Searching for West

MHT · Aug 22, 2012

Have you guys seen this video yet? It just came out today. Being huge into videoing and editing like I am, I thought this was well put together! What do you guys think? It's kind of long so make sure you have a good 25min to watch it.

http://myhuntingtube.com/video/searching-for-west?xg_source=activity

littlebighorn · Aug 22, 2012

Definitely worth the watch.
I commented on the General Hunting post.
Loved it.

bubba · Aug 22, 2012

Awsome film, It's what i have dealt with the past 3 1/2 years. I just came home from a hunting trip because I missed my kids.

monstermuleyhunter · Aug 23, 2012

Took the words right out of my mouth.....every year, every hunt, every time I pull out of the driveway I question if I'm making the right decision....thank god my family is by my side and does make it out more times than not. I have 4 boys and a girl and love them more than anything. Great production!

bigeasygator · Aug 23, 2012

I had higher hopes based on the trailer, although all of the descriptions that went with the film before it came out made me wonder just what it was going to be about.

I thought the production was good...I got a little tired of all the slow motion shots. I usually think they're cool, but I started thinking is this going to be the whole film?

I was hoping that the film would show hunting, particularly western hunting, in a more unique way. There's a lot of (for lack of a better word) romanticism for me in so many more aspects of hunting than just killing an animal, and I was hopeful this film would portray those in a way that would give, say, a non-hunter a feel for what this whole experience is about in a way we haven't seen before. I think that was touched on (some of the shots of Mark walking in for example, or pulling up to the trailhead, etc), but it could have been sooo much more.

I guess that's not what this film was trying to do, but man, it seems like someone could do it. If only I knew how to make videos that LOOKED like that...

wetmule · Aug 23, 2012

LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-12 AT 01:39PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-12 AT 01:32?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Aug-23-12 AT 01:32?PM (MST)

Well produced and shot video.... but I kept waiting for the dad to make some mention of him someday being able & wanting to pass the hunting tradition down to his son? Lots of him talking about his own dad and how his dad helped him with hunting as he grew up, and even letting him shoot his rifle on his first antelope. Not a word about him wanting to share & have those same experiences with his newborn son and carry on the family tradition. Hunting was obviously important to both he and his wife and that it was a way of life for them. Unless I missed something and I very well could have as the video was skipping during the play.... no mention of wanting to share that with his son, just that he missed his son and felt guilty & he should be home being a better father and husband. I found it strange and I think they blew a perfect opportunity to deliver that message of wanting to pass his love and knowledge of hunting on to the next generation. ??

HUNTNNW · Aug 26, 2012

I too was let down after all the hype, the cool trailer and all the sponsors. I thought it was going to be a lot longer. It was 25 min.The opening and credits were 11min leaving 14 min of the show. Like mentioned nothing about passing the tradition on. Overall the money invested in this was puzzling and dont quite understand it

4blade · Aug 27, 2012

25 minutes of my life I will never get back....and I mean that in the nicest way possible.

great trailer!

DryFlyGuy · Aug 27, 2012

Meh,

Lots of romanticizing and self-awareness. Definitely better than the half-hour hunts you get on cable, but I was disappointed.

SPOILER!

That is great that he documented his evolution from being 'totally committed' to spending time with his family after having his first kid and a tough season. A little weak and a little contrived in my opinion. Whose to say he didn't conveniently decide there was something more important at the last couple of days of the hunt? I think it was the best spin he could put on what amounted to a tough hunt with no trophy in hand.

I think the majority of us sacrifice a lot more to squeeze our hunts in than this guy did (i.e. multiple kids, non-hunting related professions, gear limitations, etc.).

Coloradoboy · Aug 27, 2012

I agree with alot of you guys.. definitely not what I expected. I really thought the film would touch more on the hunting aspect and not so much on the being away from family aspect of hunting... Growing up my father missed days with me (most of them I was so young I can't remember) to be out hunting/guiding. And it in no way shape or form has affected my or my younger brothers growing up or our relationship with dad, the sport of hunting is what has brought us closer. One thing my father passed on to me (genetically and through guidance) was the passion for the outdoors and hunting. I feel Mark will do the same with his son obviously... I feel he tied this story together in the manner that the production started out in the hope he would go out and fill his tag on a bull, get some good footage and make the film a half hour longer. But things didn't go as planned and he had to fall back on the story line of feeling the need to come home to his wife and son.

Outdoors · Aug 27, 2012

Amazing footage. I also would have enjoyed the voiceover more if was less about family focus and more about the passion for the call of the wild many of us hunters experience yet many who do not hunt do not understand.

I will leave for a archery bull elk hunt in two weeks. The unit is off the grid and is limited to foot or horse. I will backpack in for 2 miles and hunt solo.

I have spent many hours practicing with my bow and elk calls as well as exercising in the gym and hiking with 70# backpack for 4 - 5 miles. I have lost weight, built muscle and most of those around me think it very odd behavior to devote this much time and energy for any hunt much less one where you sleep in a tent and recent success rates for this hunt are almost single digits. I hear things like, "You know they sell meat at the grocery store" and "What so you do after the animal is dead?" and "Why would you want to spend your vacation hunting?"

The feeling I have as hike away from the truck with a heavy backpack is unlike anything I encounter in my professional life. I know the challenge at hand on the hunt and am prepared. Seeing wildlife up close and hearing bugling elk during the day and then at night seeing stars so clearly horizon to horizon is the sort of thing that makes me smile.

I will reflect on family, friends, past experiences and career. But memories I create this hunt will be of the hunt. The call of the wild is an important part of who I am. I will hunt again.