Trad Gang

Turning hunting into a competition.  We all saw it back in 2006 with the WHA out of Michigan.  Well...the next contestant has just stepped up to the plate and it looks like Bass Pro is behind this one.  They have gone really high tech this time.

If you think you've seen it all, read this:

Pro deer hunting tour starting

TULSA, OK – The American Whitetail Authority has announced the creation of the only professional whitetail deer hunting competition in the world — the Whitetail Pro Series. By way of four regional qualifying events held throughout the country, participating hunters will earn points based on their performance in the field. The top hunters from each regional will then compete in a championship event to crown the best deer hunter in the world.

To launch this exciting endeavor, the American Whitetail Authority is searching for the country's premier deer hunters. To find the man or woman most suited to wearing the world-champion crown, the American Whitetail Authority will send representatives across the country, a journey of more than 11,000 miles with stops at two dozen Bass Pro Shops stores, to interview applicants and search for the most respected and accomplished hunters known throughout the cities and areas they visit. AWA officials are scheduled to be in Illinois on Tuesday, July 20.

"We're looking for the best hunters, men or women, that this country can produce," said Koch. "We want to find those guys that are known as great hunters in their community—those that have the experience, knowledge and ability to put a mature whitetail down year after year regardless of the weather, moon position, hunting pressure or in the face of any other obstacle most hunters use as an excuse."

The American Whitetail Authority's Whitetail Pro Series will consist of four events scattered throughout the country. Each event will host 10 hunters, with the top hunters from each event moving on to compete in the AWA World Championship. The top performer in the AWA World Championship will have deservedly earned the title as the best hunter in the country.

"Winning this thing will require that a hunter have more than luck on his side. Anyone can get lucky and happen to stumble into a big buck, but to win this you're going to have to have multiple deer encounters every day for three days straight and then repeat the performance in the championship," said Koch.

The 40 most worthy applicants, which will meet specific criteria and will be selected by the AWA, will be invited to participate in one of four designated regional Whitetail Pro Series competitions. Each regional event will host 10 hunters that will compete in a five-day deer hunt on a predetermined piece of property. The top two hunters, as determined by a formulaic-scoring system based upon the evaluations of expert judges, will move on to compete in the AWA World Championship—the winner of which will be crowned world champion.

The American Whitetail Authority will use state-of-the-art technology to carry out competitions. Each hunter will be equipped with a digital scope on their rifle and when a blank shot is fired, it will capture a digital image of the deer, crosshair placement and shot distance. At the end of each day's competition, hunters can submit a maximum of five images of different deer for scoring. Competitors will then be ranked according to total points amassed over the multi-day event.

By using digital scopes, hunters can experience a realistic hunt without harming the deer in any way. The digital image and associated information allows hunters to record a "virtual kill" for scoring. And because no shot is actually fired and deer aren't harvested, competitions can be held before, after or even between most states' various hunting seasons and with the absence of harvest restrictions.

While friendly competition and entertainment are the focus of the Whitetail Pro Series, education, conservation, ethical sportsmanship and sound management practices are the founding ideals of the American Whitetail Authority. Participating hunters will reveal successful tactics to the benefit of every hunter in America, while firearm safety, shot selection and age class of deer will all factor into the scoring formula.

Every Whitetail Pro Series event will be recorded and available for viewing on the AWA website, as will video tips and tactics from participants and industry professionals. Read more about the tour here:

http://awapro.com/   http://www.prairiestateoutdoors.com/images/uploads/AWA_Prospectus.pdf

Tell them that Mudd says "Thanks but no thanks!"

Nuff said.......about that!

But I do appreciate your bringing this to the forefront so we can see what the general public is going to be exposed to down the road.

God bless,Mudd

Yeesh! Whats next? Crap like this is nuthin but bad press.

Start up the e-mails all!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm pretty sure thats how we stumped the WHA when they tried their crap.

This will not turn out well. For any hunter.

Nothing wrong with the old stand-by big buck contest, but this is a load of garbage.  I can't think of a single one of "the best hunters an area can produce" that would even apply for this circus. The best hunters I know usually shun the celebrity status even locally.

ANYTHING FOR $$$ SAD

I think I'm starting to get sick.

I just sent a complaint to the Bass Pro Shop customer service department from their website.
Let's flood the mail box!

Gregg, I like your comment. That is why a true great hunter will not be the winner of some thing like this. I guess some people just have to do any thing to get that "fame" attached to their persona. This not a good thing for hunting. I just wonder what some people are thinking, other then money, when they start some thing like this. Well.... Stupid is as stupid does.

This very bad idea comes up about every two or three years (from the same bunch I suppose).

It never makes. You would think that as many people as have been burned by investing in this bad idea, there wouldn't be anyone left willing to loose their money on it.

Of course we need to let the sponsors know our opinions on this, but I think somebody sold someone a "bill of goods"... again.

OkKeith

They see people supporting the Drury Bros competition in droves. It's a good business move.

I was told by an executive at a big New York Marketing company. emails are a nusance. Type out a letter and mail it. Much more effective.

I'm gonna do both.

Well at least they are just taking pictures this time.I am sure there will be plenty of guys lined up trying to make a name for themselves.They will have no trouble getting there hunters.

That's a good point Biggie - I'll do the same.  They don't receive many personally written letters and I'll bet those do receive more attention.

James, sadly, I know you are right - there will be plenty of people hoping to cash in on this.  I know a bunch of good hunters though, and I'll bet you a dollar to a donut it won't be anyone I know that does it.

 another bad idea!

It is disgusting.

E_mails, letters, and phone calls. Politely state your concerns about such a contest IE giving more ammo to anti's because if the "best hunters" can be satisfied with a photo why shouldn't everyone be, etc. Also let them know that if they pursue such a contest you want to be removed from their catalog and e-mail lists and plan to take your business elsewhere.

This is a photography contest and calling it hunting is disingenuous.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPageC?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&lf=&pageID=4452&CMID=CUSTSERV_CALLUS

They have a facebook page...oddly enough it is set up so you can't leave a written comment.

I will only participate when you have to catch em by hand while your in the nude.If they want adversity this will show a bit.For this they can get realtree to sponsor the fuzzy areas that block  out the things that you really dont want to see on TV.For the rest of the exposed skin a contestant can rent out add space.No permanone allowed!!!  :scared:

SO it looks like a great deal of who is behind this is the B.A.S.S. Tour.

Most guys that are the real deal won't touch this thing.  Blow hards will be all over it.

They say they can "hunt" out of season because they're using cameras. In Mississippi, there's a law against harassing wildlife that prevents using a light at night to observe deer, for instance. I believe this same law will keep them out of this state, at least for out-of-season hunts. Sounds like harassment to me!

I smell yet another reality show...

I think most anybody can go out and see a good buck within rifle distance.  That is not hunting.  I go out of state hunting every year and see deer that are 150"-200" regularly... but they are not within bow range usually.  It is pretty easy to stumble within 100 yards of an animal.  Where is the hunting in that?  

Well, that is my rant.  I think its just another silly way to get some of the arm chair hunters to watch a TV show.  It will draw some of the same folks that never set foot in the woods until opening morning of gun season.  Then they go out and become a hazard to the rest of the population.

Why don't they just ditch the hunter bit and give the guys cameras!  All they are finding is the worlds best tool that can take a picture . . . I know plenty of them, lol.

In all seriousness if they would have this competition except for wildlife-photographers it wouldn't be so bad.  Just make it 3 days public land, and things would be interesting.

Real deer hunters shoot bows anyway.  Anything with a trigger is cheating, except maybe a flintlock.

What a load of crap!!!!!

I like what whip said about sending them a letter.

All i can do is shake my head in disappointment.

Disgusting! Great ammunition for the anti-hunting groups.

Just read Gene Wensel's book "Come November"...he talked alot about giving the anti's ammo, and this is exactly what he was talking about in my opinion. This is not respecting the animals and our God given right to hunt. This is one of those things we have to work hard as a group to make up for. It stains us all even if we have NOTHING to do with this crap...write letters. Make some phone calls, be diligent...this is crap.

QuoteOriginally posted by Biggie Hoffman:
They see people supporting the Drury Bros competition in droves. It's a good business move.

I

The Drury Brothers were outstanding when they were filming hunts about killing spikes and four points.  With commercial success they have lost their moral compass and forgotten what hunting is all about.

QuoteOriginally posted by gregg dudley:
 

Quote
[/b]

The Drury Brothers were outstanding when they were filming hunts about killing spikes and four points.  With commercial success they have lost their moral compass and forgotten what hunting is all about. [/QB]

Yep, I agree they used to be fun to watch. If I wanted a reality show, I'd watch MTV. I don't see that happening anytime soon.   :laughing:

Look, this stuff is nonsense. And I hope they stay out of my neck of the woods. The deer need little incentive to go nocturnal as it is. This is wildlife harassment, pure and simple. But I bet they "hunt" the deer behind fenced enclosures. Only exists to sell more crap.

They want to have a contest, give them something to hunt that would be more useful.  How about rodents in a feed mill with slingshots?    :D   Sounds like something more entertaining, and less rehearsed. But then, I suppose the anti's would say the rodents were taken inhumanely.  The point is you can't win with hunting contests because hunting is not a contest.

seems like people get hung up on if they can do this instead of should we do this...

TTT

QuoteOriginally posted by Mike Theis:
 I hope they stay out of my neck of the woods.

That is one thing I dont have to worry about   :biglaugh: , this is one instance where I am glad I ain't got very many deer, lol

The "demise" of the first attempt at this (WHA) was pretty much brought on by hunters like yourselves bombarding the few sponsors.  One of those sponsors happened to be G5.  I received multiple emails and letters from them after reminding them (many times) that most companies don't survive when their client base disappears...and that their support of this "insane venture" would likely lead in that direction.  I know many other hunters that did the same.  It did not take them long to see the err of their ways and they dropped their support of WHA like a hot potatoe.

I've always scratched my head when seeing what goes on at those B.A.S.S tournaments.  It boggles my mind to this day as to what got into that man's head to make him want to start a bass fishing competition.  Oh wait....I know....$$$$$$.

This too shall pass!  Can you picture the PETA demonstrations at these "events"?

Shall we say "Self Proclaimed" Whitetail Authority??

Arn't all experts self proclaimed...till they get a big dollar sponsor?

Maybe they should name it the Worlds Greatest Deer Encounter?

:banghead:    :banghead:

One of the articles put it best, and I have experienced this first hand, is:

the key to consistently shooting big bucks is possessing "the key to the gate"

You can be the best hunter in the world and hunt where I hunt, and come up with less antler inches than a backyard 1/2 butt hunter with awesome property...

besides...what is the point of making this a competition? I will email my 2 pennies to bass pro! what a joke

they should just say that $$$ is where it's at

There isn't a Hunter that would enter this SPORTSman
competition, HUNTING is not a SPORT. Hunting is a personal experience that when filmed (still or movie), is done so to help remember and share the hunt, not to make money off it. Just my $.02 for what it's worth.

Butch L

What a fricking joke.  They have outdone themselves this time.  On the other hand, what they are doing is also brilliant.  They are appealing to the hunters and the "rabbit humpers" alike.  They are pleasing both groups, by marketing deer hunting and only taking pictures.  They have taken marketing deer hunting to a new level in which I will have absolutely nothing to do with.

Well I knew it was only a matter of time...

MARKETING is creating a need, the filling it in order to make a profit. In this day and age, theres plenty of folks who can't think for themselves... People look to Television and advertisements that can make them a better _____________.(fill in the blank.) I find the value of hard work, setting a goal, and trying- is more rewarding than just spending money.

This will work, because we hunters (tradgangers less so...) have lost the battle. The ends justify the means. Big Racks Rule!!! This is a marketing bonanza in a business that product placement, endorsements, and licensing are all too happy promote this because of just how much revenue that this will create!!!!

I usually give folks the benefit of doubt, until they prove otherwise.... I really think of myself as a people person, but man am I losing confidence in most of them....