bigmoss Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Now before I say why, I want to say I know how things work on these TV shows, some are fenced, some are setup etc, etc, etc. The shows are there to sell product and outfitters some hunts as well as entertain BUT.... I watch just about every hunting show there is on TV, I am glued to the Outdoor channel on the dish almost 24/7. 2 weeks ago Realtree aired a show about monster bucks, one of the hunts was Stan Pots from Whitetail Adventures with Pat Reeves also from that show behind the camera. Now all these shows especially realtree boast about if the camera man does not see the deer in the view finder for the people watching to see or there is not enough light blah blah they pass. Well Pots was bow hunting and yes a monster buck came out and he grunted to stop it but it stopped in a bad area sort of head on and vitals quatering behind a tree. As the shot was being taken the camera man focuses on Pots and NOT the deer. Right away I knew why, the was NO WAY anyone should have taken that shot. You could see after when the buck was on the ground and they were showing it, you could see he shot it high in the neck. Now before the bashing starts I am not a perfect hunter, by far, and yes many me included with a buck that size would have probably taken or thought of taking the same shot BUT and that a HUGE BUT, I am not the one with a TV show that allot of first time and young bows hunters are watching and might take a lesson from. Sorry but if that was going to be aired and bragged how it is now the largest non typical with a bow in that state I believe, then they should not have aired that shot only a REALLY experienced bow hunter should even think of making. Or have had him at least say listen I chose to take the shot on this buck as I have been bow hunting for years and had the confidence to know I could make it count. At least the younger guys and gals would make a note of that. I would hate to see a new comer rush a shot like that wound the animal and risk never even fidning him, that would be a waste of a great trophy as well as meat. Now like I said I am far from perfect but I am not out in the public eye asking others to do as I say and do. Just thought a few people would have thought twice and maybe replaced that segment with something else or Realtree should have just let them air it on their own show and not have been associated wiht it. just my .02 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckbuster11 Posted February 10, 2005 Report Share Posted February 10, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time There was a post in here about the same show a week or so ago. I agree, not a shot I would ever consider taking...and I did think it was a little odd that they took the camera off the deer at the time of the shot. I know he is confident with his shooting..but taking a shot a buck that is nearly facing straight at you is poor shot selection and a poor example. JMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmoss Posted February 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Adk I agree I too like to see even the pros mess up once in a while, shows we are all human. BUT the deer was not broad side or even in a position a shot should have been taken. It was not really a point of screwing up it was just plain a shot that should not have been taken. I know what you mean about to air or not again with the BUT, these guys have their own show, let them look stupid and make poor judgements on that show. I could probably understand if Micheal or David shot this deer, but both guys have their own TV show. I guess if I were the Realtree producers I would have passed on the footage as there is no shortage of Bill and the gang to fill the spot. BM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time I agree, I want to hear what the shooter has to say as well, after a flubbed up shot.....I have seen where some other shows the hunter says..." I made a bad hit, it took ump teen hours to find him, I'll do better next time...and move on..." thats the way we learn, if we focus on the perfect shot, on the perfect hunt, we are all gonna be in for a reality check for sure when the real world slaps a good one on us....al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Stan knew he could make a lethal shot, so he took it. Do YOU think you can make a lethal shot on a deer standing broadside? Do YOU take that shot? Realtree had NOTHING to do with that hunt...it was from Hunter's Specialities Primetime 6, NOT Realtree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmoss Posted February 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Hey Chud, all I can respond to your question is, I guess I WOULD think that I would have a better chance with yes a broadside shot. Do I take the shot ? Sure if I feel it is safe for me AND THE ANIMAL, a rifle is one thing but a bow is a totally different thing. That and my hunts are not out there on TV for thousands to see and try the same mistake as a shot and wound or loose to many animals. I guess my other comment would be if it had nothing to do with Realtree and was from Hunters Specialty PLUS those 2 have their own show anyway, why bother airing it on REALTREE, why not add another hunt from the 3 main hunters, or the Tecomante people or a celebrity. I know Realtree has enough monster bucks on video to have added another segment is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time I made that shot once. 10yrds, looking straight up at me and I put the arrow right in the same spot. Buried the arrow up to the feathers. The deer ran 50 yards and piled up twice on the way there, Broke my arrow in 3 places. I'm not saying I would take that shot whenever it presented itself, but at the time, I knew it was a good one. The deer was standing in a perfect spot, body angle perfect, (straight away, looking straight up) I was very comfortable with my own positioning, my bow was tuned in good, plus I was shooting 68 lbs, I felt very confident with what my bow would do and my own ability, and the rest is history. Would I recommend this shot to everyone...No, too many variables. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time No, it was not an ethical shot. It was obvious from the shooters reaction, that he was not sure of the result of the shot. I believe that he took the shot only because of the size of the rack. The question should be....Would he take the same shot at a forked horn? There are way too many poor shot selectons shown on these hunting shows. Big bucks sell deer hunting videos and the resulting ad money, but that is just plain bad hunting ethics. Poor shots are one thing, they happen, but poor shot selection is a poor teacher. I would like RealTree to show a better product than that. Why can't they be a step above the rest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time [ QUOTE ] Hey Chud, all I can respond to your question is, I guess I WOULD think that I would have a better chance with yes a broadside shot. Do I take the shot ? [/ QUOTE ] And Stan felt comfortable with the front shot, or he wouldn't have taken the shot. It's all about what the person is confident with and not what the majority thinks is right or wrong. Most people think that was a bad idea by Stan to take that shot. But he felt comfortable with it and made a clean kill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainebuck Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time can't judge him until you're in his shoes. I don't fault him for the shot. Imagine the sickness if you keep waiting for a broadside shot on a deer like that and it never happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmoss Posted February 11, 2005 Author Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time [ QUOTE ] Imagine the sickness if you keep waiting for a broadside shot on a deer like that and it never happens. [/ QUOTE ] But thats Bow hunting.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Stan Potts has been hunting an awful long time. As for the disclaimers, if someone is not confident in a shot they have no business taking the shot whether they saw it on TV or not. That is common sense. There are idiots out there who take poor shots, even if they dont see it on TV. Most of us realize that because you see someone do something does not necessarily make it right. You mention an inexperienced hunter getting the wrong impression. I believe on many of these shows they do suggest that the shooters are pros and when they do make poor shot they usually admit to it and suggest that they should not have taken the shot, but it was the only shot that presented itself. Stan as I recall did say he wanted to back out and give the deer some time in that particular episode, but cannot recall if he commented on his shot placement. I personally would have taken that shot with a gun, probably without any hesitation. Bow I am not so sure, probably not, but I am not by any means an expert archer as is Stan Potts. I am sure my setup is very capable of killing a deer with the same shot, but not so sure I have the confidence and the fact that I am questioning as to whether I would or would not means I most likely would not with a bow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Why would you feel sick about letting a big deer walk-I've done it many times-what's the worse that could hapen he'll breed a few more does-maybe get a bit bigger next year. The sick feeling of passing him is not even close to the feeling you'd get if you take a bad shot and wound him and don't get him retrieved. I watched a pro shoot a deer on video up here that I know was past legal time-they couldn't get the kill shot because it was too dark to film-makes you wonder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest adamo Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time I took this shot on a doe and it was not only the quickest kill I've ever had, but also the easiest blood trail to follow. She went 30 yards and piled up, the blood trail was 1 1/2 foot wide on BOTH sides of the trail. Both lungs were destroyed, so don't tell me you can't get the vitals from the front. Whether you like the shot or not, Stan did the smartest thing after the shot... he backed out and gave the deer some time. I believe if you watch the Primetime vid it looks like the deer made it accross one open field then bedded down on the other side and never got up. I think a head-on shot is fine, but I did think that Stan hit a little high on that one. Personally the only thing I don't like about videos is the camera "grunt" to stop the deer, I would rather shoot the deer as he is walking by. adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time As I said in my previous post, Stan was not confident in the shot. This was obvious from his reacton immediately after the shot, during tracking and his relief when finding the buck. The fact that arrow impact on the animal was not shown in the video is evidence that the producers were aware of the not only poor shot choice, but also the poor shot (the arrow hit high in the neck). Just because a "successful" recovery is made, that does not justify the shot selection. Being a "professional" hunter has nothing to do with it, as many of us here in the forums have just as much, if not more, hunting experience and can shoot just as well. No matter how you try to justify it, it was a poor shot selection along with less than optimal arrow placement, which, although it resulted in a recovered animal, should not be shown on video without some serious discussion about it. If instead of being high, the shot had been left or right the story may have been different. Stan was lucky that day indeed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Is there anyone who would hold it against him if he had added a comment afterward that the shot was not a recommended shot for the average bowhunter to take, Or perhaps even acknowledged that his shot selection was perhaps a poor choice and he was somewhat lucky to be able to pull it off successfully? Personally such a statement would be something that would gain him a bit more respect in my eyes. I'm not sure that these people are aware how many people watching these videos are young inexperienced bowhunters or soon-to-be bowhunters. You can have all the state sponsored bowhunter education you want, but when these youngsters see a professional hunter on TV do something like that, all the training in the world means nothing. Basically you are creating a condition where you are putting some Joe Nobody instructor's word against that of a noted TV personality who makes his living from hunting. That particular shot will immediately go into this beginner's repertoire to be used at some later date. I have no problem with showing such things as long as the record is set straight afterward with some good, frank and honest explanations that it really was not the right thing to do. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest KSNimrod Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Not trying to start a flame war here, but how can a shot be a "poor" shot when it's fatally effective? I know we can talk about percentages being best for a broadside/quartering away double lung shot. I fully agree that's true. What I don't know is what are the arguments against non-standard but deadly shots? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mainebuck Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time [ QUOTE ] Why would you feel sick about letting a big deer walk-I've done it many times-what's the worse that could hapen [/ QUOTE ] said just like a guy from saskatchewan. you're a lucky man. I've only had a few encounters with big bucks and am still waiting to take one so I would be a little shook up to get that close to one and not get a crack at him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Have seen more than just this one particular show where Stan has taken shots on deer that I would not have taken. Seems there was a high angle spine shot that was also discussed in here a ways back that Stan took that was aired on one of the television series, may have been RT not sure. Anyways my point is if somoene sees someone jump off a bridge does that make it a smart thing for them to do? Common sense tells us all to know our limitations and not to attempt to go beyond what we are confident with. If you see someone do something that does not make it right for you. Bashing Stan Potts in here accomplishes absolutely nothing. He killed the deer, it was shot in the neck. Many of us have shot deer in the neck, maybe not with a bow, but a neck shot can be a very high percentage shot if yo know a deers anatomy. If you can take and make the shot and are comfortable with it take it and dont worry about what anyone else thinks. As for the youngsters or idiots out there, whether you admit it or not or like it or not the reality is that there are plenty out there who already take shots not knowing what the heck they are doing. If they dont care enough about learning what they can do and about making an effective quick kill shot, they are already on the wrong track and no television show is going to make a hill of beans in changing that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time What I think of is " how many really poor shots" were edited out of the hunting vids, the ones they never recovered. We only see the recovered deer, never hear about the rest. I see them shooting a buck in good sunlight, next time you see them finding the deer, it is pitch black ?? I have alot of vids, from alot of different hunters. They only have to show us the good parts. When I buy a hunting vid, it is for entertainment, I really don't think I will see the real deal too_pointer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elkoholic Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time A pair of deuces is a poor poker hand, but you just might win with it. Place your bets. Oh....you just lost, well at least there is not a wounded animal out there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superguide Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time Well Mainebuck it takes a good man to make a poor/lucky shot but a better man to let him walk in my opinion. Just go ahead and take a marginal shot and have a deer get away and you'll find out what I mean. It's not the end of the world to let the deer win most of the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
need2hunt Posted February 11, 2005 Report Share Posted February 11, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time On the Primetime video they did not break away at the shot and they show the deer take the hit and run away with the majority of the arrow sticking out of his neck... I think that RT did a good job to edit that out of there show. As for Stan saying anything about the shot, on the Primetime video the first thing he says is "I didn't want to take that shot" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
horst Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time I didnt see the video but Im having a hard time even picturing the shot you guys are talking about.Did he just shoot it in the neck or did he get the vitals with a frontal shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VtBowhunter Posted February 12, 2005 Report Share Posted February 12, 2005 Re: Disappointed in Realtree this time He shot the buck in the throat. It was a 12 yard shot and we're talking about a guy that shoots so much that it's 2nd nature to him. Pretty much a gimme shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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