Posted on by theoutdoorsguy

The Reality of Outdoor Reality Television

I’m sure most of you out there watch some sort of reality television, I know I do.

Some of my favourite television shows are, in fact, Reality TV with an outdoor theme. Hunting and fishing reality TV such as; Mountain Men, Yukon Men, Life Below Zero, Kodiak, The Hunt, Wicked Tuna and so on…make-up much of my evening entertainment!

But I always try to keep things in perspective….

Not ALL of what I watch do I accept at face value. I realize that ‘dramatization’ is all part of reality television these days, but what are we to do?

Perhaps the most ‘real’ out there, or a television show that depicts a more true picture of life in the north is, Life Below Zero. Some find the images to be graphic, but subsistence living does involve fish and wildlife being harvested on a regular basis.

The true reality, for most shows of this nature, is to ‘tone down’ the more graphic images so as to appeal to a wider audience. Some shows will even ‘create’ a story that isn’t really there; simply for entertainment value.

Come on, you’ve all seen it!

Nature photography and programming has been dramatizing and creating ‘stories’ for viewers for centuries, and I’m cool with that, so long as you as a viewer keep things in perspective.

When I watch these shows with Mrs. Outdoors Guy, or my kids, I do feel it necessary to explain the ‘true reality’ of certain situations as we watch them. Those more experienced in the outdoors can see right through Network TV’s attempt to gently ‘pull the wool over viewers eyes’.

But again it’s all cool with me..I even follow some of them on Twitter!

I suppose we can’t be too picky about details when it comes to these TV shows, since there is still value and entertainment in watching them.

At least I think there is…

Speaking of which, I have two episodes of the new series The Hunt, sitting in the PVR I haven’t watched yet, although according to Chessy, this one is somewhat on the brutal side!

Outdoorsguy

 

13 Replies to “The Reality of Outdoor Reality Television”

  1. its brutal for lack of gun safety … from running with loaded gun, pointing gun at camera man and guide.. yes the gun may be unloaded. but if anyone ever pointed a gun at me even if loaded or not, would be the last time someone hunted with me. I love life below zero.

  2. I don’t have a cable subscription anymore so I’m missing most of the reality tv out there.
    But I did just watch some of the 2 minute clips on “The Hunt”‘s website.

    Annoying editing! As someone who edits footage (not TV broadcasting) and hunts, the types of edits are completely unnecessary. I’ll see if one of my buddies has it to watch, but in the one episode, it sure sounds like the editors added in a bear growling to parts where you don’t even see the bear. From where the bear seems to be lying down, the growls wouldn’t sound like that. I could be wrong, but that’s 1 example that ticks me off.
    Not only that, but I don’t imagine it appeals to those maybe on the fence about hunting or wanting to learn. ie. they probably won’t like it.

    Also, they’ve obviously added ‘fillers’ for cut scenes after the main action like showing the lady reload her 3030. I get that adds to the sensational factor, but to me, unnecessary.

    I’ve recorded plenty of my hunts and it’s always interesting looking back at the footage. Some of it may seem quite boring to the non-hunter, but I love it all. I’ve always said I’d love to record a ton of footage back at the camp then on the hunt, but I end up wanting to enjoy it rather than make it a job lol

    But it would be so much fun to get a few broadcast quality camcorders with action cams like Go Pro or Drift Ghost HD (the one I use) to record some great 1st person POVs. I’ve managed to record myself shooting a few deer and relive the moments each time.

    I’ve also heard some hunters say they don’t like recording and think it’s silly or offensive, but not only for the moment, I like analyzing what happened because when it all goes down, it’s usually very fast without real time to think – it’s all reacting 🙂 At least, the way we do pushes or still hunt. It’s definitely different in a stand where I’ve had more time.

    Cheers,
    Keebler

    1. Keebler, use of the Go pro-type devices seems very limited in the Outdoor Reality TV…I think I’ve seen them used in Deadliest Catch but that’s about it. I does
      and would provide a great ‘first-person’ angle to any production.

      I suppose I’ll have to try them one day…baby steps.

      I’m trying to review one of the new Delorme inReach two-way radios…have you seen those? You can text from anywhere in the world….thru satellite communication.

      I saw them featured in a recent ep. of Canada in the Rough Me likey..cept then Mrs Outdoors Guy could get ahold of me anywhere!!

      Outdoorsguy

  3. omg, I forgot the point Chessy made – yes, the gun safety is off the wall. I’m thinking about the hunting shows on WildTV too. Some make me cringe, but yes, the few clips of the Hunt made me cringe a bit too.

    Talk about making us look like wild cowboys…

  4. i also enjoy the show life below zero , very real i also enjoy most of the shows that you do jeff but find some to be fluffed up , i have a nice camera that i will use to film goose,duck and deer hunts this year , i will try and see if canadian tire will introduce an amateur tv show just in their stores on a tv in the outdoor section , I have proposed this to some of the store owners and they are pondering it .This may be a way for us little guys to show their pride and commorodory on film and capture that hunting feeling , and to show the respect we have for nature like most of your readers do.Enjoy the 2 weeks off jeff talk later by the way the walleye are coming on now,

    1. tks mike! I love your Cantire video Idea btw..very smart!!

      Sadly though..a big corporation like Canadian tire will likely NOT go for it..just a feeling I have.

      Keep the faith tho Mike..we are slowly getting the concept of our hunting tradition out to the masses.

      Outdoorsguy

  5. Watching a PVR’d episode of The Hunt right now, I enjoy it and I love watching Mountain Men. Where and when do I get to see life below Zero

    1. Hey Iggs…good to hear from you its been awhile.

      Life below Zero hasn’t been on for a couple of weeks actually.seems this season has taken a bit of a hiatus.

      It airs on National Geographic Channel I believe…I see by some recent tweets that its back on the air in the
      US, so prob coming back here as well. If you enjoy Mountain Men and Yukon Men..you’ll really enjoy Life Below Zero.
      The characters are really interesting..especially this one woman Sue Aikins who lives alone in Kavak Outpost way
      up above the Arctic Circle. She is one character lemme tell you! Was hauled out of her camp by a brown bear one time and survived!
      Lets just say Sue now sleeps with about 5 rifles beside her bed…hehe

      There’s another family of Native Alaskans called the Hailstones. They epitomize substance living and because the husband is actually white by origin, his wife Agnes does most of the shooting. As an Aboriginal they are allowed to shoot a crap-load of game too….its mind boggling actually..but trust me, they make use of every last bit of it!!

      They also follow a couple of others like a trapper who spends the winter in the Arctic living off the land..by use of primitive means and basic tools.

      Watch for it, you wont be disappointed!! From what Ive seen it is about as REAL as reality tv would ever get.

      Outdoorsguy

  6. Life below Zero is quite fascinating. Unfortunately, I have only been able to watch a couple of episodes. I hope to get caught up some day — perhaps I should make use of the PVR we rarely use!

    1. Hunting mom, you will have to keep an eye-out on National Geographic channel…to see if they replay those older episodes. The problem is, Nat Geog channel in the US runs a diff schedule than we do..

      I havent quite figured out how it all works to be honest.

      Outdoorsguy

  7. Sorry I haven’t been around much, can’t get on at work and really busy with the upcoming hunting season.
    We have a weekend at the hunt camp coming up next weekend, I’ve been up and been feeding the bears and deer. Got some good trail cam video. I went up yesterday and was unnerved as I was changing the card in the camera. I could hear an animal moving around in the bush right close to me so I go the heck out pretty quick. When I got back to camp to look at the video I have a large bear on camera. There I was, no spray, no gun, and all by my lonesome.
    Quite unnerving,
    I’m laughing now but I wasn’t then.
    Made all my meals for the moose hunt and just starting to get my clothing, tree stands and other paraphernalia ready

    1. Oh man Iggs…I did the exact same thing at hunt camp about 4 years ago. It was last day of my hunt and already dark, but I needed to collect my trailcams. My Dad said why don’t you just leave them until morning, but I was determined to go get them…

      One cam was about 300 yards from camp..along a small creek and by time I got there I could barely see the tree my camera was on..and I had this weird feeling of something being around.

      Got back to camp..after basically sprinting back in the dark..and SURE ENOUGH check the camera to see a big one bear had just crossed the creek before I got there!!

      Not saying he would have jumped me, but I REALLY shouldn’t have takeN the chance. After dark meant..no rifle in my hand of course!

      Wishing you best of luck Iggy!

      Outdoorsguy

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