ESSAY: Unfollowing Hunting Social Media will make Hunting Better

[left field]

This is Matt Rinella's essay that was posted then taken down. The link is an archived version.

https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:https://freerangeamerican.us/matt-rinella-unfollowing-hunting-social-media//

[phade]

I'm convinced the Rinellas just spew stuff to muddy up the water and then profit from it taking pious positions all  backed by money from someone with an anti-2A history. Not a fan, personally.

 

[G-Man]

This is absolutely true imo, and it is seen on this site and many others  , the latest lure, call, ect then add in  food plots ect .  To many hunters see something on tv and think it's magic and use it buy it , happens with guns as well , watched nwtf founder push 20ga shotguns for tirkeyvon TV show and on YouTube and magazine , every gin at banquet that year was a 20 ga.. 

Now it's the 6.5 Creedmoor  ( basically a .264 mag)   been around for decades was considered a wild cat , now it's the greatest thing since sliced bread, yet I  now see many post  about tracking deer wounded from one , ( the gun will almost always outshoot the shooter)  neighbor was looking into one , asked him what his average shot was .. under 70 yards  so why are you buying a gun for shooting long range?   He ended up  with a 45 70 and had killed several animals with it..   pressure from social media and shows simply was pushing his decision .  

Enter crossbow.. nys regs allow many x Bow that are lethal at reasonable ranges  but media is pushing narrow high poundage bows.. so we need to allow this 3k crossbow ..  smh..  

Long gone are articles that magazines published that let you compare , learn about methods or equipment .  now they are all get this watch me use it in this monster, get one and you can kill monsters as well...  

Imo this is worse thing to happen to hunting in my life time

[left field]

39 minutes ago, phade said:

I'm convinced the Rinellas just spew stuff to muddy up the water and then profit from it taking pious positions all  backed by money from someone with an anti-2A history. Not a fan, personally.

Maybe.

I thought it was poorly reasoned and somewhat ridiculous in its generalizations. To me, it seemed to be a guy whining that he was here first.

[grampy]

I don't follow ANY of the so called expert hunters. They are only trying to sell you something. 

"Look what I just shot! You can shoot one too if you use........"      No thanks.

Let them come to my property! They probably wouldn't even do as well as I do! There is no "magic" anything, to get more game. You need only two things for successful hunting.......experience, persistence.

Lots of ordinary hunters on youtube just filming their hunts, that I find much more enjoyable to watch.

[moog5050]

10 minutes ago, grampy said:

I You need only two things for successful hunting.......experience, persistence.

Access to game rich property sure helps too!  I haven't hunted long enough to remember the good ole days before social media.   But logic tells me that hunting was less of a competition between hunters and the size of the the antlers on the deer they killed back then.  Maybe that was better - no shaming just fun.  Nothing wrong with wanting to shoot the biggest buck but why is the question.   If you can honestly say it has nothing to do with impressing others, kudos to you.  If impressing others is a significant motivating factor, maybe a thought reset is required.  And none of this has anything to do with selling products.   I think even a new hunter knows better than to believe most of the latest and greatest products are going to make the difference in their success.  But what do I know ....

[G-Man]

4 minutes ago, moog5050 said:

Access to game rich property sure helps too!  I haven't hunted long enough to remember the good ole days before social media.   But logic tells me that hunting was less of a competition between hunters and the size of the the antlers on the deer they killed back then.  Maybe that was better - no shaming just fun.  Nothing wrong with wanting to shoot the biggest buck but why is the question.   If you can honestly say it has nothing to do with impressing others, kudos to you.  If impressing others is a significant motivating factor, maybe a thought reset is required.  And none of this has anything to do with selling products.   I think even a new hunter knows better than to believe most of the latest and greatest products are going to make the difference in their success.  But what do I know ....

I'd like to agree with you but having a few older yet new hunters show up with all kinds of scents / lures and them asking what they should use tells me otherwise.  The look on their face when I said none just go and sit  was priceless , but they were successful. I'd rather try to teach someone to hunt before they jump into calls/ lures..   but tv and media pushes  them .. since then they haven't used them or urged me to use or try them ..

[Nomad]

I’m happy to say I don’t know who those folks are ! Along with I’m not much of a customer for the “hunting industry “ as I don’t buy much hunting stuff .
 

My hunting clothes are washed in the same cheap crap Mrs nomad washes all our clothes in, if I shower prior to a hunt it’s with Irish Spring , I eat and drink coffee in the truck and if I need gas I stop and get it .

I don’t spray stuff on my clothes or drag things behind me , no scent loc stuff, certainly no ozone machines lol . My stands are more often then not picked for their comfort or the fact that the drag would be shorter .

No food plots, cell cameras, magic beans or voodoo dolls , although I wouldn’t rule out trying a a voodoo doll . I’ve bought three bows in 33 years and I only bought the last one because I could no longer draw number two back .
 

My deer pics get posted here and on IG where I influence no one .
 

Happily ignorant in my hunting ways . 
 
 

[left field]

4 minutes ago, Nomad said:

... if I shower prior to a hunt it’s with Irish Spring ...

That could be the secret.

 

[Jeremy K]

To take the social media hunter scam a notch further ,look at the woman hunters on social media fighting for likes . Hair and make up "on point" while shooting a bow with a 2 inch too long draw .

[JJBat150]

2 hours ago, Jeremy K said:

To take the social media hunter scam a notch further ,look at the woman hunters on social media fighting for likes . Hair and make up "on point" while shooting a bow with a 2 inch too long draw .

Any the florescent pink colors instead of orange.   Even DEC is buying into it : "New York State law requires hunters age 14 and 15 and their mentors who are hunting deer or bear with a gun to wear fluorescent hunter orange or pink..."

[chrisw]

To take the social media hunter scam a notch further ,look at the woman hunters on social media fighting for likes . Hair and make up "on point" while shooting a bow with a 2 inch too long draw .

Unfortunately sex sells, no matter the product. Look at the hoes on YouTube that didn't fish at all now hanging their boobs out with a fish in their hands and getting paid for it nonetheless...

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[chrisw]

As far as The Hunting Public goes, I like their premise. I could also see the downside of drawing a lot of unwanted attention to some great areas. I wouldn't be happy if I hunted one of those spots. They seem like great guys, but now I'm starting to see some sponsorship there. I'm not knocking them, but too much attention can ruin good things too. Fortunately my spots aren't good enough to ever film a TV show.

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[TreeGuy]

Interesting read..... seems to me he's just jealous at his brother's success.

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[UpStateRedNeck]

8 minutes ago, chrisw said:

As far as The Hunting Public goes, I like their premise. I could also see the downside of drawing a lot of unwanted attention to some great areas. I wouldn't be happy if I hunted one of those spots. They seem like great guys, but now I'm starting to see some sponsorship there. I'm not knocking them, but too much attention can ruin good things too. Fortunately my spots aren't good enough to ever film a TV show.

Sent from my moto g fast using Tapatalk
 

I don't begrudge them making some money pimping Mossberg and Bear Archery, but that primos quiver I bought that they recommended was not great.  

I'm a much better Hunter now than I was prior to watching their show though.

 

You guys are acting like this is all new.  How long has Field and Stream been writing reviews about the latest model of rifle etc?  How long has antler porn been on the "sportsmen network"?  It's not new, just pick and choose what you watch.

[chrisw]

I don't begrudge them making some money pimping Mossberg and Bear Archery, but that primos quiver I bought that they recommended was not great.  
I'm a much better Hunter now than I was prior to watching their show though.
 
You guys are acting like this is all new.  How long has Field and Stream been writing reviews about the latest model of rifle etc?  How long has antler porn been on the "sportsmen network"?  It's not new, just pick and choose what you watch.

This is new. Hunting shows aren't new, no. Social media has certainly had a huge impact on hunting, some good, some bad. I already said I don't begrudge them either. Traveling to 15 states showing the world their public land spots is a lot different than Field and Stream doing a rifle review. I don't think I've learned anything from them but it's entertaining. It's nice to see other states have such great public pieces. I'd be willing to bet that not all hunters give them a warm welcome though and I can see that also. I can't imagine hunting Ohio/Missouri etc public land as a resident and have SO MANY out of state hunters flocking to your state lands, it's gotta be annoying.

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[steve863]

3 hours ago, moog5050 said:

Access to game rich property sure helps too!  I haven't hunted long enough to remember the good ole days before social media.   But logic tells me that hunting was less of a competition between hunters and the size of the the antlers on the deer they killed back then.  Maybe that was better - no shaming just fun.  Nothing wrong with wanting to shoot the biggest buck but why is the question.   If you can honestly say it has nothing to do with impressing others, kudos to you.  If impressing others is a significant motivating factor, maybe a thought reset is required.  And none of this has anything to do with selling products.   I think even a new hunter knows better than to believe most of the latest and greatest products are going to make the difference in their success.  But what do I know ....

Most honest and sensible post I've read on this forum all year!

[WNYTRPR]

3 hours ago, Jeremy K said:

To take the social media hunter scam a notch further ,look at the woman hunters on social media fighting for likes . Hair and make up "on point" while shooting a bow with a 2 inch too long draw .

And in the trapping industry .Sucker born every minute .Amazing how people are so easily influenced .After this whole Covid ordeal ,I see now .

I’ll never rule out having a bit of luck when hunting never hurt either .

Edited December 7, 2021 by WNYTRPR

[DoubleDose]

1 hour ago, chrisw said:

Unfortunately sex sells, no matter the product. Look at the hoes on YouTube that didn't fish at all now hanging their boobs out with a fish in their hands and getting paid for it nonetheless...

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Please provide link to YouTube videos so we can confirm 

Edited December 8, 2021 by DoubleDose
clarification

[chrisw]

Please provide link to YouTube videos so we can confirm 

Haha they aren't hard to find trust me, and they get more views than the great shows where you can actually learn something.

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[phade]

18 hours ago, left field said:

Maybe.

I thought it was poorly reasoned and somewhat ridiculous in its generalizations. To me, it seemed to be a guy whining that he was here first.

He has done that before in prior articles and conversations. Perfect example. They re-use the same tactic from media in general to stir up the water and generate revenue from discord. 

[phade]

14 hours ago, chrisw said:

As far as The Hunting Public goes, I like their premise. I could also see the downside of drawing a lot of unwanted attention to some great areas. I wouldn't be happy if I hunted one of those spots. They seem like great guys, but now I'm starting to see some sponsorship there. I'm not knocking them, but too much attention can ruin good things too. Fortunately my spots aren't good enough to ever film a TV show.

Sent from my moto g fast using Tapatalk
 

They lost revenue from YT with their change in policies and strategy. They were largely exposed to this as a business issue because rumor was they were supporting the core team with revenue solely from YT and it fell off a cliff a few months ago. So they have added their club, and other sponsorships to try to recover from it. Tough spot.

But, you want a real kicker, they have been getting paid by STATES and STATE agencies out of their advertising budgets to come hunt their public ground. GA did it and I believe several other states. They drive license sales....

[left field]

1 minute ago, phade said:

They lost revenue from YT with their change in policies and strategy. They were largely exposed to this as a business issue because rumor was they were supporting the core team with revenue solely from YT and it fell off a cliff a few months ago. So they have added their club, and other sponsorships to try to recover from it. Tough spot.

But, you want a real kicker, they have been getting paid by STATES and STATE agencies out of their advertising budgets to come hunt their public ground. GA did it and I believe several other states. They drive license sales....

Tough call. More license sales means more money to habitat, enforcement, etc, but more hunters. Not sure where the line is. 

[Five Seasons]

23 hours ago, grampy said:

I don't follow ANY of the so called expert hunters. They are only trying to sell you something. 

"Look what I just shot! You can shoot one too if you use........"      No thanks.

Let them come to my property! They probably wouldn't even do as well as I do! There is no "magic" anything, to get more game. You need only two things for successful hunting.......experience, persistence.

Lots of ordinary hunters on youtube just filming their hunts, that I find much more enjoyable to watch.

the meateater group is very different from lee and tiffany. Same could be said for THP and Randy Newberg. Heck half the meateater hunts end with them not killing a thing. 

If you wanted to follow meateater for anything, the recipes and game butchering advice is worth it alone. 

PS the link doesn't work for me.

[Five Seasons]

19 hours ago, JJBat150 said:

Any the florescent pink colors instead of orange.   Even DEC is buying into it : "New York State law requires hunters age 14 and 15 and their mentors who are hunting deer or bear with a gun to wear fluorescent hunter orange or pink..."

because who cares if it's pink or orange, it's bright and stands out.