Robertsons and Others

W

Worth Mathewson

Active member
Regarding the Robertsons, I have never watched the program, or used one of their calls. (No need to, as the Haydel double reed is the best mallard call ever made, or will be made.) And like many others at the Oregon Waterfowl Festival a few years back, I was disappointed when Phil conduced a bible study rather than addressing duck hunting. (The Field & Game members in Australia were a lot more than disappointed after they paid a bunch to get him down there to speak and got a sermon. Those Aussies can be crusty, so I will not repeat some of the stronger remarks made.)
But what irritates me greatly about the Robertsons is their facial expressions in photographs. They look like a bunch of bikers about to kick the crap out of someone. At least for me, it isn't something that I want to represent waterfowlers to a non-hunting public.
Rob Olson, former head of Delta Waterfowl, and I had several conversations about not only the Robertsons, but many other duck hunters pictured in ads. Most have scowls, or downright angry expressions. Why? Did they just finish a fist fight over a place in the marsh? Rob and I were in total agreement that waterfowling is one of the most enjoyable experiences a person can have, and causes one to smile due to the wonder of it all. In other words, it is a truly happy time. I can only hope that at some point an ad will picture a duck or goose hunter with a smile. And it doesn't need to be a big one. I can do that for them, as I frequently wear one from ear to ear after a hunt. A very Merry Christmas to all. Best, Worth Mathewson
 
Well said Worth! I too do not get the scowlish attitude that is so often on the forefront of representing waterfowlers to non-waterfowlers...maybe I'm just not cool enough to "get it"...if that's so, then fine, I'd rather be happy while hunting than look cool

Best
Chuck
 
Well said Worth, I've been trying to express that very opinion for some time. Just couldn't seem to put it into words. Except the part about the duck call, Olt MK 5 is the best. hehe
 
So your beef is they scowl like bastards, but in reality act like saints? So would it be better if they smiled like saints but where actually bastards?

I can't say I understand why they scowl. But, they are extremely successful in their business and I am not a millionaire. Maybe there is a correlation.
 
Worth, You make some excellent points, that is probably why I never paid any attention to the DC crowd until they started the DD show. Indeed duck hunting is a joyous experience and I really don't understand the scowls at all. They should all be grinning like fools being able to make a living and hunt as much as they do. Maybe it is just macho bullshit and it does look bad. All my pictures look like I'm sitting on a feather. Regardless I am a DC fan and it really has nothing to do with duck hunting.
 
I think that it's because the guys creating ads for the magazines are the same guys who used to make Marlboro ads-they're trying to sell the idea that their product will give you that air of masculinity and manliness that we all seem to be so sorely missing. I still have my copy of last year's Cabelas waterfowl catalog and I laugh every time I see the photo on the cover-it looks like somebody strapped some duck hunting gear onto Jeremiah Johnson. Don't you know that tough guys never smile? It's funny that you don't seem to see the same faces in the ads for fishing gear-they are really pushing the "good times with the family/kids/buddies" angle in most of the fishing tackle ads that I've seen. It's all a pile of BS anyways.
 
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We all need to take a good LONG look, at all the ads in hunting magazines selling anything to do with Waterfowling. (The ads that pay the bills, and keep folks employed) Especially shotguns, and hunting apparel. When did we declare war on all waterfowl, and a "Killem at All costs, cuz we are Dead Cluckin' Serious" attitude? Was it the Roberson's who invented that, or ad and pr, spin doctors, and why does it continue? It surely can't be because it sells the product, can it?

I agree waterfowlers are a happy go lucky bunch. It's easy to see at boat launches prior to shootin' time, and 5 am drawings to hunt public areas. They need to show more of that, and less scowling.
 
Hey take a look at most any hunting magazine or catalog, most of the people are pissed off looking with paint on their face.I think if your in the 40+crowed a lot we see today bothers us with the way hunting and fishing is being promoted.We all know you don't need half the crap being sold today to kill ducks and deer for that matter.Lets dress from head to toe in camo then wear a( BIG )orange hat to go deer hunting,but deer can't see color ...so we need state of the art camo to kill'em ?Go back to the to the early 80s and look at the hunting catalogs vs now.There's so many flipping duck and goose calls on the market now compared to then.Camo patterns for every season,the hunting industry has come along way... alot for the better.A large portion of the Ad's today are geared towards the younger generation .It' about kill,kill,kill did I get my limit,think back when you were younger did it matter ..sure it did.My older son was playing some crap music in his room the other day and I yelled and told him to turn that junk off, my wife heard me and reminded me that we use to dance to the same song in the clubs back in the day. Dang I'm getting old. (what's a beastie boys). As for DD and other reality shows you either like them or you don't, from what I hear there's millions watching and buying the products. For me as I get older I look at things a little different vs when I was 20 something.
 
"I can only hope that at some point an ad will picture a duck or goose hunter with a smile."
Worth,
Today I spent a great day on the River with my youngest boy who's home from school on break. Watched him shoot two birds with two shots in between some good conversation. We talked about how fortunate we have been over the years to enjoy our times on the water or in the field.
This evening, your comment on smiles made me think of two pictures I took of him. The first in a cornfield when he was about seven or eight.View attachment biggoose.jpg
The second at the ramp when we finished up today (At 22, he still insisted on backing the boat trailer down the ramp at takeout - "just to keep my hand in.") View attachment Dougxmas13 014 (600 x 399).jpgWe also spent a half-hour clearing the ramp of the debris that had floated in with the River rising to flood stage. Maybe in the morning it will save some other hunters some time.
Still smiling and appreciating it.
Click to expand...
 
Total agreement here Worth. The look and the terminology are distressing. Saw a post on another forum recently that was titled 'Duck Smackdown'. A friend of mine mentioned that he saw a bumper sticker recently advertising a brand of turkey calls called 'Dead Tom Walking'.

I often wonder what a non-hunting, "on the fence about about my feelings on the blood sports" individual thinks when he lands on one of the poorly done TV hunting shows, is behind the pickup with the 'Dead Tom Walking' sticker, or hears someone mention that they had a waterfowl smackdown?

Maybe I'm just an out-of-touch curmudgeon.

Matt
 
Oh man, I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds "the scowl" so irritating. I can't even look at ads in magazines anymore. They simply drive me nuts, if they aren't scowling or looking mean then they're eyeballing something in the sky with a call stuck to their lips in the typical fowl weather setting. That I get, but they're all the same stinking picture only with a different call/decoy/gun and a different person...very cliche. What ever happened to creativity in advertising?

And the "kill 'em all" crap has to be the icing on the cake. That is about the worst kind of advertising one could conjure up, it's no wonder anti-hunters feel the way they do when they see this garbage, and they do see it. How are we supposed to convey to the general public that hunters are conservationists when everything portrayed to the public says just the opposite? Granted, not all hunters ARE conservationists. Heck, I know quite a few that really don't even know what that word means.

Thanks for bringing this up Worth...I'm with you!

Steve
 
When I am about and about (I do not own a TV set.)
If I see someone or something that gets my guard hairs up.

I count to ten.


Then I keep on driving/walking.


The only one I have any sway with,
Is the one looking back in the mirror.

Even he refuses to make eye contact.
 
Well i have to admit i don't like the caveman look or the scowls either but they do have a Christian conviction and i am all for that. Smiling while they witness would go over a lot better.
In this day of commercialism and debauchery let us remember THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
Merry Christmas to all.
Bill.
 
Worth;

I agree with you on both accounts.

Knowing how savy the Robertsons are on marketing their products, I'll bet that more than one focus group has determined that the "bad boy" expression sells the best to their target audience. You mentioned the double reed DR-85 Haydel as the ultimate call...........What a difference old Eli Haydel used to market his calls compared to the Duck Commander. No Hollywood trick poses, just plain solid information, and let the call's reputation do the rest. What a great product for both the entry level guy as well as the salty, experienced hunter...........and for under $20.00!!!!!

I think I'll dig a couple of DR-85's out for Tuesday's hunt and leave the $125.00 calls at home.

Gibby
 
The explanation to recent waterfowl marketing is described by the study of human social behavior. In simple terms society changes.

Most of us on this forum are probably 40 or older (just an opinion predicated by my "most of us" guess).

Our tastes in waterfowl equipment, attitudes and experiences are pretty much set in stone. We know what we want and if the money is available we will buy it (or make do). Our attitudes have been greatly influenced by our past. The problem is we are being socially challenged by the younger generation.

Unfortunately, most of it is unavoidable and part of every social life cycle. Sociology suggests the younger generation will be different....slightly would be nice......but communication has become a huge catalyst in widening the gap.

A major influence on our "youngsters" has been the computer with games. The more exciting and out in left field the game is the more popular. The younger generation has been pre-conditioned to wanting over the top excitement with bigger than real life characters.....these beyond reality experiences are normal to them.

Any business that does not adjust to changes in society fails to recognize the impact on future profits. "Those ads" are not aimed at us. We are already sold on what we want. Us "old guys" will buy because we are "hooked" consumers. They are not going after us unless it is big ticket items and deep down inside realize we will just complain and put up with the onslaught.

It becomes paramount (for us) to tolerate or nurture the young (two very different approaches) in hopes that some day they might enhance the history and future of hunting. Unfortunately (or not), at 73 that may be wishful thinking on my part.

To repeat....the younger generation is the next big consumer. Killing on a grand scale by unnatural, bigger than life, on screen fantasy characters is normal. Reality is not a big selling point in advertisements looking to "hook" the young and naive. They are giving them what they grew up with and we don't like it.

Or maybe I've just been overcome with the urge to write a cynical satire.
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My god, great insight! Whenever I go hunting my buddies and I spend the whole time laughing and smiling and just having a fine time. This mean looking foolishness is ridiculous. Your so right. All the advertisements I see have pictures of dudes who look they just crawled out of the mountains of Afghanistan while being chased by the Taliban. They all look like hardend killers. I hate the way this makes us look to the nonhunting public. They must be scared to death of hunters.

And that TV show makes a mockery of hunters. Between the duck commanders and the killer biker gang duck hunter ads we don't have a chance with the public at large. This is why they want to take our guns away and send us to reeducation camps. (just kidding about the camps, but you understand the sentiment).

I wish the members of this forum could be in charge of the promotion of our image. I have no doubt that you guys are among some of the finest citizens our country has to offer. I wish everyone else was aware of it.

Merry Christmas guys
 
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