Saw this on Facebook with Michael Waddell

[JoeRE]

I would add one thing. Everyone should keep in mind that the hunting industry would not exist without US hunters creating it with OUR dollars. We are the problem, "the industry" is as we have created it.

If you want to be part of the solution explain it in that context to other hunters and maybe a little less useless crap will get bought from sleazy salesmen and women in the hunting industry.

Many of us believe in the principles of conservatism. We control our destiny through the choices we make and how hard we work. Don't play the victim card and say the hunting industry is to blame for out troubles!

There is one fatal flaw with hunting in North America as I see it:

Market hunting is banned and shunned but monetization of trophies is legal and acceptable. Virtually all of hunting's self inflicted problems arise from this irony.

Agree 100% sir. I would love to see the Lacey act clarified to include antlers. Thou Shalt Not Sell. It wouldn't do everything but it would help. Oh boy would that tick a bunch of people off

[headgear]

I would add one thing. Everyone should keep in mind that the hunting industry would not exist without US hunters creating it with OUR dollars. We are the problem, "the industry" is as we have created it.

If you want to be part of the solution explain it in that context to other hunters and maybe a little less useless crap will get bought from sleazy salesmen and women in the hunting industry.

Many of us believe in the principles of conservatism. We control our destiny through the choices we make and how hard we work. Don't play the victim card and say the hunting industry is to blame for out troubles!

I think this is already happening, the big guys are loser viewers to YT and real world hunting, guys like Dan and the rest of us are spreading the word about pixy dust. Just looking at sales and marketing as a whole, its kind of sad that these big companies actually have to spy on us to sell us junk. People realize this more and more and get turned off by it.

[tgreeno]

I think we all are going to buy hunting gear. Eventually things wear out. I buy what works for me! It may not be what the "cool kids" use, but I could care less. Not to say some of the mainstream stuff isn't good stuff.

I look at like this...buying Dan's stand & sticks, rather than buying stuff from a big name manufacture, makes a statement. We aren't sheep, who follow whatever is pushed. We will buy a quality product that works best for us! It may also help some other little guy out there who has a really great product, but can't afford to compete with the "big guys".

[d_rek]

facebook and michael waddell. Two things toward the bottom of my list...

Someone who sees the light. Both of those things mean so little to me and my hunting pursuits they might as well not even exist.

[Tennhunter3]

Not that i have alot of respect for Wadell it did go up i do admire that he took a risk in acknowledging the truth even though what he said might hurt his sponsors.

His bank accounts going to hurt either way at this point so he now tells the truth. We need many more in the industry admitting how they failed.

Wadell for years has been part of the problem i do like to remain optimistic in thinking oneday these big shots will care about the sport of hunting and have respect for nature instead of what product they can sell.

[Bigburner]

I like the strategically placed bone collector pillow in the background. Michael please. Too little too late. And why does hunting have to be an industry. If I thought I participated in an industry at any time I’d freaking quit hunting. The things I use are tools but I don’t buy them from tools.

[SMS79]

Who is Mike Waddell??

The guy wearing the chevy t-shirt with the bone collector pillows who's only sponsor is the customer.

That's funny right there! I don't care who ya are!

[SMS79]

I agree. Often times parents or mentors are also influenced by the TV guys. This way of thinking trickles down to the younger kids and they begin to foster unrealistic expectations of what hunting is. Perception is a very powerful thing.

I think this goes well beyond the sport of hunting but for sake of the topic I’ll keep it hunting related. As parents, we’ve become so overcome with GIVING the best for our children that we’ve failed to educate them how most things in this world are hard earned. Once reality sets in on how much effort it takes to earn the prize the kids have given up all interest.
For example, last year there was a somewhat wealthy local that took his kindergarten aged child with him whitetail hunting in Kansas. The family had some owned or leased property there in premo whitetail country. Anyways, through it all this 6 year old kid knocks down a gross 200” buck with a crossbow. So someone tell me how that kid is going to 1) stay interested in hunting when or if real world hunting catches up to him and 2) relate to other kids trying to get into hunting that don’t have the same privileges?

I have a hunting buddy who is caught up in all of this commercialism and obsession with antler size. He has 3 sons and is super concerned that they get opportunities to shoot "good deer" SO THAT they'll stay interested in hunting. He creates all this pressure (including pressure to harvest a trophy or mature buck) and takes a lot of the fun out of their experiences. Then he can't figure out why his boys only show marginal interest and initiative when it comes to hunting and almost none when it comes to the work involved in preparing for hunting. The most troubling part of the equation is his delusion that it will make a positive difference if they shoot a big deer that he's basically hand picked (or grown) and put right in front of them like in Wannabelikedan's story. I almost would expect the son to say, "Ok Dad! I killed a big deer! Are you happy now?!?" I bring this up as an example of what Aaron said about parents and mentors being influenced by it. When I read that, my buddy's name popped into my head instantly.

[tgreeno]

I have a hunting buddy who is caught up in all of this commercialism and obsession with antler size. He has 3 sons and is super concerned that they get opportunities to shoot "good deer" SO THAT they'll stay interested in hunting. He creates all this pressure (including pressure to harvest a trophy or mature buck) and takes a lot of the fun out of their experiences. Then he can't figure out why his boys only show marginal interest and initiative when it comes to hunting and almost none when it comes to the work involved in preparing for hunting. The most troubling part of the equation is his delusion that it will make a positive difference if they shoot a big deer that he's basically hand picked (or grown) and put right in front of them like in Wannabelikedan's story. I almost would expect the son to say, "Ok Dad! I killed a big deer! Are you happy now?!?" I bring this up as an example of what Aaron said about parents and mentors being influenced by it. When I read that, my buddy's name popped into my head instantly.

I will guarantee you that there are many many families out there like this! Putting pressure on the kids! Not letting them shoot whatever they want, and just having fun with it. Too many dads pushing their ideals on their kids! I can just hear the dad..."If you shoot these big bucks, some day you can be a professional hunter too".

[Boogieman1]

I have a hunting buddy who is caught up in all of this commercialism and obsession with antler size. He has 3 sons and is super concerned that they get opportunities to shoot "good deer" SO THAT they'll stay interested in hunting. He creates all this pressure (including pressure to harvest a trophy or mature buck) and takes a lot of the fun out of their experiences. Then he can't figure out why his boys only show marginal interest and initiative when it comes to hunting and almost none when it comes to the work involved in preparing for hunting. The most troubling part of the equation is his delusion that it will make a positive difference if they shoot a big deer that he's basically hand picked (or grown) and put right in front of them like in Wannabelikedan's story. I almost would expect the son to say, "Ok Dad! I killed a big deer! Are you happy now?!?" I bring this up as an example of what Aaron said about parents and mentors being influenced by it. When I read that, my buddy's name popped into my head instantly.

I will guarantee you that there are many many families out there like this! Putting pressure on the kids! Not letting them shoot whatever they want, and just having fun with it. Too many dads pushing their ideals on their kids! I can just hear the dad..."If you shoot these big bucks, some day you can be a professional hunter too".

It's not just the parents (atleast in my state) most of the high price leases the majority of hunters hunt is in some kind of quality deer management crap. Can only shoot bucks over such and such age and they must have a minimum score of whatever. One of those kinda deals that just sucks all the fun out of any kind of hunting. They sit in a tower blinds with photo albums of bucks to confirm if the can shoot them or not. Fail to take a "qualified" buck and get a hefty fine or the boot. Just sad it has come to this.

[tgreeno]

It's not just the parents (atleast in my state) most of the high price leases the majority of hunters hunt is in some kind of quality deer management crap. Can only shoot bucks over such and such age and they must have a minimum score of whatever. One of those kinda deals that just sucks all the fun out of any kind of hunting. They sit in a tower blinds with photo albums of bucks to confirm if the can shoot them or not. Fail to take a "qualified" buck and get a hefty fine or the boot. Just sad it has come to this.

I used to hunt a private property. That is exactly why I hunt public now!

I can hunt where I want, when I want & and shoot whatever I feel like shooting!

[Josh_S]

I have a hunting buddy who is caught up in all of this commercialism and obsession with antler size. He has 3 sons and is super concerned that they get opportunities to shoot "good deer" SO THAT they'll stay interested in hunting. He creates all this pressure (including pressure to harvest a trophy or mature buck) and takes a lot of the fun out of their experiences. Then he can't figure out why his boys only show marginal interest and initiative when it comes to hunting and almost none when it comes to the work involved in preparing for hunting. The most troubling part of the equation is his delusion that it will make a positive difference if they shoot a big deer that he's basically hand picked (or grown) and put right in front of them like in Wannabelikedan's story. I almost would expect the son to say, "Ok Dad! I killed a big deer! Are you happy now?!?" I bring this up as an example of what Aaron said about parents and mentors being influenced by it. When I read that, my buddy's name popped into my head instantly.

I will guarantee you that there are many many families out there like this! Putting pressure on the kids! Not letting them shoot whatever they want, and just having fun with it. Too many dads pushing their ideals on their kids! I can just hear the dad..."If you shoot these big bucks, some day you can be a professional hunter too".

This is so similar to a parent living vicariously through their kid putting pressure on them to be great at a sport of the parent's choice. The kid eventually quits playing the sport because its not fun anymore

[Rob loper]

I agree. Often times parents or mentors are also influenced by the TV guys. This way of thinking trickles down to the younger kids and they begin to foster unrealistic expectations of what hunting is. Perception is a very powerful thing.

I think this goes well beyond the sport of hunting but for sake of the topic I’ll keep it hunting related. As parents, we’ve become so overcome with GIVING the best for our children that we’ve failed to educate them how most things in this world are hard earned. Once reality sets in on how much effort it takes to earn the prize the kids have given up all interest.
For example, last year there was a somewhat wealthy local that took his kindergarten aged child with him whitetail hunting in Kansas. The family had some owned or leased property there in premo whitetail country. Anyways, through it all this 6 year old kid knocks down a gross 200” buck with a crossbow. So someone tell me how that kid is going to 1) stay interested in hunting when or if real world hunting catches up to him and 2) relate to other kids trying to get into hunting that don’t have the same privileges?

I have a hunting buddy who is caught up in all of this commercialism and obsession with antler size. He has 3 sons and is super concerned that they get opportunities to shoot "good deer" SO THAT they'll stay interested in hunting. He creates all this pressure (including pressure to harvest a trophy or mature buck) and takes a lot of the fun out of their experiences. Then he can't figure out why his boys only show marginal interest and initiative when it comes to hunting and almost none when it comes to the work involved in preparing for hunting. The most troubling part of the equation is his delusion that it will make a positive difference if they shoot a big deer that he's basically hand picked (or grown) and put right in front of them like in Wannabelikedan's story. I almost would expect the son to say, "Ok Dad! I killed a big deer! Are you happy now?!?" I bring this up as an example of what Aaron said about parents and mentors being influenced by it. When I read that, my buddy's name popped into my head instantly.

My kids play basketball lacrosse and field hockey i see parents push and push a kid to the brink that the kid is so frustrated with expectations of parents that eventually they rebel or take that wrong path throughout life
Its sad tbese days that i also see alot of parents trying to relive their own glory through their kids. Telling me
They really are worried about their own image not the kids. I blame this on commercialism and the latest stupid sales pitches or trends Let the kids have fun no matter what they do. If a kids gonna be a stud supersyar at what they like to do you dont have to push they are gonna work and take advantage of anything thats out there to make them better. Alot of parents make kids who they are its just how or the way you do it
And its just like everything else with kids
If you push too far or put too many rules on somthing
Kids are usually gonna lose interest or quit that specific sport or hobby. The first thing i did was sell or get rid of the video games

[Lockdown]

Did you ever here lee and tiffanys podcast on wired to hunt. They (esp lee) put a ton of time and effort into hunting. The manage there land very meticulously and work very hard at it. Might b a different kind of work but work none the less. Lee was puttn down good bucks in mn before he bought a farm in iowa

^^^^ truth ^^^^

For MANY years Lee’s biggest bow kill came from MN. I can’t remember if it was public/private but I do know it was a buck he was keeping tabs on for a while. Was bedding in a huge cattails expanse on a remote island. He moved out there early one morning and killed him ccoming back to bed. Total Beast kill.

A lot of people don’t know he quit his job as an engineer because they were sick of him taking “all” fall off for deer hunting. So he said adios without a concrete plan for his future. Lucky for him, all of his early footage that he submitted to Realtree FOR FREE (on the first Monster Bucks DVD’s.... he got zero monetary gain) paid off and through them he and Tiffany started one of the most popular hunting TV shows of all time. Gettin’ Close. The rest is history.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Lee is a top notch hunter and would fit in well as a Beast member. If he had to transition to a public land Beast he’d put in as much effort as anyone on the forum. And he would excel.

For the record, I dont watch much for TV shows either. I too would get back into the Lakoskies and Waddell if they started hunting public.

[Rob loper]

I wouldnt count on either one hunting public especially the realtree boy