Professional Hunters on TV???

[Bambistew]

I've recently noticed (maybe its been this way for a while, don't watch much TV) that there are a lot of hunting shows with the hosts calling themselves professional hunters. At what point did main stream media decide that some wanker who hunts with a guide is somehow a "Professional Hunter"? Does being on TV and hunting for a living somehow make you a professional?

In my eyes a professional hunter is synonymous with Africa, and maybe Alaska when it relates to a guide/outfitter who is engrossed with his profession, provides a service, protects YOUR life, and intimately knows his environment.

How some d-bag who shows up for his first hunt for some animal he's never seen in person can be called a professional confusses me. The best part was watching a "professional hunter" count the points (didn't want to miss one) on what was obviously a 6pt elk he just downed on a guided, private ranch hunt. He made it all the way to 12 BTW.

I guess what made me think about this is a book I'm currently reading about professionalism. No where in there does it mention that getting paid = professional. Professionals get paid to do a job, not the other way around.

Should all TV hosts be considered professionals? There are only a few hosts on TV that I would consider true professionals in the industry.

The way I look at is just because you own and can opperate a thermometer, it doesn't make you an doctor.

 

[noharleyyet]

The way I look at is just because you own and can opperate a thermometer, it doesn't make you an doctor

Duh, actuate the remote channel change function....and reset the flashing 12:00 on the DVD player.

 

[npaden]

I always tell people I'm a professional singer because I have been paid to sing at a few weddings and a couple funerals. I would hate to think I had to rely on my singing ability to make a living though!

It does seem odd that they are the professional hunters but they are the ones using guides and hunting private ranches when the vast majority of amatuer hunters don't use a guide and hunt public land or if they are hunting private land it is land that they own or lease.

 

[noharleyyet]

Doesn't really bother me as I take it all with a grain of salt anyway. I'm not currently subscribed to any 'hunt' channels but if I do happen to catch one away from home I kinda scan it for locale and gear...that's about it. It is fun to see areas you've been to and/or people (Randy) you feel like you know. I like some of Shockey's stuff but seriously, how many of us are gonna hunt the mountains of Spain for the elusive whatchimacallit?

 

[StrutNut]

pro·fes·sion·al
   [pruh-fesh-uh-nl] Show IPA
adjective
1.
following an occupation as a means of livelihood or for gain: a professional builder.
2.
of, pertaining to, or connected with a profession: professional studies.
3.
appropriate to a profession: professional objectivity.
4.
engaged in one of the learned professions: A lawyer is a professional person.
5.
following as a business an occupation ordinarily engaged in as a pastime: a professional golfer.

 

[belly-deep]

Shockey is probably closer to a professional than any of them.

I still haven't figured out what Micheal Waddel does to deserve a show. Or that hefty sidekick of his.

 

[Goldtip]

I agree, professional hunter is a term I reserve for the African guide/outfitter or same person in AK. They take people hunting for their living, the hunter himself is not the professional. They are (hopefully) someone who has mastered the art of locating big game of the area and positioning the hunter in place to harvest said game, and for protecting you from that animal should there be that need.

 

[wyoming556]

My new place has all 4 hunting channels and it is pretty amazing what makes it on. There are a few good ones but watching unskilled hunters being led around private land by a guide takes the challenge out of it. Most of those people would not make it a mile from their truck without their electric cart. The after shot celebrating is what gets me, like they actually accomplished something.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I noticed that term showing up about 3-4 years ago on the shows that had hunters in North America. Guess they want to be on par with the africa guys.

good luck to all
the dog

 

[Ben Lamb]

Or that hefty sidekick of his.

Fat boys need love too.

 

[sweetnectar]

The other day I ate lunch and a sandwich artist prepared my meal....or was that a professional sandwich artist? These titles don't mean too much to me. President, emperor, bla, bla, bla. They all put their pants on the same way, one leg at a time.

 

[Dinkshooter]

Some professionals take their pants off, one leg at a time.

 

[elk_hunter]

Oh yeah, I've been seeing that same title on the shows...'professional hunter'...freaking hilarious

 

[elk_hunter]

Some professionals take their pants off, one leg at a time.

I need more cowbell!

 

[noharleyyet]

Some professionals take their pants off, one leg at a time.

Yea but you ain't a real pro til you've had the obligatory confidence exuding cigarette lip-dangle field pic.

..fact

 

[sweetnectar]

Now no one take their pants off until your title on hunt talk has been upgraded to Professional Senior Member.

 

[wgiles]

I'm OK with the African Professional Hunters, but, in North America, they are either a guide or outfitter or both. One of the duties of the African PHs is to protect the hunters from dangerous game. Some of that may be necessary in NA, but they are still guides to me.

 

[lbirch]

I watched a show the other day and besides the corny "disney" type, Marty Stofer's Wild America music the host, Mike Eastman, said something that made me LOL. The show was about Guy Eastman shooting a 200" class mule deer buck in SW Wyoming obviously on a private ranch. Mike said something about, no high fences here and do it the "eastman" way. What a joke. Like any public hunter had a chance at this buck.

 

[MN Public Hunter]

Professional = salesman...that's all I have to say about that.

 

[NChunter]

Professional = salesman...that's all I have to say about that.

I wouldn't call them professional hunters. But they are good at getting paid to go hunting. So they might be professional salesmen.