What was he think!!

**Rhino** · 08-30-2007, 11:06 AM

I was just watching The Wild Outdoors. They are hunting in Kansas where really big bucks are known to roam. Hunter Ryan Arnold has a 3 yr. old buck walk in with the right main beam broken off just past the brow tine. The buck has 4 on the left but nothing exceptional for Kansas at all. I'm thinking this is a pass buck before the big one comes in for the kill. But no...

...he puts an arrow through it.

OK is it just me or what? It seems like for some professionals, it's more important to kill a buck on camera than it is to make the decision to kill an animal that I'd expect from a professional. In this case not only was the fruit not ripe, it was spoiled! Come on guys, you're in Kansas! It wasn't a last day excuse either, there was still more time left in the hunt. Now keep in mind, my defination of a professional here is a hunter paid to go hunt. They are not necessarily experts (definately not in this case IMO) but they do get to spend a lot more time out in the woods than most of us. I have a lot of respect for Jay Gregory but if I had been in charge, I would have sent that hunter packing and never aired the show.

I'll be out of touch for several days bushhogging fields and ATV roads at our camp but I'll check back in when I get back but here's my question.

Should we expect more than this from a professional?

**toddyboman** · 08-30-2007, 11:34 AM

I did not see that video/episode but I know what your talking about and it does not make sense to me either. I know we all want to see them shoot a deer, but not a busted up bucks or small young bucks. If you going to just show the viewers shooting deer then shoot does.

**wtnhunt** · 08-30-2007, 11:38 AM

I have a lot of respect for Jay Gregory but if I had been in charge, I would have sent that hunter packing and never aired the show.

Have not seen that particular episode Al, but know what you mean. I have found myself on several occasions saying to the wife that if I went on a hunt to the places some of these guys are at, some of the deer they take, there is no way I would shoot the deer. I mean if I go away from home to hunt where there are Kansas quality bucks I am not going to fill my tag on a deer no bigger than what I already have on the wall that could be taken right here at home. makes no sense, I would want a deer that would far surpass my expectations from a deer here at home.

Far as what to expect from professionals, maybe sometimes there is err in judgement. Without having seen the show you are referring to firsthand, I really cannot say what I think, but I will say that a show that is aired, the hunters should at least explain the reasoning in what they do if it is not something that would be expected of a hunter that is viewed as a "professional".

I'll be out of touch for several days bushhogging fields and ATV roads at our camp but I'll check back in when I get back but here's my question.

Be safe out there buddy, still is pretty warm in this part of the country, make sure to keep hydrated.

**Ohiobucks** · 08-30-2007, 01:00 PM

It's not my position to judge anyone on the quality of buck they elect to take, 'cept Tominator.....

I've seen a few of the MB videos where hunters do the exact same thing. It leaves you asking, "Why did he/she shoot that buck?" If it is legal, and you want that particular buck, I say go for it.

What gets me more than this is shot selection that some of these major hunting video producers show sometimes. I've seen bow hunted deer shot in the neck, full on frontal shots, gut shot, spine shots, etc. I realize these shots happen to all of us from time to time - I've been lucky enough to hit a deer or 2 in the wrong spot and still recover them - but to air it on national TV? Makes you wonder just how much pressure there is to put out a weekly show or a new video sometimes....

Just my $0.02.

**Ohiobucks** · 08-30-2007, 02:45 PM

I was thinking about this some more....maybe it was a management buck that the ranch owner or outfitter wanted out of the herd? Maybe.....

**Tominator** · 08-30-2007, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Ohiobucks

It's not my position to judge anyone on the quality of buck they elect to take, 'cept Tominator.....

.

I'm telling you, he's a solid 119"

Have to agree with Tom, can't really judge what a person elects to take. If the hunter is happy with half a rack, that's cool with me.

I will say though, that I don't think I'd ever do that. One of the few times I was able to go hunting last year, I had a beautiful, big bodied 7 pt not 10 yards to my left, perfect broadside, but he had broken off his left main beam right at the G-3 so I chose not to shoot him.

**Mathews XT Man** · 08-30-2007, 05:18 PM

I did see that show..I too thought this is not a buck for tv..but he was happy with it, so who am I to judge?
Although I never heard of anyone doing this before...shooting the "wrong" buck.....LOL perhaps that is what happened?

**Grant-KS** · 08-30-2007, 05:28 PM

Aw that's alright, that just means that there are a few more biguns that he threw away for us. LOL

**Michiganbowhunter_SQ2** · 08-30-2007, 05:40 PM

hmm, he LEGALLY shoots a 3-1/2 year old deer, on camera, and because it is a deer YOU wouldn't shoot, he should lose his job?

i have no problem with anyone shooting any deer on film as long as it is legal...i could care less how big the deer is or the size of the rack, just show me good footage, watch a Drury video, they are constantly showing doe's being taken. why does it always have to be a 170" deer? people complain because of them going to these big outfitters and shooting these big deer and saying " why don't they show them hunting on public land here or there and see how they will do" but when someone takes a less than stellar deer, people whine about it. sheesh

Wackmaster17 · 08-30-2007, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by Michiganbowhunter_SQ2

hmm, he LEGALLY shoots a 3-1/2 year old deer, on camera, and because it is a deer YOU wouldn't shoot, he should lose his job?

i have no problem with anyone shooting any deer on film as long as it is legal...i could care less how big the deer is or the size of the rack, just show me good footage, watch a Drury video, they are constantly showing doe's being taken. why does it always have to be a 170" deer? people complain because of them going to these big outfitters and shooting these big deer and saying " why don't they show them hunting on public land here or there and see how they will do" but when someone takes a less than stellar deer, people whine about it. sheesh

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! Finally someone feels the same as I do toward this. Who cares how big the deer is. I would rather see someone shoot a small buck or doe and just be thrilled with "THEIR" trophy than someone who doesn't shoot anything at all!

**M00N** · 08-30-2007, 06:53 PM

It doesn't matter to me the size of the deer that a professional hunter on a show harvests. To me what would be more important is that they teach proper shooting techniques, proper safety techniques, are taking an ethical shot on a free-range deer, and overall teaching good sportsmanship. It isn't always about shooting monsters, and I actually applaud those professional hunters that take a smaller deer on video, because as of lately everything seems to be about breaking records and monster deer and steering more towards the commercial end of hunting leaving behind the true beauty in it. Plus there are times when those big name ranches have some "management deer" that need taking out of the herd, too, in order to keep the herd healthy and with good genetics. All harvested deer should be considered trophies! If not, then are you a killer or a hunter?

APEX127 · 08-31-2007, 06:37 PM

Well put Moon , Every deer that I have been blessed with has a special place in my heart....

**buckee** · 08-31-2007, 07:15 PM

Should we expect more than this from a professional?

Ya know, on one hand I'd say yes, we should expect more from a professional, but then I see so many people bashing these videos all the time, just because they only seem to shoot monster bucks. I've heard folks time and time again say, "Let's see some average deer for a change", or "Don't these pros, ever shoot does".
I really think there is a bigger crowd than we think out there, who is just as happy to watch others hunt, no matter what the size of the deer is, rather than seeing someone shoot a wall-hanger all the time.
The Monster buck series is named monster bucks for a good reason. I watch it to see some great bucks, not average ones.

If I want to see average ones, I go hunting.

But I wouldn't fault anyone for filming a regular hunt, with a regular deer, and selling it for whoever wants to see it, unless of course it was titled Giant bucks, etc.

I've never liked the "If it's brown, it's down" mentality, because I really think it shows hunters in a bad light, but, with that said, I've shot my fair share of little guys over the years to put meat on the table and proud of it.

**mule659** · 08-31-2007, 11:53 PM

Even though a lot of us would have passed that buck as long as he was happy with thats what matters.

**stevebeilgard** · 09-01-2007, 11:49 AM

i've been a part of over 30 of these shows. one common problem for the shooter is the fact that if he doesn't kill his game, there is no show. sorry, but folks in the viewing audience want to see a kill. to me, moon has the best answer here, and is right on. and buckee came through well, also. most of us only have chances at average bucks, and we take them. all the while, hoping it's mr. big that comes along. but he seldom does unless you hunt with an outfitter who "saves" the big boy for the camera. i didn't see the show, but i do like the premise.