers, and in 1993 he won the Realtree Grand America Turkey Calling Contest in Perry, Georgia. His performance caught the attention of Bill Jordan and earned Waddell a spot on the Realtree Advisory Staff. His big break came while guiding an outdoor writers' hunt in Pine Mountain, Georgia. After showing David Blanton some footage he and his brother-in-law shot while hunting deer and turkeys, Waddell was hired as a freelance cameraman. Waddell joined Realtree's Television and Video Department full-time in 1994...

RE: Michael Waddell
 

man too bad it cant be all of us eh;)

RE: Michael Waddell
 

He is one of the few pro-hunters I think it would be a pleasure to hunt with.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

He is my HERO. j/k, I do admire the guy though. I knew of his background, and every year you keep seeing more and more of him. Now he is hosting a Gander Mountain show, on top of Roadtrips,and being on theT/C show, and Realtree. He has an enthusiam that seems true (not fake like some of the other tv personalities).

RE: Michael Waddell
 

He keeps it interesting, even when the hunting is not that great, which is rare on one of his show.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Personally I don't want to hunt full time. It would become a job then. I've even heard those guys say it, they'll let a huge deer or elk walk, because the camera wasn't on, or not enough light etc......personally I'd rather those guys take the animal and just show us it once they find it with a light, I wanna see these big boys taken. Personally as well, I find after 3-5months of some serious hunting, I'm ready for a break, then the new year rolls around with applications and that excites me some, by fall I'm ready to hunt again, I thought I'd just point out that not everyone wants a job that they'd get paid to hunt etc.....maybe a tv show could be fun of my own, though of late I'm getting a little annoyed with how commercial its becoming, seems everyone has a show, wish we could have lesss shows and more quality. Just my thoughts though.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

i love to watch him.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

I like his shows.. He puts a good emphasis on hunting and on the other aspects of hunting as well and seems to have a genuine appreciation for hunting..

RE: Michael Waddell
 

wuss...

RE: Michael Waddell
 

i agree, but I'd rather hunt with Tiffany Lakowsky ;)

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Salukipv1, I agree with you. I've also heard Michael talk about missing his family. I traveled 4 nights a week for my job in 06 and half of 07. It was the worst experience I ever had. I'd see a family out to eat or shopping and it would remind me of how much I missed my family. I'll never make that mistake again.

Michael has a young son. I know it wears on him to know he's leaving his best hunting partner at home and he's not there durng the most important times of his childs life.

Priorities...

RE: Michael Waddell
 

I think Waddell is a blast to watch. He seems to bring something to industry that no one else does.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Yep its passion and real enthusiasm... some of those others act like its just a job..

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Tiffany Lakowsky gets my vote too. Mike's great, but Tiff's .........better

RE: Michael Waddell
 

IMO The only thing better about Tiffany is her looks. I absolutely can't stand her show. She tries way too hard to be funny. Waddell is a natural.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

I saw Waddell at the Texas Trophy Hunters Extravaganza in Ft. Worth, 2 years ago. Hewas hilarious and seemed very sincere in the way he talked.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

I'm not nockin' Michael or his show, it is very entertaining and one of the best. All I'm saying is that if I had to choose who I'd rather be stuck in a blind with for several hours for several days in a row it would be Tiffany....or Marrs Bowman!

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Michael has 4 young kids including twins that are less than a year old ,he is a stand up guy and I would love to share a hunting camp with him someday, he keeps hunting the way it should be! FUN!

RE: Michael Waddell
 

noelhoe, haha i think we can all feel ya on that one:D

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Michael Waddell is one of the best shots i have ever known and his shows are more fun to watch then any other tv show out there. I would give anything to be able to hunt with him

RE: Michael Waddell
 

The Smack down king will be around for a long time.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Ill second that...he is a baddddd man with a bow. First thing I noticed watching his shows.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

He adds genuine humor to his shows. Hunting is supposed to be fun.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

he's good to watch. i have some of his turkey hunting videos and its pretty sweet.i have one where he shoots a bird at like 8 steps or something without a blind

RE: Michael Waddell
 

He's a great shot with his bow, and a nice guy.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

uhhhhhhhhhh, yeah

IMO The only thing better about Tiffany is her looks. I absolutely can't stand her show. She tries way too hard to be funny. Waddell is a natural.
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RE: Michael Waddell
 

Tiffany is EXTREMELY Hot!

RE: Michael Waddell
 

From whatI heard, Michael Waddell has a long contact with Bill Jordan and he could be doing a lot better for himself if he was out on his own. I think he gets a very small piece of the pie. I think he is a good guy and I wish him well and much success.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

michael is no longer a employee or under contract from Bill Jordan ,Realtree is signed on for 4 more years as his sponsor Michael is on his own now!

RE: Michael Waddell
 

I used to post whenever his show came on. [8D]

Micheal Waddell is hands down my favorite hunter. The guy has a great personality, and is sick nasty with anything he shoots... bows and muzzleloaders. I'd love to hunt with him.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

OK good, he finally got out on his own. How long ago did that happen.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Forgive me for spoiling the party, but I think he's an egotistical brat who can't give up his addiction for free hunts. Anyone who would abandon his wife and children from Setember to February has his priorities out of whack. I'm sure Waddell is a super guy who is a ball to be around, but really, what kind of man leaves his wife and kids for weeks on end? There's no reason in the world he can't find a good job that allows him to be a real father and husband.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Me!

RE: Michael Waddell
 

While its not a decision I would make, its a decision he and his wife made, who are we to criticize it. Because you travel alot doesn't mean you are not a good parent. Quality is as much important as quantity and if you can only have one, quality is it. He travels alot from Sept through Christmas, then he's home the rest of the year except for a few trips.

It's not an addiction to free hunts, its his job! Many of us have had to travel for work, his just all comes in lumps.

RE: Michael Waddell
 

when we are hunting we dont watch him but when wedont hunt he is our hunting adventure

RE: Michael Waddell
 

Except with a recurve haha ever see that episode?

RE: Michael Waddell
 

ah, there's always one:(

RE: Michael Waddell
 

+1

RE: Michael Waddell
 

about 9 months ago i believe

RE: Michael Waddell
 

his wife is the accountant for realtree so im sure shes been used to it