The Dark Side of Hunting Media w/ Matt Rinella | HUNTR Podcast

[@Alberta_MTN_Bear]

This is exactly why I eliminated my instagram and Facebook. I have been hunting since I was 4 years old and I have found myself when I had those stupid platforms posting things not because I “LOVED” it and loved to share it but because I wanted that pat on the back. I’m glad I’ve changed my mindset and decided to hunt for my own benefit. Love Matt Rinella’s point of view

[@jacobwynn9555]

I did the same thing. It's completely changed my hunting and I'm doing it for the pure joy of it. I've rediscovered my love for hunting.

[@509CCB]

I did the same. 100% agree

[@andyeighttre]

Sharing for the sake of sharing is one thing. Instant gratification is another. Good job recognizing it. That’s why the only people I have on Insta are family and close friends. If I wouldn’t text you photo or video then I don’t want you as a follower.

[@user-rw4qd7ev8x]

Matt is right on the money. Media and especially social media has screwed up hunting permanently. These two guys don’t want to hear it because they’re apart of the same thing

[@Slippindisc]

Bingo

[@alexandercluster3003]

These guys are both dying to lease 10,000 acres to themselves. They are doing everything to privatize hunting. They all but admit it.

[@Slippindisc]

@@alexandercluster3003 it’s not just that. Their livelihood is tied up with the hunting industry. Nobody who has turned a hobby into a living is gonna be like “you know what? What I’m doing is wrong”. No they’re going to justify it however they can. Plus these guys don’t just get paid from the podcast and sponsorships, they’re probably getting hunting trips and gear for “testing” and you name it. That’s why they try to turn it into an argument about the motivation. Because they know they’re doing what Matt says they are, so the only defense really is that their intentions were pure starting out. Which I’m sure they were. Matt makes a great point that just because this wasn’t a problem when the first guy to film himself hunting, doesn’t mean it hasn’t become a problem.

[@alexandercluster3003]

@@Slippindisc These guy’s litterly represent everything that is wrong with hunting. Antler chasing, self promoting and Elitist. All these guy really care about is making money and hanging their turdy point buck on the wall they paid 30k to kill.

[@daveyboy8907]

hypocrites for sure@@alexandercluster3003

[@travisshuttleworth630]

Took me awhile to warm up to this guy, but I'm grateful for this conversation. Imo the worst thing social media did to the average hunter is the perceived pressure felt from your peers. " I want to shoot that buck but I'll get made fun of because it's not big" or "I want to give this buck another year, but if I don't kill a buck this year everyone will think I'm a bad hunter". Comparison is the thief of joy

[@HUNTRPOD]

Absolutely man! Spot on

[@tylerjordan9041]

You’re spot on with this take

[@jz3318]

I always get two tags. One for a doe and one for a buck. I've never filled my tag I save for a buck but every year I get a medium sized doe for the best venison. I get made fun of for shooting "small does" but I put meat in the freezer.

[@travisshuttleworth630]

@@jz3318 no shame in that whatsoever!

[@pilsenoutdoors3721]

the cool thing about social media is you control what's in your face. You don't have to follow tons of hunting instagram accounts for example. Just use it as a tool that makes you the most happy, productive and move on. Giving myself permission to live that way has been fantastic. I can still look up technical videos when I want and skip all the drama when that's in the way.

[@mattsanchez1224]

Can’t help but think about Chris Bee killing that Kansas hammer on public land, posting it all over, and then going back the next year and crying that there was pressure

[@HUNTRPOD]

You’ll hear it from Chris next week 😂

[@usernamehere6061]

They want all the credit of public land success and the money they get from ad revenue but then cry when others do the same thing.

[@ryanbfor3]

people just wanna be seen so bad its crazy. i promise you dont need to post every animal you shoot or every fish you catch... then to complain when people show up hahaha

[@jz3318]

​@@ryanbfor3for real! One friend of mine gets mad when I take pictures of little fish and I tell them that the little ones need love too! 😊

[@devinwillis7787]

@@ryanbfor3he needs to if he wants to make money on it.

[@mitchborneman6926]

My dad passed away four years ago, he would have loved this conversation. I think back to talking with him about the outdoors and he loved the stories and face to face stories. He never promoted hunting and didnt really take pictures and show people his successes either. But he loved hunting for hunting and loved hearing others stories of enjoying the outdoor. I would only think he and matt would agree on so much.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Sorry about your dad, but those memories will always be gold

[@ryderwuest4039]

This is the most important podcast about hunting I’ve heard in years. There are people with profit incentive that do not care about you or the animals. They will lie to your face and say they do.

[@ryanburget4434]

I agree with Matt one of Steve’s early shows about hunting prong horn in Wyoming completely ruined an area I hunt I haven’t been able to draw a tag for years !

[@rjvanetten3123]

I am conflicted because I like Matt and can agree with his view. But no one in my family hunted. If it weren’t for hunting media I would not be here and I wouldn’t have found what I now enjoy the most and dedicate my free time too.

[@changing-the-world]

And they are saying people like you are the problem. Because you are a new hunter. I think the problem is that wilderness are on the decline

[@huntcastdraw]

Matt is full of it. He’d like to seeing hunting licenses decreased by 50%. That would be about 8 million licenses issued across the country. Matt has never lived in an America where only 8 million licenses have been issued. In 1960 there were about 14 million hunters. In 1982 hunting reached its peak of 16.7 million hunters. In 2022 we had 15.9 million hunters. Matt had to deal with more hunters in his prime than he does today. Social media isn’t the issue. Urban sprawl and the decreasing public hunting lands by the tune of about 16 million acres is the problem.

[@huntcastdraw]

@@changing-the-worldthat is the problem! Hunting licenses reached a peak in 1982. But land to hunt has decreased by 10s of millions of acres.

[@xxROEVYxx]

It’s a tough spot all around, on one side I agree that the “wrong” kind of hunting media/social media has really hurt hunting. That’s something that we can’t hide from anymore. I’m also of the opinion that there are too many new hunters with the wrong idea of what it is and a major lack of ethics, respect and responsibility. I’m in western pa, and the legalization across the board of crossbows has damaged hunting grounds both private and public, every time I find a dead deer with just its head cut off or a whole dead deer with a bad hit(either too far back or too high) I’m reminded of that fact. I shouldn’t feel cringy when I hear about a new hunter but that’s where we are right now. I dont think anyone has the right answer but I know one thing for sure, live with the land and not on it.

[@johnny_fins]

he's 100% right about social media, tv shows, and the hunting public guys specifically. they're not bad guys and in their mind, doing it for the right reasons. but the negative impact social media has on hunting is multi faceted. all of those impacts FAR exceed crossbows, longer seasons, etc. not even close

[@HUNTRPOD]

I still think the THP stuff is a miss. Those guys are trying to bring the fun back into hunting which has been pushed to guys killing big bucks and saying “Not my biggest…” before telling us anything about the HUNT

[@johnny_fins]

@@HUNTRPODyou're thinking about this backwards. THP is NOT producing a culture that is "not my biggest but". if we're going to give them credit, it's the exact opposite from those guys. Matt is essentially saying that access, tags, values and opportunity is negatively impacted by social media- more so because it's cool (recruitment) rather than longer seasons or crossbows, etc. this goes back to his argument about recruiting. recruiting ties into the money and the people who generate an income from more hunters. it's a finite resource and THP is recruiting thousands of people with every video. this impacts tags, land prices, access, etc

[@HUNTRPOD]

Are they??? I mean most the people I know watching THP are lifelong hunters. Not newbies who think hunting is cool, I would say that’s more of a Rogan effect

[@johnny_fins]

you'd be shocked at the amount of newbies turkey hunting on public since 2020 and since THP popped. i've had people come up to me at gas stations in central maine and say they're from alabama, they saw THP up here so they thought they'd give it a shot. different dynamic with deer and turkey. maybe they're having a more negative on turkey. but i don't think matt's wrong

[@joshdinges7946]

you guys are out of touch here. There are masses of hunters that would never even think about hunting public that have now made it into their identity. Look on youtube at the amount of hunting videos that now incorporate the phrase "public." I love your guys podcast but if you honestly think THP has had a net positive on hunting I think you need to take another look. How many "influencers" do you see nowadays hunting "public" and trying to make a living out of exploiting public lands. If you compare that to the amount of channels prior THP it's not even close.@@HUNTRPOD

[@russellallen9648]

Im completely on board with Matt... as a man in my 50s I pull a issue with any hunting group that travels state to state harvesting animals and filming for purpose of monetary gain. Look in my opinion there is a lack of ethics by todays modern hunters

[@Outdoorted21]

“Hunting media, reduces access.” Bingo! I’d stand behind MATT Rinella👍🏽👍🏽

[@buckconnolly1820]

Thanks guys! This is the best podcast I have ever listened to. My personal experience with loss of opportunity was back in the mid 90's Bugle magazine published an article specifically naming the unit my family Elk hunts, we used to be able to just buy a tag over the counter and now it's a controlled draw that takes 3+ years to draw for archery and 8+ years for a rifle tag. Just sucks when you grew up with some of the best Elk hunting right out your back door.

[@flux_core_fx]

It seems like the problem is people being selfish, and exploiting hunting for personal gain. Unfortunately we only have finite resources (land)

[@tfelich19]

While I don't think it's realistic to think enough people will adopt the "Hunt Quiet" mindset and cause, you gotta appreciate Matt's genuine conviction, courage, and many actions consistent with his cause.

[@blakewenger2718]

Matt is spot on when he says that media is destroying hunting. We have had an explosion of leasing in the last 15 years. I believe the hunger for trophy deer has overcome the idea of letting your neighbors son get his first deer. or just go squirrel hunting. Leasing is killing access in Ohio. Leasing makes me wish deer didn't have antlers!

[@Icomeheretolearn]

Not trying to start an argument, but leasing it a great way for people to hunt. It keeps people in the woods. With the insanity that comes with public land. It deters people from continuing and deters new hunters from giving it a try. It also helps pay their taxes. Heck where I live public land is so crazy that I wouldn’t want my kid out there because of safety and the level of competition makes it not even worth it. Also, think about about it if you got 10 guys in a club. That’s probably more than a landowner is gonna allow to come on his property for nothing.

[@ep3389]

@blakewenger2718 hunting media has been around for decades. matt himself is a part of that. The dude is literally on a hunting channel talking about hunting while complaining about the exact same thing that made him known

[@matthewholmes8638]

What are you talking about? His brother is in hunting media Matt isnt.​@@ep3389

[@guitarwok]

Does and loins boyz

[@guitarwok]

It's awesome to be a MEAT HUNTER

[@Iowa_Whitetail]

I LOVE THAT “WE” ARE HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS!!!!!! Whatever your views on these very complex issues… & there are issues... We all are part of the problem & we can be part of the solutions as well. Until we continue to flush these issues through & fix our own house - issues get worse. Fantastic this dialogue taking place. Fantastic some folks who are “pimping hunting out” are getting called out (crossbow companies for example that pay lobbyists & politicians - ruin states & they get rich). I’m 1/3d through but fantastic more convos like this are happening!!!! 👍💪🔥👊

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks man…it’s an uncomfortable conversation. But that means it needs to happen

[@DocJillBeans]

I took a 1.5 year break from social media and when I came back I was happy to find Hunt Quietly articulating some of the issues I felt were harming both me and society at large. The key is thoughtful usage of this insanely helpful/harmful tool that humans have created, and that is going to look different for each individual.

[@joereidoutdoorsman.3136]

I never got on it lol

[@DUCKS2525]

What a great conversation! My family have been going out to Kansas for the last 12 years and this was the first year we didn't draw. I have myself and 3 daughters! I take them out for 7 days, I do not hunt at this time! It is just for them. Then after I take them I return to hunt myself and my best friend for a week. I really think the Crossbow season has contributed to over entry for the Kansas bowhunting draw! I would love to see Kansas remove the baiting all together! Thanks again for Matt Rinella for his view also. Really great conversations!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Appreciate the input, you all cash in that preference point next year and get back out!

[@thepracticalrifleman]

Basically, he’s mad more people want to hunt.

[@Verticalbowoutdoors]

He’s right 100percent that media is destroying the passion of hunting. I once until very recent had two farms combined 1200 acres was able to hunt with my kids. I grew up hunting these two farms, my parents started me in hunting on these two farms and now gone because of media driving people from out of state here to lease these farms and I couldn’t outbid the money these people dropped to leases these farms I had no choice but to buy a small tract of land just to hunt and be able to take my kids out and when I say small I mean 17 acres because the price of land is skyrocketing thanks to media driving everybody in to lease up everything around me. I’m almost to the point that I will no longer hunt and just stick with target shooting and 3d comps. Hunting sucks now all thanks to the media.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea it’s wild to see where things are, a lot of things to think on

[@dennybirchfield]

Hunt public

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@dennybirchfieldCome on, Denny. Terrible response.

[@Jb-qn2xz]

17 acres isn't really a small tract, I get comparatively to a 1200 acre farm it's small. I wish I had just an acre to put a feeder on.

[@dennybirchfield]

@@russelllangworthy8855 That did sound rude After I re-read it, I didn't mean it that way. I just meant public most of the year and save that 17 acres for you know, the rut or something along those lines.

[@ep3389]

The hunting public would never be able to do what they are doing if they weren't making money off it.

[@garrettlaborde-u1w]

The hunting public does not reveal locations either unless they are hunting private😂

[@progradepainting3755]

@@garrettlaborde-u1wyou can easily see where they are hunting. Every place the were hunting in Arizona was bombed out by other hunters after those episodes.

[@Elonzo-k2y]

THP ARE FAAA GUTS

[@scottellis8964]

Yet hunters all over are still watching their videos and buying their bs because it says THP on it ! Those guys are morons and have totally messed up public hunting in Ga where I’m at ! My buddies were ran out of the spot he’s been for years when THP was paid to come and hunt that WMA !! Total garbage !

[@ep3389]

@scottellis8964 yeah I get it, but seriously there are very few serious hunters that wouldn't change places with them if they had the chance. They get to travel the country and hunt! If someone told you, you can quit your job and hunt all over the country instead, it would be hard to turn down. It's hard to blame them making a living doing the thing they probably love the most. Does the final outcome of them popularizing a sport where the playing field is constantly shrinking but the hunting numbers continue to rise suck, 100 percent. But like i said I wouldn't blame them. The lies of the hunting industries will to expand more more more while everything the hunter needs is dwindling is the big problem.

[@codysett1]

I saw a short where Matt was talking about his brother and so I sought out the episode, the clips are working boys. Weird conversation. I’ve been hunting for only 5 years and a lot of my inspiration was watching hunting shows. However I grew up wanting to hunt but my parents didn’t believe in hunting or guns for that matter so I wasn’t exposed to the opportunity of others grown up in the sport. I listen to a lot of podcasts and I think a lot of people get too philosophical about a lot of this. I say that as a somewhat outsider newbie. It’s hunting, you want to do it or you don’t. When people talk about opportunities it seems kind of weird no one ever talks about the opportunities of those who weren’t fortunate to grow up doing it. My daughter got her first deer at 11. I still haven’t gotten my own. I’m sure her opinion of things in this subject will differ then mine when she becomes a adult. This all seems a little complainy and I’m sure the influx in numbers will go up and down as the craze of the people making shows Wayne in popularity. For context in 29 and my daughter is 13. I had her when I was 15 and worked 2 jobs up until a few years ago. Also I’m in az. Point I’m trying to make is it’s like everything else. Towns and places that offer something to the public are going to attract people in this day and age. Matt’s not hunting as his only source of food. No one is really. It’s all sport and his is popular as ever right now. The only people who really have a genuine point is probably the dudes who where at the end of their lives hunting as he was a young boy. Guys who HAD to hunt. Not got too.

[@progradepainting3755]

And so, have you even killed a deer in those five years since you’ve started?

[@progradepainting3755]

And for the record, I’m a 4th gen Arizonan

[@Buddystemz]

You’re right, you are new. The decline in hunters has been drastic over the last 20 years. It may be popular and that’s why all the land is getting leased and preventing everyday guys places to hunt that they’ve hunted their whole lives, so they give it up.

[@progradepainting3755]

@@Buddystemz hunter numbers are skyrocketing, what planet are you living on?

[@Buddystemz]

@@progradepainting3755 you must be a young kid. There might be more of these people posting videos, but all you have to do is google and look at the reports and it’ll show you there has been a steady decline. The amount of youth hunters is droppin every year because kids would rather stay inside and play on electronics. Idk what planet you live on. Back in the 80s,90s, early 00s you’d see tons of hunters , groups of deer drivers and you rarely see that anymore. Land is gettin taken up every year and leaves people nowhere to hunt.

[@haydenouellette3344]

Coming from Saskatchewan here, I think social media defiantly has a bad affect on the hunting world. One example is up here shed hunting suddenly has become “popular” topic on social media and gets likes and views. Now you try and shed hunt and there’s fields full of quads and sleds and tons of people looking for their fame. It pushes out the too the core hunters like myself that have literally grown up doing this what I love too have not fun experiences. I’ve always shared or kept in the loop with close family or friends for hunting things related. But I’ve never wanted too get famous with it and over promote it all too where people just think it’s so cool and can get popular with it through social media. What I believe will hurt the hunting world is hunters themselves and just how the world is going. Need too keep it more simple and keep it true, just love the hunting and being out in the wild and take it all in within yourself.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Exactly our point…you now feel like your having bad experiences as the die hard hunter. Not cool at all

[@andyeighttre]

Hunting is being ruined by people clout chasing. As long as it’s not ruined as bad as skiing/snowboarding then we have a chance.

[@dylanwertz9465]

What’s the difference between THP and Meat Eater? His brother glorifies and promotes hunting on Netflix! Love the Rinella’s I just don’t see how taking Luke Combs on an antelope hunt differs from what THP is doing.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Agree

[@mitchborneman6926]

I remember listening to Steve on a JR podcast and he was explaining his brother's point of view. Joe was shocked to hear it but Steve was explaining that Matt doesn't like Steve doing the show because it promotes hunting, and wished Steve would have just stuck to being an author for the outdoors. Taking a picture or video and showing someone makes it so people have no creativity in the outdoors and they don't truly see the beauty in the grind of hunting.

[@robertjoyce3445]

Matt's whole argument is a selfish one. He doesn't like other people hunting because it creates less opportunities for himself! He's and asshole plain and simple.

[@goomer2215]

Man this is definitely conflicting. Matt raises some good points, especially with the Hunting Public stuff. I love watching them, but when I really think about it - if they came to the WMA closest to me and filmed a show and all of a sudden it becomes way overcrowded I’d be pretty upset. I think public lands naturally get more crowded but it would be the unnatural, sudden influx that would be frustrating

[@ryannoel8978]

And they spend that time running and gunning spooking the area out

[@pilsenoutdoors3721]

public land is just that. IT just comes off like land is just for one person and not for everyone and most hunting shows don't show exactly what piece they're hunting. Plus anyone chasing where shows hunt are cornballs. There's animals everywhere.

[@goomer2215]

@@pilsenoutdoors3721 there are always going to be those chasers though. I could be wrong, but I’d guess that if you shot a big buck on public you wouldn’t go post exactly where you shot it? And why not. Well because 99% of people don’t publicly post their hunting spots so as to keep their hard earned scouting/hunting mostly secret. But hunting media shows literally have to post that stuff to make money. Sure they won’t show exactly where they’re at, but sometimes it’s inevitable that a key landscape feature or something gets shown. And don’t get me wrong, on the flip side if they went to a piece of public somewhat near me and shows a bunch of big bucks and I knew where it was would I be tempted to go check that place out? Sure why not. Yes it’s public property and I’ve run into my fair share of natural crowds. But it’s understandable that nobody, when given the choice, would want the places they hunt to be posted online

[@lukeminey2059]

THP goes out of their way to not give away spots they'll mention a state maybe an area like Southern Western etc they have even edited clips to avoid showing prominent landmarks and all the topo maps they show in videos are for just that show so if they do give away a spot it wasn't intentional and it's more likely someone was really really good at geomapping by the videos they post

[@mmafreaks4871]

they've pretty much done this to my whole state... Idaho is so crowded now. It sucks.

[@metamurph6784]

Am I the only one who finds it ironic he is badmouthing televising hunting, while having been on multiple episodes of meat eater doing exactly that??

[@mmafreaks4871]

yeah, he has the experience to talk on it and I doubt he films now.

[@inspector9128]

Nope you definately aren't alone

[@jfquest6828]

Is there a different lottery for tag drawing for regular hunters vs 'influencers'? Seems like a lot of them get tags in all the desirable areas....

[@jaadmaan8156]

It’s a numbers game. They’re spending thousands applying everywhere hoping to get a few.

[@tomrichmond6931]

As a kid growing up hunting, we all keep our hunting areas secret. Then the area's started to appear in hunting magazines and then the public numbers followed. So we moved areas further away to hunt. Then there was a hunting video made of this area, the public came and now it's a draw that takes over 20 yrs. to get. It has happened to everywhere in this state and I'm sure many others.

[@Alberta_MTN_Bear]

1:21:00 The argument is, baseball isn’t a resource requiring the efforts of conservation to maintain its place in society. It’s renewable through the manufacturing process. Hunting is only sustainable if the efforts from biologists and ethically motivated hunters exercise active practices to ensure its longevity

[@StillTheTruth1]

Social media has also ruined for many a once sacred striped bass fishing area, the Cape Cod Canal, in Massachusetts. What took years to learn and when the bite turned on, everyone knew to keep it to themselves. Now within 10 minutes of a run of fish it's all over numerous FB pages and the banks are lined shoulder to shoulder in short order. People used to have to put in the time and energy to learn. Not anymore and I can't imagine the amount of additional strain it puts on the fishery.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Wow great example. I saw the same with the runs in Erie for steelhead and salmon.

[@StillTheTruth1]

@@HUNTRPODit can be so frustrating.

[@dankfishing716]

How’s walnut? Lol social media sucks

[@swampthing68]

Facebook destroyed mountain lakes in montana. Bragbook

[@brendanfahey9575]

Typing while watching: "Hunting awareness" segment, You mention the 1990's - 2000's as your Highschool / youth, I graduated in 1994 here in Wisconsin. Access to big buck information was "limited" to exactly what you said, hunting magazines and pictures of friends/family deer camps or stories(1/2 of them not to be believed). In 1993/1994 QDM started in Buffalo County Wisconsin. This was after staff writers and organizations like Wisconsin Bowhunters, Illinois Bowhunters started publishing articles about trophy bucks in Joe Davies County. Data compilation became easier and Joe Davies County showed more P&Y deer than any other county in the country for 7-10(I can quite remember it was 27-29 years ago) straight years entered into the 'Book". And the number of B&C bucks taken not only with a gun but now with a Bow were 8-10x the second place county in the country. So two men decided to rally the people of Buffalo County to start QDM there. Within three years it was the #1 county in country for P&Y & B&C entries. Then 8 years latter Pike County Ill took the #1 spot. I can only speak for Buffalo County & Joe Davies County on the next point as I have not been to Pike County. This created a new market that you have not touched on in this interview thus far, outfitters. For generations, much like most farm land in this country, farmers in these areas held extremally large parcels of land. The main reason was the terrain, the tillable acreage on 100 acre farm was around 30%. Do to topography the bluffs made it almost impossible to farm without owning 1000+ acres. and the woods were a waste. Sure there was some income from logging but the majority of it was to steep to make any considerable amount of money logging. Once QDM was introduced annual leases on the formerly wasted woodland quickly became a greater source of revenue than these generational farmers had ever seen their crops produce. So wooded land values went through the roof, or families started an outfitter service on their own land instated of an annual lease, I remember when I heard about weekly leases before the Idea of renovating an unused barn into a bunk house and outfitting became a thing. So this Idea that the rich bought up all the land and are keeping people out of it, is a bit of a stretch for me. Rich people have always had the most acreage, and I am always asking them for permission to bow hunt their accidental sanctuaries. I think Tech and Media has helped several people get back into public land hunting. I have friends that 20 years ago would never come with me on public because they thought 100 yard walk with no map and just a compass was nuts. Those same guys are now telling me that they are out in swamp edges and beyond on public(thanks a lot onX). Good news for me is they still couldn't identify a deer trail from a beaver trail, but that's beside the point. 1/20 "new bow hunters" will go deeper in the woods than 300 total yards. So there will just be more people up front to drag my buck past on the way out. Worst things to happen to Deer hunting in Wisconsin in the last 28 years: 1.Baiting 2.The implementation of politicians at the top spot in the Department of Natural Resources or the removal of nonpartisan Wildlife Biologists. 3. Crossbows 4. Trail Cameras I could go on and equity of land opportunity would not even be in the top 100 Great content guys I really enjoy everything you guys put out there!

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

1.3 million hunters in 1996 in Michigan. 575k today. Public was loaded. Public is pretty empty in the northern lower and upper peninsula.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Still deer up there?

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

​@@HUNTRPOD150k to 200k but mi has a terrible dnr that doesn't do deer surveys. Chad Stewart didn't help when was on your podcast. Kinda a shit show here.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Man I like Chad we worked together. I applaud him for at least have a public social media page to chat. But sounds that way

[@mmafreaks4871]

yeah they all come out west now...

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

@@mmafreaks4871 or moved out of state

[@tylerjordan9041]

Loved this podcast so much! There’s a lot more we should and can do as an industry. Hopefully this conversation will inspire a lot of us to take a hard look in the mirror, even us at Realtree. I’ve looked at trying to get more involved with the Congressional Sportsman Foundation to have Washington lobby more for hunter access. I’ve listened to Matt a lot and this is by far his best interview to date. Good job, guys!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks Tyler! Appreciate what you all do already for conservation and hunters. We can always be better, just need to talk it out!

[@OBSZIDIAN548]

That's part of the problem......this "industry". That's going to be the demise of this "hobby" or "sport" or "lifestyle". Hunting being industrialized is not a good thing, unless of course you are capitalizing on it.....but you are so you know that already. Things that you love should not be exploited. The first dollar that rolls in changes the game, no pun intended. Regards from a western hunter

[@revelized]

the simple fact is most people in our society have no problem throwing away morality and ethics for greed and fortune. This doesn't only apply to hunting, but to everything in our lives.... coming from someone who lives in Montana, i can assure you the series Yellowstone has heavily effected the people both visiting and wanting to settle here, and they think its like a movie. Once again morality and ethics being sold out for greed and fortune, oh you have a nice cute little town that not on the map, wouldnt it be horrible if someone were to RUIN it!

[@brob-zy8zi]

Social media is destroying hunting. I grew up hunting in the Appalachian mountains. I cut my hunting teeth adventuring through laurel thickets, over boulder and rock strewn mountainsides, and up and over sides so steep you had to go up literally on your hands and knees because it was too steep to stand up. I learned how to hunt on my own coming from a family that didn't hunt. I know these mountains. I can break down a huge piece of big woods here into spots that are worth scouting and hunting just by looking at them. That took years of experience. As it should. For years I hiked, I hunted, I fished and camped among tens of thousands of acres where you could go for years without running into someone during archery season. Over the last few years I've watched first hand what the "mountain buck" trend, craze, fad, whatever has done to the mountains me and others have hunted for decades. Now parking lots in the mountains are seeing more traffic than cell phone waiting lots at an international airport. I'm running into guys from cities and other states. One of the best areas I hunted where I hadn't run into another hunter during archery season ever, I ran into 4 guys this year. That's never happened before. All thanks to this glory and the street cred a social media post puts on mountain bucks at the moment. Loose lips sink ships.

[@OBSZIDIAN548]

If your goal is to harvest an animal, it's gloves off. If you are a hunter and want to make it a challenge...power to you. I am originally from PA and now live in Wyoming. I left PA because of hunting pressure and lack of opportunities to hunt game, I was tired of doing everything the hard way and jockeying for spots. I was exhausted from lazy hunters coming in at first light after me being there from dark to dark and pushing deer out. I still compete....but on millions of acres it's a little easier to avoid "pressure". Land is scarce everywhere else and the hunter to deer to land ratio is absurd. And PA with their no hunting on sundays was the most obnoxious law for any hunter....hunting is now a pay to play game. The wealthy will always have a prime place to hunt, with way better game numbers. When it comes to a decrease of hunters I call BS.....there is less land and access than there has ever been, there are more whitetails than ever but they are a business now. Hunting is a business and we will LOSE it...unless we become elite hunters like Steve Rinella, Randy Newberg, Jim Shockey, and so on.

[@Keith-x8x]

Absolutely loved this episode! Dude was spot on about what’s going on in the hunting industry!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks

[@cope4288]

Dude nailed it.

[@hirammoore5601]

Guys love your content and love it’s about hunting and what we love to do. But if you can’t see he’s right about THP I don’t know what to tell you. Numbers indicate he’s right. Since social media in general but especially THP public land hunting you can’t hunt public land anymore it’s too many people. I agree that they do love it but also it has caused a tremendous amount pressure on public lands

[@HUNTRPOD]

First I don’t think THP is doing anything intentionally. Second, chicken and egg situation…is it because THP made it cool to hunt public OR because of lack of access. I don’t know many people who have private to hunt but choose to hunt public…at least sane people 😂

[@reddawng43x91]

They intentions mite be good but you can’t disagree when we all know it’s ruining public opportunity for a good experience

[@russelllangworthy8855]

@@HUNTRPODChicken and the egg. Anyone with any sense knows the egg came first.

[@firemancobb38]

I love THP videos.. But I also dread the day they come anywhere near the public lands I hunt..

[@progradepainting3755]

@@HUNTRPODthere’s no lack of access in Arizona, but there’s sure as hell a lack of glassing nobs, because every hill has a ninja on it due to THP and newberg fiasco we were subjected to.

[@Summerlovers100]

Then why don’t we as a hunting community start a foundation where we can donate and buy land for public hunting all over the country

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

Gets good around 29:30 . I own 40 acres and put 3k a yr into food plot and apple trees and habitat. I see roughly 20 deer a hunt. 4 miles away on state land I seen 5 deer in 6 days 6 yrs ago. Y I bought property.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea sorry took us priming his pump to get going…

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

​@HUNTRTUBE nothing to be sorry about bullshittin is a big part of hunting. Also private land owners do tons of habitat work to get access to animals. Federal gov could timber harvest like they did before the early 90s.

[@Iowa_Whitetail]

Great stats!!!! That should be a stat that wakes People up. I grew up in MI & hunted whole state. The hunting got so bad - thousands of hunters literally QUIT!!! Access to quality hunting was absolutely terrible when I quit hunting there & I’m part of that stat. All while MI passed every new weapon & season known to man!!! Incredible MI lost that many hunters & so few know or understand it!!

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

@@Iowa_Whitetail my man skip. 💪. Thank you for posting the double tree rye blend on iowawhitetail. I am in Harrisville area north of Oscoda and after first frost that's the only blend seems to hold up to browse. I plant little earlier than most first weekend in August.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Skip is all about the knowledge man!

[@grahammorris8881]

It’s not a recruiting issue. New hunters are not traveling to these states for hunting trips. It’s lifelong hunters that normally hunt locallly realizing that western trip is attainable.

[@christophermiller9125]

Spot on 👍👍

[@johnverzuh4725]

Yes, there is that too, but new hunters are flocking to the western states. Whether they move to a western state first and then take up hunting, or they take up hunting in their own state and then they come to a western state within the next 5 years... it is happening. Entire families - whose parents grew up outside the US (and did not grow up hunting) are now hunting Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and Arizona. I have seen it happen. So, add those to the existing hunters that are now traveling to western states (because Randy, Rinella and Remi encouraged them to do it). Call it what you will - these hunting celebs are recruiting people, new hunters, old hunters, and rich hunters with money to spend on the all the gear. I live and hunt in Montana. I grew up there. Now when I hike 3 miles from any road, where used to see 1 or 2 other hunters only going after a big mature deer, I see numerous hunters with $2,000 of gear strapped to their bodies shooting fork horns. It is overcrowded. And forget seeing a big bucks very often now on public accessible lands. Even the block management areas are over hunted now.

[@ericbishop8757]

"WE HAVE MET THE ENEMY AND HE IS US" I have argued some of these similar points for years, but I didn’t truly understand where it was coming from… I just FELT a gradual encroachment on what we do. I still can’t articulate it the way I want to. I am, most certainly, guilty of contributing to the issue by posting photos of my hunts (though I make exactly zero dollars from doing so and I almost always try to include the story of WHAT THE HUNT MEANS TO ME). Thank goodness, Zuck’s minions have had the good sense to severely limit my “reach” to only about 10 family members and friends. This issue has REALLY come home to roost in the past 5 years. HARD! I pray that we can find a way forward… I suspect… we won’t.

[@longislandwanderers]

I feel like Matt is pretty on the money with a lot of what he’s saying. He catches a bad wrap for being negative. But this gentleman really seems to know exactly what he’s talking about. I’m glad that I watched this because what I hear about him is different than how I perceive him from hearing him speak here. All around awesome podcast guys. Let us know if you ever want some suburban NY guys on!! We hunt not too far from NYC

[@cjr4497]

I have so many thoughts on this. I have been following this subject since the 90's. It is not new. It is just hitting home in places where it was never a factor. Pride and money are the drivers. Almost everyone is part of the problem and very few are trying to fix it. Those that want to fix it can't. Believe it or not the privatization or "Europeanization" of hunting used to be an open concern of the hunting industry in the 90's. Almost all the major media outlets used to caution of what was to come. The horn porn of the late 90's kicked things off on a macro level. Then local politics and local media did the deed on a micro level all over the country. In Louisiana we have been run through for a long time now with both waterfowl land and big game land. The head of our wildlife department is was quoted to say "We don't manage wildlife here. We manage opportunity". Looks like the word "opportunity" is the new euphemism taking hold of the increasing leftwing mindset mindset of state agencies the same way the term "inclusivity" is used to cause trouble in the wider world today. This whole issue is incredibly nuanced. Sorting it out in a way that benefits everyone is unlikely.

[@MyLifefunthingss]

Good take. Fair points. Never thought this could be some long standing symptom of the American Political battlefield. It’s sad that we have to have the reality of the degradation of a resource.

[@SPR503]

Everyone pointing fingers at each other when the issue is access and the amount. None of this conversation would matter if everyone had quality access. Time for the states to make incentives for land owners to allow hunting access.

[@j.b.bogart8158]

I agree with Matt. Hunting public lands nowadays compared to the 80s and 90s is horrible. For one reason is the hunt apps that point out every little piece of land that one is allowed to hunt. The little honey holes are passed down from generation to generation are no longer good spots. Nobody has to do their own research on maps or anything other means of research. So there is way less appreciation for these spots and people just blow in and out of them and wreck these spots for people that have actual time and effort into keeping them honey holes. Social media period has in my opinion put a bad look to the real reason us as generational hunters do what we do.

[@dogguy8603]

Welcome to the 21st century, while i do feel for you the fact is that you are going to have to put in a little bit of work just like others who use apps to find spots. Just because i use a different technology that you dosent mean i care any less for the land thag i use, and remember you dont have any right to a spot, evey member of the public has a right to public lands, we shouldn't gatekeep hunting simply because it makes old people uncomfortable. Hell more hunters has far more benefits than drawbacks

[@homeinthewhiteoaks]

I know this comment is late to this conversation but I just had to state that one point being missed is that farms today don't hunt the way that they did when I started hunting in the 1970's. Farms were small with patches of cover or fence rows. We had deer, quail, squirrels and rabbits on small 40 and 80 acre tracts. Looing at places I used to hunt just on a drive around my county are now 2000 acre fields of one crop. There is no cover for wildlife in the large AG operation of today, like there was when 4 row crop equipment was the norm, farming 100 acre fields. Just that change took millions of acers of access away from hunters. I know guys that have farms, but hunt elsewhere simply due to the fact that there is not a tree left on the family land. Its crop land from border to border.

[@elite-sniper-5096]

The thought to say that hunting media reduces access is insane. Every year I watch hunting videos, see people stories and it fires me up for hunting season. Watching the hunting public reminds me that I don’t have to have 200 acres to go kill a deer. It encourages new hunters to go out buy hunting licenses and try to get into hunting, which in return help secure the land is already being used and to purchase new land and to preserve the land that we hunt. If we don’t encourage hunting and don’t show people how fun it can be and how meaningful it can be in this weak society that we live in it will eventually be destroyed, and no one will be able to hunt. If I was to go hunt public land and I didn’t run into people hunting on it, and I had it all to myself I would be worried sick because I know it would be all coming to an end.

[@stpaul0859]

I 100% agree with their take on the increase of hunters on public land and the lack of access. There is no more places to go where "other hunters dont"

[@Nickjj05]

Wouldn’t social media promote hunting and bring numbers to a dying sport? The problem with some hunters they are not willing to accept change. It’s not 1990 anymore and we should support anyone in or wanting to be involved in the sport.

[@Origin_Sphere]

its not dying, its growing

[@GodsGladiators-jo4hk]

Matt thank you and I quote, “The hunting industry's own actions demonstrate that hunting television and hunting social media reduces access causing an increase in cost of access”. Draw results are so low that what was once fun isn’t anymore. It’s become a money driven sport for the rich. So sad we live in this me first selfish society anymore. Social media has absolutely badly hurt why we do this in the first place. Thanks for the truth Matt.

[@ad-archw1582]

I live in 🇦🇺 Australia. We do not have White Tailed Deer on this continent but I’m obsessed with the stories of you Yanks chasing them/watching them grow/killing them. Your podcast has quickly become a favourite of mine, congratulations on getting the guests you have lately and growing together as interviewers/ content providers, here’s cheers 🍻

[@HUNTRPOD]

Cheers brother! Australia is on my bucket list to visit, appreciate the support from Down Under

[@mmontaperto2]

You Aussie’s are all the same calling us Yanks lol!I I actually have a pretty big family that lives in south Australia and Adelaide. Whitetail deer are pretty much like your kangaroo. But your kangaroos are like white tails on steroids. But other than that, my cousins that have come to the states and seen how the deer are here, say that they are pretty much like a kangaroo. Also, the taste is pretty much like them as well and yes, these two are pretty much my favorite as well they do these podcast with no script and say it like it is. There’s not that many shows like this that put it all out there and so transparent most other shows are scripted and all they all worry about is their sponsors getting butt hurt.

[@mikestillborn]

​@HUNTRTUBE please dont, last thing we need is you yanks flocking here and ruining our hunting too.

[@Troffy21]

100% @moshegoldberg9685

[@jacobcannon8441]

Lot to unpack with these types conversations. I look at it like this. The internet changed everything, not just hunting. Some good, some bad, some little of both. Also, Hunting land, cities, roads, schools, etc, ALL more crowded than they were 20 years ago. My point is, you can't blame any one thing for changes to society. "Online Hunting Culture" certainly expedited changes to hunting. But that would've happened regardless in time.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Great summary Jacob, we can all be nostalgic to a point but evolution in society is a given. Who knows what 20 years from now will hold

[@TipOfTheSpear_]

Social media is the worst thing that has ever happened to hunting, it’s all for looks and likes.

[@Adam-by8sn]

What everyone’s missing is that the resource dictates the market. When public land reaches a certain capacity, those hunters either leave the sport or find/lease private land. When leases get into a bidding war, and draw odds plummet, public land is now worth diving into again. The bottom line is this, success (or lack thereof) is going to determine the vehicle hunters use to put themselves in a position to succeed. For many, that means leaving the sport altogether. So everyone take a deep breath, because the animals ultimately maintain the delicate balance we all hope remains.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Good call Adam

[@yamsandpotatoes4243]

social media sometimes makes it look like hunting is some serene experience in nature where everything goes as planned etc but it is always a rollercoaster of dice rollin' chances, breakdown of plans, coming together of a new plan, reaching that goal you have came here for. they take too much of the "ugly" stuff out, and it makes new hunters discouraged from failures

[@andyeighttre]

Wouldn’t that discouragement be a good thing if the woods are over crowded?

[@justinwonch5568]

Didn't know how this podcast was going to go. But glad I made it through the entire podcast! Good to hear different points of view.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea sorry slow start but it ramps up

[@tmeyer3]

Is owning your own land for hunting any different than owning your own land for building a house that only your own family will live on, or owning your own land to farm, or owning your own land for growing trees and or having your own natural habitat?

[@jaysonsorensen594]

Nope. I think public land should all be made private. Hunting shouldn't he subsidized. If you really love it. Invest into land. Why are us who have spent years buying land subsidizing those who don't want to

[@j.b.bogart8158]

That’s another thing I use to waterfowl hunt around my home town. I eventually gave it up because of the lack of property. It’s been so commercialized that the rich have gone around and leased up any decent hunt property. The average person can’t compete with them. So it just became to expensive to travel for a limit of ducks.

[@matthewdefee171]

So much to potentially unpack here, but I'll try to keep it to what I see as the largest point. First, thanks, Jeremy and Jared, for having these discussions. You obviously have incentive (both financial and practical) and benefit from hosting the pod, but that doesn't detract from the benefit the hunting community as a whole gains from having these discussions publicly and in front of a wide audience. We appreciate it! 🍻 Secondly, I honestly understand where Dr. Rinella (Matt) is coming from with many of his perspectives re. publicizing hunting through social media (and other forms) hurting the core/longstanding hunters. In fact, I agree with him on that being the case. However, respectfully, I think his conclusion is a short sighted. He appears to look at the impact of social/legacy media on hunting as purely negative and assume that if these media outlets were to dissappear tomorrow, the accessibility of hunting would dramatically increase - I completely disagree with that notion, at least in the long term. Hunting, in my mind, has become a zero-sum game where nobody wins, and the best available strategy is to adopt the solution where hunters simply lose less (lesser of two evils). Ultimately, conservation of land is getting harder and hard to maintain with a growing population and need for both cities and rural communities to expand. The louder voice has more say in today's society and there is strength in numbers, so at the end if the day, we will have an easier time holding onto public land access or even gaining access to land through expanding state funded programs by having more hunters to fight for that cause. I hunt public land almost exclusively, across three different states every year - the last thing I want is more competition from another hunter or more people to steal my trail cams - but if expanding hunter numbers allows myself and other hunters who rely heavily on public land availability to hunt in the first place, that's the devil I'm going to dance with. Furthermore, State and local governments, and therefore politicians, will largely only support initiatives that they can justify financially (unless and overwhelming majority of their voters don't support it) - increased hunter numbers results in increased tax revues - you start taking that away, and those legislators will be disincentivize to support the programs and they'll ultimately disappear. Lastly, The Hunting Public guys are a net positive for the hunting industry. They educate hunters on ethical practices, better tactics, and increase awareness to state resources (which keep them around). Somebody that takes up hunting and completely focuses on public land just because they saw them do it likely won't last long. Hunting like that is hard if you want to be successful. I personally don't see most people having the drive and determination to pick up the sport and stick with it for long if THP was their introduction to hunting. Those guys make it easy lol, the real game is 100x harder 😂. All good stuff, though. Thanks again for having the tough/important conversations 🤙

[@HUNTRPOD]

Great stuff man, the hunters needed for public land thought is a good one. I think one scary thing is that we talk about the number of hunters decreasing (or so we are told) but it seems more packed. Lack of access is a big part of that BUT go back and find the clip when we talked Hunter Education being the barrier to entry for a license, and look at the shear volume of people who said “I don’t need no damn license”…so my question is, with the rise in government distrust, how substantial is the number of non-licenses (therefore non-accounted for) hunters on todays landscape?

[@matthewdefee171]

@HUNTRTUBE Thanks for the follow-up. I'd hate to throw out an arbitrary number because I honestly don't know how many hunters would fall in that category. Personally, I do imagine it's very low in most places that are even remotely populated. The public I hunt in Ohio is extremely pressured (feedback from other out of state hunters I've met there) and seems to be getting worse each year, but I've still never encountered anyone I'd feel confident saying who fits that description (I don't need a license). Anecdotal evidence but substantial in my opinion given that I've met and talked to over 100 other hunters in the last 3 years. That said, I get at least 1, maybe 2 trail cams (out of about 16) stollen every year, so theres still plenty of assholes out there hunting. Most come during gun season from my experience. I wonder if the total number of hunters decreased recently, mostly hunted private, whereas a large majority of new hunters (still net negative/decreasing) are hunting public. Logically, this makes sense to me - private land that used to hunt 4 people on 1 lease sells to 1 individual hunter. 2 of those on the former lease quit (at least for a season or two) and the other 2 go hunt public. The total hunter population decreased by 2, but public land hunters increased by 2. Extrapolate that out across all the land sales during the historic interest rate lows a few years ago and that *could* explain what we're seeing. All just opinion, though. 🍻

[@timothyradcliff6144]

It is abundantly clear that you haven’t spoken to a farmer. Making food plots is NOT farming for a livelihood! You could have made this more interesting with allowing a farmers perspective on these grandiose ideas…

[@mtndeer]

You hit the nail on the head and the fact that it’s kind of too late. Social media has already happened and it will definitely be a culture shift. We hunt industrial forest private land but everybody can hunt. And I think you’re right it’s time to check our attitudes a little bit and the hunting public comment was right on.

[@mmontaperto2]

i love you guys honestly, but this is so ignorant its insane! im sorry how is this guy in the hunting field? honestly has me heated!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea he had us a bit heated too. We agree with the too many hunters to a point. But some of the other stuff Matt has been known to stir up. So we wanted to hear it out

[@mmontaperto2]

@@HUNTRPOD and how does he have the nerve to talk shot about the THP guys! That’s not spot burning because they are recording their content and putting on KZbin! That’s called making content for educational purposes and their own experiences. Who cares where it is. As far land owning, he he need to go own his own Piet and do a bunch of work on it, grow a few big boys on it, and then let all of us hunt it! Meanwhile he can keep paying the taxes!DUMBASS!!!!! Sorry just plain ignorant. Keep advocating for free land to hunt! He definitely reminds me of a Libtard!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha I mean he has a stance and I get some of the points, I did not like the THP trashing he doesn’t even know them. All assumptions

[@drewsnider9608]

I agree with Matt on this, social media is deteriorating the hunting experience. As someone who use to watch and be a fan of THP, eventually I saw the impacts of the increased pressure on the resource and decided to stop watching them and other similar platforms. They are not the sole cause of the problem, however I would like to see more advocacy for additional public land from them.

[@hunterhill4786]

I think a lot of the hunting media folks start out recording/posting to share their story, but as soon as they see that first check or first sponsorship, everything changes. The motivation changes, and the mentality changes. It's pretty clear to see.

[@bneaclab1]

I'm with Matt. I am uncomfortable with the idea of 'hunting is OK for existing hunters and their prodigy but not for others' though. It is kind of what he is saying. I do think youtube and modern optics have had an overall detrimental effect on hunting and wildlife though.

[@ericluchtenburg2818]

I agree that we don't need more recruitment. I will replace myself with my kids. But can I just say as a life long hunter I do enjoys hunting shows and products like meateater and shocky and I don't see the recruitment issue as much with them as I do with someone like randy Newberg

[@mtndeer]

It’s so much trouble that everybody loves the same things, it’s so much trouble to want other people to have a great experience but never at the expense of your own? All we do is suffer other peoples freedoms….. does everybody at a concert get mad when someone else enjoys the music? Why is hunting differentThe problem is attitudes ….that’s it! Don’t make more out of it than it is, you can love it the way you want to and you can hate it the way you want to, it’s a personal choice and nothing less than that. If you’re in the field and you see orange and you feel bad maybe you should take up music.

[@FirePirate099]

Matt is absolutely correct about the percent of farmers income coming through govt subsidies

[@andyeighttre]

If every useable lawn in cities and suburbs was for produce then the farmers could sell most of their crops overseas. Farmers makes money and GDP grows. This country needs a paradigm shift in helping the mindful and physical health of its citizens as opposed to using as a towel to ring every cent out of. Boils down to greed.

[@mtndeer]

Sorry just getting around to finishing up listening and have been kind of commenting as we go. Pittman Robertson funds are actually supposed to be dedicated to providing hunter access to properties including waters boat launches etc. hunter education eats up about 50% of it and there are different amounts of percentages taxed on different things like handguns and long guns. 11% with handguns being 10% taxed And paid to the treasury of the US by manufacturers of guns ammunition as well as imports etc. and distributed to the fish and wildlife service. 50% is based on the state size and goes to enhance hunter Ed, programs. Wildlife research habitat enhancement, Shooting ranges and is paid in proportion to hunting licenses sold, sort of like a usage amount.A good portion goes to state owned wildlife management areas and their continued operation along with A funding of technical landowner support efforts. Each state must affirm and agree to the terms of these funds and how they are used and must comply and none of the funds can be diverted.Protection is part of the funds commitment and enhancing access is what it is committed to in shooting and hunting and availability. Hunter education not only for new people but also remedial hunter education for poachers/violators. If disease, environmental threats like PFA’s or research is needed these funds will be key

[@daltonfleck]

I would argue public land hunters are less deadly then back in the day. The seas of orange I see in all these different units I’ve hunted in different states is crazy compared to back then. The game and fish are corrupted to over profits. Via more tag allocations.

[@kyleevans1962]

I’m with you guys on a sudden decrease in hunters would be a great thing. I hate to say it but because of the hunting media hunting has become a fad and too easy. But, I know for a fact the way I was raised in hunting and the way I will raise my boy in hunting, we will be what is left. In the history of the world, a mass exodus isn’t always a bad thing.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Totally agree it’s a cycle…it will drop and be great then Slowly build back up

[@scottellis8964]

On point !! Love this episode!

[@joejohnson-vr4ik]

If MeatEater would buy large tracts of land, far bigger than they already do, adjacent to already existing public land, they could turn that into a conservation easement or something. That would help their cause

[@dogguy8603]

Why not lobby congress to make more public land? Meateaters cause is already a good one, having more hubters is a good thing. Evey hunter they make is one less anti hunter, or would you like your stste to end up like California where the fish and game commission is made entirely of non hunters

[@johna2835]

Whenever there are things that change you create winners and losers. Hunting has had a lot of changes and thus we have our share of winners and losers and yes money has become more important. I don't know that there is a simple answer to rolling back the clock to the good old days. This was one of your best conversations. I would have loved to participate and ask a couple questions. I can say for sure I hold a different opinion on a few of the issues but listening to well formed opinions helps us all grow and I enjoyed listening. Thanks for letting me experience it vicariously - I don't subscribe to some of the "conspiracy theories" as to why this is happening but I will say I loved this show. Keep asking the hard questions. Also interesting to hear Matt complaining about hunting shows while his brother hosts one of the biggest and Matt has appeared on several episodes ...

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks John. An uncomfortable but necessary conversation. On the Rinella to Rinella piece, if you missed it, they are completely estranged now. That’s really sad in my opinion that this has superseded family

[@johna2835]

@@HUNTRPOD I didn't know that - Sad is correct. Makes me question both of their judgements -

[@HUNTRPOD]

There’s a fine line in passion and regret

[@C.Adams82]

When Matt said to get rid of hunting shows and Jared's response "but I enjoy watching hunting shows". We have become a me centric society. We are not willing to sacrifice personal enjoyment or satisfaction for the good of something else.

[@timmytuffy5344]

I’m confused why rinella would be ok with outfitters making money off of outfitting public land-isn’t this essentially drawing attention to public lands that were otherwise locals honey holes as well…….

[@HUNTRPOD]

Yea me too seems worse. Like they are monetizing a PUBLIC resource?

[@johncrouch5778]

I found the Hoyt advertisement quarter way through so ironic lol

[@HUNTRPOD]

Hahaha we use them and support them…I’m sure Matt hated it

[@johncrouch5778]

@@HUNTRPOD lol I ain’t hatin, just thought it was funny

[@justsnuggle]

Totally agree, these outfitters that own/manage 20 million acres in certain states is out of hand. I've got turned down so many times knocking on doors I just don't anymore. So yes all those people that used to be able to knock and hunt for a weekend or even a day on one property are now all forced to funnel into overcrowded public land.

[@karlmerhoff3858]

I have noticed that certain hunter media companies very rarely pursue columbian blacktail on the west coast mostly because its very very difficult even tho there is abundant public land and otc opportunities

[@jmac.outdoors]

To say “Missouri has a slush fund” is an unfair statement. Until about two weeks ago MDC had a case in the Missouri Supreme Court about their authority to spend that tax revenue on, among other things, buying land. The Supreme Court came down on the side of MDC. But there were factors keeping MDC from spending money on things that the citizens had entrusted them with.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Great info to know. So I assume that fund is immense being they couldn’t use most of it right?

[@jmac.outdoors]

Yes, that has a lot to do with it. In fact, in the first Commission meeting after the Supreme Court decision, they approved the purchase of several hundred acres as an addition to an existing public area, and that was the purchase that was in question that started all the litigation a few years ago.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Bingo that’s the good stuff right there

[@superduece2291]

these are genuine honest questions & statements. I know you guys are fans of the hunting public and I've also heard you say multiple times that you hate running into others on public and being in overcrowded areas. I have had spots in MN & ND completely ruined by the THP guys (Zach), NR any deer bow license apps have significantly risen since they showed them hunts. I know the exact areas you guys were hunting by ***marth and since you've spoken so highly about ND do you feel any ownership in making the draw odds worse for others who have been hunt out there for years ? Or what are your thoughts on the matter ? not 100% finished with this episode but i have enjoyed it and think Matt is brilliant. I don't agree with your guys stance on everything but i do enjoy listening at times. i also realize that just by watching stuff like this an other shows on YT i am feeding the dragon that will ultimately kill our access to public lands.

[@reddawng43x91]

Best podcast y’all had yet! I agree wit ol boy! There’s just not enough resources to give everyone every tip every secret every spot every how what where n why in deer hunting ! The resources are dwindling down to a point they won’t recover period imo

[@HUNTRPOD]

I think hunter numbers are heading to a cliff. It will be like EHD, deer numbers plummet and the ones that survive become better healthier animals. Eventually it will rebuild the population. Same will happen with hunters, the ones that remain will thrive and the resounding experience people hear will build back numbers

[@reddawng43x91]

@@HUNTRPOD I understand what you mean, it’s the law of nature, but do you think our generation “I’m 38” will ever see that or do you think it will take years to collapse and rebuild ?

[@TheArrowsEdge]

I agree... and the biggest part is 1 small group of "entertainers" having access to a huge anount of land which causes no one else to be able to hunt it. Let's say 1000 acres of land is divided 3 ways... farm land, private hunting and public hunting opportunities. Farm gets 50% Private gets 40%? Public (the highest amount of people) 10%? Let's say the entertainers pay for 50%, use 10% and give public access to 40%.... doesn't that seem better? I think that's what he's getting at.

[@TheArrowsEdge]

But instead it's going the other way... the entertainment industry is taking over 90% because they pay the most... farmer still has to farm... public gets to share 1%. Hope you don't mind sitting in the same tree 😂. And as far as you buying land.... if the entertainment industry came to you to buy your land for twice as much as you paid for it, would you sell it? There in lies the scenario we're facing.

[@johnmcmahon1196]

I really dont mind the long podcast, I listen to them while i work on my laptop so I technically have 8 hours to listen, plus I can listen on my drives to and from work so let them go as long as you want!

[@HUNTRPOD]

Haha thanks dude

[@jhtrapping4121]

I live in Kansas and majority of the land I have and had is private, most of the land is now leased out to out of state hunting and I managed the property in predator regulation by way of trapping and passing small bucks but shooting does when the numbers get high, the main reason the property was leased was because of my sharing of pictures from trail cameras and my knowledge of the whitetail buck size on the property so essentially I did it to myself by sharing my content and knowledge.

[@pn0606]

I grew up hunting near my parents house in pa. I loved that woods dearly. Some great memories made there. It was 90 acres a doctor owned. Id run my hounds for rabbit deer hunt it turkey you name it. 6 years ago whitetail propertys bought it up and posted it displacing about 4 guys i know of. So this conversation hits very close to home. If i had the dollars id buy it up but couldn't. All the local guys were upset. Hunting is a pay to play game now. Youll lose access as fast as you gain it if you dont have your own land.

[@mikeknape7064]

Open dialog is important. Thanks guys

[@leightonsys5879]

In opinion I would agree that media has destroyed the experience of hunting has holding a standard of what someone should be happy with and the sales gimmicks as far a hunter recruitment I’m not concerned as most new hunters don’t stick but as private land goes I know a lot of people stopped giving permission based on people not respecting the land or dishonesty so it’s just locked down

[@Bullets4Bucks]

Imagine if the masses still hunted for food... there would be nothing left. Hunting is amazing right now in the grand scheme

[@TheHuntingArchive]

I have also seen many more people hunting on public land the last few years in Ohio. However, hunting license sales have been on a steady decline for the last 10 years. (ODNR published that license sales in 2011 - 423,990 hunters vs. 2021 - 348,144 hunters). In 10 years Ohio has lost 75,846 hunters. That's nearly 18% reduction in just the last decade. We are seeing more hunters on public land for a number of reasons that were mentioned like more awareness and accessible information about public land. HUNTER RECRUITMENT IS WAY DOWN AND IS NOT THE CAUSE OF PUBLIC LAND GETTING CROWDED. The hunting community needs to reverse the trending decline in hunters and recruit as many new hunters as possible. Here's one more disturbing statistic for you, 2011- 45,650 hunters vs. 2021 - 27,040 youth hunters. 18,610 less youth hunters in the last decade. 40 PERCENT DECREASE IN YOUTH HUNTERS IN THE LAST DECADE.

[@HUNTRPOD]

So we asked the question during the pod and curious your thoughts.... Why?

[@jonathanknutson40]

wow this was a fascinating listen. made me think about things i’ve never thought about

[@markworkman6576]

Interesting perspective! I feel like these things are the symptoms of the problem. I am not sure if media would be as big of an issue if there was some solution to make hunting more available to people with lower income, without overcrowding. It would be awesome to be able to share the experience we love with everyone and reconnect them to nature, which I think might fix more issues than we could imagine, while still being able to hunt lands where you are not stepping on the next guy or worried about someone causing an accident. It's hard to get the youth involved when there is a chance someone could make a mistake with the level of hunters in the woods. It's one of those scenarios where people on both sides are correct due to the current environment. We just don't have a solution that can improve the situation yet. Also thank you for showing both side of an argument and trying to see it from both perspectives refreshing!

[@whitetaillandmanagement]

I’ve been fortunate enough to put myself in a position where I make a full time living in the outdoor industry. Business/partnerships/ect. I’ve always set boundaries as to who I’ve wanted to associate myself with based off of what they’re doing in the industry and how they represent themselves. No matter the money. I never wanted to “sell my soul to the devil.” Now I am NOWHERE near the position that Meateater or these other huge brands are in, but I can only imagine that when you’re sucked in, it’s hard to come back. But at the same time, don’t put yourself in that position to begin with. I don’t disagree with there being too many hunters. More hunters would be great, but then we need more resources, more land, more habitat. And we can’t trust the government to provide that. Blaming the average Joe for leasing or buying isn’t the answer. Blame the state for not purchasing it for public use.

[@HUNTRPOD]

Great stuff man, Otho g wrong with making your career based on your passion. In fact I feel bad for the people who go to work daily hating their jobs

[@MattJ25]

So true, blame the states for that…. But wouldn’t they just turn that into more pressured crappy public land? Or do you think that helps spread the hunters per acre?

[@HUNTRPOD]

I think hunters per acre decrease immediately enhance experience

[@jacobpatterson2032]

Why am I getting a sense that Matt got his best hunting areas taken by people paying farmers to lease the hunting rights to their land?

[@HUNTRPOD]

Bingo

[@gfoster3434]

These guys need to consider that a lot of people can't get out in the woods as much as they can. I may only get 4 hunts a season on my family's ranch, so I want to increase my odds of getting a bow kill and having nutritious deer meat for the year. I agree, it is not as challenging as spot and stalk, but not an option for me on a smaller piece of property. To each his own.

[@craigford7231]

Another great podcast. Agreed with some others not so much but great conversation and you guys did it with great respect for each other. Thank you

[@HUNTRPOD]

Thanks Craig!

[@RealRyanDeLuca]

Every hunter should listen to this perspective to balance out the Kool Aid we all get from hunting media.

[@stevenmyers4862]

Matt talking about The Hunting Public guys making money off of hunting when his brother has arguably one of the biggest outdoor media companies there is. WHAT A JOKE

[@HUNTRPOD]

This is a fact

[@mikeknape7064]

It would be a joke if he exempted his brother. He doesn't

[@bill8885]

Its definitely a good discussion worth having. Living in a blue New England state where legislation looks to restrict hunting and firearms ownership I can see a need to attract new hunters. A state legislator recently suggested they restrict hunting to 3 days a week so the 90% of the state could feel safe on public land.

[@jasonweishaupt1828]

My Ruger 77/44 is a nice straitwall.

[@kodyarocho4618]

I understand where Matt comes from. People are not known to be good arbiters of the land. That being said, it was programs like meat eater and guys like Hanes that introduced me to this world that was foreign to me, and who better to introduce? It has become a passion of mine, something that has allowed me to connect with nature, inspire me to learn about these animals, the history of our country, states, hunting etc. It had inspired me to bring in my brother, and friends to this sport. It has brought clean and ethically harvested food home for my family. It has inspired me to begin to truly care for this land and engage with and support conservative organizations. It has completed me as a person and given me a purpose other than being a cog in the machine. I hope Matt and Steve can put their differences aside. It's a shame they're estranged.

[@manofthewildlands7865]

I think a big step would be to improve the public lands that already exist. Improve the habitat which will improve the game numbers and therefore create more opportunities.

[@littleJohn6500]

I feel this conversation so much I hunt to feed my family and if i don't kill something then we definitely don't get as much red meat that year. The money in hunting makes me mad but i go out on public land to hunt and I believe that if you out work the guy who does it because it "cool thing to do" I always been successful in that. Go where they won't work harder then them its cool to take the picture with the big elk or deer on public land but if you not willing to work harder then the other guys you probably won't be successful 10% of guys kill 90% of the deer and elk constantly