Here’s the deal this show isn’t about any one person none of us have accomplished any one thing in particular that gives us celebrity status…and what is celebrity status really; especially in the world of outdoor television? Is it a hunter shooting a big buck week in and week out (for the camera); who is being given or has the budget to afford a high priced outfitter? Does doing this on TV over and over again make a celebrity? Apparently; society has taught us over the years that if someone is in front of a camera lens enough…then they must be important! You know like Brittany…. I wanted to start this show to bring back a balance to outdoor television because big production budgets were and are taking away the real reason why we hunt and fish. It’s not just for the horns or just for a 10# bass. The outdoors isn’t about an end all; be all product that you must buy in order to be successful. I think I represent all of us average Joes with an above average passion for the outdoors and want to see that it is represented in a fun, informative, and entertaining way? I have hunted, fished, hiked, and camped since I was old enough to remember; my Dad would take me out fishing or hunting almost every weekend from sunup till sundown. It’s these memories that mean the most to me, not the size of the critter; it’s my Dad shaking my hand when I was twelve years old while standing over my first deer. My passion for the outdoors extends to enjoying new experiences, new techniques, multiple species, introducing new comers, and sharing it with family and friends. I guess if I had to summarize it one word…opportunistic! That is who I am; no one special, nobody famous, just someone with a passion for the outdoors and the want to bring that balance and passion to those of you who are in it for similar reasons. Never forget why you got into the sport of fishing or hunting; it may be altered over the years but always, always remember what got you started. Hunting and fishing should NOT be a source of stress but a relief from it. All the pressure these days is that you MUST hunt or CATCH only the trophy. This pursuit of unrealistic expectations has caused people to ruin friendships, marriages, and put people on the poor house. I don’t ever want to lose a friend, miss a memory, or risk the financial security of my family over society’s definition of a ‘trophy’. I will define it myself! This is who I am…. -Jeff Gagnow |
As for being in the outdoors for fishing and hunting, I can remember all the way back to when I was about 8 years old and I would ride my bike into Weyauwega to the small lake, that had a dam that we would go fish by. I used to sit there a lot and just cast, I think I maybe caught some small fish but nothing big, and not very often. But the best part was in those days you had no care in the world but doing something outside. So I would go fish there whenever I could. Now being able to get out on the water takes me back to those days of "no care in the world" because it gives me a chance to get away from the day to day chaos that is life. It’s relaxing and fun. I can’t wait until the day I get to take my son Hunter out fishing. As for Hunting this was a little later in my life that I got involved in this, I took the good old hunters safety course when I was younger and I had a lot of fun learning all that and getting a chance to try out some of the different guns. But I never really had the chance to go out and go hunting. Not until my cousin Jeff got me involved when I was about 17, he got me interested in it by all the times I have seen him come back with a deer, and tasting that AWESOME venison they would get back from the butcher. I had gone out a few times when I went up north with Jeff to the cabin, took a couple shots but of course I was so nervous that I missed. Not to mention that I almost got ran over by the buck I tried to shoot on the way out of the woods when I was following the trail out. One night Jeff and I went out bow hunting and it was getting towards the end of the night and I was just hoping to see something, then out of nowhere a doe walked up and I was shaking so bad from enjoyment (good thing I was in a blind up in a tree) and I just pulled back, took aim, and released. It could have not been a better shot, the deer ran maybe 50 yards and dropped. It was such an exhilarating feeling and moment that I was able to share with Jeff for my first shot and kill with a bow. And I have been hooked ever since. The rush, the bonding, the amazement of being in nature and away from reality in a way is the reason why I go back every time. There is nothing like being in the woods, freezing your tail off, and when you are about to head in, something tells you just hang on for a few more minutes, and then it happens. I can’t wait to share these moments with my kids and get them outside and in the woods or on the water. The respect I have for nature and its surroundings is one thing that I wish everyone had. Don’t go out and destroy nature, you have to respect it. That is what I want to instill in my children and to everyone else out there that just because I am no expert by any means, but I learned and continue to learn by going out and having fun, and showing respect. So why I wanted to get involved with the show, gives me the opportunity to hang out with my best friend and cousin, and to be outside enjoying the sights. And if I can get just one more person to see that you don’t have to start at a super young age to enjoy hunting and fishing and get out there and try it, then I am doing what I set out to do. Average joe-shmo is not always going to get that monster buck or massive fish, just enjoy it! - Tadd Brensike |
