doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Death of Bird Dog & Bird Hunting TV on Versus?

Just a few years ago, I used to look forward each weekend to watching several very good bird hunting & bird dog programs on my local cable on Versus & ESPN.

There was Hunting with Hank, Bird Dogs Forever, Shotgun Journal and several shows on bird hunting & dog training. Ron Schara's show almost always had some nice bird hunting segments. The lovely Kristen Gum hosted Sporting Dog Chronicles. It was a wonderfully enjoyable way to relax on the weekend.

Those are all gone, but at least until lately, there has at been a very nice show in Wingshooting USA on Versus, though at odd hours, like Friday mornings. Now that appears to gone from Versus as well.

Now, the only thing Bird related I can find is Birding Adventures on Versus, which is a Bird WATCHING show.

I enjoy big game and African hunting shows, but how have we come to the point where an entire weekend bird hunting programs have been cancelled, and all that remains is a bird watching show on one of the biggest hunting networks?

Has Bird hunting really become less interesting to viewers of a major sports network than Bird watching?

That'd be my guess...Geo

I find that hard to believe. So watching some guy shoot a whitetail that has no idea the hunter is there out of a treestand or a big box on top of a ladder is more interesting than watching pointing dogs and birds? Hmmm....

So how can we contact the program directors to tell them we'd like our bird hunting and bird-dog handling shows back on the air (and cable)?

All of the major "Outdoor Networks" have a website. Surely you could find a "Contact Us" link on each of them and send them an email to voice your displeasure.

What you're looking at here is the death of the special interest programming idea. The old Outdoor Life Network bought tons of programming of this sort. Alongside the upload hunting and bass fishing contests, there was as large a number of hours given to pro cycling as has ever been seen on American channels. One year around 2003-4, my wife, who is a road-cycling nutcase, saw three major European stage races and several one-day races on OLN. Now VS has Le Tour only but PR people assure her that Versus is very interested in "growing cycling." Tilling the bottom line would be more like it. The only niche interests the bean-counters are interested in are events which break out into the general public consciousness and ensure big viewership for lucrative advertising. You may own South Dakota or Georgia and actually have considerable economic or political power in your sphere of influence, but you're just an economic dry hole to the the honch they brought in from E! Entertainment.

jack

I saw an "Under Wild Skies" for the first time in months. Tony Makris has about the best African stuff on Versus, but it looks like they are gone again. NRA apparently has "Under Wild Skies" but I don't know who shows it.

Bring back "The American Sportsman"

I agree. All the hunting channels SUCK now. They've gotten rid of the Shotgun Journal, Hunting With Hank, Beretta's Bird Hunter's Journal, Gray's TV (Gray's Sporting Journal), Benelli's American Gun Dog, Benelli's American Wingshooter, Wingshooting The World (w/ Chris Batha) etc, etc. The World of Beretta still comes on and sometimes they show a bird hunt... but only for a short segment of the show... then its back to big game. Ron Shara produces Pheasants Forever TV and its pretty good but I am quail hunter from South Alabama so that where my main interest are.... I wish Quail Forever had a show. Quail Unlimited had a show but it was HORRIBLE.

I know TV Networks have to make money but I just can't imagine that some of those poorly produced deer hunting shows were more popular than shows that like Bird Hunter's Journal... which was a great show with great cinematography . Maybe I am wrong.



Until some good show comes back, you can do what I've done. I've ordered DVDs with the old seasons of Bird Hunter's Journal, The World of Beretta, Hunting With Hank, American Gun Dog, and Shotgun Journal. I am also trying to get some of the old Gray's TV and Wingshooting The World episodes.

Adam

My monopolistic cable system (%^&$#%@#$%# Time Warner) dropped all the outdoor channels in my market years ago. I still have a few on VHS for old time's sake.