I enjoy watching a certain outdoor channel, mostly because I get to see hunting areas , I may never get the opportunity to hunt or visit. It i s becoming increasingly difficult to watch with any pleasure, because of the constant sales pitch for products. The commercials I can tolerate, but the constant marketing of products during the shows is unpleasant at best. I don't think we will ever see anyone displaying their outdoor skills or prowess with the weapons we use on these shows simply because there is no profit in doing so. Sorry for the rant, but I do understand I probably don't fit into the demographic these shows are targeting and it seems everything is geared to large sales and trophy hunting while developing food plots to turn your property into a pay to hunt business operation. Thank god for public hunting lands and the opportunities they can provide. Maybe Frisky should get a video camera and start filming to help me out of this dilemma! TLM

I DVR the shows, that way if they turn out to be infomercials I delete them quickly without wasting my time, I fast forward through the commercials on the better shows as well.

A few seem to be fair chase hunting and are enjoyable to watch.

I delete any show that has a pile of corn or other attractant in front of a box blind or any show shot out of a box blind for that matter.

I don't tape any show filmed in Texas because the pile of corn will always be there, same for Saskatchewan shows with alfalfa for bait.

Crossbow and most rifle shows get zapped immediately, as well as any Africa shows because they are always a slaughter fest from a box blind over a water tank.

I enjoy Fred Eichler's shows, the Meat Eater and a few others.

That's the reason it's so difficult to find trad products, we just don't spend enough money. We get stuff and tend to use it a long time. Recently went into a pretty large archery shop and asked for some broad head adaptors and the clerks said "what". I have to go out of state to order anything trad.

They won’t go away until people stop talking about them.

You see it on youtube as well. Guys filming their own hunts and then naming everything they used from bow, arrows, broadheads, camo suit, scent, boots, underwear, socks, etc... You get the picture. Maybe they're hoping to get picked up by a manufacturer as a "sponsor".

But, I think we do the same here and other trad forums to a degree. We take a hero pic and name off what we used.

If I can't pick up a station via an antenna, then it will not be seen by me, more than likely.

Completely agree with you, which is part of the reason I watch none of them.

TLM and the rest of you...

If you are not tuning in to Randy Newberg's "Fresh Tracks" or Steven Rinella's "Meat Eater" you are missing out on what's right with outdoor TV these days.

Suit yourself if you don't want to watch, but I record those shows every week and enjoy watching them quite a bit. I always learn something from those two guys every episode and I greatly admire the way they hunt and how they appreciate the whole experience.

There are a bunch of shows, just like other TV shows, that I know better than to tune in to. So I don't. ;)

But do yourselves a favor and watch those two.

Steve is the man, love his show. He is also a Michigander at heart.

The folks that enjoy that programming FAR outweigh the folks who have had enough. It will never go away, even if all of LW stopped watching and buying. Your talking a multi-BILLION dolor industry here.

I don’t watch much TV anyway. Lost all interest years ago watching sports, the announcers won’t shut up! And no matter who’s doing what they are experts making us watchers look like a bunch of dummies. I recall many years ago a local TV outdoor show on WGN in Chicago. Guys last name was Thomas. He used to run short segments with Fred Bear and Ben Pearson. Where I got started in Archery. No BS, no hype, just hunting and fishing.

Sometimes, especially on here, guys mention the products they use not as an endorsement, but as a way to share what worked for them. I agree that most of those shows are blatant commercials though.

Agree with limbwalker, I tune in the ones I like and not the others. I also don't watch zombie movies but I'll not throw the tv out the door because they're on it. Besides, if I interfered with my wife and her Hallmark movies, I'd suffer greatly.

Outdoor television does suck... but we all watch it because it tastes slightly better than the excrement on the other four hundred channels.

Everything on TV is aimed towards the demographic that will/can pay for it. Companies, for the most part, don't give a rats about people that won't/can't pay for their stuff, only those that will/can. Money has no heart.

What I always say is that most people don't realize that these shows are not really there for our pleasure. They are there to sell products and make money. They are not hunting shows, they don't really show much actual hunting. They are a half hour infomercial with some kill shots thrown in to keep the bubba's interested. There are only 2 or 3 that I even bother with. I used to like Tracks Across Africa real well.

I don't see it... on tv, youtube, videos, internet, etc. I don't watch them, ever. I'd rather watch golf... and I'd rather slam a finger with a 4 lb hammer than watch golf.

They do nothing I'm interested in, and the advertisers have nothing I need.

Can't be advertised to if you ain't there.

No Outdoor Channels in my Cable Package

We both enjoy the Nat Geo, Discovery and History Channel shows mostly. Only network TV I watch is the local news. Well, and Jeopardy. ))

You can find some decent stuff on youtube if you really need to see it, but you really don't miss what you don't care to watch anyway. I would sooner sit and read some old Field and Stream, etc. And we have a few DVD's that we enjoy from time to time...nice without commercials.

By the way, it's sponsorship that keeps the shows on the tube, so as long as people buy the product, they will keep sponsoring. They really don't care much who watches...just who buys. It's been like that since we became a capitalistic society and is what drives the economy. No difference than the old magazines except more 'in your face' of course. If people are talking about them, they must still have a good audience.

"these shows are not really there for our pleasure. They are there to sell products and make money. They are not hunting shows, they don't really show much actual hunting. They are a half hour infomercial with some kill shots thrown in to keep the bubba's interested..."

Wow. Watch the two I mentioned and let me know if you still feel that way.

I don't think I've ever seen or heard Rinella mention a brand name product on air. I have no idea what brand rifle/scope/bullets he hunts with or what kind of knife he uses or anything else. He doesn't push product and would probably be insulted if someone suggested his shows are not about hunting.

Randy Newberg hunts damn hard on public land. He and Steven both do things that not 1% of people on this forum are willing or able to do. Just because they don't hunt with sticks and strings doesn't mean they aren't hunting their as... off. They are. And they have my respect because of it.

Randy is a bit more obvious about his sponsors, but not in your face about it. He works hard to keep his show going and thanks his sponsors, but he doesn't claim they are the reason he is out there hunting.

I agree with most folks here about the infomercials (if I see another HECS "hunting" show I think I'm gonna puke) but some here need to get off their high horse and give some of these guys and gals credit for how hard they work to produce their shows. Because they ain't sitting on their as... criticizing other folks from their keyboard.

I watch locally produced shows here in Michigan. None of that crap is forced on anyone. That and they share the hunts with entire families with no judging. Only shows I'll watch anymore. Tom

M60gunner, yes I remember him well. I believe it was Outdoors with Jim Thomas. every week he would draw a name and If you sent your name in you could win a prize. Great show! He covered all types of hunting and fishing.

You're not alone. I don't watch any of them any more and dropped the big 3 outdoor magazines quite a while ago, too. I do enjoy some of the self filmed videos online, put out by average hunters using traditional equipment and especially when there are kids involved. I understand that everything in life seems to revolve around money, but most of the shows put out today are more advertising than hunting.

Lol, they're infomercials. They're not network shows. You pay for a half hour with some company's money and spend it promoting their products while showing just enough hunting to get viewers.

Stop watching television. Watch YouTube channels that are a lot more "real" for the most part and include a lot more real information. There are still ads unless you install an ad blocker but it's otherwise free and you get to choose from a lot more content. I haven't watched cable TV since 2004 because there is 2 minutes of real content in a 30 minute block if you're lucky. There are a bunch of ads and recaps from commercial breaks and I refuse to subject myself to it. Magazines are mostly the same way.

OK Limbwalker, there might be a couple of shows worth watching, but the rest are without merit. Just a bunch of popular names sellin' stuff.

There are shows I like and those I do not,,,, Outdoor channel is on for free, for me, so I have no choice.... wish I got the pursuit channel, like to watch trapping shows, and Dorsey will not put that out, on the outdoor channel...

I agree, there is a lot of stupid shows, and informecial, I mean watch American Archer,,,, how did I ever figure out the wind, without a fire fly, or kill a deer without a grim reaper (crap) or ozonics,,,,,, ha ha ha......

On the other hand, better than anti gun anti hunting, the other pusedo liberal channels want to show,,,,, better than watching Morning Joe, and throwing up your breakfast.....

I like Eastmans bowhunting journal, solo hunter, and young wild,,,,

Just think, from what it was like, when you grew up, the anti's thought back than, we would all be done, never imagined the outdoor channels,,, they hate em, which makes them good for me........

Outdoor journalism, whether it is audio, print or video, has always broken the rules by unabashedly producing completely subjective content for the primary purpose of selling products. Other forms of journalism are far more objective so they can maintain some vestige of crediblity. Has been happening since outdoor magazines came out and then continued onto television.

I disconnected the cable from my house almost 20 years ago and I never updated to a digital set or got a converter so I don't get any "TV".

I watch a few old movies and shows on netflix and that's about it.

I too don't get cable in NY but do have it here in South Florida, but don' get those channels. So I might be missing something to watch and review. Can't afford those extra gadgets like I bought when I was young, or spend on special items like custom fit leather soled pac-mocs, special hunting gear, a varmit rifle, calls, etc. Think I would enjoy knowing about it though, so would welcome the commercials. Always enjoy when someone here lists something cool for hunting or camping and always scramble to do a search to look it up.

But those plugging items has always been part of those type shows. My father and Brother were both TV directors and producers since live tv in the fifties and the local state or region wide fishing shows made by their friends had on air plugs for lures, lights, guides, etc. Just part of it so they could do a show cheap and get the support they needed to produce it. Maybe there is too much which is not our interest now, which is more "Traditional" among most of us than what some folks do to hunt or fish. However, it's always good to know what's out there. Watched a few hunting shows in the past and did noticed a lot of BS or Babbling on them though.

Think those shows lend themselves to be made within a low budget so their commercial supporters are necessary to supply trucks, gear, places and guides etc or the shows wouldn't happen at all.

Also many young folks I met when I worked at a univerisity a few years ago had no idea or earthly clue about our longbow/recurve interests and only knew about wheelie/cam bows and crossbows etc. No big deal, but there won't be any large number of tv shows about our preferred equipment.

Maybe some of you with formal training with presentations and good people skills should do some traditional archery hunting shows. Being raised by a producer, they are not difficult. But first you have to go to find some money supporters.

I agree. I do understand the difficulty of filming. No one would watch the hours of quiet time, we spend in the woods, with no action. So I don't down it so much, just don't watch. The outrageous claims by most products really turns me off too. Killing a giant deer in 10 minutes or catching a fish on every cast is not reality.>>>----> Ken

I added the outdoor package of 2 or 3 channels from my cable provider 2 years ago. I watched all kinds of shows for about a month. By the end of the month, I cancelled the package. I haven't heard anyone say; "I smoked him!" since.

I hope I get to see the good shows that were mentioned. I know there are many good men and women out there who hunt and fish with integrity, without making the chase for the money the top priority. I would find those folks entertaining. Like many of the posters here! TLM

TV destroys brain cells! I'd rather pay good money to watch a monkey hump a football...but that doesn't include the NFL humping the USA.

I miss Tred Barta. JeffW

Old dog that's some true sh!t right there. nybubba

+1 on Steve Rinella, I read his book "Meat Eater" which was outstanding and I enjoy his articles, wild game recipes, (especially squirrel) and passion for everything wild. I agree that most hunting shows are incredibly cheesy nowadays but Rinella's show isn't. If you don't like what your seeing, turn it off.

the hunting channel is lame, 90% super bros and gimmicky marketing, 10% hunting

Two different worlds

I just wish Trad Barta would have invested the time to become a better shot. That's the last outdoor show I watched. I was so disappointed seeing him fling those arrows into mid airthat I never came back.

"Tred" rather

I'm thinking of starting a show- Hunting With the Legend. I'd take people, like Ron, out and teach them to shoot a real, right-handed bow and also show them how to hunt. No tree stands, no pop-up blinds, no cover scents, no Widows or Borders. Just a quality bow, sharp heads and great skill. Nothing else. I think it would be a fine show.

Joe

All 'infomercial', all marketing. Use this new camo, this new food plot formula, this new crossbow, this new bullet.

No different than a car show with pretty models hawking Lamborghinis. Marketing disguised as entertainment.

I'd watch a show woth somebody shooting Friskies Deathmaster any day!

Part of why I don't own a TV anymore.

Ron, correct me if I'm wrong....but I don't ever recall any pics of lean years where roadkill was on the menu at Shrewhaven?????

"I enjoy watching a certain outdoor channel, mostly because I get to see hunting areas , I may never get the opportunity to hunt or visit."

When the cost outweighs the benefit, you don't go there anymore.

I know a hunter who regularly travels to hunt. Some locations are exotic, but that doesn't mean he always has a good time or sees game.

Remember what they say about grass on the other side of the fence.

Thank you KPC!! I much appreciate a bit of reality among the 'I got rid of anything created after 1806" posts. I may be an old boomer myself and have never even touched a compound bow....but I realize technology is just technology, and all TVs are made with an on/off switch and a channel selector.

I generally don't have time for such, and when I do I would much rather be entertained by you nuts. 8^)

Rick

Lmao, no one notices billboards any more. Big difference between something your not looking at that's off to the side and sittin and watching it on your tv for an hour. All shows use advertising to get money for the show but they don't advertise something during a show you want to watch. They have comercials. Whens the last time you saw doc Phil telling you which detergent he uses to do his underwear? I've seen one hunt show I liked. They had real commercials and mostly hunted during the show. Problem was I don't and never have gun hunted big game and it was a gun show. Berreta Outdoors. First outdoor show of modern times with some class. Gerald Ramey the actor was on it. Limbwalker I haven't seen the 2 you mentioned so I'll leave them out but most are so blatant they suck to watch.

The question is whether it is a good or bad thing they don't market to us. The Push is an example of realizing there is a market for us, largely working with other people's content, and twisting the original intent to a marketing program. Do we want more of that, or relative invisibility in the media. The latter was how things were in the day, outside of seeing the odd short on American Sportsman.

Most folks I worked with in the past, especially young grad students, didn't have a clue there were folks shooting recurves and longbows, except when they learned all the old agricultural research profs I worked with bought them used and shot them for that second deer season. Small market with smaller advertisement and promotion. Think Bear's reintroduction bows have helped, just like John Deere did with their presence when they interred the turf agricultural industry with their advertising, financing, and equipment leasing power.

Ok bad example,lol.

Maybe subconciously we probably do notice billboards but for 3 years now about 3 or 4 times a month I make the same 2 1/2 hour drive and I cannot name off 1 single billboard along the way. When I watch a show I don't mind commercials because that when I hit the kitchen for popcorn or when we talk. I don't want to see commercials all thru the shows so I don't watch them just as alot of others don't. If you dont mind and like watching thats great, just not for me.

They film deer shows in Iowa, I think a number of them get Govenor's tags for that. They have totally controlled set ups, but it is the products they claim make it all possible. What gets me is that people that believe their line of bull try to pull off the same tactics with the same products and expect the same results on overrun public lands.

Spent the last few decades distancing myself from the hunting industry, tech AND trad, new and used, big industry and local, all of it. Even though it was my preference, it actually came more by default than by conscious effort. Just gotta be willing. I'm a dedicated bowhunter, but a VERY poor archery/bowhunting consumer. I hunted my future bows today in the woods. Think I found some too :^)

Shows? Websites? Personalities? Advertisers? Brewhahaha... they got nothing. I'm FREE. When I go on these website message boards I don't see, and couldn't tell you a single advertiser in their headers. I look through a 3Rivers catalog and dont see a single thing I want from them. Just don't take my B50 or Thunderbird ;^)

"I generally don't have time for such, and when I do I would much rather be entertained by you nuts. 8^)

Rick "

Glad to be of service 8^)

It would take me all year to get enough footage for one half hour show........and most of that would be boring!

KPC, sadly, no. You get to meet the Bulgarian Ladies' Shot Put Team. Bait & switch...

For the most part, TV sucks and is a waste of money. NOVA, Nature, and Nat Geo (sometimes) are the only thing worth watching regarding outdoor stuff on my tv. The rest is BS. I make my own hunting adventures, and if they don't include places to hunt in 20 states, provinces, and countries, then so what? I still had 20 hunts worth reliving in my head. Some of which I shot something. I do my off season research online, on youtube, or in the Bugle and other similar mags. And then I go there.

Great thread and I really feel the same as many have stated above.

Never heard of Meat Eater before. Watched an episode now and looks like a good show. Thank you.

And....Old Milwaukee

https://youtu.be/eNA0E_Y4bUQ

I stopped watching them years ago. Some guys from Michigan will remember Fred Troast Michigan outdoors. The main reason I watched was for the outdoors report at the end of his show. I remember Ron LaClair shooting on the show also. His end of show line was "get outdoors it's a great place to be".

Catfish, you’re dating yourself. I remember when Mort Neff did that show.

MP

TV-free since 1999; best choice I ever made...other than deciding to try archery as a hobby.

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