The UGLY Truth About Being An Outdoor Writer - Season 2: Episode 37

Welcome to the Ron Spomer Outdoors Podcast! In this episode, I interview Joseph von Benedikt about being an outdoor writer and how he gets paid to go hunting.
Links:
Website: ronspomeroutdoors.com/
Facebook: / ronspomeroutdoors
Instagram: / ronspomer
Who is Ron Spomer
For 44 years I’ve had the good fortune to photograph and write about my passion - the outdoor life. Wild creatures and wild places have always stirred me - from the first flushing pheasant that frightened me out of my socks in grandpa’s cornfield to the last whitetail that dismissed me with a wag of its tail. In my attempts to connect with this natural wonder, to become an integral part of our ecosystem and capture a bit of its mystery, I’ve photographed, hiked, hunted, birded, and fished across much of this planet. I've seen the beauty that everyone should see, survived adventures that everyone should experience. I may not have climbed the highest mountains, canoed the wildest rivers, caught the largest fish or shot the biggest bucks, but I’ve tried. Perhaps you have, too. And that’s the essential thing. Being out there, an active participant in our outdoor world.
Produced by: Red 11 Media - www.red11media.com/
Disclaimer
All loading, handloading, gunsmithing, shooting and associated activities and demonstrations depicted in our videos are conducted by trained, certified, professional gun handlers, instructors, and shooters for instructional and entertainment purposes only with emphasis on safety and responsible gun handling. Always check at least 3 industry handloading manuals for handloading data, 2 or 3 online ballistic calculators for ballistic data. Do not modify any cartridge or firearm beyond what the manufacturer recommends. Do not attempt to duplicate, mimic, or replicate anything you see in our videos. Firearms, ammunition, and constituent parts can be extremely dangerous if not used safely.

[@WHOTEEWHO]

This gonna be a good one

[@williamgoldberg1]

Yup, the top two in the industry!

[@WHOTEEWHO]

@CLOV4R713 daggumit

[@19DannyBoy65]

@CLOV4R713 I think that’s just a glitch, for like the last year whenever I click on a channel I’m subscribed to in the comments the preview says I’m not subscribed but when I actually go to the channel I am

[@DillonOrbon]

Let's go

[@joelmcmahan7386]

@CLOV4R713 watch that, had it happen to me also on WTWS channel. Twice now in almost 2.5 years. Good shooting to you and yours 👍

[@lawrencelewis1036]

Very glad you had this guy on again Ron,love hearing him talk about guns and hunting.

[@steveblack7478]

I find both of these seasoned professionals to be with more factors in experience than 90% in this business. I've also been working on writing, I'm 73 and have been hunting alone, mostly until the last 7 years. Both of my grand sons now are hunting. They are regulated to whitetail Indiana deer but are working on turkeys next. Thanks again for your excellent experience. Steven 😊 Gunrunner7

[@gusloader123]

As someone who grew up around horses and had one for years; rode on "Trail Rides" with a group and by myself; did horse hoof trimming; competed in a couple / few Gymkhanas and local horse shows, and a few times announced at local Horse Shows; have trailered horses; built lean-tos; fed, watered, cleaned stalls, groomed, washed, cared for horses ---- I agree with the guy in the video. Leave the horse(s) at home! A horse can do a lot of things, from pulling a stage coach to winning battles in a Cavalry Unit, to running races at race tracks, to helping their riders to rope steers at a rodeo, to Barrel racing, etc., to performing tricks/stunts. BUT --- horses will spook at just about anything, anytime, anywhere. There are MANY horses who will NOT cross a stream or creek. They will STOP. They will start to back up. They will turn left or right, they will try to buck you off. That is the one you are riding. The pack horses being lead by a lead rope are their own boss, and your equipment will be loooooong gone, or dangling under the horse's belly about 3 miles down the trail / mountain / forest. You are better off hunting / hiking on foot. { Human feet 😉} .

[@mackellyman5642]

Not to mention if you part company on the trail they start whining when there friend goes the other way...

[@mathewpaquette7575]

JVB and Ron Spomer. The best in the biz. Great video, thank you!

[@equalopportunityguns]

Joseph’s Stormy Kromer hat is awesome! Great interview! Thanks Ron!

[@joshuareed3999]

I'm sure you guys understand how blessed you are to have the careers you have had, but as a not so subtle reminder- you're living my dream! I'm sure many would say the same. Thank you both for all you do to provide such enjoyable content!

[@scottsozmtns7534]

Speaking of horses, my Father’s mother; my Paternal Grandmother was of the maiden name of “Alsup”, which is the family credited w/ the beginning & original stock that made & bred the “Missouri Fox Trotter”. In the library of Congress you can read that my 5x Great-Great-Grandfather bought the stud “Old Bremmer”, from Thomas Jefferson & later my 3rd Great-Great Grandmother had the maiden name of “Grant”, as in the 1st Cousin to Ulysses S. Grant, General & President. There is a National Monument located here in the small community where the breed began. Some very interesting reading!!!

[@iBleedStarsAndBars]

What a great interview

[@joelmcmahan7386]

No body better to tell this story then from the eyes of Ron. Thanks for sharing your adventures and life Sir. Good shooting to you and yours from me and mine. 🎥💯👍💪🏽

[@ronaldroehrick4872]

You two were awesome, thanks for sharing.

[@selrod55]

Thanks, that was a great conversation.

[@scottsozmtns7534]

Sadly this man received a “Nasty-gram”, in regards to having 5 articles on the 6.5 Creedmoor in 1 issue of Shooting Illustrated/Times (?). I regret that he received the end of my patience in regards to the 6.5 Creedmoor but I’d gone as far as I could & 5 articles we’re more than I could handle. I do still subscribe to 2 publications he’s part of even though I’d lost my patience. 😆 I do enjoy his stories & style of writing. As always Ron, 1st Class content!!! Thanks!

[@lloydshultz9645]

Great video Ron

[@fredbalster3100]

The beautiful fact about the AR 15 is the light weight of the gun. The military had it right on it. I have a cousin who now uses llamas. He hikes a long ways for his elk hunts.

[@ssimossimo576]

In my opinion there is an ideal rifle weight for different applications and different individuals. For a young and fit hunter or a big 2 meters tall fit man, a rifle between 9 and 10.5 pounds is ideal in most situations. For a older man or for someone not fit/overweight, a lighter rifle is better. If you plan on shooting long range, a little bit of weight helps anyone, even a very experienced shooter (less recoil with better ability to see animal reaction to the shot, less influence of recoil on external ballistic, etc). Same if you do a lot of still hunting or you stalk in more open areas. I would never want a 6 lbs rifle, i don't need it and its low weight would affect accuracy despite me being a pretty good shot. I agree with everything else you said. Great podcast as always.

[@ironmikehallowween]

That’s why my hobbies are hobbies. So, I still enjoy them.

[@bryanfox2735]

It’s like the military says. Ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain!!!

[@scottsozmtns7534]

I’ve had 5 Back Surgeries, have a “Fused Spinal Column”, & not long ago had my 2nd light “Heart Attack”. I even used to own land in Wyoming just to hunt Pronghorn & sold it as I knew I couldn’t do the hunting like I used to. I’d like to know if there are “Outfitters”, that cater to “Disabled Hunters”? I’ve got a Rem Model 7, .260 Rem, Thumbhole stock, 18” stainless, very light & a Tikka T3 “Forrest”, in .260 Rem & a sporterized M96 6.5x55 Swede & lastly a Rem 700 ADL .30-06’, w/Leu VX-II weighs 7lbs w/ammo, sling, the whole shabang! I like Talley & Warne alloy’s too!

[@gusloader123]

Scott S Oz Mtns - Hello. Not sure if you are still in Wyoming , but close by in N.D. there is "Wheelchair" hunting allowed. Several disabled veterans are part of it. The chairs are motorized, with caterpillar treads/tracks, so they can move across land. A "helper" hunter is alongside nearby to either retrieve the downed birds, or tag the animal.

[@scottsozmtns7534]

@@gusloader123 I appreciate the info on disabled hunting. Unfortunately I sold my place west of Rawlins, WY. I only own property here in my home state of Missouri. The new “rifle”, season Whitetail Buck State Record was shot within 100yards of my grandfathers land that my Dad & I currently own & manage for game. My oldest son took a 9-point that went 151-points, and field dressed was 237lbs. He was a big ole buck. So I definitely have access to good whitetail hunting both on my grandfathers farm & the farm I live on. I’m NOT wheelchair bound YET! Lol I can walk but just not for long distance. However out in the woods, the terrain cuts down on how long I can actually walk. I’ve harvested 3 good whitetail in my time, a 8, 9 & 10-point bucks all from 127 to 154, & a “almost”, Master Angler Lake Trout & a trophy Smallmouth. Now that my grandson is almost 5 & our 3month old granddaughter are here I’ve became more interested in passing on my knowledge to my grandson “Lyle Scott”, as he is all 100% BOY! He actually made a perfect cast down at the creek using my spin cast Shimano for the 1st time. He’s 4 1/2yrs old. He always wants to see “Papa’s Guns”, & I’ve begun to teach him about the basics of safety & he is amazing me at just how much he remembers of what I tell him. God has blessed me! No, my days of big hunting trips are most likely done, for me, but they’ve only just begun for my youngest son 12yrs, (my eldest sons boy), grandson almost 5 & my granddaughter (our middle son’s new baby), that will be almost ready “Charlie Sue”, before I know it. And yes, we have 2 grown son w/families of their own & a 12yr old at home, so YES, we had an accident but what a wonderful accident to have especially since he’s my namesake! Everybody is great on Ron’s channel, thank you all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@craigschaefer8764]

For most of my life, I was a pastor of a Church that my wife and I built. The parallels between your career, pastoring, or running a small business, are remarkable. Self motivation, and working long hours, are the essential ingredients to success. And success is defined by the promotion of the product, with money being the byproduct, secondary to that success.

[@goproaz2097]

11:00 Angels did save you brother.

[@puccini4530]

Yup! That's my world you're talking about, and never were words more truly spoken. Would-be Ron Spomers out there should learn this conversation by heart, then take it to heart. The reality is, the odds of making a good living as an outdoor writer are vanishingly small. The business has taken me around the world, and provided stories my grandchildren probably won't believe - I hardly believe them myself these days. But anyone who recognises a coming need to cover mortgage payments and put foie gras on the table should consider an alternative primary source of income. On the other hand, anyone with reliable passive income who then feels a call to write, shouldn't hesitate. It's trite to say we mostly regret what we haven't done. Trite, but right.

[@wayneblair288]

Nice job Guys.

[@marcosmota1094]

13 miles tops..."leave some for later"...meaning do not abuse your body. A lifetime is a long time, and bring trekking poles. Never get complacent with horse, no matter if they are yours, or how long you've known them.

[@scottsozmtns7534]

Definition of the word BONSAI-“Tree in a Tray”. Makes me wonder why Asian folk yell “Bonsai”, like we do “Geronimo”. 😆

[@timhenderson6035]

Hold on a minute the rack is the most important with the meat

[@TonyYork-KB9RAO]

I found out at an earlier stage in life, that getting a job doing your most loved hobby, is a good way to make it a hated hobby....

[@RonSpomerOutdoors-Podcast]

Perhaps, Tony, but I can assure you I never hated hunting around the world and then writing about it.

[@bethhensel3741]

Quack Quacks

[@jeanhaney2203]

Ron you are cut from.the old.cloth of the 60s and 70s who wore flannel and red hats before hunting orange who read o connor our teen years and read every outdoor life and field n stream.we.could.get our hands on had to save our money to buy a box of red federals for 6 bucks newbreed guys Have made.more.commercial. and do.not.respect the love of hunting and ego overrides ethics

[@danbradley4838]

Nice guest and seems knowledgeable--just wish that he'd drop all the "right" at the end of most sentences....I bet his professors would cringe.

[@D--5]

Right..

[@mifly1977]

.

[@RonSpomerOutdoors]

Careful, mifly, you're confusing this gentleman with someone else. This is Joseph, and I've no information suggesting he'd steal anything.

[@mifly1977]

Comment humbly withdrawn

[@chrismorlock2430]

Can’t with the fake chuckles and cheesy radio disc jockey voice of the guest

[@mackellyman5642]

Your listing to a he-man with the si-man...