In my previous blog, I mentioned the bear hunting trip to Vancouver with Jim Shockey. If ya’ll watch hunting shows at all on The Outdoor Channel, you’re well aware of "Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures" and how popular Jim has become throughout this world and most galaxies (at least the ones that get satellite).

As I started contemplating this trip, I wondered what would be a good “hook” for the viewers. You see, one thing we attempt to do on all episodes of "Realtree Outdoors" is develop a side story in addition to the hunting action, one that would be of interest to the audience. This secondary storyline can be entertaining, informative, educational or just downright “different” without distracting the viewer from the plot of the actual hunt.

Sometimes, but not very often, an episode will contain just the hunts and the excitement and challenges to the hunt itself.

In this case (bear hunting with Jim Shockey) I didn’t have to think at all about what the “hook” to the show would be. Actually, it would be a service to the gazillions of hunters that watch the tube. At the same time it would be almost “mystical”. I would, during the week of bear hunting, dispel the legend of Jim Shockey for all to see.

Hear me out.

Jim appears to have it all. He’s a man’s man. He is a very successful outfitter/guide, is the world’s best-known muzzleloader hunter, has the disgustingly chiseled look of a model (which he used to be), has a gorgeous and talented wife, has raised a beautiful daughter and son, travels abroad with his family, and has taken about every animal known to man with a smokepole! He probably even brings his seat-back to the “up and locked” position before landing...and he can hit a golf ball a kilometer (Jim’s a Canadian). It is enough to make me...want to set the record straight.

You heard it here first. On this particular episode that will air late August I set out to take a huge black bear and to also expose chinks in the Shockey armor. I am fairly successful in accomplishing this (well, not really) but I did uncover an amazing secret—Jim Shockey has a STUNT DOUBLE!

That’s right! All the hunts you watch where “Jim” is holding his ground while being charged and stomped by an irate water buffalo is an employee of Jim’s. Cody Robbins is his name. Now, there are a lot of similarities between Jim and Cody, and to the untrained eye and the average viewer, they can get away with this. They are both Canadian; they both drive trucks; they drink coffee in the morning; love to hunt; etc.

I don’t suppose Jim thought about him being 2 feet taller than Cody, having no braces and NOT a strand of red hair!

There’s more to this story, but you'll have to watch the show to find out what happens.

Reporting LIVE,
Detective Blanton