A Different Tred Barta


Doc

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Now, I know that nearly everybody hates Tred Barta, but did anyone see the "grizzly bear hunt" last night? I know this is not going to be a popular comment, but I have got to say that that show ranks right up there as one of the best hunting productions I've seen on TV in years.

First of all, the photography was the absolute best I ever seen on a hunting show. The professionalism made all others look like home movies.

They actually realized that no hunting story can be done well in 1/2 hour, so the show was designed around 1 hour instead. Even the music was well done and didn't sound like the usual 1970's porn themes (not that I would know, of course).

There was no doubt in my mind that he had placed immense pressure on himself for this hunt and the stakes were adequately passed on to the viewer. I believe that he had already racked up 8 or 9 years of failure prior to that hunt and you could absolutely feel how important this was to him. It was pretty hard not to get completely caught up in the griz fever on this one.

All of the inclusion of little details and even non-hunting details all added to the feeling of having actually been there. Nothing was left on the cutting room floor. Even the total screw-ups were included.

The people that were accompanying him were pretty interesting characters too. The whole show wasn't just about him as so many of the other hunting shows that focus in only on the main "star" hunter.

And of course, last but not least was the perfect 10 yard shot at a Pope & Young grizzly bear with a simple longbow and wooden arrows. Naturally he had an outfitter and a hunting buddy with guns as a back-up, but they weren't needed. It was kind of funny to see the guide jump on Tred's back and pin him to the ground right after the shot was made just to ensure that he had a clear shooting area if needed. I always wondered how the back-up guys made sure that their hunter didn't get between them and the bear. Well, apparently this guy shoves his hunters flat to the ground and holds them there with his knee to make sure that doesn't happen. It sure didn't look to graceful or too gentle either....lol.

I would say that for all the panning this guy has taken on other forums, this one program was a complete redemption and turned out to be a show of such quality that other hunting show hosts have finally been shown exactly how the TV hunting shows should be done. And I believe that Tred Barta now holds ownership of the best hunting show of the year and perhaps even the decade.

Now, I don't expect a whole lot of agreement on any of the above, because I know from past discussions on this and other forums that his personality is a complete turn-off for a lot of people and will absolutely stand in the way of objectivity for a lot of people. However, that arrogant personality or whatever you might call it, was surprisingly absent on this show and I actually saw him as a guy that I wouldn't mind hunting with.

Doc

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Re: A Different Tred Barta

I final saw it since it was a repeat from amonth or so ago.

I have heard pro and con opinions on this guys but saved it for my own opinion. I agree with the original posters comments too.

1 hour is way better and the little things made the show for me. I never once felt like I was being sold anything either.

I liked the best AND worst of Tred Barta theme too.

Its definately different.

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Re: A Different Tred Barta

Saw the grizzley story. Was almost Tred's best. I think it takes great courage to sneak up in bow range to a grizzler.

I never really liked the guy, I just thot he was another rich loud New Yawker. Then I saw the show about him and his son elk hunting in Colorado where the boy wanted to rifle hunt his elk up close like a bowhunter has to. The father son aspect somehow added a certain amount of human quality to the show and it changed some of the neg feelings I had about Tred and I watch his shows with a new perspective.

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