I have said it before and I'm not afraid to say it again: The majority (not all, but most) of the hunting shows on The Outdoor Channel today have adopted the professional wrestling -- WWE, TNA, NWA, etc. -- mentality. They show a ton of T-N-A (and you all know what I am talking about), a whole bunch of product endorsement and a little hunting footage. That is pretty sad if you ask me. I, mean, is that not backwards? Shouldn't it be a ton of hunting footage, a little product endorsement and leave the T-N-A on the cutting room floor? I thought it was The Outdoor Channel, not The Spice Channel!
The "let's-get-this-done-as-easily-as-possible" attitude and approach has swept through the shows as well. Nearly every commercial you see lately is promoting the use of a crossbow during archery season or for the latest and greatest "dump-it-on-the-ground-and-the-deer-will-come-running" product. So, it really doesn't surprise me to see shortcuts being taken to get a kill on film. After all, there are commercials and product endorsement to worry about! The heck with the legacy, the heritage and the thrill of hunting!
Whatever happened to the pride one gets from choosing NEVER to take the easy way out and working extra hard or going the extra mile to accomplish a goal? Our grandfathers had it right!
I fully understand that changes have come along to make hunting "easier" for all of us with the design and manufacture of modern day compound bows, arrows, sights, releases, range finders, broadheads, etc. And, I will admit that I have personally conformed to this trend by going from an instinctive shooting style to hunting with a bow that is fired with a release and is decked out with fiber optic sights and a drop-away rest, but I have personally drawn the line in the sand for how far I will take innovation and/or opportunity. I never want hunting with archery equipment (or any weapon for that matter) to become so easy that the chase itself becomes nothing more than a frozen turkey shoot. If the thrill and excitement of hunting ever fades away due to innovation or shortcuts, I will retire my bow/gun, hang it on the wall and hit the golf course. It's that simple.
As a side note: One of the few shows that I care to watch these days is Greg and Jake Miller's In Pursuit TV. Their show is a highly entertaining and extremely informative production with a no nonsense, let's-get-down-to-the-business-of-hunting-big-bucks type of show. That particular format is flat-out refreshing, especially with all of the other mindless drivel filling up the airwaves!
Take care and Good Hunting!
Best Afield,
Steve
