Why no Traditional Archery shows on television?

[Slasher]

I don't know some of those survivor shows are mostly shot with the lil GOPRO cams... one strapped on the bow... another on a hat...

A lil better quality camera for around camp... Or footage for treestand hunts...

Maybe a visit with a bowyer... or a flint knapping episode or making arrows with a plane...or from rivercane...

It could be done... but it wouldn't be easy... Maybe a TradGang youtube channel.... It would be all about hits and views... It would just take a title sequence and an admin to create and admin the channel... take the videos from the Gang..

It could easily be a tech channel with how to's and such...

[stickandstring]

BEAR Archery would probably have the financial muscle to do it. And, I know Fred would approve.

[meatCKR]

Haven't watched a bowhunting show for a while so I thought I would try to watch one last week.  Can't remember the name of the show but it was pathetic. They had a scene where the wheelie bow shooter put a shot on a buck where you could clearly see the arrow penetrated only about 10 inches cause you could see 2/3's of the arrow hanging out of where the arrow went in with the deer running off.  Then after high-fiving everyone, the hunter starts tracking.  He goes "here's my arrow! look all covered in blood.  Double lung total pass through!" I was like are you kidding me? Do they think we are stupid! Sadly, I think the answer is - yes they do.  Probably will be a long time before I try to watch one again - if ever.

Anyway - I am with Slasher.  I think the best chance for a real hunting show would be a youtube channel or a webisode or even a podcast.

[kill shot]

Steve, I know what you mean. Ever notice the shows where the sun is still high in the sky and  when they find the deer it's dark and they say he only went about 30 yards.

[Stalker58]

I agree with Tom L, and Jon Stewart,It's all about the money, it's a business.
 Supply and demand. More people hunt with compound bows, then traditional bows. Because it's easier for the beginner, average person, to,accurately hit a target, with very little effort. A compound, with, 60-85% let off, sights, arrow rest, stabilizer, peep site, etc.
 There's a lot of companies making a lot of money, selling these parts. So they go where the money is.
Traditional archery, takes work, and practice, to become efficient. Most can't or don't want to put in the time.
The funny thing is, that after shooting , both, Tradbow and compound, I find that, I need less practice with trad gear, then I did when shooting compounds. I can go a month or more without shooting my bow, then grab it and some arrows, go in the back yard and hit the bullseye at 20yds 1st shot. I find it more natural.
If more people shot tradbows, we'd see more trad hunting shows.

[Flingblade]

My favorite hunting show now is Meat Eater with Steven Rinella.  Not a bowhunting show specifically but I like the viewpoints and his incentive to hunt.  He always shows respect for the animals hunted and shares a good bit of natural history.  The last episode was a cooking special and he showed five different recipes for the hearts of five different game animals.  It is the only show I know of that shows the entire process of the hunt from preparing for the hunt to meat on the dinner table.

[kill shot]

I would be willing to bet that if there was a trad archery show there would be eventually more trad archers. Isn't that what we want? Mr moneybags, where are you?

[Ron Vought]

Flingblade - I sent an email to Steven Rinella and asked him to film a traditional archery hunt. He just seems like a guys that enjoys the challenge and I could most certainly see him hunting with a traditional bow. I also enjoy his show.

Ron

[johnnyk71]

it's already been said, but it's the truth. hunting shows are almost exclusively meant to be infomercials, whether the hosts want to admit it or not.

most of us make half our gear ourselves, and then use it forever or duct tape it back together until it literally falls apart. we are not the target demographic.

one show i do love, because it's much more than just kill shots and horn porn, is "Meat Eater" with Steven Rinella. he doesn't hunt with a trad bow (mostly gun), but he concentrates on all aspects of the hunt, including food preparation afterwards. great quality show!

edit - just saw how many of you guys appreciate "Meat Eater" as well. check out his books, too. he's a great writer!

[tarponnut]

You do see some of the TV hosts shoot trad occasionally.
What amazes me is that none of the "big name"guys make the switch to traditional. It's a market that is sorely under-represented. Especially the guys that could afford to, it's weird that they don't. When I was 4 years old I fished with a worm and bobber and it was fun, not so much at 40 something. The natural progression in bowhunting should be towards traditional, not shooting a wheel bow at deer at 60 yards!

If there can be fly-fishing tv shows(there are several) there can be a traditional bowhunting TV show.
 
It would take someone with their own money, connections, or a sponsor or two to step up and fund it.

If I win the lottery you'll be seeing my mug all over the TV:)(and no fake/staged hunts for me)

[kill shot]

I'm telling you guys, everyone would be willing to watch it. Trad hunting brings out the adventure in everyone. And with todays economy it's a bargain hobby/sport. It will recruit people. You know yourselves it's fun. The camp life, the building of stuff, the preperation. Am I right? You know I am.

[tarponnut]

I'm now convinced that a Trad bowhunting show is a bad idea:)

[tarponnut]

A redneck with a handycam? Try to find a hunting show that doesn't have a redneck with a handycam, you'd be hard pressed.
This topic comes up every few months for a reason.

The same arguments for or against are stated(including mine). Most contain valid points.

With all due respect, I'm not sure the argument that it would be difficult is valid. WE LIKE DIFFICULT.
I've filmed over 80 short hunting and fishing videos, never made a dime from it and don't expect to. I do it because it's fun, and adds a new even more challenging element to my hunts.
Being an artist by profession, it's natural for me to document places and moments in time.
I'm not alone.

I know for a fact that people would watch it and we would get new converts to the "sport".

[kill shot]

tarponnut, you are correct. Lots of people would watch it. And the ones that don't convert would still watch it. People that only gun hunt would watch it.

[killinstuff]

I'd rather surf youtube and watch Jim try to kill a rat under a hog feeder than watch another knucklehead kill a "shooter" whitetail. BORING!

[Morning Star]

A couple friends of mine are doing some filming for Mid West Whitetail.  Charlie is going to be hunting with a recurve.  You can follow them weekly. Every Friday is a new episode.  This episode is about setting up his bow and the importance of a well tuned bow.


  http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/gallery/169/media/5712/old-school-new-school.html

[bushwood]

Ok guys. I started this thread a few days ago to get a true feel of what the general consensus would be from this group. I value the views and opinions from everyone here and the responses were what I was truly hoping to read.

There was ZERO negative bashing of anyone or anything and that's why I love this group. You guys are the most respectful bunch and I wanted to share a couple of teasers to get feedback from the Tradgang family.

My partner and I are working on a project called Lost Arrow. We are funding this initially out of our own pockets as to maintain the integrity of the project without being influenced by networks, sponsors, etc. Outside our close family and friends, no one has seen this.

I hope it is something that everyone here can get excited about because we are 100% committed to make this a reality.

 

 

Password is: lostarrow

[Marshallrobinson]

After seeing tred Barta and what he brought to the game and then seeing Fred going to modern, I dont think I want to see anymore traditional guys on TV. Just leave me unmolested by whatever TV has to offer.
Give me Brothers of the bow on DVD anytime!.

[meatCKR]

J.B.,

Wow!!!! Amazing videos! Absolutely Fantastic! The production looks first class.  I loved all the scenes but that last shot on the Africa video where a shot is put on a Kudu? and you can see the birds in the tree in the background just scatter, was absolutely breath taking!  Man!

Keep up the good work!

[dbd870]

I guess I'm more of Don's mindset, the hunting shows are nothing but advertising and  I can't stand to watch them anymore. If I saw one more guy smile and say good shot after putting an arrow in the liver or gut I was going to be ill.