Matt Rinella knocking it outta the park

[Ben Long]

I think the challenge is to steer the power that media outlets have toward more habitat conservation and restoration. It will never get the clicks of some snuff film featuring another bull soaking up bullets, but it is what matters. (BTW, habitat loss includes habitat security lost to too much motorized access. When hunters expect to be able to drive to an elk and haul it out whole in a pickup or side-by-side, elk hunting loses.)

 

[huntin24/7]

Ok. I'm biased. I've been in the media biz for 35 years and have taken checks from MeatEater and others. I've unintentionally burned my own spots! But overall, I think the reason we are seeing more crowding and more difficulty drawing tags is because of habitat loss. There's just less space to fit us all. I know where I live, I can easily name a dozen places where I can no longer hunt, and a dozen places that are more crowded than they were when I moved here. Just bumped into new "no trespassing" signs on Saturday as yet another place that had been open to hunting for the last 12,000 years is now posted. The problem ain't Rinella or Randy. The problem is habitat loss in all its forms.

I can say for a fact that a large part of it with bird hunting in eastern Montana is what you’re saying. The same bma’s are still here from 10 years ago with a fraction of the upland habitat left on many of them.

 

[brockel]

Ok. I'm biased. I've been in the media biz for 35 years and have taken checks from MeatEater and others. I've unintentionally burned my own spots! But overall, I think the reason we are seeing more crowding and more difficulty drawing tags is because of habitat loss. There's just less space to fit us all. I know where I live, I can easily name a dozen places where I can no longer hunt, and a dozen places that are more crowded than they were when I moved here. Just bumped into new "no trespassing" signs on Saturday as yet another place that had been open to hunting for the last 12,000 years is now posted. The problem ain't Rinella or Randy. The problem is habitat loss in all its forms.

There may be some truth to this. But it wasn’t that long ago that Montana had leftover non resident licenses. Now you need preference points to draw it. Still the same amount of non resident licenses if not more. That’s not a habitat issue

 

[Brad]

But overall, I think the reason we are seeing more crowding and more difficulty drawing tags is because of habitat loss.

Habitat loss, while real, is just one part of the equation. My anecdotal view is media, and in particular social media, is the primary driver, at least for how and where I hunt. I've been a backpack hunter for a long time now, and only since the advent of shows like meateater etc., have I found myself "competing" with other hunters doing the same thing in "my spots." Part of that is there's just more population in my hometown here doing the same things I'm doing. But I also noticed a LOT more out-of-staters rigged up like they just rolled out of the local Stone Glacier and Sitka stores.

I don't watch any hunting shows. Never have, unless you count "American Sportsman in the early 1970's lol. Have never seen one episode of Meateater, and have never seen one episode of On Your Own Adventures. I'm not interested in participating in or contributing to shows that burn locations and clog the backcountry with newbs.

I'm with Matt Rinella on the 3r's and the poison of product endorsement and social media. I suspect, like most human beings, his thinking has evolved over the years to where it is today. I'm more than willing to overlook past positions that may differ from those today - that's not hypocrisy, that's human growth. Frankly, I don't trust anyone so inflexible as to not modify their thinking. He's obviously not a "perfect" vessel, but the only one who ever was hung on a cross...

 

[Bux_N_Beards]

Ok. I'm biased. I've been in the media biz for 35 years and have taken checks from MeatEater and others. I've unintentionally burned my own spots! But overall, I think the reason we are seeing more crowding and more difficulty drawing tags is because of habitat loss. There's just less space to fit us all. I know where I live, I can easily name a dozen places where I can no longer hunt, and a dozen places that are more crowded than they were when I moved here. Just bumped into new "no trespassing" signs on Saturday as yet another place that had been open to hunting for the last 12,000 years is now posted. The problem ain't Rinella or Randy. The problem is habitat loss in all its forms.

Serious question, as I agree with habitat loss being A problem, which leads to access issues, but not THE only problem.

How does influencing more consumptive (keyword - because in my observation there’s more of these than the ones doing the work) users onto a smaller landscape of habitat and accessible lands benefit hunters and wildlife?

We’re supposed to be conservation minded, but at what point does that actually become more than selling banquet tickets, raffles, “kits”, “systems”, tag and draw services and gear giveaways that are “supposedly” going back into conservation? Point being, when is it actually about the wildlife and not the supposed dollars “earmarked” for the wildlife?

Again, not casting stones but a serious question. I’ve got my own observations and experiences from 40+ years of doing this all over the US, and while I don’t always agree with his delivery, Matt’s got a lot I align with - one being, I’m not experiencing things getting better for hunters and wildlife as a whole. Whitetail hunting, Western big game, Waterfowl, Turkey, I could go on.

We’ve either got to hire a better PR firm or own up to reality, because saying the current mode of influencing and recruitment is conservation minded seems more like a feel good slogan than a reality.

 

[huntin24/7]

@Bad, I think this is pretty accurate. I’m not sure how you combat this problem without putting more restrictions on opportunities unfortunately. Many of these influencers purposely make it easy to tell where they’re at for clicks and views and burn spots with no intention of returning there.

 

[Hilljackoutlaw]

Ok. I'm biased. I've been in the media biz for 35 years and have taken checks from MeatEater and others. I've unintentionally burned my own spots! But overall, I think the reason we are seeing more crowding and more difficulty drawing tags is because of habitat loss. There's just less space to fit us all. I know where I live, I can easily name a dozen places where I can no longer hunt, and a dozen places that are more crowded than they were when I moved here. Just bumped into new "no trespassing" signs on Saturday as yet another place that had been open to hunting for the last 12,000 years is now posted. The problem ain't Rinella or Randy. The problem is habitat loss in all its forms.

Thats definitely part of it i think, but that doesn't explain how a tag that never sold out for decades upon decades up until about 2019 then started selling out completely within minutes? Thats the social media and technology effect. When I was a kid and family members or family friends were planning a western hunt for elk or whatever it was a lot of work a shit load of work if it was your first trip! It used to be a great quest now with technology its anything but. The concerns and fears that were there just 15 years ago when planning a western back country hunt are no longer a concern or fear.

 

[Matthew57]

I think the challenge is to steer the power that media outlets have toward more habitat conservation and restoration. It will never get the clicks of some snuff film featuring another bull soaking up bullets, but it is what matters. (BTW, habitat loss includes habitat security lost to too much motorized access. When hunters expect to be able to drive to an elk and haul it out whole in a pickup or side-by-side, elk hunting loses.)

Part of his argument is that these places are becoming posted/only available for lease because of social media hunters.

 

[El Jason]

Part of his argument is that these places are becoming posted/only available for lease because of social media hunters.

Meh. That trend has been around for decades.

 

[rjthehunter]

Meh. That trend has been around for decades.

I think it would be a bigger trend because of outfitters, not influencers.

 

[Oak]

Both. Appreciate his views and he’s likely right it’s not the best idea to plaster dead animal pics around.

His targets in the industry should at least have some self reflection from his criticism.

Is it true keep hammerin can’t have a podcast episode without scripting some wise cracks about Matt Rinela? Mission accomplished?

You can completely disagree with his message and still think the jukebox analogy was hilarious.

 

[MTLabrador]

One of the funniest developments lately is the proliferation of wannabe influencers EVERYWHERE. A guy I know who is desperately trying to be an influencer posted a video of a little muley buck (clearly out the window of the pickup) and then a photoshopped, staged, epic pack out shot, as if he didn’t “pack” it 100 yards to the tailgate. Grinding it out in the tough backcountry like Cam with all the relevant #sponsors who don’t actually sponsor him.

Might have to wear jeans when I go elk hunting tomorrow just to cleanse my soul from all the corporate sponsors. #wrangler #carhartt #rainier

 

[noharleyyet]

I used to casually enjoy the Robertsons and actually admired their success...but never bought a duck call. I have certainly spooked my share of elk with a Primos squeezer. Matt Rinella is a damn fine communicator.