I am going to relay something that I viewed in disbelief while channel surfing a while back.  It happened a few months ago while, believe it or not, I was flipping through the channels in search of a good hunting show. This particular network (which I’ll won’t reveal) was airing an episode and the host came on to discuss what a dangerous, ferocious creature he would be hunting. While he was talking, the support video starting rolling and it was the most beautiful country you could ever ask for! Gently rolling hills, ponderosa pines, splendid grass valleys, etc.

I was confused. Obviously, I must have misunderstood what the host said the show was going to be about because the country looked just like much of the west, specifically SE Montana, NE Wyoming, and Western South Dakota and I wasn’t aware of any “dangerous” game that inhabited this part of the world.

Then, the host says the words: “buffalo”!

What?

And to make matters funnier (depending on how insulted one may be), as the host is opening the show, the camera pans left and reveals a “wild buffalo” grazing on grass less than 50 yards away!

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was the dangerous quarry.

Well, I was hooked.

Not out of concern for the host and his camera crew but to see how they were going to be able to depict such a violent clash of worlds. In other words, “Hunter in Life and Death Battle”! as the host had implied earlier.

Sure enough, several minutes into the show, the “tease” promoting the show-ending “near death stampede” was being revealed. Who could change the channel now!!

Finally, after “slo-motioning” the stampede to build up the suspense to new heights, the host/hunter and his guide are nearly run over by a buffalo or two. I wasn’t exactly clear on the number of buffalo because my complete focus and attention was in the background trying to find out exactly what or who had caused these animals to “charge” the camera!

Boy was I shocked!

Whoever edited the show didn’t even bother to take out the video that clearly showed a person on a four-wheeler driving these animals right by the brave hunters! There’s no telling how long it took for all these cards to fall perfectly! Boy, I can hear the producer now saying, “Good job! That’s a wrap!”

 

Just when you think its safe to believe everything you see on a hunting show . . .

Years ago, there was a movie entitled Out of Africa and it was about (surprise!) somebody wanting to leave the Dark Continent. Well, as you’ve noticed, this blog is titled the exact same thing but with a different meaning. This time the title refers to a speech I would like to make to all the outdoor/hunting television shows that produce and air shows from Africa!

If I turn on the TV with hopes of watching a really good, captivating, inspiring, hunting show and its from Africa, I don’t even stay there long enough for the colors to fill in screen! I’d rather watch a billiards tournament.

Seriously, years ago when hunting television was new, I didn’t mind watching a few impala take a dirt nap near a watering hole but please, it seems like television crews head to Africa and knock out anywhere from 3-6 episodes!

The excitement is gone! UNLESS, I see someone bowhunting Cape Buffalo! Am I by myself on this one? Chime in a let me know what you think! What else do you get tired of watching on hunting shows? I could fill up a few more lines on this one, but I’d like to know what you’re thinking!

In Honor of: Kyle McFeely


During the first weekend of August I was working at the Cabela’s in Wheeling, WVA laughing and having and big time with a bunch of awesome hunters and thanking everyone for their support of Realtree. It was a great time and I was very honored to meet many wonderful people. But no one influenced me more than Steve and Sally McFeely of Grove City, PA. We instantly connected because of our common Faith in Christ but what bonded us EVEN MORE was their incredible story of their son Kyle.
I was so touched, I asked Sally to write their story and send it to me so I can share it with you.

PLEASE READ THIS UNBELIEVABLE ACCOUNT TO THE END.



“Our only son, Kyle, was killed on October 14, 2005 by a driver who had been drinking. Kyle was 22 years old at the time of his death. He was a senior a Slippery Rock University.He was in the National Guard. He worked at General Electric. He worked at Pizza Hut delivering pizza. He had a fun-loving sense of humor. He was our hunting buddy. Most importantly, he loved Jesus Christ. His faith was very, very important to him. He was the best son we could have ever dreamed of.

On October 3, only 11 days before the tragedy, Kyle called me at work and told me that he had had a terrible dream the night before. He said he woke up and sat up in bed drenched with sweat, unable to sleep. I asked him what the dream was about. He said that he dreamt that Jesus came and took him to heaven. I asked him about the dream and he said that he was in heaven and was looking for his dad and me and his sister, Amber, there. He couldn’t find us and kept asking people where we were. Finally he found someone that knew something. That person told him that one of us had made it to heaven, but not the other two. Kyle told me that when I got home from work, I needed to tell his dad about the dream and tell him he needed to get more serious about his faith. Kyle said he was going to go meet up with Amber after her college class and tell her the same thing.

At that point in their lives, Kyle’s dad, Steve, and his sister, Amber, did go to church, but their faith and relationship with Jesus Christ was not of utmost importance to them. Kyle’s dream portrayed the urgent message that they needed to change.The following week, Kyle would no longer be with us.

Through the message of Kyle’s dream, not only did Steve and Amber’s main focus become their relationship with Jesus, but many others as well. Steve was diagnosed with AML Leukemia in September 2007. Throughout the past year and a half, he has been in the hospital approximately 4 months. He received a bone marrow transplant in January 2009. We have told Kyle’s story to countless people that we have met in the hospital. Amber put together a presentation on Kyle’ s story and has spoken to high school groups, church youth groups, etc. That dream has been a springboard to relay the urgency that Kyle wanted to portray – that NOW is the time to accept Christ. No one knows if they have tomorrow – or even the next minute.”

I have thought about the McFeely’s incredible and inspirational story many, many times over the past few months. It has enabled me to put things into their proper priority in my life over and over.