Who believes''pro''hunters are any better than the rest of us?

I say no!
The only difference between us and them is ....money!
If we had access to all these prime lodges,outfitters,free equipment,sponsors,all that crap.There would be no difference at all.
What annoys me the most is after they kill a monster,they have to tell us all about what just happened...I know it already,I just watched u kill it!
If I had to pick a favorite,I'd have to go with that ''Shockey guy''
Most disliked would be that ''moey'' boner collector.All his products are made in China.Nam....Can we say''LOOSER''????
This is my point of view!I own no DVDs of these supposed ''professional''hunters.I don't see the need....
...In a nut shell...Its entertainment,not education.Use this product with our name on it and you'll get bigger/better deer...get real...are people that gullable and stupid...? I'm not! No hipe..for this lover of the woodline.
WHATS U'R OPINION.....

 

Some of us may even be better. To get it done with what we have available to us :D

 

They get the best equipment and places to go. Also they hunt all the time, because they don't have real jobs, and can hone there hunting skills.

 

While I'll agree that just because they have a show doesn't make them a better hunter, you loose me at 'the only difference is money'.

A cross-section of hunting "pros" is similar to that of a cross-section of "us". Some are good, some aren't. Almost nobody is as good as they think they are

 

I have stated for years that although sometimes interesting to watch, you take the so called "professionals" and throw them into a woodlot here in PA where they must figure out where, when, and how and the average bowhunter would out do them every time!

 

My dad, my son and I call them "canned hunts!"

 

I know several non-pro hunters I'd rather see on TV than a lot of the "pro hunters". I'm pretty sure they'd do a better on a DIY hunt too, or any hunt for that matter.

 

These guys weren't just picked up off of the street. Most of them know what they are doing. That "boner collector" guy could more than likely easily out hunt you on a foreign piece of land. Jim Shockey, one of the most badass guys there is. Period. They busted their rears to get here.

I am not defending the entire hunting industry, there are several people who do not belong on television. Seems like most people are chosen for their personality anymore. Hollywood hunter? I will always take that unrecognized guy who can get it done year after year over your guided TV personality.

Yes, Waddell does put his name on everything and is one of the biggest product *****s in the industry.... But if you had the savvy and persona he does, you would too. He can flat out work product.

FYI.. ProStaff means "Promotional Staff" not "Professional Staff", i.e. They PROMOTE their sponsors for financial backing to produce shows.

I chalk most of these remarks up to jealousy. My Opinion

 

If it's so easy why aren't you doing it?

People who piss and moan about how easy their hunts are, have never once tried filming hunts on a somewhat professional level I assume? That ish is hard to pull off. Long hours, tiring work, makes the actual hunt itself 10x harder.... Most have earned their way into the industry, and yes some buy their way in.

It's the same with any aspect of life, money helps shorten the distance to the goal line....it does not however erase the distance to the goal line.

Some guys on TV are clueless it seems, but to try and make the show entertaining and more importantly pleasing to the sponsors....usually equates to NOT making an infomercial about your deer hunting knowledge. You have to use gay slogans like Rage in the Cage, you have to have product placement, you have to hunt outfitters to logistically get enough hunts in for the year to make a full season....

I love hunting more than anything on this earth, and I honestly do NOT envy the job of these TV hunters one iota. I would much rather work for a living to afford the thing I love, than turn the thing I love into a job.

 

Well said, Trevor

 

I am a better bow hunter than everyone, bottom line.

 

Some people may be jealous of the TV hunters, I'm not one of them. I whole-hearted feel that I know several hunters that are as good, if not better than the ones I've seen. Most don't film themselves, and they defnitely don't edit the footage. Most are chosen for reasons other than their ability to hunt. Though, some are picked by their ability to hunt. They all got there, and that's great for them. The way I look at is, it's going to be a individual question, and are they better than me? Probably. I don't hunt as much, and practice makes perfect.

 

You know, I've never really thought of it. I can tell you I think Jim Shockey is awesome and works hard. I think Uncle Ted is great! I don't think they are any better than me but Howard Hill and Fred Bear now those are the men legends are made of!

 

Well Im doomed because I already think I suck.

Benny Spies.... the huntley way

 

Not saying that some of the "pros" don't put in their time and effort! Heaven knows the filming hunts industry is tough, and requires long hours on stand just to get minimal footage, however, when it is known that some of these "pros" hunt high fence areas, have guides that do the scouting, treestand placements (or blinds) and these folks simply show up and shoot the animal when it passes by. Is there skill or hard work in that? Not trying to start this thread down a bad road, but just stating the honest to goodness facts.

 

They are just like any other cross section of society. Some good, some bad, some conceited, some open hearted......

For me, I always think of this when thinking about "pros" or celebrities....

"Why do you care about Snowflake? Do you know him? Does he call you at home? Do you have a dorsal fin? To train ze dolphin you must zink like ze dolphin! You must be getting inside ze dolphin's head. I am saying to Snowflake, "Akay!... Akay Akay Akay?" und he is saying "AKay Akay!" und he is up on ze tail "Eeeeeeeeee!" und you can quote him!"


Meaning, they don't know or care about me, so I really don't care about anything they do at all (not being mean, I just have no reason to care).

 

Not very many, if any, of the main stream guys hunt high fence. Yes the guides do the scouting, but your not going on 20+ hunts a year. It's just not feasible. Without scouting and prep work a guide would be useless.

A lot of these "pros" also own their own land and farms. All of their plots and stands don't magically show up every fall.

 

I would agree on some of the industry possibly knowing the right people at the right time, giving them good opportunities, at the end of the day they are paid to entertain. They either make that cut of dont. To say that the bone collectors are a joke is a joke, (an this is coming from some one who refused to buy their **** just because they put their name on it). Waddel is the real deal, that man lives and breathes for hunting, and his family. the guy pockets a boat load of cash and still lives a modest life style and spends all of his non hunting time with his family. And I dont know a lot about shockey's past, other than that he grew up in Saskatchewan and sells much over priced hunts to hunt with "Jim Shockey". he may have worked hard, but I'm not sold. I loved watching his stuff growing up, so I can see where yall are coming from, when I was 16 I had the opportunity to talk to him for probably 20 minutes at the Saskatoon Inn In saskatchewan, the only impression I got was "Im super"... he didnt inspire me to be him thats for sure.

 

HAHAHA! Yes, VS! Love that movie.

As for pro hunters, although I don't watch many, I'm not going to lie, I'm envious of some. I mean, they are making a living doing what we do for recreation. Like VS said, in any profession there are the good, and the bad. Can't lump them all into one boat.

I think there are certainly "pros" who are VERY good at what they do. If nothing else, many are good businessmen/women.

 

its not even comparable. there are a damn good number of guys who are 10x better then the pros they just don't have the money and properties the pros do.