What is going on with the Hunting Channels?

[vintage-bears]

I know why I love bowhunting. It is the same reason you all do. The challenge of getting close to the animal we hunt and the hopes of getting the string drawn back!
My concerns are this....
Has it gotten so that we MUST kill a deer ie...
I cannot watch any more shows on the hunting channels. They are making me sick to my stomach with all ranch hunting over bait and the Bait commercials!!! The worst being comere deer!
Lots of these so called celebrities are endorsing it and it's sad because most of the youth coming into this magical sport watch these shows and this is what they learn to do. I do however enjoy Fred Eichler's show. I have not seen him use bait yet and he uses a traditional bow most times. I am not trying to be controversial but it seems to me that they are endorsing taking the Hunt out of bowhunting, the ARCH out of archery and the THRILL of a beating heart, especially when a deer comes down a path that you thought about cutting a shooting lane for when you hung your stand and figured not to because it would expose you too much and left you with no shot at all!
Your thought's.......Philip

[Don Stokes]

It's not hunting, it's snuff porn with animals. Disgusting, and the worst thing that could have happened to hunting in general. There are a few programs that are well done, but most of it is pure trash. The few good ones can never make up for the bad impression that the bad ones make. If ethical hunters don't like it, just imagine the impact on non-hunters!

[straitera]

Good for you. Killing sells products. Not to me.

[DXH]

The deal with hunting shows; its all about marketing, who can bring in the most bucks..green ones and horned ones...In a big company you have to wonder how many of the ceo's worry about "sport" versus quarterly figures.

Blame also has to be placed with today's average hunter, He/she wants to get in, get the deer, then go back to the life attached to the laptops and crackberrys..advertisements target this (back to the bucks) and if joe blow sees 10 people in a weekend harvesting 130 class deer or bigger he is more likely to purchase the product.  Joe doesn't realize what it takes to manage quality habitat, genetics, forage crops, hunting pressure etc..

In my opinion the worst celebrity is Michael Waddel. (sp?) To me he is the portrait of today's teenagers and college kids..He goes out brings his handheld playstation/nintendo thingamajiggy and doesn't pay attention to anything til he is alerted by his camera crew there is this monster buck walking through the fenced area,...

nevermind getting aquainted with the environment, learning the terrain, patterning animals

[vintage-bears]

I am glad to hear that you feel like I do. I was worried that I might ruffle somebody's feathers, which is not my intention.
I truly feel that the current trend will rob the new bowhunters of learning and enjoying the challenge of bowhunting.
By far the worst commercial I have seen besides the baiting ones is the one regarding scent free hunting clothing!!!!
There motto is "Forget the wind and just hunt".
This makes me wanna vomit! Like all of you, I have learned the hard way.......The wind tells us where not to go!
I don't care what your wearing.
This kind of nonsense is not teaching the new bowhunters to free their minds and SEE what's going on in the timber.......

[Stumpkiller]

It was a crummy weekend (snow with 50 mph gusts!) and my wife was amazed that even I got so I couldn't stand the hunting shows and turned them off.  I get so tired of the whispering dribble.  Man, I find that annoying.  They should just over-dub a voice in the post-production studio.

Not a good showing from the bowhunters, either.  Several misses and an unrecovered animal.  But no traditional equipment (big surprise).

[Dave Bowers]

I stopped watching them years ago for the very reasons stated. I just can't stand watching all the BS.

[vintage-bears]

This is a fantastic site and delighted to be onboard with you all........

It's all about the $$$$$$$$$ on those shows. They can't have the shows without the sponsors and can't have sponsors unless they plug the products. I don't hardly watch any of them any more.

Bisch

[Ken Taylor]

I am seriously considering canceling my subscription to the hunting show network.

A better question: what ISN'T happening on the outdoor shows--respect, appreciation (not canned), hard work, true experience. I also hate the loud rock music.

[mec lineman]

These shows are pure garbage.I'd like to think that some of the big name hunters,at one time gave a hoot about what REAL hunting is about.I once read that if anti-hunters gave Stephen Spilbeirg a 3 million dollar budget to make a movie to disgrace hunting,he could not top what comes on the "outhouse" channel every day!

[MarkE2006]

The kill is anticlimactic.  The attraction of hunting is the challenge, friends, peace of nature, getting away from the day to day of life.  I want to hunt untouched land; to scout; to set a stand; to ambush; to stalk.  I don't want to pay my money to go to a large buck ranch set in established blinds, or be guided.

Too many shows have poor photography, poor acting, poor shots.  Don't care for the recreations of the hunts.  Can't stand the line..."Great shot".

[sawtoothscream]

if baiting is legal in the area they hunt i dont have a problem.

that being said i cant stand hunting shows on TV. those bone collecter guys drive me nutz and dont even get me started on ralphand vicki from archers choice. lots of horrible hunting shows just meant to push the living heck out of products. i liked tred bartas show, fred eichlers show and heartland bow hunters is pretty well done.

[Onehair]

I may view this a little different. These shows are strictly for entertainment and not a how to guide and they sure sell products. Some are not worth watching but I have a remote. I would not won't them off the air. Some people may like them. I would object if others got to decide the shows I get to watch based on their own preferences. As far as the products sold.... In the words of the late great P.T.Barnahm, "It's morally wrong to allow a sucker to keep his money."

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

tv hunting is the single biggest threat to fair chase hunting. The general publics perception is that we are all alike

[FightingCelt]

Ditto to Vintage-bear...maybe I'm old school, but they completely miss the opportunity to provide a true hunting and teaching experience

[huntin_sparty]

To each their own and they must make someone happy (and good for them) but I cant watch em.  
They are a 30 minute product infomercial finished off with a guy shooting a huge deer on a leash at some silly distance.  Then commenting on "whoo huntin hard paid off".  Yes the UTV drive out to a heated stand shooting a domesticated deer hopped up on nutrients and steroids like cattle was grueling for you I'm sure!
Or as someone commented "great shot" or "smoked em" drives me batty, I didnt realize a gut shot, spine shot, or a quartering to shot with a bow and the arrow sticking out 2/3 was smoking em or great.

I'll have to keep an eye out for Eichler's show and give that one a chance.

[BWD]

When they give you their "tip of the week", it kinda makes me throw up in the back of my mouth a little bit.

[Ringneck]

Pure trash...with the exception of Fred's show.