Matt Rinella knocking it outta the park

[WapitiBob]

This made me giggle

I think I pissed him off, he hasn't been there since 2019.

"I won't post the picture WapitiBob but I circled the whole Lincoln national Forest for you."

"Thanks but I've hunted the crap out of the Lincoln."

"Well do you care to share a story of a hunt or two. You must be talking turkeys... Did you ever hunt anywhere on the west side. What's your opinion on elk there."

"I don't hunt Turkeys.
Over 1,800 views of this thread; I'm not gonna mention specifics to over 1,000 people."

"Sarcastic and unhelpful, good combo."

"The problem is you're not telling one person, and those people also don't have a problem telling others, and in a cpl years those decent spots are now passed around like Bonita, Nogal, and the ski area.
I put a friend in there last year. He was into bulls every day, all day, and never saw or heard another hunter the whole trip. He opens his mouth and that spot goes to hell in a hurry. I have no problem helping someone that does some work and has spots lined up that needs a bit of guidance or clarification but "I need a place to start" isn't gonna cut it. 30 seconds with a map will give you a place to start."

 

[338win]

 

[Wyhunter]

Im sure ill get plastered here but I dont really care.

Steve, Randy, and Cam all found a niche in a business that had a high demand of viewership. They created successful businesses from that and and made their and their families lives better for it. Isnt that the American dream?

I dont like hunting next to someone just as much as the next guy, but they tend to sell the same amount of tags as they did the year before, if not less. If you really want to point fingers, you can also point them at OnX (which I use religiously and love). They have made all of the small public parcels that only the good ol boys club knew about, and put it up for instant access to anyone. Id argue that it did more damage than any "influencer", at least with the general hunting populous. Sure, they have added more people in the field and you cant buy 2 tags anymore, but some of those people might truly love it as much as we do. Some will be D-bags too. Thats just how it goes.

I enjoy watching the hunts and insights that Steve/Randy put out there and will continue. Just another form of entertainment for me.

 

[WapitiBob]

On this years hunt we had two experiences where we were less than 100 yards from a bugling bull and as we got almost to bow range, guys started popping out of the brush. I've never seen anything like it, four hunters the first time, 5 the second. Nobody made a sound as they moved in and nobody knew the others were there. The issue was very few Elk, very few bugles, and when a bull did bugle, everybody in the area moved in assuming they were the only guy around. It's a limited unit so there weren't more hunters, just odd circumstances led to some disappointed hunters.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

Im sure ill get plastered here but I dont really care.

Steve, Randy, and Cam all found a niche in a business that had a high demand of viewership. They created successful businesses from that and and made their and their families lives better for it. Isnt that the American dream?

I dont like hunting next to someone just as much as the next guy, but they tend to sell the same amount of tags as they did the year before, if not less. If you really want to point fingers, you can also point them at OnX (which I use religiously and love). They have made all of the small public parcels that only the good ol boys club knew about, and put it up for instant access to anyone. Id argue that it did more damage than any "influencer", at least with the general hunting populous. Sure, they have added more people in the field and you cant buy 2 tags anymore, but some of those people might truly love it as much as we do. Some will be D-bags too. Thats just how it goes.

I enjoy watching the hunts and insights that Steve/Randy put out there and will continue. Just another form of entertainment for me.

I wouldn't put blame on OnX.

BLM maps have been available a long time and have the same information. If a hunter can't tell where he is on a map without a little red dot they probably shouldn't be trusted with a firearm.

 

[Wyhunter]

I wouldn't put blame on OnX.

BLM maps have been available a long time and have the same information. If a hunter can tell where he is on a map without a little red dot they probably shouldn't be trusted with a firearm.

Not arguing that BLM maps were around. How many people do you know with BLM maps vs OnX? I can tell you that I replaced all of mine and dont currently know anyone who uses them. Its about the ease of access. More people will download an app then would have driven to the local BLM office.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

Not arguing that BLM maps were around. How many people do you know with BLM maps vs OnX? I can tell you that I replaced all of mine and dont currently know anyone who uses them. Its about the ease of access. More people will download an app then would have driven to the local BLM office.

The actual ease of access did not change except for instances in which land changed hands. What did people do before OnX? If they couldn't read a map did they just drive to a forest and start asking trees if this was in fact National Forest land?

Bottom line: I don't think OnX is the reason, or a significant part of the reason Western hunting has grown so much in popularity and destroyed draw odds.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Im sure ill get plastered here but I dont really care.

Steve, Randy, and Cam all found a niche in a business that had a high demand of viewership. They created successful businesses from that and and made their and their families lives better for it. Isnt that the American dream?

I dont like hunting next to someone just as much as the next guy, but they tend to sell the same amount of tags as they did the year before, if not less. If you really want to point fingers, you can also point them at OnX (which I use religiously and love). They have made all of the small public parcels that only the good ol boys club knew about, and put it up for instant access to anyone. Id argue that it did more damage than any "influencer", at least with the general hunting populous. Sure, they have added more people in the field and you cant buy 2 tags anymore, but some of those people might truly love it as much as we do. Some will be D-bags too. Thats just how it goes.

I enjoy watching the hunts and insights that Steve/Randy put out there and will continue. Just another form of entertainment for me.

You touched on some points that I have similar opinions about.

Ultimately, the responsibility of wildlife management rests on the shoulders of state wildlife managers.

They set the number of tags/permits available. Influencer’s definitely affect the competition for tags in the drawings but if there’s more hunters than the resource can support then that’s on the managers not the influencers.

We live in a world where any public spot is easily discoverable by anyone with basic deductive skills and online resources.

 

[Hawk Tuah]

This discussion is endless.

I think it is possible to "blame" certain practices, individuals and social media on the explosion of interest in Western hunting...but why? It doesn't matter at this point.

The cat is out of the bag. This is what we have. It is better to figure out how to deal with it than to figure out how to make the public pull to Western hunting somehow stop.

This is like having a conversation with an American liberal who "wants the government to take away all guns." Depending on who you ask, there may be like 500,000,000 guns in the US. The cat is out of the bag. No one is going to "take away all guns." Yet, this is their rallying cry.

This is a similar situation. If all the influencers went away, HT and RS and MM all shut down, draw odds and access would still be getting worse...but the more important fact is that they aren't going away. No one is shutting anything down. Cam isn't one day going to stop cashing checks from sponsors and fade into obscurity. Meateater isn't going to stop what is making them money.

So the best we can do to them is say this:

 

[rogerthat]

Im sure ill get plastered here but I dont really care.

Steve, Randy, and Cam all found a niche in a business that had a high demand of viewership. They created successful businesses from that and and made their and their families lives better for it. Isnt that the American dream?

I dont like hunting next to someone just as much as the next guy, but they tend to sell the same amount of tags as they did the year before, if not less. If you really want to point fingers, you can also point them at OnX (which I use religiously and love). They have made all of the small public parcels that only the good ol boys club knew about, and put it up for instant access to anyone. Id argue that it did more damage than any "influencer", at least with the general hunting populous. Sure, they have added more people in the field and you cant buy 2 tags anymore, but some of those people might truly love it as much as we do. Some will be D-bags too. Thats just how it goes.

I enjoy watching the hunts and insights that Steve/Randy put out there and will continue. Just another form of entertainment for me.

You can make a business out of about anything. But should you? You could probably quit your job if you and your family got on OnlyFans with the right content, right? Why don’t you? Something’s should be put before money. To me these people have put themselves(money) before the public land and wildlife resource. Completely disrespectful to the resource. Therefore I have no respect for them nor do they deserve any.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Not defending Cameltoe here, but landowner tags and a farm hunt (or even private land hunt in many cases) are not the same thing.

Yes and no. A 30/40/50k acre ranch in Utah, with bulls who only get pestered by a handful of fellas their entire life is kind of canned… or should I call it cammed. Lots of those bulls never leave the ranch. The guides name them and inventory them like whitetails… yes in theory they can leave the ranch. The problem is Joe and Cammy and putting out their hunts like ‘yeah this is how it is if you run 120 miles a week and work hard’ When in reality you are stuck in a blowdown field on some chit otc unit in Co where you have only heard Doug Flutie and seen 2 week old sign

 

[Hnthrdr]

He hunted for decades on public land, now has enough money to hunt private or buy lo tags. I'd do the same thing.

It’s a lot of smoke and mirrors, first time I saw that clown like circa 2015, he is on a guided hunt in Co. being led around like a child… guide was a solid elk hunter doing all the calling all the tracking everything , Cam is asking questions like “is that a good bull” on a 240 raghorn 5 point… really made me question the cammy is an amazing hunter narrative…

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Yeah I’ve been trying to figure out how to shoehorn that into this conversation for the last 15 min lol

First things first...

 

[Hnthrdr]

Back when public land wasn’t pressured like it is now?

I don’t think many people here have an issue with him deciding to go completely guided on private ranches. I know I don’t. If thats what he wants to do, he can knock himself out. But the irony of him making money off the content that he produces off those hunts is hilarious. The fact that he made that choice and then calls the rest of us socialists… how out of touch can he be?

Has a real “let them eat cake” ring to it right… probably a very unpopular opinion here, but I’ll shoot. If you have to have a guide to kill animals you aren’t hunting you are just shooting and killing.

 

[Brad]

I agree with some of your points. Having tasteful pictures of dead animals is probably the most important thing. Non hunters will scroll past it with no issues. But when the tongue is hanging out and it's laying in a pool of its own blood, that's when non hunters think "what the hell".

Everything is monetized these days. Almost any content you put on YouTube can be monetized. But lots of hunting videos are not monetized. I rarely use Instagram, but when I do, it's to consume hunting content. I love seeing pics of my friends deer and other critters. You only see content from people you follow. If someone doesn't want to see that kind of stuff, then they don't follow said person.

Less than 4% of the US population are hunters. Cut that number in half or even into 3rds to create these subcategories of hunters who don't like the way someone else hunts. Then people proceed to create online drama about it is not a good look for hunters.

Instead of hunt quietly, just disagree quietly, because right now, people are making it look like hunters don't even like hunters.

Lastly, hunttalk is without a doubt considered social media. Yes, it is mostly hunters. But most of the people who are consuming hunting content via social media are hunters. There's no screening process. Anyone can join, anyone can follow.

rj, thanks for taking the time to respond.

"Everything is monetized these days" - yes it sadly is. But that doesn't mean I need to participate in it. Or at least, to the best of my ability. The monetization and commodification of everything is disgusting. I'm glad Matt R is giving a voice to those of us who are in the silent majority.

"People are making it look like hunters don't even like hunters." The hunting community is not a monolith. There are plenty of hunters whose approach I do not respect (like this Cam guy). I'm not going to compromise my values by keeping silent about a guy monetizing and commodifying killing animals. He's hurting the face of hunting, not me by disagreeing with him.

Hunting in America is not going away because only 2, 3, or 4% of Americans participate. But hunters should be at the vanguard of presenting the respectful and humane taking of a life, rather than the braggadocios, B&C fueled, profit driven model practiced by so many. As one friend said to me, "Boone And Crockett would serve the hunting community better if it took the name of the hunters off the lists, and made it just about the animal."

A guy who walks across the back forty, climbs a treestand, and bags a whitetail for his family is quantitatively different form a a self-promotional douche-bag on Instagram. Sometimes it's not as black and white as that example, but I'd liken it to the guy who said, "I don't know what pornography is, but I know it when I see it."

 

[KingOfTagSoup]

Ok now that's out of the way. Anywho, in the interest of offering my uninvited two cents I'll offer these nuggets of wisdom....or lunacy depending on your perspective .
1. On Matt Rinella: I agree with him on a lot of things such as the harm done by douchy "influencers", long range hunting (don't even me started on that one...or do...if you want me to really stir the pot) etc. However, he has a habit of falling into the "non residents are the world's greatest evil, informational content is evil" pessimist griping which is quite honestly just not accurate nor does it solve anything.

2. On Cam Hanes: If you're is going to go insane with "hunting fitness, keep hammering, yada yada," whatever dude, you do you, but I think you're being a weeee bit over the top. HOWEVER, when your ego (refusing to carry a firearm) causes you to place other people in a dangerous situation (guide and camera guys, wounded grizzly), I gots problems with that. You're prepared to get eaten? Great, if the bear charges you, that's on you. But if the bear charges me with the camera? AND YOU'RE NOT EQUIPPED TO SAVE ME? That's not ok.

3. On @BigFin Randy Newberg: Honestly I think he's becoming one of the most important voices we have as conservationists and hunters. He's right in that we need to stop in fighting and unite to confront the real threats to our way of life. I don't consume much hunting media anymore either but I strongly value how he is constantly sharing a conservation message. And, I think he's right to have a positive optimistic outlook. The scarcity mindset will solve nothing. We need think "abundance" in order to develop real solutions.


Just my personal musings

 

[Ought Six]

If you “need” to share your hunting experiences with strangers, it’s time to look in the mirror and ask “why do I really hunt?”

#huntingego

We’re all glad you don’t post anything because you’d put the rest of us and the influencers to shame!

 

[gouch]

I'm glad I don't do Instagerm, yourtub or faceplant. All that hate and discontent seems like it would be just way too taxing on my simple little life.

 

[Ought Six]

Hunting in America is not going away because only 2, 3, or 4% of Americans participate. But hunters should be at the vanguard of presenting the respectful and humane taking of a life, rather than the braggadocios, B&C fueled, profit driven model practiced by so many. As one friend said to me, "Boone And Crockett would serve the hunting community better if it took the name of the hunters off the lists, and made it just about the animal."

I totally agree, in fact I think someone talked about that on Matt’s podcast, or maybe it was Matt, that B&C would serve people better by removing hunter’s names. Be a pretty cool change on their part. They, too, are a business though and the hunter’s names are what bring them money…

 

[brocksw]

Has a real “let them eat cake” ring to it right… probably a very unpopular opinion here, but I’ll shoot. If you have to have a guide to kill animals you aren’t hunting you are just shooting and killing.

I dunno if I’d go that far. I mean, lots of variables to consider, just depends on the hunter, the guide, the species and location, and the amount of money involved. I know some guys that have gone on guided hunts and had real good experiences and still worked real hard to be successful. There’s lots of valid reasons a person may choose to use an outfitter, and I have 0 problems with that.

And I don’t want to blanket all guides under this idea that they’re all handing everything to folks on a silver platter. Because while that does happen, that’s most certainly not true in every case. Guides can be a hardworking bunch, making an honest living, and no doubt love chasing critters as much as anyone else. I couldn’t be a guide, don’t have the patience for other people and I won’t put up with babysitting on a hunt.

But let’s play this out. Let’s say Hanes does 3 of those outfitters he’s known to use in a fall. That’s spending around 60k a year just in tags and outfitter costs. Not counting travel or taxi costs, and he gets his gear for free. Those hunts, directly or indirectly are being paid for by his followers. That could be either through sponsorships, social media checks, merch sales, etc.

Without a doubt, most of those followers are not participating in those same high end private ranch hunts. It’s not even an option and never will be. But he goes on those hunts, then turns around and turns them into content, which generate more revenue for him and his sponsors. Then he talks about promoting hunting, creating more hunters and being an ambassador for hunting. But the very fact that he’s hunting exclusive high end ranches, means he doesn’t even get impacted by the “promoting” he’s doing. He claims to hunt for meat, yet pays 60k a year for the biggest elk antlers in the country. He is certainly not showing up and testifying in front of legislatures to advocate for the average Joes hunting opportunities. It’s all just elitist self promotion.

I have no doubt Hanes is in phenomenal shape, and would probably be successful if he hunted public like many of us. But to pretend that he’s some badass hunter and ambassador for every hunter because he shows up to a 20k ultra premium private ranch, with an outfitter who already knows where all the bulls are, has them named and scored, shoots a bull who’s barely even seen a human that fall, then goes to the next ranch and does the same thing all over again? No, Cammy. I can’t relate to that at all. He isn’t doing a damn thing to advocate for the wild places or wildlife I care about. In fact, he’s calling me a socialist for doing the advocating. He might love elk hunting, but it’s all about $, and he’s killing for content. He doesn’t represent me or advocate for hunting in a way that benefits me or anyone like me.

Did he work hard to get where he’s at? I’m sure he did. And if hunting high end ranches was his dream and his idea of making it to the top, well then good for him. But don’t get it twisted, Cammy, You don’t represent me. I’ll take Randy over Hanes every effin day of the week, without hesitation.