MeatEater Is Unwatchable

[8mm Enthusiast]

I've never watched much of Steve Rinella's show MeatEater much until this summer to pass the time during the off season. It's certainly popular and has introduced much of the urban crowd to hunting and that can be a good or bad thing sometimes because he doesn't seem to have any issues openly talking about the specific state and tag he is hunting which has led to documented spikes in applications.

The brand itself is good, champions conservation and public lands. But, I can not bear to watch the show anymore. The music is absolutely horrific and generic and doesn't match the setting of the episodes and starts playing after every 5 seconds. It's edited like a low attention span tv show. My biggest ick, is these long unnecessary philosophical ramblings Steve goes into that absolutely drive me crazy each time. The show is 80% Steve talking about some total nonsense and the remaining 20% resembles some hunting. According to the guy, every place in each episode is a spot he has an "affinity" for, then he'll pivot to talking about Daniel Boone, mountain men, "a sense of bla bla bla from this place", then all the long commentary and explanations treating the audience like a bunch of dummies. It's just talk, talk, talk, talk, talk.

Some of the side series are good though. I really liked this

episode bowhunting whitetail deer. There's not much talking at all, hardly any music, just pure quiet hunting with ambient sounds. This is why I only watch mainly The Hunting Public now, to save myself from a talk and music induced headache.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Also, the First Lite gear is insanely overpriced and not only that, many of the products specifically state they are made with PFAS. People paying $500 - $1,000 just to put some toxic plastic on their skin? It's the same thing with these insane companies like Sitka and Kuiu. I never understood why people pay these unbelievable amounts to put some petroleum on their skin that probably cost the company $10 to make but they sell it to you for an enormous price. I just wear wool and cotton.

 

[RememberBaker]

I find all hunting shows to be unwatchable. I’ve tried to watch a few episodes of Meat Eater but I’ve never gotten through one. As much as I love hunting and fishing, watching other people do it on TV isn’t for me.

 

[jimbires]

I don't watch hunting shows . most seem to be BS , to me

 

[highoctane]

I do not watch any of those shows and have not for years. Most of them cause unrealistic expectations in a lot of people, especially the newbies, but if you find them unbearable to watch vote with your remotes change the channel or off button.

 

[JD338]

I watched an episode of Meat Eater where he wounded a small bull moose and was charged by the bull while looking for it. The other episode I watched he was hunting with a guide in Alaska (?) and the guide saw a grizzly. He was on full alert with his rifle at the ready as he was concerned about a charge.
Ol Mr Meat Eater kept his rifle slung on his shoulder and kept talking to the camera. I seem to recall that the guide fired a warning shot at the bear and the meat eater was caught by surprise. The guys an idiot.

JD338

 

[Bruce Mc]

Are there any outdoor (hunting or fishing) shows that aren't so commercial they're impossible to watch. I will admit there are a couple of shows I watch because they have awesome camera work and take place in a wilderness background. Most are just junk.

 

[Vince]

I don’t have a television so I skip the stupidity.

Anything I want to watch I can view it on my phone. I don’t watch much television. I do like Law and Order and Chicago Fire.

Vince

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I find all hunting shows to be unwatchable. I’ve tried to watch a few episodes of Meat Eater but I’ve never gotten through one. As much as I love hunting and fishing, watching other people do it on TV isn’t for me.

Same. I don't have TV, just end up watching some online during the off season. Mainly I listen to tips and tricks podcasts but even those are more of a show than a guide so I avoid it.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I don't watch hunting shows . most seem to be BS , to me

They are way too aggressive in their style of hunting however I think the editing makes it look 10X more aggressive than they are. Newbies will easily be fooled and totally fail in the field if they try to replicate what they see.

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I do not watch any of those shows and have not for years. Most of them cause unrealistic expectations in a lot of people, especially the newbies, but if you find them unbearable to watch vote with your remotes change the channel or off button.

True.

 

[Firebird24]

I guess this is the new Instagram where opinionated people rant about stuff they don’t like and talk shit about people and things they don’t like. Sad. Very sad

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I watched an episode of Meat Eater where he wounded a small bull moose and was charged by the bull while looking for it. The other episode I watched he was hunting with a guide in Alaska (?) and the guide saw a grizzly. He was on full alert with his rifle at the ready as he was concerned about a charge.
Ol Mr Meat Eater kept his rifle slung on his shoulder and kept talking to the camera. I seem to recall that the guide fired a warning shot at the bear and the meat eater was caught by surprise. The guys an idiot.

JD338

Yeah I've seen that. He stumbled over his backpack trying desperately to get his rifle out. The backpack was likely a $2000 Sitka, Kuiu, or Eberlestock haha. Also the time he fed his guest and ate totally raw bear meat giving the entire crew trichinosis

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

Are there any outdoor (hunting or fishing) shows that aren't so commercial they're impossible to watch. I will admit there are a couple of shows I watch because they have awesome camera work and take place in a wilderness background. Most are just junk.

I try to look for the same aesthetic you are describing. Quiet, wilderness background, focused on the hunt and animals. Not loud music or commercials and excessive talking.

I haven't found any shows that are like that yet, however I do enjoy watching "The Hunting Public". There's minimal music, you can hear the ambient background noises and they focus fully on the raw hunt aspect of it. They mainly hunt deer and turkey though. Not much western big game hunting.

 

[JD338]

Yeah I've seen that. He stumbled over his backpack trying desperately to get his rifle out. The backpack was likely a $2000 Sitka, Kuiu, or Eberlestock haha. Also the time he fed his guest and ate totally raw bear meat giving the entire crew trichinosis

Did I mention idiot?

JD338

 

[Firebird24]

So he is honest, cooks what he kills and has better gear than you guys do and has infinitely more followers than this forum. You all need to relax and think before you criticize

 

[8mm Enthusiast]

I guess this is the new Instagram where opinionated people rant about stuff they don’t like and talk shit about people and things they don’t like. Sad. Very sad

View attachment 29935
So he is honest, cooks what he kills and has better gear than you guys do and has infinitely more followers than this forum. You all need to relax and think before you criticize

I don't think this is a personal attack against the guy nor was that my intention. It's a critique of the main MeatEater TV show with the excessive music and the talking. It's campfire talk. Like critiquing a product.

Give credit where credit is due. He has brought a lot of support and attention to the hunting lifestyle and yes the cooking part is big on his show which is a very big positive in my opinion. In addition to that his brand champions public lands and conservation and I read the articles regularly.

Just critiquing the show and it's presentation. It's become undesirable to watch from my personal perspective. I know there are many many people millions who enjoy it and more power to them. Live and let live.