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

So I just hung up the phone with a representative of NBC Sports and the Discovery Channel. We were discussing the potential for airing a certain type of show, about hounds and tree dogs. Perhaps some of you have heard of such a mythical beast?!?

The long and the short of it, was that such a show will need to stay on the likes of the Sportsman Channel, Pursuit Channel or Outdoor Channel, becasue neither NBC Sports Outdoors or the Discovery Channel (which by the way has a show about illegal moonshinig) will ever touch a show about hunting with hounds.

At first, I thought this was just about harvesting game, and so I explained the "catch and release" aspect of such a show. But I was told that wasn't the issue. So... I assumed it was about potential for dogs fighting each other or game, like wild hogs, and so I explained that we could avoid the airing of that type of content. But was still told no.

Ultimately I was told that the concern was whether we took good care of our hounds... whether they were well fed, whether we hunted them in harsh conditions, like heat, and whether asking our dog to hunt another animal in the name of sport, was inhumane in itself.

At first, I was just frustrated, thinking that these "tree huggers" or those afraid of political correctness, just didn't get it. They didn't care to understand, or appreciate the sporting aspect of it, as compared to other types of sports aired on these same networks. But then I thought, have we done ourselves any favors???

Have we all made sure that we portray our sport and our dog ownership in a good light?

Have we taken the time to intelligently explain our side of the story, when faced with the opportunity?

Have we allowed bickering amongst ourselves, create the opportunity for others to divide and conquer?

I'm glad I had the conversation, with the rep today, for what she shared, I first thought was ignorance, but perhaps an opportunity.

__________________
David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Last edited by deschmidt27 on 02-04-2013 at 09:11 PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
Posts: 3995

We are in all likelyhood the last generation that will be able to hunt with hounds. I dont think any amount of political correctness or editing of how our sport works will appease the naysayers. They see it as cruelty and would rather their children be exposed to mass murder on a video screen than see a hound tree a coon.
The deer hunters have done a pretty good job of sanitizing their productions for the viewing public,but even they would rather we didnt exist.

__________________
Everything that makes them a COONDOG is on the inside

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2011
Location: missouri
Posts: 209

john, i have to disagree with you on this one. i think the next generation will need a good tree dog, if they want to eat. all the treehuggers, animal rights activist, and gun control crowd will starve to death!

__________________
Southern Shadow Blueticks
Jay Williams

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2010
Location: South Dakota
Posts: 350

I'm sure "pet parents" would be appalled to see that we let/expect our dogs do what they have been bred to do.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
Posts: 3995

quote:

---

Originally posted by SoShadow
john, i have to disagree with you on this one. i think the next generation will need a good tree dog, if they want to eat. all the treehuggers, animal rights activist, and gun control crowd will starve to death!

---

__________________
Everything that makes them a COONDOG is on the inside

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Oct 2004
Location: Mogadore, Ohio
Posts: 133

Dave all the network had to do is get on this UKC board and read the ignorance that goes on. Im'm sure they have. They will read about unhappy buyers that were lied to or scammed. They will read about cheating going on in night hunts. They will read about people being Bared from competition. The will read about people selling dogs in desperation. They will read a multitude of Bashing post about good people from jealous people. All the ignorant well fare collectors on this board would be jealous of a quality show and bash you like they do Curt Ahring. The old 80/20 rule applies here. 80% are pretty ignorant and the other 20% of quality responsible dog people pay the price. Its kind of like Blue collar americans paying for the sins of politicians, or actually paying the bill for well fare recipients. You are exactly right question how we portray our selves via our sport. Now just watch some one sitting at home receiving a government check that feeds their starving dog day old bread and keeps him tied to a tree with a old car hood over his head will have something intelligent to say.

__________________
Jimmy Johnson
Legacy Farm & Kennel
Mogadore, Ohio
330-406-6277

Last edited by JimmyJohnson on 02-04-2013 at 08:29 PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

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

John,

I truly hope you're wrong, but I do see the very real risk, that you're not. My only hope is that we each find a way to do our part to address what we can... a little less bickering, a little less "airing our dirty laundry", a little more positive attitude, and whole lot of changing what we know is wrong.

__________________
David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2003
Location: Central Michigan
Posts: 6544

David,

In many cases, our state game managers don't even know what we are about.

I contacted every state game managing office east of the Rocky Mountains, and asked them how many coon hunters do they have in their state? I didn't get one reasonable answer! Some even asked me why in the world would I want to know that.

John,

If you really honestly believe we are the last generation, why aren't you on here rallying us to fight??????????

I just don't understand the apathy in our ranks! I don't know about others on here, but I know for me that coon hunting is a life style. It is a lifestyle, that I do not want to give up. We all should be pulling together to insure the legacy of our chosen life style survives.

You know, I always thought trappers were a bunch of loners who would never be able to work together to better their sport. Nope, trappers have more going for them than coon hunters. They aren't rolling over or ignoring what the potential future holds for them. They are at least fighting to protect what they hold dear. Coon hunters ... not so much.

It will not be loss of land; nor animal rights that kills and buries coon hunting. It will be our very own apathy that does it!

__________________
Larry Atherton

Aim small miss small

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2006
Location: munfordville ky.
Posts: 1166

probly as soon as i heard NBC i'd a hung up the phone. they aint nothing but a publication for oboma & the other socalist in this country !!

__________________
ROUGH CREEK BLACK & TANS
jim kilburn
munfordville ky
270 524 3585

HOME OF
ntchgrch.rough creek easys ragin cole HTX (co owner david miller)
grntchch.rough creek getto queen
ntchch.rough creek bumble bea (co owner jamie swann)
pr.rough creek special ed (walker dog)

PAST HOME OF
ntch.rough creek easy ace
grntchgrch.rough creek easys thunderstick HTX
grntchgrch.rough creek little ann
grntchgrch.hurikane creek uglystick
grntchgrch.rough creek double shot
grntchgrch.rough creek easys big timber
grntchgrch.rough creek little zipper
grntchgrch.puke box annie
grntchgrch.shaker hill sho gun
grntchgrch.mogan ridge rough creek dolly
ntchch.rough creek smokin spazz
ntch.rough creek black satin
ntch.diblings northern grace

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2008
Location: Western N.Y.
Posts: 3995

I guess maybe my attitude isnt the best, but i see the writing on the wall. This time of year our coon are denned up so we spend the weekends out with the coyote dogs and since im the old guy i usually do road duty which consists of making sure the dogs get across roads safely and dealing with all the city slickers that love to let us know that if our dogs cross their half acre of heaven that they will either call the law or shoot the dogs.
It just gets tougher every year and i fear that by the time my sons are my age this sport that we love will be gone.

__________________
Everything that makes them a COONDOG is on the inside

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 47

David I didn't know you were working on a show like this also (I had no idea anyone was). Can you send me your information (Age, location, years in the sport, a pic of you and your dog(s), a background on your competition hunting experience etc. I'm working on one and I have an "in" with an outdoor television production company. I am located in the Center of Alabama and am looking for 4-8 hunters and dogs from around the country.
In fact I need to hear from people all over that are involved in the competitive side of the sport. So if you or someone you know might be interested send me the info I requested to

wildh2oproductions@gmail.com

Thanks. I would like to go deeper in detail about what is in the works but I'm not really ready @ this time.

__________________
Calvin Elliott, Central Alabama.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 47

In fact as far as portraying out sport goes... if this works the way I'm planning on it working, well we will see coonhunting explode in popularity.

__________________
Calvin Elliott, Central Alabama.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Apr 2009
Location: Iowa
Posts: 928

Popularity is most definitely not what we need. We also don't have any business rallying people to comp hunts either.

__________________
“The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence whatsoever that it is not utterly absurd.”

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2012
Location: tenn
Posts: 352

quote:

---

Originally posted by CSnowgren
Popularity is most definitely not what we need. We also don't have any business rallying people to comp hunts either.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

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

Like it or not, the commercialization of other hunting sports, is likely what will save them.

__________________
David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

quote:

---

Originally posted by deschmidt27
Like it or not, the commercialization of other hunting sports, is likely what will save them.

---

__________________
Home of :
GrNtCh PKC ch Skuna River Fred Bear
GrNtCh Skuna River Bear
NtCh PKCCh Skuna River Faith
NtCh PKC Ch Catch This
Silver Ch River Bend Lacey

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2008
Location:
Posts: 908

Through my job i get to move around a lot...i meet new people...new coworkers...new friends...almost on a yearly basis..ive lived in 3 other states the last 5 or 6 years now...have friends in all of them...

As soon as they hear my ringtone, which is my dogs dying locators, they ask what the heck that is....so i explain i am a coon hunter and that was my dog tellin me he got a coon...and almost always have to battle similar things...so mean making a dog go hunt for me..poor dog.....no, you have an open invite to come hunting...you will see as the sun goes down the dogs run into the milk house where we keep our tracking collars and boots etc...and you will see those dogs begging, barking and whining to go hunting! They dont wanna do.anything.else but go hunting..they absolutely love to hunt...

Heard it all from how i must beat the heck outta my dog....dont feed him...dont. take care of him..blah blah blah....


We do have major black eyes....it is sad....i know myself, i take great care of my hound.....most houndsmen do...but there are some bad apples...

Another huge battle i try to fight is trapping....y'all seen a trapping discussion on here last week or so.....even some hunters hate trapping and have misconceptions about it....i am also a trapper...


I find many people cannot grasp the concept of trapping and hound hunting and understand and appreciate it....

__________________
Team Trackman!!

'PR' Trackman's Dizzy Duke

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

the biggest issue i find in our sport is people think we mistreat our hounds and i hear it time again on how coon hunters have a bad rap sheet as far as neglecting wife/family. its annoying to hear people tell my girlfriend....your dating a coon hunter? hope your thick skinned and prepared to be alone alot!

__________________
Home of :
GrNtCh PKC ch Skuna River Fred Bear
GrNtCh Skuna River Bear
NtCh PKCCh Skuna River Faith
NtCh PKC Ch Catch This
Silver Ch River Bend Lacey

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

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

I don't know Daniel... if you have a new girlfriend, someone may need to tell Hank, to be prepared to stay home a lot more!

__________________
David Schmidt
219-614-0654

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

this one has been around a while haha

__________________
Home of :
GrNtCh PKC ch Skuna River Fred Bear
GrNtCh Skuna River Bear
NtCh PKCCh Skuna River Faith
NtCh PKC Ch Catch This
Silver Ch River Bend Lacey

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2005
Location: wakarusa, indiana
Posts: 3304

her dad actually asked me if i was going to ever quit, i said yes sir. when they bury me lol

__________________
Home of :
GrNtCh PKC ch Skuna River Fred Bear
GrNtCh Skuna River Bear
NtCh PKCCh Skuna River Faith
NtCh PKC Ch Catch This
Silver Ch River Bend Lacey

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 47

Yep a show where people see the bond between hound and hunter would be a bad thing.

A show that shows how we don't make these hounds hunt, but rather they want to hunt would be a bad thing.

A show that makes night hunts a spectator sport and helps the public to understand what we do and possibly, just possibly makes it easier for us to get some more lands to run a hunt on that is a bad thing.

Eventually competition coon hunting will make it onto television. The concept has too much that makes it worthy as both a sporting event, a human interest show, and a reality competition.

The dogs are struck.....will they tree or will the points be minussed?
The dogs have taken a turn away from the hunters, the deadline time is running out, will they be able to catch them, get back to the trucks and get Billy's amazing personal best 1100+ points and a cast win back to the club and possibly win it all with the phenomenal young dog he just started working?
Little Sally is at home working "Jake" to show in the puppy class, then a few weeks later, she is at the big show, her 6 years old and a bundle of nerves and pig tails as she waits on the judge to call her and her puppy to the benches.........

Every weekend at competition hunts across the country these emotions play out and we are the only ones who get to see it. The people who have never been, well honestly they see us as marauding hillbillies beating dogs and running wild in the night drunkenly killing and pillaging as we go.
Kind of like Gator hunters were thought of before their show hit the air, kind of like long haired bearded duck call makers were before their show hit the air.
But now how do people view them?
Mean while we still hide in the dark wondering why people don't understand us.
they don't understand us because they don't know us.

Yeah, your right, showing that the vast majority of us are hard working, hard hunting, honest upstanding members of our communities and our nation who just are nuts about tree dogs is bad for us.

__________________
Calvin Elliott, Central Alabama.

Last edited by WildH2O on 02-05-2013 at 03:22 AM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2010
Location: IOWA
Posts: 510

deschmidt27 i think your on to some thing ...do i think we need to be on nbc no.. but if they could get something on the outdoor channel or sportsmans channel n show other hunting people what coon hunting is today compared to what it was 30 years ago n show how technology is used today in the sport and people are feeding the top dog foods and care for there dogs and its not just dumb poor people out chasing a dog around at night...cause if you get something n like nbc the peta type people are gona complain no matter what cause they know how to do nothing else ...cause in know they have a show on one the two thats bout bird hunting with dogs....but just my thoughts

__________________
cell phone 563-419-1895
Bernard,IA

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2013
Location: Central Alabama
Posts: 47

I've got a show that is in pre production at this time.

__________________
Calvin Elliott, Central Alabama.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2004
Location: waco, tx
Posts: 646

quote:

---

Originally posted by deschmidt27
Like it or not, the commercialization of other hunting sports, is likely what will save them.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged