Mike Wadell/ hunting shows

[Elmer]

I love hunting shows even though the peak of real hunting shows was in the 90s and they have gone way downhill since. Wadell IMO started the change when he started hunting the milk river in Hunting the country and really started drawing attention to himself more than anything.

I used to really enjoy him when i was young but he has gotten to be annoying on his shows as the years have gone by. And i dont respect anyone who does 10 years of shows by only booking outfitters that my sister could hunt and kill big deer... AND i have noticed he has only killed a few top end elite deer out of the very top end properties in the country.. He is doing something right because he has made one hell of a living so i guess he still appeals to the young/ not to serious hunter. Sorry for the rant but i guess the howling like a blood hound on the recovery and my impression that his hunting is a profession only and not a passion like alot of us have for hunting has finally struck a nerve.

RANT OVER

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

i feel the same way,i bought the primos movie and watched the mississippi hunts and bypasses the other scenes,dont care for the ranches and high fence hunting

 

[Coach]

It's just entertainment...can't take it too seriously...just like watching a movie or something...

 

[bowriter]

I hear Vince McMahan is coming out with a new show. It will be called WWH.

 

[preacherrandy]

I remember the original hunting shows that aired only on real satellite tv before dish or direct. Alan Althiser, Barry Wensel and Dan Fitzgerald (and a few others) before he went into show business. Alan and a couple of other guys sat in a pecan tree (not at the same time) in one episode limited out(one each.)

 

[Truedouble]

maybe my views aren't shared by most, but if i was to do a show all hunts would be SE and Midwest. No hunts in Tx, or out west, like on the Milk River. I think people like to relate to what they watch and 90% of deer hunters can't relate to hunting the milk river or over a corn feeder in Tx.

I also would become a lot more selective of what I shot in the Midwest. I never get why someone that has killed hundreds of bucks would shoot a 120-130" deer in the midwest.

 

[102]

maybe my views aren't shared by most, but if i was to do a show all hunts would be SE and Midwest. No hunts in Tx, or out west, like on the Milk River. I think people like to relate to what they watch and 90% of deer hunters can't relate to hunting the milk river or over a corn feeder in Tx.

I also would become a lot more selective of what I shot in the Midwest. I never get why someone that has killed hundreds of bucks would shoot a 120-130" deer in the midwest.

For me, the reason I will kill a 120-130 buck in the Mid West is simple.
I STILL just hunt PUBLIC land in the Mid West. Not private, guided, or high fence. Just DIY Public with my bow.

Even though I have been hunting the Mid West (Southern Illinois) since 1999, our group still has VERY limited sightings of 130 inch bucks. And even FEWER opportunities.

MOST of the bucks we see at 120-130 inches of antler are VERY hunter wary. For us, it is a challenge to kill one of these 3.5 year old deer.

If a 120 inch plus walks by me, I am slinging carbon!

I can't speak for other places, but EVERYWHERE we hunt, from N.C. to Il., a 130 inch buck is a GREAT buck!

 

[Fireslayer]

I remember the original hunting shows that aired only on real satellite tv before dish or direct. Alan Althiser, Barry Wensel and Dan Fitzgerald (and a few others) before he went into show business. Alan and a couple of other guys sat in a pecan tree (not at the same time) in one episode limited out(one each.)

Dan Fitzgerald's grey ghost was a classic favorite of mine. Don't make them like that anymore!

 

[BowGuy84]

my issues with wadell go way deeper than his hunting preferences/ethics...well deer hunting preferences/ethics.

 

[Elmer]

Bow guy please elaborate...

I agree with truedouble but 102 has a great point. If he could go to public land and kill these 130 or even 140 it would be remarkable. But he plays Yahtzee till the farmers or outfitters wife has breakfast fixed and proceeds to tell us how good "lindas" cooking is and really thats what keeps him coming back. THen on the afternoon hunt he kills a 135 because even though it is only the first day he just couldnt pass him up.

 

[scn]

maybe my views aren't shared by most, but if i was to do a show all hunts would be SE and Midwest. No hunts in Tx, or out west, like on the Milk River. I think people like to relate to what they watch and 90% of deer hunters can't relate to hunting the milk river or over a corn feeder in Tx.

I also would become a lot more selective of what I shot in the Midwest. I never get why someone that has killed hundreds of bucks would shoot a 120-130" deer in the midwest.

For me, the reason I will kill a 120-130 buck in the Mid West is simple.
I STILL just hunt PUBLIC land in the Mid West. Not private, guided, or high fence. Just DIY Public with my bow.

Even though I have been hunting the Mid West (Southern Illinois) since 1999, our group still has VERY limited sightings of 130 inch bucks. And even FEWER opportunities.

MOST of the bucks we see at 120-130 inches of antler are VERY hunter wary. For us, it is a challenge to kill one of these 3.5 year old deer.

If a 120 inch plus walks by me, I am slinging carbon!

I can't speak for other places, but EVERYWHERE we hunt, from N.C. to Il., a 130 inch buck is a GREAT buck!

102, I think this is the hardest concept to grasp for our hunters who haven't hunted in the midwest and take their cue from TV shows. With the possible exception of large acreage, intensively managed properties up there, there just is not a P&Y class deer to be seen every time you go in the woods, and especially not a B&C class buck. Yes, there are some there, but it is not near the numbers that most hunters imagine from the creative editing done by the hunting shows.

 

[hunter drew]

I know the place I hunt in Ohio I will shoot 130" or plus. but at the same time if I see a 4.5 year old spike in bow range I'm taken him lol. But I'm not afraid to eat tag soup either. It's hunting not killing

 

[redblood]

bowguy may be referecing the alleged affair that took place between he and his camera mans wife

 

[redblood]

btw bowguy, i posted a link to a sling for your cz on the small game forum

 

[landman]

He doesn't brother me near as a few who push God, Family, Etc
and the way they really conduct business

 

[thejetman]

I absolutely love how on the Jim Stockey show. Every time he goes to shoot anything, it goes to a cut scene where it's a rattle. Grunt. Rattle. Grunt grunt. And then he looks at the camera and points at the deer. There he is! There he is! And nine times out of ten. Its a terrible shot. If it was a bad enough shot. You can tell by the next scene. That's where the time of day has changed and the deer is alwAys laying in some opening. I'm sorry, but most of my deer head to, and die, in the thickest stuff imaginable. I cannot stand them but it they are fun to watch just for the pure entertainment factor if anything.

 

[thejetman]

I wish they made a show that helps teach people stuff. Like how to read a topo map, or how to refletch an arrow. Or even something as simple as what kind of tracks go to what kind of animal. I would be more inclined to watch with a purpose if it were more educational then throwing products at me every five minutes. Ozonics! Rage! Pse! Big buck outfitters in Texas! Thermocell! That crap drives me nuts. But, that's why they had a hunting show and I don't.

 

[BowGuy84]

bowguy may be referecing the alleged affair that took place between he and his camera mans wife

Thats a big 10 4 on what I am talking about. Lost all my respect. I'm no siant by anyones definition but I don't run around on my wife or ever messed with my boys' girls when I was single.

BTW thank you for recommendation.

 

[BowGuy84]

He doesn't brother me near as a few who push God, Family, Etc
and the way they really conduct business

I'm a believer (not sure if you are), but agree with your sentiments.

There are some things in life that God doesn't get involved in and to me hunting is one of them. Sure he created it, but he didn't help you get a shot and that is what most of the thanking right after the shot tells me.

I have no issue with public display of Christianity, but this sends the wrong message to a lot of people IMO.

 

[easy45]

The best show going right now in my opinion is on your own adventures

 

[tasaman]

Not many people know this but I collect videos. I probably have every single older videos you guys are talking about. Brand new stuff not so much. I watched one the other day and the biggest buck killed was a decent 8 point. They even killed a couple of spiker and fork horns. Just guys getting the groceries and enjoying life.

I agree with easy45. On Your Own Adventures is a great show and possibly the best out there today. They do it the way I like to do it.

 

[bowriter]

I'll just jump in real quick and explain something. The reason theys hoot 120" deer in the Midwest is because they have no more time to hunt and have to get a kill to get a show.

 

[DMD]

Some good points made here. I enjoy some hunting dvd's. I don't have satellite or cable, so I buy some DVDs. I just won't buy Waddells or some others like his. I enjoy hunting shows that tell the story about the hunt. Where the hunt lasts longer than a minute. Where they show why they are hunting where they are, they show some of the deer that they pass, they show them putting their stands up - so you feel like you are going on a hunt. Really, the killing part is the least interesting, it's all the preparation and strategy that i enjoy watching.

I don't care about hard rock music wall-to-wall, or eight scenes on the screen at once, or "bad maamaa jaama" punk talk, or people acting like fools when they kill a deer. I like hunting!

 

[Coach]

I remember the original hunting shows that aired only on real satellite tv before dish or direct. Alan Althiser, Barry Wensel and Dan Fitzgerald (and a few others) before he went into show business. Alan and a couple of other guys sat in a pecan tree (not at the same time) in one episode limited out(one each.)

Dan Fitzgerald's grey ghost was a classic favorite of mine. Don't make them like that anymore!

Swamp Bucks Bonanza! Corn Crazed Whitetails! :D :D

 

[Coach]

I'll just jump in real quick and explain something. The reason theys hoot 120" deer in the Midwest is because they have no more time to hunt and have to get a kill to get a show.

Which begs the question I think...would any of you watch a show that didn't have a kill? I would and I think many of us old farts who enjoy the story of deer camp and such would...

 

[348Winchester]

Well said Parson.

 

[BSK]

I don't watch any hunting shows anymore. Total crap and they are primarily the problem with today's hunters (have watched too many hunting shows).

 

[hunter drew]

I dig the meat eater show. If you haven't watch it, it's pretty good

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

He doesn't brother me near as a few who push God, Family, Etc
and the way they really conduct business

I'm a believer (not sure if you are), but agree with your sentiments.

There are some things in life that God doesn't get involved in and to me hunting is one of them. Sure he created it, but he didn't help you get a shot and that is what most of the thanking right after the shot tells me.

I have no issue with public display of Christianity, but this sends the wrong message to a lot of people IMO.

You better believe God grants you the opportunity at every deer you see without him you couldn't walk to the woods draw a bow or anything. I give all the glory to God for every one he blesses me with. I really appreciate the ones who do it publicly on television also.

 

[Vermin93]

I dig the meat eater show. If you haven't watch it, it's pretty good

I like the Meat Eater show, as well. I met a guy who works at The Sportman Channel and he said Steven Rinella is the real deal in terms of his love of hunting and the outdoors. I think you can see that in the show. I want to make deer heart tacos like he did on that one show.