What should we hunt and film?

[Big Fin]

Like to see some new hunts with easy tags.Something like aoudad,couse deer,blacktails.An upland game hunt mixed with a mt deer hunt would be cool too.And of course you'd have to use Gunnr the dog on that hunt.A fly in ak moose or caribou trip would be different as well.I started watching your show because it was a common man hunting show.Something anyone could do with a lttle research.Those hard to draw hunts aren't of any interest to me.I'll never draw a breaks sheep tag or gila elk tag or most Arizona elk tags.I know the industry is about horn porn,but I still remember your SD mule deer hunt with a bow where you were freezing and scored on a small buck but you were super excited.Thats everyday hunting to me.Another I remember well was a co muley hunt in either your 1st or 2nd season on air.I still watch every chance I get but it seems like the show is getting away from that a little.Just want to see shows anyone has a reasonable chance of doing or getting a tag for and forget the size of the antlers.It has to be a tough thing to decide what hunts to line up for a year ,but I'd like to see some new animals added to the mix

+1. The Kansas hunt a while back was one of my favorites. I do appreciate the helicopter hunting and premium tags in great trophy areas that have taken years to draw but some more basic hunts like OTC elk in Colorado are a great challenge that can be done by just about anyone.

I completely understand what you are stating. You're gonna see plenty of those. And, we have shown a lot of those in past years.

The season that just aired, we did NV archery mule deer on a tag that ended with left overs. We did CO elk as an OTC hunt. We did CO mule deer that took 1 point to draw. We did MT deer on a general tag. Our WY antelope hunt was drawn with 1 point. Even the AZ elk hunt was pretty easy to draw, given it was a guarantee with 5 points; not a lot when you are talking about AZ elk. The bear hunt we did in AK had left over tags, even though it is supposedly a draw area. Over half our hunts are on tags that were left over, general tags, or took only one point.

The season we are filming this year will be split equally.

1. MT general season elk will come this month. They are still selling tags for that hunt today, if someone wanted to go.
   
2. CO elk next month will be OTC.
   
3. CO mule deer next month is a unit that can be drawn with 1 point.
   
4. NV mule deer this year was a tag picked up in the left over draw.
   
5. We will probably do some wolf hunting, a hunt where you can get 5 tags, OTC.

I understand the notion some want to see these hunts as something more in like that they cand do.

As soon as we start leaning heavy on those hunts and maybe get some shutouts or don't shoot big animals, I start getting many emails telling me that other shows shot a bull/buck that scored XXX inches.

The network forwarded me an email the other day where a guy thought I should be taken off the air, as twice he has watched episodes where we did not kill anything. Not that I am going to change who I am or what I do to please some guy conditioned to the horn porn world of outdoor TV. But, there needs to be a mix.

I can assure that other shows only occassionally, very seldom, do ANY western hunts on general/OTC tags, unless they have access to exclusive private places that they can hunt with these general/OTC tags. I've never seen another show do a KS whitetail hunt on a Walk-in area, or a whitetail hunt on NF in eastern MT. I've never seen another show do an OTC CO elk hunt and do it self-guided on public land. We've done three and are about to do our fourth.

Hard to please all the viewers, so we do what we think is a good mix that reflects what the average hunter can attain, whether they want to participate in elaborate point schemes, or just hunt general tags.

To reach that balance, we usually split it close to equal on easy to draw or OTC/general hunts, and limited tag hunts. Hope that helps explain how we end up with what we do, based on interest, schedules, tags drawns, etc.

 

[wingman1]

I completely understand what you are stating. You're gonna see plenty of those. And, we have shown a lot of those in past years.

The season that just aired, we did NV archery mule deer on a tag that ended with left overs. We did CO elk as an OTC hunt. We did CO mule deer that took 1 point to draw. We did MT deer on a general tag. Our WY antelope hunt was drawn with 1 point. Even the AZ elk hunt was pretty easy to draw, given it was a guarantee with 5 points; not a lot when you are talking about AZ elk. The bear hunt we did in AK had left over tags, even though it is supposedly a draw area. Over half our hunts are on tags that were left over, general tags, or took only one point.

The season we are filming this year will be split equally.

1. MT general season elk will come this month. They are still selling tags for that hunt today, if someone wanted to go.
   
2. CO elk next month will be OTC.
   
3. CO mule deer next month is a unit that can be drawn with 1 point.
   
4. NV mule deer this year was a tag picked up in the left over draw.
   
5. We will probably do some wolf hunting, a hunt where you can get 5 tags, OTC.

I understand the notion some want to see these hunts as something more in like that they cand do.

As soon as we start leaning heavy on those hunts and maybe get some shutouts or don't shoot big animals, I start getting many emails telling me that other shows shot a bull/buck that scored XXX inches.

The network forwarded me an email the other day where a guy thought I should be taken off the air, as twice he has watched episodes where we did not kill anything. Not that I am going to change who I am or what I do to please some guy conditioned to the horn porn world of outdoor TV. But, there needs to be a mix.

I can assure that other shows only occassionally, very seldom, do ANY western hunts on general/OTC tags, unless they have access to exclusive private places that they can hunt with these general/OTC tags. I've never seen another show do a KS whitetail hunt on a Walk-in area, or a whitetail hunt on NF in eastern MT. I've never seen another show do an OTC CO elk hunt and do it self-guided on public land. We've done three and are about to do our fourth.

Hard to please all the viewers, so we do what we think is a good mix that reflects what the average hunter can attain, whether they want to participate in elaborate point schemes, or just hunt general tags.

To reach that balance, we usually split it close to equal on easy to draw or OTC/general hunts, and limited tag hunts. Hope that helps explain how we end up with what we do, based on interest, schedules, tags drawns, etc.

I can't imagine even taking one step in your shoes...How do you do it?
However you do it, you do it well. Keep on trucking Randy. Good luck on your next hunt!!

 

[WapitiBob]

I was going to post commenting on hunts that a guy just starting to watch the show will never draw or hunts in another country but you covered it. DIY and OYA guys are trying to pay the mtg, they're not going to Africa.

 

[bigskyblueman]

I lived and hunted in Kansas for 26 years, much of it in the Flint Hills and Smoky Hills, and I still do with my lifetime hunting licence, even though I live in Montana. That Kansas Walk-in episode was one of my favorites because that is what the locals do . No one else on network television would have found and hunted that spot. I hope to see another episode like it.

 

[Kansas200]

Fin,

First off thanks for adding in the Long sleeve on my order of Videos and vest. I think I spent 8 straight hours watching the first two seasons.

My favorite thing to do in Kansas is WIHA. But what about Antelope in Kansas?
I also love the what I call the Kansas triple crown
Mule Deer or Whitetail Archery and Pheasant Hunt

White tail hunt from stands in the morning. Pheasant hunt Mid Day which generally produces a mid-day spot and stalk on giant Mule deer. Turkeys often get shot as well. Two years ago I took my neighbor on a hunt he shot 4 roosters a white tail doe missed a giant Muley and then scored with this buck all on WIHA.

 

[Kansas200]

Notice I was still in my Pheasant attire ready to chase birds.

 

[AkBearHunter]

How about doing a either a float hunt for caribou or moose in Alaska? You can get an OTC tag fo either species depending on what area you float. Don't need a guide for those hunts either.

 

[DWarcher]

How about a wilderness Blacktail hunt in CA?

 

[BigRack]

I completely understand what you are stating. You're gonna see plenty of those. And, we have shown a lot of those in past years.

The season that just aired, we did NV archery mule deer on a tag that ended with left overs. We did CO elk as an OTC hunt. We did CO mule deer that took 1 point to draw. We did MT deer on a general tag. Our WY antelope hunt was drawn with 1 point. Even the AZ elk hunt was pretty easy to draw, given it was a guarantee with 5 points; not a lot when you are talking about AZ elk. The bear hunt we did in AK had left over tags, even though it is supposedly a draw area. Over half our hunts are on tags that were left over, general tags, or took only one point.

The season we are filming this year will be split equally.

1. MT general season elk will come this month. They are still selling tags for that hunt today, if someone wanted to go.
   
2. CO elk next month will be OTC.
   
3. CO mule deer next month is a unit that can be drawn with 1 point.
   
4. NV mule deer this year was a tag picked up in the left over draw.
   
5. We will probably do some wolf hunting, a hunt where you can get 5 tags, OTC.

I understand the notion some want to see these hunts as something more in like that they cand do.

As soon as we start leaning heavy on those hunts and maybe get some shutouts or don't shoot big animals, I start getting many emails telling me that other shows shot a bull/buck that scored XXX inches.

The network forwarded me an email the other day where a guy thought I should be taken off the air, as twice he has watched episodes where we did not kill anything. Not that I am going to change who I am or what I do to please some guy conditioned to the horn porn world of outdoor TV. But, there needs to be a mix.

I can assure that other shows only occassionally, very seldom, do ANY western hunts on general/OTC tags, unless they have access to exclusive private places that they can hunt with these general/OTC tags. I've never seen another show do a KS whitetail hunt on a Walk-in area, or a whitetail hunt on NF in eastern MT. I've never seen another show do an OTC CO elk hunt and do it self-guided on public land. We've done three and are about to do our fourth.

Hard to please all the viewers, so we do what we think is a good mix that reflects what the average hunter can attain, whether they want to participate in elaborate point schemes, or just hunt general tags.

To reach that balance, we usually split it close to equal on easy to draw or OTC/general hunts, and limited tag hunts. Hope that helps explain how we end up with what we do, based on interest, schedules, tags drawns, etc.

I assume the network gets more emails saying they like your show the way it is. They will get one from me saying that.

 

[Southwind]

"network forwarded me an email the other day where a guy thought I should be taken off the air, as twice he has watched episodes where we did not kill anything. Not that I am going to change who I am or what I do to please some guy conditioned to the horn porn world of outdoor TV. But, there needs to be a mix."


Wow, never occurred to me because I love watching real hunting vs. "outdoor" programming where the host are working overtime trying to be funny with a few seconds of a kill shot of a buck the outfitter had three years of pics and put them in the stand over his favorite dinner spot.

I don't like programming that is all about being able to pay enough money to be set in front of a "book" animal but really appreciate a program like yours that reflects how I have to do it, plan it, and execute it win, lose or draw.

Yours is the only hunting program I record.

 

[hk_willow]

The hunt is not solely about the kill and that is what I appreciate about your style. Ratings, will come through a following, which is obvious you have here with this forum. Film wild places and I'll be happy, knowing that my own boot prints may someday be those fresh tracks.

 

[Big Fin]

The hunt is not solely about the kill and that is what I appreciate about your style. Ratings, will come through a following, which is obvious you have here with this forum. Film wild places and I'll be happy, knowing that my own boot prints may someday be those fresh tracks.

Agreed, completely, which is why we changed the show format to be more about a season of hunts, to look less like the shows that are one episode after another about kill after kill after kill.

Glad you like it.

network forwarded me an email the other day where a guy thought I should be taken off the air, as twice he has watched episodes where we did not kill anything. Not that I am going to change who I am or what I do to please some guy conditioned to the horn porn world of outdoor TV. But, there needs to be a mix.

Wow, never occurred to me because I love watching real hunting vs. "outdoor" programming where the host are working overtime trying to be funny with a few seconds of a kill shot of a buck the outfitter had three years of pics and put them in the stand over his favorite dinner spot.

I don't like programming that is all about being able to pay enough money to be set in front of a "book" animal but really appreciate a program like yours that reflects how I have to do it, plan it, and execute it win, lose or draw.

Yours is the only hunting program I record.

Glad to hear that.

You would be surprised at what ad agencies thinks makes for good hunting TV. I will not go into the details, but ad agencies and their recommendations of what should be sponsored is a large part of what you see, or in some cases, what you don't see, on outdoor TV.

Hope we continue to produce stories that are worth your time to watch them.

I assume the network gets more emails saying they like your show the way it is. They will get one from me saying that.

Fortunately, that is the case. This year, they have had the one negative, which was the guy who was PO'd because twice he has watched when we did not kill anything. Other than that, our episodes usually solicit all positive comments.

And if you want to help us, leaving positive comments at this link is a big help >>>------>Sportsman Channel Contact Page.

How about a wilderness Blacktail hunt in CA?

Would love to, but cannot get a filming permit in the Wilderness Areas of CA, and a few other states. I know you may have seen episodes filmed in Wilderness Areas of CA, MT, ID, WY, and CO, but I can assure you that if you did, those were not filmed with the appropriate filming permits.

Yet, I can get them in Wilderness Areas of NV, AZ, and NM. Go figure.

How about doing a either a float hunt for caribou or moose in Alaska? You can get an OTC tag of either species depending on what area you float. Don't need a guide for those hunts either.

Been to AK moose hunting a few times. Will be going again next year. Still need to do the Caribou gig. My family who lives there is always asking me to join them, but I am always too busy with the show. Plus, hunting with my family and all their gear would solve a ton of logistics issues and would hardly fit our "If we can do it, you can do it" approach to what you see on our show.

I just need to find time to go do the caribou hunt. It is high on my list, along with shooting a lot of "Partridge" (my Dad's term or any bird that would sit long enough for him to ground pound it).

Thanks for all the interest in what we film and all the comments of ideas you would like to see.

 

[Dave N]

Keep on doing things just the way you are. I don't get to watch the show very often but really enjoy it when I do. I've been able to do a few on-my-own hunts with various success and will ALWAYS have the desire to do more. Having spent 2 weeks in Alaska this spring on a vacation with the wife I've been itching to return for a hunting trip. Guess I'll have to save my nickles and work on my conditioning a bit more if that would ever become a reality. I'm very envious of you being able to do this stuff and make a living from it! Just ONE trip a year would be a dream for most of us, and you do it multiple times. I would really need a bigger freezer if I was in your shoes. Thanks for keeping things within reach for us little guys.

 

[jryoung]

Would love to, but cannot get a filming permit in the Wilderness Areas of CA, and a few other states. I know you may have seen episodes filmed in Wilderness Areas of CA, MT, ID, WY, and CO, but I can assure you that if you did, those were not filmed with the appropriate filming permits.

Yet, I can get them in Wilderness Areas of NV, AZ, and NM. Go figure.

Any thought to the reasoning on this? Is it an inconsistent application of the rules or is the permit left to the decision of a state/regional director type person? Is it generally easier to get a permit from the Interior or Agriculture Department?

A winter/spring hog hunt on CA BLM land or Ft Hunter Liggett could be interesting. First it's out of your normal filming cycle and a Public Land pig in CA is probably one of the toughest hunts in the Nation to be successful on.

 

[shoots-straight]

I would like to see a DIY walrus hunt. That would be cool.

 

[jryoung]

DIY seal clubbing.

 

[GSP4EVER]

I love the show. Both the successful hunts and the unsuccessful. I think a mountain lion hunt would be cool. This show has me researching for my own DIY hunt in a western state. My first will be for elk.

 

[1_pointer]

I've only watched a few episodes (I'm too cheap to pay the upcharge for the Channel, but will eventually get the DVDs) so if I'm off base please feel free to spank me and make me stand the in the corner. Which is what I've been getting to do for a bit over a week with a 3yo.... What I'd like to see is some 'add ons' to the big game tags you hunt. Upland birds, especially sage grouse, when the season/locale coincides with pronghorns. Blues/ruffed in addition to a muley hunt. Pheasants after a whitetail...etc. Many folks that watch this show will block off a period of time to fill those big game tags. If they are successful, show them how much other variety there is out there other than big game that a guy can DIY on. FWIW.

PS- I may be a few into my cups...

 

[Big Fin]

I love the show. Both the successful hunts and the unsuccessful. I think a mountain lion hunt would be cool. This show has me researching for my own DIY hunt in a western state. My first will be for elk.

Lion hunting would be fun, but probably won't see it on our show, as it is not something the average guy can do, unless he has hounds or has friends with hounds. If we do one, it will be a spot and stalk (yeah right) or calling hunt.

I've only watched a few episodes (I'm too cheap to pay the upcharge for the Channel, but will eventually get the DVDs) so if I'm off base please feel free to spank me and make me stand the in the corner. Which is what I've been getting to do for a bit over a week with a 3yo.... What I'd like to see is some 'add ons' to the big game tags you hunt. Upland birds, especially sage grouse, when the season/locale coincides with pronghorns. Blues/ruffed in addition to a muley hunt. Pheasants after a whitetail...etc. Many folks that watch this show will block off a period of time to fill those big game tags. If they are successful, show them how much other variety there is out there other than big game that a guy can DIY on. FWIW.

PS- I may be a few into my cups...

I agree about the array of other opportunities that exist in addition to the big game hunts that people might go on. I am always thumping grouse with my bow while elk hunting. In MT, I am often combining a pheasant or fowl hunt with deer/antelope. But, the reason we don't show that, and why most other shows don't show it, is the difficulty of trying to keep a connected storyline in the 30 minute episodes that are only 22 minutes of allowed content.

Adding other sidebars and such is a good way to get the viewer to change channels. Additionally, the only thing that has lower ratings than fresh water fishing shows are bird and waterfowl shows. I know some may love that, but networks and sponsors see the ratings and they are not keen on birds and fish. But for whatever reason, the audience likes big game, especially western big game.

Sorry for such a long answer to the comment.

 

[1_pointer]

Thanks for that explanation. Many 'hunting loonies' would probably appreciate the other game, but I can see where the majority don't. Not too many people 'dream' of a sluiced blue grouse hunt. Similarly, you have to do what pays the bills. The ratings for fishing shows is probably why you see some of the classic (at least to me) fishing show hosts now toting rifles and bows like Hank Parker and Babe Winkleman. I'm guessing ratings = $$$.