What do the pros use and why?

[jcot2773]

What do all of you use for your set up? And why?

Is it because they sponsor you or because it is what you like?

[hoosierhunter]

pretty sure if it's on camera and it's a main part of the hunt, it's the sponsor. I.E. gun, bow, camo, binos, release, etc.

[jcot2773]

well, i would like to know if the pro's just say no to some stuff. like broadheads and what not. i know that i will not shoot anything other than a muzzy broadhead just wondering if the pro's do the same thing. i will also not shoot certain bows just a question that i would like answered.

[Tim Andrus]

I shoot Muzzy's too by choice, not on their pro staff .

I use what I like or think is the best choice . And if that company wants to endorse it I will. I try and keep my sponser affiliations low so I can give the ones I believe in the best enorsements. Where as tv shows have to use the products due to sponser money. hope that makes sense

[stevebeilgard]

i use what i like and prefer, also. i won't accept lesser equipment even if it's free. in the late '80's i did a show for bushnell optics folks. i have zeiss optics and only would use the bushnell after i found the game. we made a good show but i didn't score any brownie points.

[jcot2773]

Ok, i was just wondering because i see these shows say brought to you by and then starts listing off sponsors. do any of you contact the sponsor with something like hey we are using your product and wondering if you would consider sponsoring us?

[Tim Andrus]

I dont for 1 reason, dont have my own show.. Id rather them come to me instead of pushing myself on them. Now if I had a show you have to go to them to get enough money to buy time slots on outdoor channel, versus etc

[jcot2773]

so, if you did have your own show would you use whoever's products paid for the slots or would you still use your choice equipment? that is what i'm asking. like say rage wanted to pay for the slot if you used their head? would you take that deal or would you pass because you dont believe in their equipment?

[Tim Andrus]

Nope wouldnt take Rage on.. dont really care for mechanicals. I would have to look and or try product first before i would come on with them.

[mikebohio]

i would use any product who was willing to endorse me. it would have to be a strait up rip off for me not to be willing to use. any broad head,bow,gun,ammo,cammo pattern....etc will harvest deer. i know im not a pro staffer but i just wanted to give my 2 cents.

[jcot2773]

i know if i dont care for a product, or it would be a step down then why use it? i just wanted to know if pro staff people had the same opinion or if they just use whoever pays them. like steve said why would he ever use bushnell when he has zeiss optics. instead.

[need2hunt]

so, if you did have your own show would you use whoever's products paid for the slots or would you still use your choice equipment? that is what i'm asking. like say rage wanted to pay for the slot if you used their head? would you take that deal or would you pass because you dont believe in their equipment?

JCOT

The answers aren't that easy nor are they all compassing of the entire outdoor industry and their prostaffs.

There are people within the industry that will trade out a sponsor for the simple fact of money and publicity and there are others that lean on more loyalty and partnerships and there i no doubt everything in between. There is also a vast range of shows from Billy & Bob trying to get a show off the ground to known hunting Celebrities having a show running for many years.

Also sponsorship means many different things, from getting a title to product to money and endorsments. But in the end if you have a show and it has categories that are sponsored then you and your people best be showing that product on film because that's why there is a sponsor. It is also common practice to when possible to try and make sure that your guide or outfitter has access to the sponsored equipment for filming. Does that mean they are "selling out" and have lost their personal ethics? NO it's a business, plain and simple.

For instance the end user might not be able or willing to spend $2,000 on a pair of Zeiss optics but might be willing to spend $200-$400 on a pair of Nikon's or Bushnell's. Also your end user might only need to be glassing a 150 yard field for deer as opposed to an eternity of land looking for Antelope, Mule Deer or Elk.

Here's a personal story when it comes to broadheads, I used to be like Tim and didn't like expandables. I first shot Muzzy then went to G5 montecs and strikers, when I started with Archer's Choice NAP was (and still is) the broadhead sponsor. I started shooting Spitfire expandables and over the last 4 years shot variations of them (Spitfire Pro, Spitfire Edge, Spitfire MAXX). I am no longer with Archer's Choice but I would really need to see something special to ever shoot anything but a Spitfire again. I wasn't stepping down because I used a product that I wasn't using before, I actually bettered myself by trying something new.

Many of these show hosts and prostaffs also field test the sponsor products long before any end user sees them on a shelf. Everyone is trying to make a better product, and these are some of the people that put them to the test and get to give input to the sponsors to for possible improvements, yays or nays.

Now if you asked Tim if Mossy Oak came to him and said we want you to be the host of our new show, we will give you a 10 year contract at $xx,000 (add as many 0's as you want Tim lol) a year plus completely outfit you and pay for all the hunts and expenses plus supply the filmcrew and editing, but you have to switch to Mossy Oak. If he said yes would he be selling out or would he be a guy that took the opportunity to live his dream and get paid for it?

Or say you had your own show and you were sponsored by Muzzy for broadheads and arrow rests and there sponsorship dollar covered 50% of your total income, (I know that's not a real possibility but just go with it) and you found out that "something" happened and there was a large possibility within the next 1-2 years Muzzy would go bankrupt. Would you start talking with other possible sponsors for that category or would you say I've always shot muzzy and I'll lose half my income because I won't try anything else?

Or say your dream is to have your own hunting show. You figure it out with the cost of all the filming and editing equipment (plus QUALIFIED personel to run it), hunt costs and travel, hunting gear and then find out that you depending on the network you want to PAY to be on could run you as much as 6 figures. You decide that you need sponsorship to offset the costs of your endevour so you go to the people that manufacture the products you currently use and believe in - they say thanks but no thanks - Will you ask someone else to sponsor you? If you do and another company says yes and gives you X amount of dollars will you say thanks for the money but I won't use your product on film or anywhere else because i like something else?

There are a lot of IF'S and MAYBE's and CIRCUMSTANCES in the above post. My point is the same as I stated at the beginning...The answers aren't that easy nor are they all compassing. It's not a black and white comparison.

[jcot2773]

I know it was an open ended question that left room for discussions. that is what i was asking. Just view and opinions on it. It is not selling out, but just simply personal preference. wondering how many of the pro staff people use products because they are endorsed and how many of them use what they want.

[Tim Andrus]

Well put Gary if I ever hit it big in the industry Ill hire you to do my press releases....

[Tim Andrus]

Funny you say that about mossy oak, a few years back they contacted me to switch over , (not with tv show though lol) and do so many events etc . A little more money than Realtree ( not much) Didnt hesitate to say no said thanks for the offer but Realtree got me started in this industry . And plus I honestly didnt like the patterns

[ruttinbuc]

Great post Gary! Very enlightening to say the least. It is all about business and having your ducks in a row.

[buckee]

Funny you say that about mossy oak, a few years back they contacted me to switch over , (not with tv show though lol) and do so many events etc . A little more money than Realtree ( not much) Didnt hesitate to say no said thanks for the offer but Realtree got me started in this industry . And plus I honestly didnt like the patterns

Yeah, I love my Realtree hunting gear too. It's a work of art. There is just simply none that compare.