Ever found yourself passionately watching a hunting TV show and you think, “Why isn’t that me on the screen? I could do this so much better.” I know what you’re thinking because I’ve been there and eventually, I found myself in front of the camera. Now, I am going to shed some light on what it takes to start from scratch and rise to fame in the hunting show business.

Trust me, the glamorized version you’re envisioning in your mind is far removed from the behind-the-scenes reality.

Step 1: Diminishing the Preconceptions

Remember that network that saw my stunning Myspace photos, contacted me to applaud how fantastic I am and generously offered me a spot on their network? Nope, that just didn’t happen.

There aren’t scouts tracking your social media platforms to see if you are the next big thing. Instead, I called the TV network, boasted about my talents, convinced them that I was way better than those pale characters they were hosting, and they listened. “Great, we want you on the network,” they replied. However, then the question came: “How much money do you have?”

Yes, you heard it right. That’s the first punchline. We pay to appear on television.

\n\n> “They asked: “How much money do you got?” and I was like, “What? I’m awesome. I don’t have money. What do I need money for?””

Step 2: Cashing Out the Checks

In the world of hunting shows, there are two distinct kinds of people. First, the so-called ‘Billionaires Boys Club.’ These are the guys who have several zeros stuffed in their bank accounts and to whom shelling out $100,000- $400,000 or more as a hobby to be on TV its no big deal to them.

And then you have guys like me, dead broke but passionate. A fire burning inside me to do this for a living, despite having to rally sponsors to back me up so I can pay the TV network, the editor, and all necessary staff.

So, how do the ‘broke but passionate’ guys do it? How did I manage to show up on your screens? Here’s how: I made a list of potential sponsors, reached out to each of them with a sales pitch that would convince them to back up my show. Unfortunately, my plight was met with rejection – a complete strike-out. Not a single sponsor was on board.

Undeterred and undaunted, I mortgaged my house to cover the costs. That’s how serious it gets if you want to start a hunting TV show. This isn’t about getting paid, it’s about paying to get in.

Step 3: Time, Pro Staff, and More Time

In the hunting show business, time is more than just a precious commodity – it’s everything. Forget about squeezing in hunting exploits for half an hour before and after your nine-to-five job; that simply won’t work. The unaired episodes need you to spend countless hours in the field. Think about creating enough content for 13 episodes or more for a whole season – it’s not a walk in the park.

Sure, you could hire pro staff to offset some work. However, remember that most aren’t overly concerned with your show’s success. They’re often thrilled with the free hunting gear and might not bother getting a kill shot. Instead, they may provide ample footage of themselves strolling in slow-motion. So, in essence, you’re still largely on your own.

Step 4: Sponsors, Commercial Interludes, and TV Networks

The hard truth is that sponsors form the backbone of many hunting shows. Despite viewer complaints about the excessive product promotion that sometimes makes the show feel like an extensive infomercial, the reality is that sponsorship is vital.

Without sponsors, there would be no hunting TV shows or networks. These sponsors are the ones footing the bills, and as a show host, you become an ambassador for their products.

This symbiotic relationship requires the host to promote sponsors’ products as much as possible because, ultimately, they’re financing the show. This dynamic will never change in the hunting industry, so it’s best to embrace it.

Step 5: Staying Professional and Authentic

Lastly, let me offer a word of advice to aspiring hunting show hosts. Remember, sponsors invest in people, not just ideas. They want to invest in you. Therefore, you need to demonstrate professionalism and authenticity both on and off-screen.

Bear in mind that your online image impacts your show. Posting pictures partying with friends might not be the best way to represent a sponsor’s company. Always align your public persona with your brand image as this significantly influences your success.

Wrap Up

In a nutshell, starting a hunting show doesn’t just demand hunting expertise. It involves plenty of persistence, resourcefulness, professionalism, and business savvy.

It requires sacrifice – something you should love unconditionally because it offers no guarantees of easy returns. After all, videos of your hunts aren’t merely hunting trips; they’re potential great television shows in the making.

Cheers to everyone who wants to plunge into this challenging yet rewarding venture. Remember that it’s not just about hunting; it’s also about creating and running a successful business. It might be a rockier road to travel, but at the end of the day, the joy I derive from this line of work is incomparable. I love what I do, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything else.

So, if you’re considering stepping into this arena, ensure you have your heart in it, and then – all in. Good luck!

If you would like to see the humorous but true video version of this story, click below.

Blaine Anthony – Staff Writer

Do you ever find yourself wondering when the rut is likely to occur and when the peak activity for hunting will occur?

The Pattern of the Rut

A common question that arises among hunters is whether there are any rules of thumb to consider about when the rut might occur.

“We have no evidence, and not just with my people at my institution, no research biologist has ever found any evidence for the rut changing to any significant degree from year to year.”

We vividly describe why the timing of the rut—strikingly, the moment a doe conceives and subsequently births a fawn—isn’t left to the unpredictable mercy of elements like temperature, precipitation or lunar phases. Intriguingly, it leans towards a remarkably unwavering influence: photoperiod. That’s the balance of sunlight to twilight—an everyday rhythm that commands our natural world—a rhythm reliable enough to guide the miracle of life.

Keeping in mind this constant factor is crucial, as it lays the foundation for not only when the rut might happen, but how you should base your hunting strategy around it.

Movement of Bucks: Day vs Night

A frequently held belief among hunting enthusiasts is that midday offers the prime hunting time, especially when stalking bucks. I can affirm that being perched in your hunting stand or tree is always advantageous. However, the logic backing this widely accepted concept may prove to be less sturdy than the hunting stands themselves.

Instead, data from GPS technology, captive deer observations, and common deer behavior suggest that bucks actually tend to be most active around sunrise and sunset.

That’s not to say that some movement doesn’t occur during the day, or even in the middle of the night. These periods simply see less activity compared to dawn and dusk.

If you’re looking to maximize your opportunities for encounters with a buck, it’s crucial to include midday hunting in your strategy.

The Ideal Midday Hunting Locations

Though shrouded in the mystery of unproven theories, University insightful suggestions propose intriguing possibilities about the optimal locations for midday hunting during the rut’s peak seeking phase. The guidance hints at these hotspots likely nestling closer to hiding spots rather than the usual destination food sources we might typically envision.

This notion is based on the observation that while bucks may meander around cover during the day, long-distance journeys, for example to food plots or large agricultural fields, might not be quite as common.

Buck and Doe Interactions

When a doe enters her estrus phase, a fascinating behavior often noticed among bucks is their instinctive attraction towards her – as if they are magnetically locked onto the doe. Despite its prevalence, this captivating interaction fluctuates considerably between individuals and should not be automatically viewed as the doe’s readiness to mate.

An exhilarating discovery has recently come to light: the same doe can be bred by multiple bucks, sometimes even leading to pregnancy. Intriguingly, an examination of collected samples revealed that around one quarter of all twin fawns born have different fathers.

Timing Your Hunt

Year after year, rut timing proves to be reliable within a large region. Shifts in rut timing usually occur over large distances, and these shifts can be as much as three weeks or a whole month apart.

I will provide a riveting insight for all buck enthusiasts – start your spotting pursuits nearly two weeks prior to the rut’s peak. Experience the exhilarating thrill as your trail cameras become hotbeds of activity and you witness an upsurge in sightings. It is the time when nature begins its captivating dance – primary females commence their heat cycles, compelling bucks to embark on an adventurous roam in search of them. So, if you’ve got a penchant for buck-spotting during the daylight hours, this could be the perfect opportunity to indulge in that passion.

When a majority of does come into heat (which typically coincides with the rut’s peak), the overall visibility of buck activity tends to decrease as most bucks are now ‘locked up’ with does.

As we bring our illuminating conversation to a close, it becomes abundantly clear how vital an understanding of the rut’s timing, its impact on deer behavior, and the adaption of your hunting strategies truly are. By integrating these insights into your hunting routine, the quality and fulfilment of your experience will be elevated to new heights. So, fellow hunters, let’s venture out into the wild with this newfound knowledge and enjoy the thrill of the chase. Happy hunting!

Samantha Cromwell – Staff Writer

I remember as a child trudging through the woods, behind my father and grandfather in the early autumn chasing after squirrels. The array of the forest is still fresh in my mind. Eventually, I was able to venture into the woods on my own in hopes of harvesting a squirrel for supper that evening. Fried squirrel with biscuits and gravy is still one of my favorite meals. I even remember it being one of my grandpa’s favorite breakfast dishes. I was so proud of each squirrel I brought home as I still am today. 

Gray and fox squirrels are the two species that we can hunt here in the Midwest. They both are equally challenging to hunt, and both offer great table fare. The only difference I have noticed between the two is their size difference. The fox squirrel is about twice as big as that of the gray squirrel.

The opening day of squirrel season can prove to be tougher than you might think. With the trees still full of leaves it can be hard to spot the squirrels. Not to mention having to contend with the sweltering heat of September that is possible, the mosquitoes looking for a quick meal and the sticky cobwebs that seem to jump out of nowhere and paste to your face as you navigate your way through the dense woods. All of these things are almost enough to make some hunters wait another month or so before venturing out on a squirrel hunt.  But the hunter who waits is missing on out some great hunting action.

Ask five hunters what gun they prefer to use when pursuing squirrels and you are likely to get five different answers. Some hunters enjoy the challenge of using a scoped .22 caliber rifle. With a rifle a headshot is the most sought after shot. The squirrel quickly dies, and no meat is damaged. When it comes to shotguns the 410 and 20 gauges are the most widely used. The twelve gauge will work fine, but all of that firepower is not required.  My weapon of choice is a 20-guage pump with either No. 8 or No. 6 shot size. Again try to aim for the head for the animal when using a scattergun, but some shot will unavoidably still reach the body.  I prefer the shotgun because not all shots will be at a stationary target, and I like knowing that I can harvest a squirrel as it leaps from one tree to the next.

When it comes to the action of the shotgun decision is up to the individual hunter’s preference. A semi-automatic is fine, but not necessary. I use a pump action just because that is what I am used to carrying while deer and upland bird hunting. Very seldom will a hunter need more than one shot. After the first shot most squirrels in the area will take to cover for the next few minutes waiting for the danger to pass by. For that reason, a lot of hunters are comfortable to carry nothing more than a lightweight single shot with them.

Wearing camouflage clothing is up to the individual hunter. When I am squirrel hunting, I normally wear camouflage pants, shirt, and hat. I do not see the need to wear camo gloves or a facemask like I do when bow hunting deer. More times than I can remember while gun hunting for whitetails, I have had squirrels come within a couple of feet of me. Close enough that I was a little anxious that a mad squirrel might attack me. This all happened while wearing a blaze orange vest and hat. I believe a hunter that remains still stands the best chance to harvest his limit of squirrels, but I do not chance it. I still wear my camouflage.

Squirrels will be busy gathering food and storing it for winter. In just a short period of time the ground will be covered with snow and the critters will want to have their fare share of food stockpiled in various locations throughout the woods in preparation for the upcoming winter.

Slowly walking through the woods, stopping frequently to listen and watch will often give the location of squirrels away. The sound of a squirrel breaking a hickory-nut is hard to miss.

Even when snow covers the ground squirrels will still have to get out of their nest. There will always be the need for food and water. Do not put your gun up just because the temperatures have dipped, and snow blankets the ground. This type of hunting might be just what you need to break the cabin fever.

Captions

1. Squirrel hunting is a great way to beat the cabin blues this winter.