Growing up, many of us sat around watching fishing and hunting shows on TV. Did the hunting shows stoke our love of hunting, or was it the other way around? Nowadays, we love getting out into the field most, but when that fails, a good hunting show is always the next best thing.
Yes, there is something special about getting to watch the best of the best hunting and fishing adventures on television. When we watch Steven Rinella trekking across Alaska or Brian Quaca exterminating feral hogs in Texas, we watch others take the shots we dream of. On Alone or Duck Dynasty, we watch the lives of the hunters up close and personal. Classics remind us of our moms and dads who taught us the sport. The best hunting TV shows combine the best knowledge in the world on how to hunt well and hunt often. That's a great gift to give, isn't it?
There are more great hunting shows out there than you'd think. If you're looking to watch something new, here are our favorite hunting shows old and new.
MeatEater
Few people in the hunting industry are as easy to watch as Steven Rinella. Not only is this guy a great hunter, he's a world-class cook. After each harvest on MeatEater, Rinella shares cooking tips and recipes aimed at getting the most out of wild meat. Some episodes are even fully dedicated to cooking, providing a rundown on turning your harvest into five-star fare.
Where Rinella stands out, however, is in his wisdom. Some of our favorite episodes are about his struggles and failures while hunting—reflecting the true challenge of our sport. It's available on Netflix and great for anyone who loves hunting and eating well.
Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures
Jim Shockey has been at the forefront of the hunting community for decades. He's known for embarking on some of the world's most rugged backcountry hunts.
Shockey has written three books and published over 1,000 articles in some of the industry's most popular magazines, such as American Hunter and Outdoor Life. He's won awards not just for writing but also for guiding and wildlife videography and photography. His time on television is what elevates his career to another level.
He's produced more than 50 DVDs and also hosts Jim Shockey's Uncharted on the Outdoor Channel. However, Jim Shockey's Hunting Adventures is a classic and has become the engine powering his enormous brand. If you hunt and haven't streamed it, you're in for a treat.
Alone
Photo Credit Alone
The History Channel's Alone is an intense survival competition among 10 contestants. Whoever can survive longest in the wild wins. So far, the show has had 10 seasons spread across remote locations such as Patagonia, Northern Mongolia, Great Slave Lake, Chilko Lake, northern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, and Nahuel Huapi National Park in Argentina.
Contestants are truly alone, with limited equipment and only occasional medical check-ins. A big part of the show's appeal is that footage is pulled from each contestant's own self-shot video log. The style is ideal for viewers who love hunting how-to videos and learning specific tips from savvy individuals. Contestants hunt with recurve bows, snares, and fishing traps and lines, and they often bring hunting equipment they've made themselves. Over the seasons, there has been an incredible number of epic hunting and fishing moments, including taking down big game such as moose and even a muskox (with a knife!).
American Archer
Outdoor Channel
American Archer follows master bowhunter Tom Nelson as he and other bowhunters hunt throughout the United States. Nelson, a Michigan resident, is passionate about archery and bowhunting. He's spent nearly 50 years in the sport, hunting in 29 states, eight Canadian provinces, Mexico, South Africa, Namibia, and Europe. Every week, Nelson shares tips with American households as they tune in to his show. The show recently aired its 20th season on the Outdoor Channel.
American Hoggers
Getty Images, JMrocek
Feral hogs are a serious problem in many parts of the United States, including Texas, where hogs cause millions of dollars in damage to ranches and farms. American Hoggers follows hog hunter Jerry Campbell, his son Robert, and daughter Krystal as they help those who are threatened by hogs, using the Campbells' custom Jeep and trained dogs. The series ran for four seasons from 2011-2013 but can still be watched on streaming services.
Duck Dynasty
Getty Images, Ethan Miller
Duck Dynasty aired on A&E from 2012 to 2017. The show follows the Robertson family, longtime makers of the popular Duck Commander duck call. Hunting, fishing, and family life for the Robertsons drew in millions of viewers and created great entertainment for 11 seasons. Today, the series continues in the spinoff Duck Family Treasures and reruns that can be watched on the Outdoor Channel and on Hulu.
Winchester & Drury's Natural Born
The Drury Outdoors team joined forces with Winchester years ago to form a show that merged a "natural-born passion" for hunting with the American tradition of Winchester. Natural Born developed an audience impressive in both size and loyalty, and it remains a household name in hunting entertainment. The show follows loads of different hunting experiences, from big-time turkey hunts in Wisconsin and Texas to heart-stopping deer hunts in the plains of Iowa.
Archer's Choice With Ralph & Vicki
Many firmly believe archery is the only way to approach deer hunting. Those people have more than likely heard of Ralph and Vicki Cianciarulo, former archery outfitters. Their show, Archer's Choice, brings fair-chase hunting to a new level, focusing on the different challenges of bowhunting without the help of high fences.
Michael Waddell's Bone Collector
Over the years, Michael Waddell has steadily become one of the most popular deer hunters in the industry. His laid-back, humorous personality keeps viewers coming back. With co-hosts Nick Mundt and Travis "T-Bone" Turner by his side, Waddell tackles every hunting method using rifles, shotguns, bows, and muzzleloaders on Bone Collector. When the show premiered in 2009, its premise was to reinvent outdoor television. It's safe to say it did just that—and then some.
This article was originally published on Oct. 10, 2018.
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