As most of you know, Randy invited me to tag along while they filmed his Wyoming pronghorn hunt this last weekend. Being an antelope junkie, I wasn't about the chance for one more hunt this year, and I also looked forward to seeing what goes into the production of an episode of OYOA. Let me tell you, it was an eye-opening experience. I thought I would pass along some of the things I learned this week.
1. The safety of everyone involved in the production, the ethics of fair chase hunting, and the proper retrieval and care of the meat are the three most important things to Randy.
2. The cameramen provided by the production company are the best in the business. They are the most professional, hard-working, and fun to be around guys you will find.
3. An incredible amount of hard work and patience goes into filming a hunting show of this quality. In order to get absolutely the best quality video, sometimes the biggest animals seen are not harvested.
4. Many very neat features are planned for the OYOA website which will further assist those who are planning an On Your Own hunt. Some may be unveiled as early as December.
5. A majority of potential sponsors still do not believe that this type of hunting show is any different than those showing guided hunting on private property, and do not believe that the average hunter cares about this distinction.
6. This quality of TV is expensive to produce and distribute. I believe that if sponsors don't hear that this type of programming is in demand, Randy will most likely pull the plug in a few years, as any business person would do.
Those who have spent very much time watching outdoor programing on the Outdoor Channel or Versus know that there are dozens of sponsors in the industry who are paying to air the hundreds of hunting shows currently being produced. If you go to the Partners page of this website, you see eleven companies who have stepped up to support the On Your Own hunting idea.
If you believe that the story of the OYO hunter is one that is worth telling, I encourage you to do two things. One, let the Outdoor Channel and those companies who are currently supporting the show know that you appreciate them stepping up and taking a risk with this new concept in hunting television. Two, if you see that your favorite hunting gear company, gun or bow manufacturer, or hunting clothing company is not currently sponsoring OYOA, email them and let them know that you would like to see them do more to promote the idea of On Your Own hunting. Unless they are made aware that there is a difference between this show and just about every other show out there, OYOA will be just another good idea that fades into history due to apathy.
Randy did not ask me to post this, and in fact does not know that I am doing it. I just got so frustrated this weekend hearing story after story about potential sponsors who just will not step up because they see little difference between this show and all the others out there. After seeing the hard work that goes into producing a quality episode about something as simple as a two day antelope hunt, I would like to see those working behind the scenes to bring us this neat new concept at least get a chance to make an impression.
1. The safety of everyone involved in the production, the ethics of fair chase hunting, and the proper retrieval and care of the meat are the three most important things to Randy.
2. The cameramen provided by the production company are the best in the business. They are the most professional, hard-working, and fun to be around guys you will find.
3. An incredible amount of hard work and patience goes into filming a hunting show of this quality. In order to get absolutely the best quality video, sometimes the biggest animals seen are not harvested.
4. Many very neat features are planned for the OYOA website which will further assist those who are planning an On Your Own hunt. Some may be unveiled as early as December.
5. A majority of potential sponsors still do not believe that this type of hunting show is any different than those showing guided hunting on private property, and do not believe that the average hunter cares about this distinction.
6. This quality of TV is expensive to produce and distribute. I believe that if sponsors don't hear that this type of programming is in demand, Randy will most likely pull the plug in a few years, as any business person would do.
Those who have spent very much time watching outdoor programing on the Outdoor Channel or Versus know that there are dozens of sponsors in the industry who are paying to air the hundreds of hunting shows currently being produced. If you go to the Partners page of this website, you see eleven companies who have stepped up to support the On Your Own hunting idea.
If you believe that the story of the OYO hunter is one that is worth telling, I encourage you to do two things. One, let the Outdoor Channel and those companies who are currently supporting the show know that you appreciate them stepping up and taking a risk with this new concept in hunting television. Two, if you see that your favorite hunting gear company, gun or bow manufacturer, or hunting clothing company is not currently sponsoring OYOA, email them and let them know that you would like to see them do more to promote the idea of On Your Own hunting. Unless they are made aware that there is a difference between this show and just about every other show out there, OYOA will be just another good idea that fades into history due to apathy.
Randy did not ask me to post this, and in fact does not know that I am doing it. I just got so frustrated this weekend hearing story after story about potential sponsors who just will not step up because they see little difference between this show and all the others out there. After seeing the hard work that goes into producing a quality episode about something as simple as a two day antelope hunt, I would like to see those working behind the scenes to bring us this neat new concept at least get a chance to make an impression.
