Hunting on TV: Good or Bad?

On the Trail with Mark Kayser

POSTED BY: Mark Kayser
June 23, 2010

The new show I've been working on for the past several months is about to launch on the Pursuit channel this weekend. If you have nothing going on Sunday evening, tune in 8 p.m. (Eastern). It's also got me thinking again about hunting on television and what was once entertainment, has somehow turned into a cult following. I'm personally not worried about groupies showing up at my Wyoming homestead. I also haven't been shopping for a bus, a graphic designer or an agent to create an "American Idol" image for my future marketing campaign. I do need a haircut though.at least that's what my wife keeps telling me.

Nope, you get the same old Mark. My foundation has been and will continue to be solid strategies presented in a fast-paced format. Yes, I'll be hunting in all types of weather and in a variety of Western and Midwestern terrains so be ready for more crawling, climbing and without question, patient waiting.

Is this celebrity fad causing a black eye on the hunting community? You tell me. Personally I believe any enthusiasm we can bring to the sport is a good thing. If young hunters look up to some of the more popular TV personalities and tune in; can you call that a black eye? If watching an episode of Michel Waddell's "Bone Collector" squad inspires a young or old hunter to pick up a bow, or firearm again, is that a bad thing?

I believe the main issue we need to moderate is the over-the-top reactions after the kill. Hunting creates an adrenaline high that is hard to match, especially after a successful hunt. How that's presented on TV requires careful consideration. Although it's fine to show enthusiasm and extreme satisfaction, there also is a humbling aspect to the hunt from enduring extreme conditions to the actual taking of a life.

Overall, I believe that hunting on TV has brought more awareness to our tradition in a modern format. It shows that hunting is fun, brings meat to the table and offers social interaction in a hunting camp atmosphere. And really, wouldn't you rather watch hunting on TV than some left-leaning sitcom on primetime?

Look over there! It's another groupie. My bad. It's just my neighbor fixing fence.

Comments

By hunt247 Thursday, June 24, 2010 3:00 PM

Hay Mark, I enjoy watching your hunting & reading your storys. I think we have a few things in comon. I like to crawl ,climb & get rihgt in the midel of the action. My last two P&Y dear have been with in 10 yards. I hunt Montana all the time. My little town of Shehperd puts me in the midle of the state & gives me many options. Maybe we will cross trails some day & have a camp fire. Good hunting. Don Allen

By little casino Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:29 AM

Although I agree with the positives of the article regarding all of the hunting shows on TV there are a few negatives that I believe are changing the sport from a great family pastime to a big money sport. Living in the middle of the Milk River valley in Northeastern Montana I have witnessed in my relatively short twenty years of hunting a significant amount of land that was once open to public hunting being reserved now to outfitters and out of state clients who can afford to either lease the land or pay the outrageous trespass fees. I will admit that I am very fortunate to live in a part of the country where there are millions of acres of public land and hunting opportunities are nearly endless it is still a little dissappointing to not be able to hunt places you have hunted for generations just because a trophy whitetail head can be worth thousands of dollars. Not blaming hunting shows for this completely but I do believe that shows like Monster of the Milk from Team Realtree defineatly contribute.

By cmarhelski Wednesday, June 30, 2010 5:44 AM

Although I enjoy watching some hunting shows, I dont watch them as often as I used to. It appears they are becoming less informative and more about the person or so called hunting celebrity of the show. I have been to outdoor shows and have talked to some the so called professionals and I just dont like their attitude. I have been hunting all my life and spend a great deal of time outdoors and I think i can hunt with the best of them. I do like your show and format, The others will go unmentioned on here, Thanks.

Chuck
Pennsylvania

By mthomas1 Thursday, July 15, 2010 11:48 AM

I feel if hunting is to be viewed better, I think we need to show the economical benefits that help the wildlifec and the great outdoors. I know I hunt for several reasons but the greatest feeling I get is when I change anti-hunters views about hunters by informing them about what we hunters do for wildlife management and how much of the funding for wildlife/outdoor preservation comes from hunters. The response is often "Wow, really I did not know that." I think TV should not only show the hunt but maybe in each show we could demonstrate the positive outcomes such as land reclaimation for wildlife and the other benefits from the hunting economy.

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