Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Burlington, CT
Posts: 1758

Here's a short story that accentuates my point. One morning we were preparing to film a coyote hunt, and several hunters said that there was no way they were going to let us film them. And that was because, one of their friends was filmed and later lost his dogs and had to pay fines. I said, that it couldn't be just becasue they were filmed, and that I thought a show was the opportunity to right some wrongs and shed a positive light on their sport.

Here's the back-story... a buddy of theirs filmed their dogs fighting a coyote in a cemetary next to a church and they posted it on YouTube! Some neighbor was offended by the scene and the desacration of the cemetary (Imagine that!) and called the DNR. The DNR showed up at the guys house and found several malnutritioned hounds and several caged coyotes in the barn, without a permit. SO... in this scenario the problem was the filming?!?

I understand you can't control the dogs and coyote going into a cemetary next to a church, but how about you choose to not film it, instead of catching them up and getting out of where you don't belong! How about not broadcasting that you're an idiot and disrespectful! Especially if you have illegal activity back at the barn. How about you take care of your hounds so they may be slim, but don't look like they're about to die???

That is the difference between things out of your control and how you choose to handle them...

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David Schmidt
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Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
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David i watched every episode and enjoyed the show very much, i couldnt get it on cable but a budy with dish tv recorded it for me, and i feel you guys did a great job of showing that our sport is about the hounds first and that harvesting game is not our primary goal.
However, its appeal was limited to hunters and houndsmen, the appeal just wasnt there for the average tv viewer. Its a sad commentary on our society but if you would have had a sexy woman in tight jeans with a pair of climbing spikes shakin the coon out the show may well have been a huge hit. I think by playing down the "hillbilly,hick" factor to show us in a better light you may well have doomed your own sucess.
That balance between educator and entertainer is for sure a tricky line to walk.

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Last edited by john Duemmer on 02-05-2013 at 11:42 PM

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These threads remind me of a saying ... why use ten words when ten thousand will do ?


Normal TV shows come and go by the scores ... they don't know what makes em' popular and they sure as heck don't nobody know how to make coonhunting popular ... it's a chemistry thing , the outdoor shows that work have charismatic hosts that people like to watch ... aint really about what they are doing.

Vampire movies , Titanic , etc ... it's not about subject matter , it's about the storytelling .


Where the Red Fern Grows ... would be awesome if it was about anything , nobody cares about the coonhounds in it except us .

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Burlington, CT
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So... what if someone launched a national association to organize and focus the various efforts and passions. AND, used an entertaining, national television show to broadcast those messages and initiatives?

The strength of the NWTF, Ducks Unlimited, and Pheasants Forever etc. is in their numbers and organizational ability to focus messages and affect legislation. Our problem is not necessarily numbers, or drive or even organization at some level. It's our inability to convey one voice. Now, we may not always agree, and I'm sure the same goes for bird hunters, but there can be a consensus and lobbying for that point of view.

And by the way... call it information, messaging or propaganda but these organizations use television, everyday to get their voices heard.

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David Schmidt
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Registered: Mar 2010
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Keep up the good work David. You are a good represintitive of our sport. It may be wishful thinking but it seems the culture of coon hunting is getting better but it does have a long way to go.

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BTT for a great thread.

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Registered: May 2007
Location: fairmont wv
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to see a show with hounds but with all these crazy animal rights people i dont ever see it happening i have seen some rabbitt huting on the outdoor channel and some lion hunting with hounds but thats been awhile our sport of hunting game with hounds is a dying sport

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Burlington, CT
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hillbilly56 - we've already been on national television for two seasons. Tailgate Adventures has been dedicated to an entire show about hounds a tree dogs. And... we never received one piece of hate mail, nor did we ever see PETA on the front lawn.

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David Schmidt
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david thank you for what your doing.

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Registered: Jun 2008
Location: Burlington, CT
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No problem skeets... Joe, Shane and I are working hard on finding a way to make this all a reality.

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