I am so angry right now. Along with making products for the hunting community comes a responsibility to properly represent the sport and tradition, as well. Well, I just happened upon a TV show called "Love of the Hunt" and I'm bleeping pissed.
First, this show does NOT represent hunting. Like ANY *show*, it's partly the result of all kinds of editing and omissions.
Second, the people in it talk in a way that real people *never* talk.
Third, they layer in a hyped up, deep voiced, narrator who introduces and updates between scenes. None of us have a narrator either before, during or after our hunts.
Fourth, these shows are SATURATED with countless advertisements for products, some of which are recommended without even being thoroughly reviewed.
Fifth, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that shows like this can easily lead anyone to believe they can just "get into" hunting as if it were a sport like skateboarding or motocross. While I'm sure there are perfectly capable "unaffiliated" hunters, all the best ethical hunters I've known all got TIED into some kind of a line of hunting wisdom whether it was being born into a longstanding family tradition or joining a fish and game club.
Sixth, these shows have ONE purpose in mind: profit. I grew up in an impeccable family business that was very successful and I can tell you there's a huge difference between a hunter that profits VERSUS a profiteer that hunts. And there are those who start off as the former and sellout to become the latter. These shows exist to sell ads and those ads exist to sell products. I am a capitalist and endorse the PROCESS... but, in this case, don't mistake the show for HUNTING.
Seventh, there's no hunting without everything that goes with it. I haven't been hunting very long but I enjoy the walk to my spots just as much as the actual hunting. I spent a half day last Sunday scouting 2.5mi of glacial deposit and swamp. Just being out there at all is amazing. It makes the portion people think of as "hunting" all the sweeter. When I sit in my spot, I get a strong satisfaction of appreciating all the work that went into it. These shows not only give you none of that... they give you the exact opposite.
HUNTING SHOWS ARE LIKE ADULT *** VIDEOS. They give you all the "money shots" but none of the real camaraderie, real sweat, real relationships to other people and nature.. .they don't thoroughly or properly review products and give a QUASI-sense of integrity. They convince themselves they really mean well and are helping out the sport.
Obviously, I disagree... and for the reasons listed above, I will not be buying any products from the companies I see advertising with them. Maybe I'll change my mind some day but for now, that's my decision. I'd rather buy from a mom-and-pop entrepreneur at a sportsmans show or a guy who advertises here on AT.
Btw, to be clear, I love capitalism and see nothing wrong with advertising... it's the hunting shows that make me not want to buy from those advertisers.
First, this show does NOT represent hunting. Like ANY *show*, it's partly the result of all kinds of editing and omissions.
Second, the people in it talk in a way that real people *never* talk.
Third, they layer in a hyped up, deep voiced, narrator who introduces and updates between scenes. None of us have a narrator either before, during or after our hunts.
Fourth, these shows are SATURATED with countless advertisements for products, some of which are recommended without even being thoroughly reviewed.
Fifth, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that shows like this can easily lead anyone to believe they can just "get into" hunting as if it were a sport like skateboarding or motocross. While I'm sure there are perfectly capable "unaffiliated" hunters, all the best ethical hunters I've known all got TIED into some kind of a line of hunting wisdom whether it was being born into a longstanding family tradition or joining a fish and game club.
Sixth, these shows have ONE purpose in mind: profit. I grew up in an impeccable family business that was very successful and I can tell you there's a huge difference between a hunter that profits VERSUS a profiteer that hunts. And there are those who start off as the former and sellout to become the latter. These shows exist to sell ads and those ads exist to sell products. I am a capitalist and endorse the PROCESS... but, in this case, don't mistake the show for HUNTING.
Seventh, there's no hunting without everything that goes with it. I haven't been hunting very long but I enjoy the walk to my spots just as much as the actual hunting. I spent a half day last Sunday scouting 2.5mi of glacial deposit and swamp. Just being out there at all is amazing. It makes the portion people think of as "hunting" all the sweeter. When I sit in my spot, I get a strong satisfaction of appreciating all the work that went into it. These shows not only give you none of that... they give you the exact opposite.
HUNTING SHOWS ARE LIKE ADULT *** VIDEOS. They give you all the "money shots" but none of the real camaraderie, real sweat, real relationships to other people and nature.. .they don't thoroughly or properly review products and give a QUASI-sense of integrity. They convince themselves they really mean well and are helping out the sport.
Obviously, I disagree... and for the reasons listed above, I will not be buying any products from the companies I see advertising with them. Maybe I'll change my mind some day but for now, that's my decision. I'd rather buy from a mom-and-pop entrepreneur at a sportsmans show or a guy who advertises here on AT.
Btw, to be clear, I love capitalism and see nothing wrong with advertising... it's the hunting shows that make me not want to buy from those advertisers.