Hunting "Reality Shows"

[2rocky]

Curious about folk's thoughts about mainstream channels like Discovery showing hunting related programming?

Particularly Discovery Channel's new lineup, and other channels.

Kodiak
The Hunt
Previously... MeatEater
Mountain Men
Alaska the last Frontier
Other various Alaska Shows too numerous to list....
Duck dynasty
Swamp people
etc. etc. etc.


DO you think that it will create a favorable image amongst Non hunters, foster some understanding, or create an objection from individuals who previously were ambivilent?

In other words, Is our "conservation and way of life" message being conveyed or just being used to create drama from another angle?

 

[JohnCushman]

But then you get the anti's freaking out and getting Melissa Bachman taken off the air

 

[brownbear932008]

I was watching some of the Mountain Men show last night man you can tell it's made up for TV that's for sure. I can't see how anything good could come of what I have seen for the most part. It's hit and miss on it being reality or wayyyyy out there in left field somewhere.

 

[noharleyyet]

In other words, Is our "conservation and way of life" message being conveyed or just being used to create drama from another angle?

Yes

reality=contrived drama/bad comedy

 

[Big Fin]

In other words, Is our "conservation and way of life" message being conveyed or just being used to create drama from another angle?

For the most part, at least IMO, that is exactly what is happening.

I would submit that much of outdoor TV, the supposed real side of hunting, is disconnected from the message of food and conservation such that it is doing little favor to the image of hunting in the eyes of Americans, but/for the fact that mainstream America does not watch outdoor TV, rather getting its consumption from these networks carrying shows you mention.

And I wonder what new hunters; at least those who use outdoor TV as a guide/impression of what hunting's role is in our culture, have as an impression of hunting's relationship to food and conservation. I fear the lack of food and conservation in the messages of outdoor TV might be creating a segment of new hunters who have completely missed the connection hunting has with food and conservation, which in the long-term, is a disaster for hunting and conservation.

 

[smarandr]

I think it depends on who is the ambassador. I've never seen an episode of Duck Dynasty, but I have seen the stories about the "homophobic" Phil Robertson. Now, I think I'm mature and thoughtful enough to know that a man's views on sexual morality don't preclude him from being a champion of waterfowl conservation (which he may or may not be--again, I've never seen the show). On the other hand, I also know that the American public as a whole is not mature and thoughtful enough to come to the same conclusion. Therefore, I fear that Phil does more harm than good to our cause as we all are now unfairly associated with a "redneck bigot." Nobody's perfect, but we want our public figures to be perfect; and when we find out that they're not, the message that they advocate is somehow denigrated.

 

[sweetnectar]

TV and reality are two very different things. It seems many believe a reality show is how things truely are.

 

[SFC B]

In reference to what Big Fin said.....I started hunting late (33) and am glad that I started due to friends getting me interested, taking me afield and showing me a respectful and humble outdoor activity. I can't imagine forming a view of hunting based on what a lot of teh "let's go kill a trophy" shows convey.

 

[JohnCushman]

What I find refreshing is having my finace and her daughter watching hunting shows now. It's fun to hear them critique the shows and hunters and even get to the point where they yell at the TV. They want to start out shooting cows and does, and get frustrated and even angry at how the TV hunters go after trophy only animals and talk about how an animal wasn't good enough. They are of the mindset that any animal is a trophy and every hunt is a gift.

 

[roadhunter]

I actually enjoy some of the new hunting programming on other networks. Between Sportsman, Outdoor, and Pursuit I rarely find anything worth watching. It's hard to keep track of which ones are good and which ones are bad anymore as well. With more and more of the shows (skullbound and MCMillan adventures for example) being supported by organizations such as SFW and others it is difficult to just watch a show without being fed an agenda. I also noticed that It seems like there is more fishing and gun related shows than hunting shows anyway.

 

[ida homer]

I think it is kind of cool how they are showing hunting on Alaska TLF and Kodiak. Just in the aspect that hunting is being shown on big time networks, it makes me feel like we, as hunters, are making progress.

One thing that is a little frustrating though is that on Alaska TLF, they portray hunting in such an old redneck fashion that I don't think that it is a good image for us. They are respectful and eat what they kill, which is great. But in one of the episodes they are black bear hunting and the guy proceeds to wound and lose one bear first thing in the morning, then he shoots at and misses 3 or 4 other bears throughout the day before he finally checks his rifle.

He set up a pop can at 25 paces and shoots at it kneeling. He hit the can and decided that the rifle wasn't the problem. A little education on how to sight in a rifle properly, a rangefinder and a basic understanding of ballistics would have been more suitable for a major TV network program. But on the rare occasion I do watch TV, I'd rather watch these shows or Deadliest Catch rather than the rest of the garbage on these days.

 

[1_pointer]

Though I share the same concerns that Fin posted, I think by and large the shows on the non-hook and bullet channels will be a good thing in the long run. IMO these shows, along with the foodie/organic food hipsters, is increasing the awareness and popularity of hunting to segment of the public that was largely ignorant of hunting. Channels like Sportsmens and Outdoor largely are only reaching folks that are already into hunting and fishing. Channels like Discovery and NatGeo reach a different audience. That said, now that they have increased the popularity and awareness of hunting, now I hope they address the issues that Fin mentioned. At this point, I'd say that these shows have been good for hunting. They've "sold" hunting as an idea with the sizzle and I hope they can maintain it's proper image by showing the substance of what it is and has done wildlife and conservation.

 

[LCH]

[

QUOTE=twsnow18;2367676]One thing that is a little frustrating though is that on Alaska TLF, they portray hunting in such an old redneck fashion that I don't think that it is a good image for us. They are respectful and eat what they kill, which is great. But in one of the episodes they are black bear hunting and the guy proceeds to wound and lose one bear first thing in the morning, then he shoots at and misses 3 or 4 other bears throughout the day before he finally checks his rifle.

He set up a pop can at 25 paces and shoots at it kneeling. He hit the can and decided that the rifle wasn't the problem. A little education on how to sight in a rifle properly, a rangefinder and a basic understanding of ballistics would have been more suitable for a major TV network program. QUOTE]

I cringed at that as well. However, it is refreshing to see popular shows, like Duck Dynasty, that incorporate hunting as one of the main components of the program (even if it is usually staged). Just about everyone I've heard talk about DD has said they enjoy it because of the friendly, close-knit family ties shown on the program. Up until just a few years ago, it seemed like all hunters on TV were portrayed as racist, poaching redneck lawbreakers.

Overall, I think it is a move in the right direction.

 

[RUT JUNKEY]

I'm not a huge fan of the "reality" stuff whether its hunting or just a bunch of rich golddigging women. These shows are so fake or staged its almost funny, the bad thing is I'm concerned that this is how "average Joe American" thinks it really is, and with that, what kind of message are we sending them (the public)? I am a little interested in the watching the new show this Sunday "The Hunt", we will have to see how they portray us as hunters I guess.

I think back to when I was in High School and College . . . . and wow someone could have made a fortune just following us around with cameras 24/7. . .it would have been just as good as any of this "reality" crap on tv now for sure!! LOL

 

[nmelktrout]

I too am leery of the entire reality hunting show concept. While I believe the non-hunting channel reality shows may entice non-hunters to join the hunter-gatherer/foody movement, I worry about whether the viewers of these shows (specifically the Alaska-based shows) are only seeing hunting as a fringe activity best practiced by those who live in remote locales or are comedic rednecks. While there is too much disconnect between conservation and food on most of the mainstream television shows, these shows serve the purpose of driving the commercial aspect of hunting – which ultimately benefits the hunting community. I do not believe that they provide a benefit to the community in terms of bringing in new hunters. Conservation and foody-themed shows are bringing in new hunters and I can only hope that we will see more shows portraying this theme in the future. More hunters will keep public lands open to hunting and insure the future of hunting in general.
The shows that really worry me are the warden shows. I was recently talking to some non-hunters from California who had been watching the California wardens show (on Animal Planet I believe ?) and were absolutely disgusted by the amount of illegal activity and poaching that hunters are involved in. Their remarks which were based on what they had seen on this show were along the lines of what a gross, selfish bunch of idiots hunters must be. While I clearly distinguished hunters from poachers, it was clear that these shows give a negative portrayal of sportsmen to the non-hunting crowd. By watching these “reality” shows one would think that hunters are a bunch of law-dodging idiots who will do anything to kill an animal. Definitely not good, but I admit that I do like the Montana Wardens show as it is careful to praise those who do right and follow the regs.

-Cody

 

[jryoung]

Spot on Cody. The CA Show “Wild Justice” was a terrible formula. Nearly every segment with dialogue was a set-up/sting etc. to catch a poacher. Wardens would often mention that they were hunters and were doing their job to protect the recourse, but there was never any dialogue about the history of conservation, never any dialogue with hunters that were doing the right thing. If there ever was a scene where they showed hunters or anglers not being busted it was a montage with music which would show a clip of the wardens looking at licenses, a smile, maybe a handshake then they were done.

The only good thing the show did do was highlight illegal pot grows and the damage they do, trash left behind and danger they cause.

I guess that was the hook though, seems like they could have done more with the “protect the resource” theme and highlight groups that are helping to protect habitat.

 

[Zach]

Some of those CA wardens weren't exactly model citizens either...

 

[HSi-ESi]

I haven't seen many of those shows - a couple episodes of Alaska TLF. But in general, I would say that to do really a good job portraying hunting on film - there needs to be someone involved that really knows the story to tell (Director, producer, etc). It's a complicated scenario to have play out on film - and it's tough to do well.

I was talking with a co-worker yesterday that lives in CT. He has a son that's around 12-13 - and loves to watch Mountain Men. Apparently they did a marathon over the weekend and he was having trouble getting his son away from the TV. I'm sending him a bunch of old Bugle magazines that I've stored in the garage - to give him some good reading and another intro into hunting.

I remember as a kid (early 1980's) that many of the magazines were great read's. It seems like the main-stream magazines don't educate as well as they used to. Now it's the top 10 guns for this or that, but no real substance. I hope that the Bugle's help spur him on.

 

[1_pointer]

I haven't seen many of those shows - a couple episodes of Alaska TLF. But in general, I would say that to do really a good job portraying hunting on film - there needs to be someone involved that really knows the story to tell (Director, producer, etc). It's a complicated scenario to have play out on film - and it's tough to do well.

I was talking with a co-worker yesterday that lives in CT. He has a son that's around 12-13 - and loves to watch Mountain Men. Apparently they did a marathon over the weekend and he was having trouble getting his son away from the TV. I'm sending him a bunch of old Bugle magazines that I've stored in the garage - to give him some good reading and another intro into hunting.

I remember as a kid (early 1980's) that many of the magazines were great read's. It seems like the main-stream magazines don't educate as well as they used to. Now it's the top 10 guns for this or that, but no real substance. I hope that the Bugle's help spur him on.

I used to get into trouble for 'high-grading' my Dad's copies of North American Whitetail before he got to even glance at them when I was a kid. Reading can create quite a stir within a youngster.

 

[cantgetdrawn]

Like everything there are good things and bad related to these reality shows on mainstream cable channels. Many do however show hunting and even conservation in a neutral or even a positive manner.

The discovery channel has 4 shows of people who basically live off the land in Alaska. Granted there is some dramatization, whether they admit it or not but the basic message of the shows I believe are positive.

Alaska the Last Frontier
Yukon Men
Alaska: Bush People
Kodiak

Although I have my doubts whether the family in "Bush People" is really that unlucky given they have a camera crew following them everywhere they go, but I still find it entertaining.