An explosion of mediocre content

[NMSbowhunter]

This phenomenon is a direct result of people seeing others be successful with YouTube videos so they are making their attempt to monetize their channel or get sponsorships.

Excellent example. Average Jack Archery. He was a middle school teacher (maybe still is?) who started his own channel in his backyard and now look at his channel and content? Hunting Public is another large example of massive success with media. Ranch Fairy is another example (love him or hate him, he still gets views). Anyone remember a channel called G2 Outdoors by chance? Ya. Where is he now? Hahahaha.

So people have to start somewhere and it’s usually in their yard, garage or basement. They see the recipe and the algorithm and figure they may as well try also. Plus they see it in every other influential part of their lives also from their wives likes and hobbies and Facebook and TikTok and IG. So it’s kind of the norm now.

Maybe we should all start channels and see who is the worst and give an award at the end of the year.

That's a great idea. I've been wanting to set up one of those 24 hour a day live feeds like at the deer pantry has but have the camera set up over a cat litter box. It would probably get 5 million subscribers in a month, and just think of the merch....I can see it all now. $$$$$$$$$$$

 

[Lucky13]

Production, personality, success, story, narration is where it’s at and few can pull off that combo every video.

I saw a guy promoting his new channel on FB today with a 65 yard shot at a turkey with a .410.. and thought to myself, there’s no way I’d watch that.

 

[DroptineKrazy]

I have exactly two active "Social Media" accounts. This one and YouTube, only so that I can post "How to" videos to this one.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's to never say never. However, I can say I have never uttered the phrase "Like and Subscribe" in or about any video I've ever done nor do I see myself saying it in the future. Personally, if I like someone's content enough I'm going to subscribe, if not then I'll pass. At any rate I'd certainly grade any of my content "Less than mediocre".

When I started the channel I was working full time and now I'm an old retired guy who, at this point anyway, doesn't need the money or the hassle. It's just not worth it to me to deal with worrying about producing content. In fact I can't remember the last time I posted a video and although I think about doing some updates I just struggle with effort involved to produce them from planning, setting up, videoing (multiple takes because I can't talk straight with the camera on) and then, worst of all, editing to make a final product. I've filmed a bunch of hunts but don't have any desire to post them. I just share raw footage with hunting buddies.

But...but....ain't we your huntin buddies? Like, even pretend ones? lol.

 

[HawRiverArcher]

My favorite channel to watch with my kids is "Outdoor Boys." It's one of the most successful YouTube channels of all time. He also did a series of videos on what it takes to produce his stuff and it's 70+ hours a week of editing, shooting, and production. Some videos are set up months and even years in advance. It's become his full time job and he treats it like a business and business has been good to he and his family. It's been a 7 year journey to find success as well and the first 3 years he continued working full time as an attorney.

Unfortunately as many have said, too many people think they can just push out some poorly thought out garbage on their phone and be instant famous and rich. People do make fortunes on social media but it's probably less than 1% and they work, and treat it like any other job and business. However as with most things in America these days too many people only see the payoff not the struggle before it.

I stick to channels I know for the most part. Overall though I'm weaning myself off of YouTube and social media in general for my kids sake. Monkey see, monkey do.

 

[HawRiverArcher]

I agree and disagree. I find it almost impossible to watch hardly any shows on outdoor tv and dont watch a lot of online content either. The problem is everyone wants to be an influencer with designs on being an "icon of the sport". It seems they have little to no understanding of what that really means or takes. Gonna preach to the choir a little but before outdoor tv channels and youtube we followed our hunting idols in the pages of books and magazines where they told a story of their adventure which many times culminated with the killing of a good animal. Now we get food plotting and riding around in a truck for most of a video and a kill shot. I havent watched much of the Seek1 stuff but what I have seemed to be a higher level. I really enjoy Donnie Vincent's stuff. IMO, we need a lot more of that type work.

I like Seek1 he does have good production and his videos are definitely laid down like stories and follow certain deer a long throughout the season.

I hate that magazines have all but died. You can still get them but they're twice the price half as thick and mostly just advertising. The stories and editorial features are almost missing entirely. I like physical paper to read.

 

[BTaylor]

I stick to channels I know for the most part. Overall though I'm weaning myself off of YouTube and social media in general for my kids sake. Monkey see, monkey do.

An unsolicited opinion as food for thought. The kiddos really need to know the platforms and tech around the different social media platforms so I am not sure weaning off for their sake is an entirely good thing. But for dang sure teaching and showing them moderation is super important imo.

 

[HawRiverArcher]

An unsolicited opinion as food for thought. The kiddos really need to know the platforms and tech around the different social media platforms so I am not sure weaning off for their sake is an entirely good thing. But for dang sure teaching and showing them moderation is super important imo.

Agreed, they need to know their way around technology for sure. But social media is becoming a cancer on modern society. I even find myself compulsively reaching for my phone all the time to check social media though and it's effected my mental well-being.

I've noticed too many super young kids with phones in their hands when I go out. They don't engage with anyone or anything anymore just the phone or tablet and if you take it away they have a full on nervous breakdown. I want my kids to treat it like the tool it is and live their life in the real world not watch other people doing it. We've prioritized technology over real people and real interactions in too many ways and it's effecting our society negatively.

My kids and their generation will have some challenges navigating this new world for sure.

 

[BTaylor]

Agreed, they need to know their way around technology for sure. But social media is becoming a cancer on modern society. I even find myself compulsively reaching for my phone all the time to check social media though and it's effected my mental well-being.

I've noticed too many super young kids with phones in their hands when I go out. They don't engage with anyone or anything anymore just the phone or tablet and if you take it away they have a full on nervous breakdown. I want my kids to treat it like the tool it is and live their life in the real world not watch other people doing it. We've prioritized technology over real people and real interactions in too many ways and it's effecting our society negatively.

My kids and their generation will have some challenges navigating this new world for sure.

Spot on!!

 

[thedutchtouch]

My favorite channel to watch with my kids is "Outdoor Boys." It's one of the most successful YouTube channels of all time. He also did a series of videos on what it takes to produce his stuff and it's 70+ hours a week of editing, shooting, and production. Some videos are set up months and even years in advance. It's become his full time job and he treats it like a business and business has been good to he and his family. It's been a 7 year journey to find success as well and the first 3 years he continued working full time as an attorney.

Unfortunately as many have said, too many people think they can just push out some poorly thought out garbage on their phone and be instant famous and rich. People do make fortunes on social media but it's probably less than 1% and they work, and treat it like any other job and business. However as with most things in America these days too many people only see the payoff not the struggle before it.

I stick to channels I know for the most part. Overall though I'm weaning myself off of YouTube and social media in general for my kids sake. Monkey see, monkey do.

Agreed, the only bad thing about outdoor boys is the death of the OG catfish and carp channel. But I get it, interests change.

 

[Swamp Fox__On The Run]

This obviously doesn't apply to everyone but I think there's a lot of folks thinking that a YouTube channel is a way to a fast buck while doing something they enjoy. We see a lot of it here where guys sign up seemingly only to advertise their channels. "Check this out, Like and Subscribe!"

Unfortunately it doesn't really work that way. The forethought before filming and the post filming editing necessary to produce "quality" content is a huge effort task. Most folks don't enjoy that part of the process so this is where the quality of a lot of the product suffers.

Good content ain't gonna happen unless one has a lot more spare time than most folks, plus the story-telling, videography and editing skills, plus charisma, plus interesting locations and animals, plus, plus, plus ...

Then there's the know-how to get your good content seen, so you can rinse, repeat, and feed the beast.

I think all this ---the secret sauce--- is quite a challenge for one person. He'd be a unicorn if he could put it all together by himself (and sustain it). I suspect the "content" most people on here would find worthwhile is almost always the result of a team effort.

 

[Swamp Fox__On The Run]

I really enjoy Donnie Vincent's stuff. IMO, we need a lot more of that type work.

No sort of podcast consumer nor much of a outdoor video watcher myself, but Donnie Vincent rang a faint bell from a good while back, so I looked him up.

I say anybody who can get comments like these, which are posted in reply to DV's appearance on a podcast discussing 'the revererent hunter" deserves a follow ... LOL .... And these two are just a sample of many here :

ReWild Yourself Podcast - The Reverent Hunter: Donnie Vincent

Daniel Vitalis invited me to join him on his very popular "Rewild Yourself" Podcast. Daniel & I share many similar beliefs and viewpoints on the world and more specifically how we as humans acquire our food. Daniel, as he says it himself, is obsessed with what’s most natural for our species, and...

www.donnievincent.com

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Now that's some amazing content!!

 

[Wlog]

There are 3 or 4 hunting you tube shows I watch and a few more traditional archery channels. That’s about it for hunting you tube content. Deer hunting podcasts are almost impossible for me to get through now. A lot of just regurgitated information. I can honestly say I get so much more out of walking through the woods for 1.5 hours than I could ever get listening to a podcast.

 

[Maverick1]

Agreed, they need to know their way around technology for sure. But social media is becoming a cancer on modern society. I even find myself compulsively reaching for my phone all the time to check social media though and it's effected my mental well-being.

I've noticed too many super young kids with phones in their hands when I go out. They don't engage with anyone or anything anymore just the phone or tablet and if you take it away they have a full on nervous breakdown. I want my kids to treat it like the tool it is and live their life in the real world not watch other people doing it. We've prioritized technology over real people and real interactions in too many ways and it's effecting our society negatively.

My kids and their generation will have some challenges navigating this new world for sure.

Several years ago, it used to be that all the adults and people in a room would gather together and engage in conversation. Those that didn’t engage in conversation were viewed by most as being abnormal or standoffish.

These days, those same adults will all be sitting around in a room with their heads buried in their phones or tablets. Attempts to engage them in conversation now makes them look at you like you are abnormal. If you are actually successful in starting a conversation, it’s like they can’t wait for any reason to go back to their phones and resume their previous state of ignoring everyone in the room.

Other than hunting forums, I am thankfully not on social media. Insta-feed, Facebooger, Snap Crap, etc.

See way too many people paying more attention to their phones than their families. Treat their dogs and phones better than their own kids.

Also see too many people engaging with technology and watching other people live their lives than living and experiencing their own life. Pretty sad and pathetic.

Seems like a mental disease or virus.

 

[Jammintree]

I really appreciate that YouTube is a platform open to anyone and everyone to post content on. And I feel that there is a great benefit to us all when an amateur like @boyne bowhunter posts a video of something really esoteric like: how to attach a platform using a truckers hitch.

Whats been particularly annoying to me for example are all of the 3 hour videos made by novice hunters wandering around in the woods without any success. It’s kinda like they come home, upload the days go-pro files into one document and call it done.

For what it’s worth, it’s not actually that hard to make a coherent video. If you have a basic concept of how you want your videos narrative to progress, some amount of acceptable quality footage, and a willingness to do some very basic editing you can easily put together a basic video that is something worth watching. It just takes having a goal and willingness to spend some time working on the presentation.

 

[Swamp Fox__On The Run]

You old farts bitching about the kids on their phones ... At least they're not shooting up schools and neighborhood clubs ...

Oh, wait ...

One of the reasons much of the content is so poor is because most of the creators are so shallow. Outdoor media of the past (by this I mostly mean print) was created by men who had some bones, and the chops to find their way to a very high-altitude summit. Now, with the New Media, the summit is a speed bump outside a suburban mall.


[Pause]


I would also like to say that anyone who appears in a photo or video wearing a flat brim cap-- anywhere-- including the 7-11 but especially out hunting ---or if I even hear about it--- we cannot be friends and your social media is forever blocked from reaching me.


[Give me a second...]

 

[boyne bowhunter]

I would also like to say that anyone who appears in a photo or video wearing a flat brim cap-- anywhere-- including the 7-11 but especially out hunting ---or if I even hear about it--- we cannot be friends and your social media is forever blocked from reaching me.

Darn, now I'm gonna have to go iron out all my carefully rolled hat brims. JK, I'm not a fan of the flat brim look either.

 

[BTaylor]

I really appreciate that YouTube is a platform open to anyone and everyone to post content on. And I feel that there is a great benefit to us all when an amateur like @boyne bowhunter posts a video of something really esoteric like: how to attach a platform using a truckers hitch.

Whats been particularly annoying to me for example are all of the 3 hour videos made by novice hunters wandering around in the woods without any success. It’s kinda like they come home, upload the days go-pro files into one document and call it done.

For what it’s worth, it’s not actually that hard to make a coherent video. If you have a basic concept of how you want your videos narrative to progress, some amount of acceptable quality footage, and a willingness to do some very basic editing you can easily put together a basic video that is something worth watching. It just takes having a goal and willingness to spend some time working on the presentation.

Way easier than it used to be. Back in the day we shot on S-VHS and then had to transfer to Beta, then do the editing and voice over, etc. Had to pay a studio to do the work while you sat there and gave directions. Once the master was done, you had to get it reproduced along with creating a tape sleeve. Then you got to go try to peddle VHS tapes to hunting stores along with any other products you were making.

 

[BTaylor]

You old farts bitching about the kids on their phones ... At least they're not shooting up schools and neighborhood clubs ...

Oh, wait ...

One of the reasons much of the content is so poor is because most of the creators are so shallow. Outdoor media of the past (by this I mostly mean print) was created by men who had some bones, and the chops to find their way to a very high-altitude summit. Now, with the New Media, the summit is a speed bump outside a suburban mall.


[Pause]


I would also like to say that anyone who appears in a photo or video wearing a flat brim cap-- anywhere-- including the 7-11 but especially out hunting ---or if I even hear about it--- we cannot be friends and your social media is forever blocked from reaching me.


[Give me a second...]

But tucking your ears looks funny with a curved bill.

 

[Jammintree]

I would also like to say that anyone who appears in a photo or video wearing a flat brim cap-- anywhere-- including the 7-11 but especially out hunting ---or if I even hear about it--- we cannot be friends and your social media is forever blocked from reaching me.

how much radius is required to meet your high moral standard?

 

[woodsdog2]

I have exactly two active "Social Media" accounts. This one and YouTube, only so that I can post "How to" videos to this one.

If there's one thing I've learned over the years it's to never say never. However, I can say I have never uttered the phrase "Like and Subscribe" in or about any video I've ever done nor do I see myself saying it in the future. Personally, if I like someone's content enough I'm going to subscribe, if not then I'll pass. At any rate I'd certainly grade any of my content "Less than mediocre".

When I started the channel I was working full time and now I'm an old retired guy who, at this point anyway, doesn't need the money or the hassle. It's just not worth it to me to deal with worrying about producing content. In fact I can't remember the last time I posted a video and although I think about doing some updates I just struggle with effort involved to produce them from planning, setting up, videoing (multiple takes because I can't talk straight with the camera on) and then, worst of all, editing to make a final product. I've filmed a bunch of hunts but don't have any desire to post them. I just share raw footage with hunting buddies.

When I first started one sticking your videos were clutch for me, both inspirational and technique oriented. The timed climb video is one of the best. Gave me Mucho confidence.