Kills funny on TV ??

[Ethical Redneck]

What a coincidence!  I'm sitting on my recliner watching some show i've never evern heard of before (whitetail properties) on the sportsmans channel and this fella just arrowed a magnifacent, beautiful buck.  Then, the typical cliche ensues with the fist pump and other various gesticulations.  As Gene Wensel says, we as hunters should not apologize for taking an animals life however he also stresses the importance of personal clarity as to why you hunt.  Thus, I don't think it makes sense to display this hyper celebration sequence after killing something.  I think it has lead to a deeper issue. The real issue I have with the "new" hunting culture is how its being turned into a competitive sport.  Hunting is not and should not be a competition amongst each other but, as Gene W. would say, it should be a competition amongst ourselves.  This new phenomanon has lead to an all or nothing ambition by hunters that corrupts one's intentions.  Ethics and woodsmanship should be stressed, not the kill.  It shouldn't just be about the kill.  If that was the case, you probably shouldn't choose to hunt with a bow in the first place.  I wish we could see hunting shows where the hosts want to teach their viewers about woodsmanship and the importance of why we hunt and not just a slaughterfest that resembles a stupid video game or summer action movie.

[COMPOUNDLESS IN CONCRETE]

Originally posted by Gary Logsdon:
Thanks Candler, I like the way the TBM cover turned out; the image contrasts with the others on the store racks . . . sort of gets your attention.  I try to capture those special moments we all have either experienced or aspire to, which I guess in a way relates to this thread.  "Personal satisfaction" is pretty darn subjective.

Too bad they spelled your name Longston in the credits.  But with a first name like Candler, I have become quite accustomed to having my name misspelled and mispronounced.

[Jason Hansen]

Originally posted by Northwest_Bowhunter:
 

Originally posted by Jason Hansen:
Hunting is not about the antler, or horn size, but the art of hunting and spending time with family and friends.

This is exactly why I love the Fred Eikler show Easton Bowhunting TV, Fred treats every animal like a trophy regardless of size.  He says when he has marginal shots and even goes whole shows without getting an animal.  He cheers for his shot and talks about "I smoked em" but that is all the post shot excitement.  When you see him with his harvest he is like a kid at Christmas and truly appreciates his trophy.  I loaded a non-hunting buddy of mine a couple of his DVD's and he went hunting with me last year.  It's just a great show, he even did an episode on a Special Forces Army base with his dad. [/b]

Yes, I totally agree with your statement about Fred Eichler.  His show is one of the few I will watch...he is such a character too.

[Cottonwood]

Quit watching them myself, as nothing can be learned from them.  Its all about this product or that.

Watch the DVD's that are available from Traditional Hunters.

Other wise, go shoot your bow and keep practicing.

[don kauss]

I think it has lead to a deeper issue... Ethics and woodsmanship should be stressed, not the kill.  It shouldn't just be about the kill.  If that was the case, you probably shouldn't choose to hunt with a bow in the first place.  I wish we could see hunting shows where the hosts want to teach their viewers about woodsmanship and the importance of why we hunt and not just a slaughterfest that resembles a stupid video game or summer action movie. [/QB][/QUOTE]
 My feelings EXACTLY...

[Gary Logsdon]

Yep Candler, they sure did.  The editor apologized for the mistake on the spelling.  To his credit, he had caught it and sent a correction to the printers but the magazine had already been printed.  Look for a revision next issue.

[Gary Logsdon]

Yeah Don, I always wonder why some fellows want to have their cake and eat it too.  I know a few guys who do everything that's barely within the regulations in order to score with their high-tech bows just so they can claim the downed animal as a "bow kill".  Woodsmanship and personal challenge be damned:^(  I've heard others boast that they weren't really that much into bowhunting; they basically saw it as a chance to scout for the firearms season with a weapon in their hands "just in case".  Gimmee a break!

[TJ Jones]

Originally posted by Running Buck:
Hunting shows are the biggest joke on TV. They all give the impression that the kill is the most important part of the hunt. The hunters focus is all on the equipment he uses and how easy it is to be successful. The only respect they give the animal is to the size of the horns it has. The laughing,fist pumping and facial expressions after the killing shot is made is the most deplorable thing on camera. Its sad to say that there are some folks in the world that belive all hunters act this way.

I agree 100%. Very disrespectful to the animal and what hunting is really about. Gives the non-hunting public a poor image of hunters and embaresses me to think that some people could associate me being a hunter and acting that way.

[Flingblade]

I don't very often watch a hunting show but the host of my favorite show celebrates more than anyone I have seen and when he finally after many years made a good shot on a grizzly he rolled around on the ground giggling, but then again the show is called "The Best and Worst of Tred Barta".  I guess it depends on what you think the "worst" part is.  When our nation goes to war we look for all the allies we can find.  Are those allies perfect? No. Are they just like us? No, but we share a common enemy.  This is how I view the war against the antis.  The only behavior change you can make to appease the antis is to stop hunting.  Not me.  It is a political fight and to win requires numbers and money.  That is something all hunters can contribute to.  There are far more hunters that hunt with compounds or rifles and in the war on the antis they are brothers on the battlefield.  If I don't like the show I change the channel.

[Tsalagi]

Hunting shows on TV: One more reason I don't have a television.

[Brian Krebs]

I am finding it more and more difficult to watch the hunting shows on tv. Yes- Fred Eichler is enthusiastic to the nth degree.
 I like him; and can understand his satisfaction upon making a shot; as he is hunting like I do for the most part.
 
 I watched a show on hunting; where the main character shoots a bow; and he was talking about deer management; and how you really need a thousand acres to manage- otherwise your really just managing other peoples deer.

 Which brings up the whole 'management deer' ~thing~ which I find really offensive.
 I understand the motive; but personally- I am disturbed when someone shoots a deer because it will 'never be a trophy' - and seem to apologize for killing what most of us would be really happy to have taken.
 
 They buy their 'success'. They hunt either on large tracts of private land; or high fence; or they pay big money to be taken to remote places- and then have to wait for the guide to tell them to shoot.

 They put the crosshairs on the deer; and wait for the animal to be in the right position; then they 'squeeze the trigger' and 'bang' they 'smoked him' 'BABY'; for "That's what I am talking about BABY" - " I smoked him".
  ~With a 'bow'~?
 
So  - when one of these people start laughing after a shot... well I do have problems trying to figure out just what the laugh is for.
 Is it because their money has defeated the animal; that they bought what they know they cannot work for?
 
 See that is where I question the laughter. When a deer runs off with an arrow hanging out; and they say- ' well that 2 inch rage will take it down'; and then they laugh when it staggers and falls..... I am not sure what they are trying to achieve- so their laughter is also based in an unknown.

  I watched one 'elite hunter' - as they have decided who is and who is not elite- who hit a buck in the back leg. The buck ran off with the arrow dangling out; with a very bloody back leg.
 And the guy says he screwed up; but he is doing the 'right thing' by getting out of there and coming back the next day.
 If you hit a leg- you make that wound stay open and start tracking now- you do not go home and wait for it to die.
 But the guy is an elite bowhunter; and he 'knows his stuff'.

 So yeah - I wonder what motivates the laugh. Is it a bet they won; or another dead monster that they can put on the wall; and perhaps guarantee their existence on the 'elite bowhunter' list?

 I do find a satisfaction in keeping it together and making a good shot on a game animal; and I am not crying about it when I find the animal. But I am not laughing at the animal; if I am laughing its at the 100 times I screwed up to get there...or maybe 10,000 times I screwed up to get there.

 I really think these hunting shows are burning themselves out.

 In the meantime- I am working on figuring out how to get a shot in the upcoming elk;deer; and bear season. I am practicing; sharpening broadheads; and hoping for a shot.
 And that is where I am happiest - embroiled in the effort it takes: to hunt with a traditional bow.

[wollelybugger]

Shooting a trophy animal is one of the most exciting things we can do as hunters. Killing a trophy animal is one of the saddest things, taking a life should not be considered a time to party. We hunt for different reasons but the TV hunting stars are playing to the camera and trying to sell products at the expense of a living animal. The older I get the harder it is for me to take a life and to do it for the wrong reason is wrong as to left feet.

[Gary Logsdon]

I may have seen some of the same negative shows as Brian . . . which is why I rarely watch the Outdoors R US channel. Good points. I talked to "Cuz" Strickland last year about two Mossy Oak segments I had recently scene that, in my opinion, presented the hunts in a positive light.  Cuz told me that his philosphy was to present the circumstances of the hunts first (locations, animal sought, preparation, etc.) and the hunter as a personality LAST - if at all.  I complimented him.  He went on to say "and that's the way it's going to be as long as I have anything to do with it."  I think he "gets it".  Did anyone see the episodes of Hunting the Country with Gene and Barry Wensel?  Heck, it showed Barry missing a buck one year and finally lucking out by getting a shot at the same buck the next year.  It took Mossy Oak two broadcasting years and two shows for him to kill one buck! Those guys must not be nearly as good as the bowhunters that take a B&C within the first 10 minutes of their shows each week!  Maybe Barry needs a better place to hunt?  

Joking aside, this helps to illustrate two totally different approaches to filming a TV show.

[TRAD101]

as far as I am concerned those shows are scripted from start to finish, that's why I don't watch them.

[mrpenguin]

Some shows are offensive, other now. There was one DVD I watched maybe 5 mins of called "whitetail Maddness" or something pathetic like that... it was loaned to me and I figured what the hell... it was horn porn... pumping gadgets and turning deer into strippers with metal guitar music and everything. I turned it off, put on Easton Bowhunting with Fred Eichler, and returned it.

My view is that some videos are useful.  I've learned some woodsmanship and hunting skills and even seen ethics practiced watching Primos, Fred Eichler,and especial the Wensels and Mitten in "Primal Dreams."  I watch the shows with my family around, especially Primal Dreams, mainly because they are more honest.  They show the beauty of nature, not just arrows in animals and bloodtrails.  Do they get excited when they make a good shot, yeah, but so do I.  Its been said here that genuine emotion is good, and I couldn't agree more.  I feel happiness and sadness when I kill, and that is about as honest as it gets for me...

Long answer shot: some videos have a place in my library, some belong in a burning barrel.

[Tsalagi]

Mrpenguin said of one video:
"...pumping gadgets and turning deer into strippers with metal guitar music and everything."

 That's actually quite disturbing. They anthropomorphized deer into women. Then they kill the deer. Some very sick psychological dynamics there. These are the kinds of things we need to speak up and say, "These sickos are NOT hunters."

[highpoint forge]

Agree with the above 1000%, and we should ALL have humility after taking an animal's life. I don't care how excited you are. If you don't feel a little pang of sadness that this deer, bear, elk, or moose, and maybe a really amazing one in a lifetime version, is gone for good, then you aren't a hunter, but rather a killer.

The worst show, featuring the most disrespectful offender of wildlife's name rhymes with Spread Tugent. If I met him, I'd implant a size 10 in his rear with great force.

[Bama Recurve]

I agree...
  I do like to watch Easton Bowhunting TV with Fred Eichler.
He's a cool guy  and usually he hunts with a Hoyt recurve. Not to mention, his wife is hot and owns Muzzy Broadheads.
However, the Outdoor Channel rarely airs the show.
  I believe The Outdoor Channel tries to stay clear of any traditional hunting because it doesn't bring the big advertising dollars that these  glorified, spoiled, private ranch, highlighted hair, celebrity compound hunters bring in.

[KSdan]

I don't know- does not get much more genuine than Fred Eichler and he goes nuts.  I really enjoy his enthusiasm.

I bet some of it could be that someone else is there participating in the moment.  I notice when I stand hunt with others (not very often) we visit a bit and cut up at times.  Just a different type of hunting than when you are by yourself- which seems to be more subdued and contemplative.