Review of "Hunting the Night Shift"

H

hammer007

New member
Overall on a scale of 1-10

for instruction about a 4
for action shots & kills about a 7

I really was hoping to learn how to hunt from this video.

I have never made a hunting video but have been involved with training and training materials. It seems this video did not follow any type of objective script. It kind of jumps all over from one item then back to another item then back again.

I am not one to point out faults without solutions. I would be more then willing to help others or Randy with the next video. With my limited choices of night hunting videos I would buy this video again in a heart beat.

When producing training material it is crucial to define training objectives and then script to them. This video did the opposite "film then piece it together".

My examples are:

Training objective:
Using lights at night
1) Types of lights show each one
2) Best lights and advantages
3) Worst lights and disadvantages

SME's (Subject Matter Experts) Go through and narrate each light, then use them all in field to show advantages and disadvantages.
Show us clueless wanta-bees what a coyote does when you burn him with a bright white beam.
Show us how to use the halo
Show us how to adjust the beam to the optimum setting and why and what happens when it is not the correct setting.

Drop the back round music I want to hear you guys the experts what and why you doing what you are doing. Talk us through the mistakes people make etc.

Thanks for the great start and I will buy you next DVD too!

Hammer
 
Hammer....

Thanks for the review. It was interesting to say the least!

Actually, the video did exactly what we meant it to do. It showed a bunch of critters getting killed and it even gave a tid bit of info on how to do it. We didn't set out to make a training video. We set out to entertain and educate. In that order. If you got something out of the video, then we accomplished what we set out to do. If not... Sorry.

But, I'm not convinced that you have the right video in front of you. We have NO background music in our video. I hate music in a hunting show simply because when I'm out hunting I leave the radio off. Did you get the right video? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Now Randy I heard that some copes of the video got released with "Y.M.C.A" playing through out the entire video /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Just razzen' /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Later,

Scott
 
This video was made by hunters for hunters.
(New hunters included)
There was more then enough stuff that a new guy could pick up from watching the night shift video . And I think there was a link to the sight that will answer all your questions you could have.
One of the stars is here to help and answer all your light and how to questions anytime you need him.
Randy i think if you keep them looking like they are made by one of the guys you will do just fine.
 
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I traded off the video before today... when my wife bought me a 50 inch HD LCD TV for Christmas!!!! I'm gonna buy another copy! My old TV didn't do it justice. It was better on my computer! But I thought it was as good as any hunting DVD I've seen, and on a subject matter never before covered.

My only complaint goes with ALLLLLLLLL hunting vids... walk us more thouroughly thru the set-up. How did you get where you were and why... before you turned the call on or started blowing distress?!?!?! THEN show show us the call-in and shot.
 
I thought the video did exactly as it was intended. It was a first of it's kind without question.

It sure teaches you to keep that light moving or you most likely will miss some eyes moving into the call.

Safety was stressed.

Watching the video, then going out to shoot at night if you never have, will humble you. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I watched it for the first time last night, and you couldnt ask for more kill shots on one video. It was, but wasnt useful for an North Eastern boy like me only because they hunted out of the truck, but other than that it was awesome. I think there was only one yote kill,but bobcats galore. The best part is when Randy(?) goes to give that bobcat another love tap with the pistol and it gives him a little scare. I just about p!$$ED my pants. It gave some good info about keeping the light on the critters how and when to move, and come to think about it the video touched on just about everything with night hunting, maybe not in great detail, but like Buker said it wasnt meant to be a training video, and it did entertain and educate. I would buy it again in a second, great video guys!
 
As far as i'm concerned Randy did exactly what was set out to be done. As it was stated before, this video was the first of its kind!!! The tactics, calls, setups etc... can easily be applied or incorperated into anyone's existing hunting setup. It answered quite a few questions that we see being asked over and over on similar forums like this. One for instance scanning with a light. In my opinion there really is no right or wrong way to train someone to predator hunt wether it be daytime or night time hunting. There are entirely to many variables to be considered. Experience is the only true training lesson! Predator hunting is one of those things that can take days, months or years to learn and a "lifetime" to perfect. The best thing that we can hope to gain from "ANY" hunting video is to take even one piece of information that you can use and be able to apply it to your own situation, that along with experience is what is going to be your best teacher. That is my opinion for whatever its worth.

One thing that I can honestly say is that I am looking forward to the next video.

Mike
 
My only thought about this is why would Randy & Randy want to produce a 6+ hour video to point out everything the original poster pointed out as missing from the original video. I don't think Randy & Randy would have been interested into discussing, much less going to the trouble of actually showing all of the ways one light is better than another. Just about any light can work, but they have their personal preferences. Why wouldn't somebody just take their word for it and leave it at that? Why would somebody need to see proof? Too much trouble in my opinion. I'll take Randy's word for it and then apply it in the field. (believe me, I've done it and it works) There's no real need to question his judgement on things like that since he's paid his dues with countless hours in the field finding out what works vs. what doesn't.

My #1 piece of advice would be to get your butt in the field and apply what they've said. There is absolutely no substitute for getting out there and doing it yourself. Call in a coyote and burn it with the light and see what happens, then call in a coyote and keep him in the dimmer halo and see what happens.

OR...you can book a hunt with Randy and watch him in action with your own two eyes. Then you can ask 1,000,000 questions, watch every move he makes and also do some killing at the same time. You'll learn more than you'll ever imagine.

Just my $0.02. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Take care and God Bless,

Rusty
 
I personally buy a lot of videos and in most cases I want to be entertained by seeing lots of critters running in and getting killed. I like to see the different countryside folks hunt in. I like to see different techinques (for example,I think Randy Anderson's howling is terrible. I hunted with a guy who howled like a fire truck siren and when I mentioned it, he said he howled exactly as long as Randy Anderson did. I made mention that I'd rather sound like a coyote than Randy Anderson.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif ) But, no matter what I think he sounds like, he is able to howl in coyotes without a doubt.

So, for $20.00 I get some entertainment and hopefully at least one new tip I can use. If that tip turns out to be useful, then that video suddenly got really cheap.

As for our video, being one of the first ones to offer night hunting tips at all, it's a bargain at the price paid if a person takes just one or two tips offered.
 
Quote:


My #1 piece of advice would be to get your butt in the field and apply what they've said. There is absolutely no substitute for getting out there and doing it yourself. Call in a coyote and burn it with the light and see what happens, then call in a coyote and keep him in the dimmer halo and see what happens.



Rusty



Well ya see Rusty we are just now January 1st 2007 able to use spot lights in Minnesota THANKS TO RANDY.

Just wanted to plan and learn as much as I could have before. Probably should have not bought a light force and stinger yet. I could have bought the cheap junk and learned that way after struggling for a year /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Sorry you took my post so negative and like I am lazy.

Just want to learn for the best /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

I guess I will not ask anymore questions due to the Rah Rah crowd. For the Record I am in debt more to Randy for single handled-ling changing our laws for the better then any DVD would cost!

Hammer
 
Quote:

So, for $20.00 I get some entertainment and hopefully at least one new tip I can use. If that tip turns out to be useful, then that video suddenly got really cheap.

As for our video, being one of the first ones to offer night hunting tips at all, it's a bargain at the price paid if a person takes just one or two tips offered.



I paid 10 bucks for the video and like I said i would buy it again in a heart beat /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Randy thanks for looking my review as positive not going south like some. I re-watched it and what I referred to as music I should have said slow motion sound on the kill shots.

Use that time to kind of review what happened why it worked and how some want to be night hunter like me could have screwed it up.

Thanks

Hammer
 
I just watched it again. I think they did an excellent job of presenting a lot of needed information to get a new guy started. The only thing that might be better would be if you could go hunting with an experienced night hunter for a few times. I've night hunted since the late 60's and I could watch this video over and over, it's that interesting.
 
Everyone is certainly entitled to his own opinion. I just hunt, that's pretty much it. The video was fun to do, and I'm glad you liked it enough to buy it again. There are hundreds of things,(like Rusty said) that we simply can not cover in a short period of time. The DVD was meant to try to cover a broad spectrum of tips and kills, in a limited time. I still learn stuff when I'm in the field, so It would be difficult to put all the stuff I've learned in 40 years into the dvd. I find guys asking me.."how did you know he was gonna' do that?" or "how do you do that?". So I guess there is still a lot of stuff we could put in a dvd, but again, what you or I look for is more than likely not what everyone wants. I'm glad you could draw some tips from it, and I think experience is the best teacher, like Rusty said. Rusty is a very good caller, and kills a lot of stuff, but for some reason, he says he still learns , every time we go out. To me, it's mostly common knowledge, but to some, it's a whole new world. If nothing else, it was a good plug for the dvd, and for that , thanks. If I can answer any questions you have, let me know, Randy
 
I too enjoy watching videos. I have yet to see Randys video. From his replys on this forum I can tell he knows what he is doing and I am sure it is an awsome video. even though I watch alot of videos I really dont know if they are good or not. It seems that a guy watches a few videos and all the sudden he is a pro. Then a moron hunter gets a camera and starts telling everybody how they should be hunting and he is now an expert. Then a guy picks up a video and expects it to be a training exhibition. If you want to learn how to hunt...go hunting. Find an old timer to take you out and share some wisdom. Hire a guide and let them know beforehand you are a beginner and want to learn the ropes. A $20 DVD will not and should not give you the insight to go out and make 5 kills in a night. To me I dont like alot of instruction on a video, and it sounds like this video has what I like ACTION.

Example... 12 years ago there were very few duck hunting videos, and as few duck hunters, Phil Robertson came out with an awsome video...sold a ton of them. Everybody else started putting out videos showing how fun it can be. Now there are a ton of duck hunters, all experts, very few public spots any more. The videos are not solely to blame for this but they have contributed to the growth of the sport. Some might say thats the purpose to grow the sport. I am to blame as well for showing the world what I kill on this forum. But will our opinions change when some one has knocked on every door ahead of you asking for permission to hunt coyotes, because they have shared our success by watching videos and looking at forums? Just a thought not a debate or attack on anyone. I just feel like watching so many instructional videos make it easier for the new hunters when it wasnt as easy for the guys who had to learn it the hard way. How many of you have taken an old sony boom box, a JS tape, a mag light or Q beam, shot gun or .22 and tried to call in a critter? I have and got a few. Not as easy as a high rack, light force, fox pro, Illuminated reticle scopes.....but its all I had and I would not appreciate the advances made to make it easier w/ better equipment and knowledge.
 
Hammer:

Sorry if you took my post wrong....I probably just wrote it wrong and for that I apologize. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif I should have made myself more clear. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif When I said that you should "get your butt in the field", I was referring to hunters in general that have tons of questions (like most do, including myself)....not just you. I have learned some great things from videos, but I've also learned a ton out in the field. I think videos are great and I love to watch them, but if I had my choice of whether to learn a lesson about something (good or bad), I'd rather do it while being out in the field doing what I love to do vs. sitting in my living room glued to a tv. That's just the way I am.....I don't like to sit still for long..../ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif...but I do spend time watching the videos since they do have a valuable place in the learning process.

Randy mentioned about how I say that I still learn something almost every time I go out......that is the absolute truth. I learn from mistakes (believe me, I make plenty of them /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif) and I learn from watching people like Randy who has spent more time up in his killin' chair than I probably ever will. As long as I feel like I'm learning, then I'm happy because I don't ever want to fall into the trap of thinking I know all there is to know about calling and killing predators. Believe me....I know some folks like that and they are the ones that are still making the same mistakes they made 10 years ago and never really develop their skills like they could have if they had an open mind and a never ending urge to get better.

RockinT also made an interesting (and good) point about the popularity of the sport and how competition among hunters can be created from the quick knowledge gained from the videos on the market. I too believe that the videos promote the sport and get more and more people interested which ultimately impacts me due to increased competition for land, more educated coyotes, etc. But I don't blame the video guys or anybody else fr this since they have as much of a right to pursue and enjoy the sport as I do. If I wanted to play the "blame game" on the guys who produce the videos, then I could easily add everyone who ever bought a video (whether or not they put the knowledge to use) since their purchase of that video puts money in the pockets of the video producers and therefore supports what they are doing and enables them to continue to create more videos. There are folks that hate the promotion/commercialization of the sport through videos, etc., but they are just as responsible due to their support by purchasing the video. I don't really blame anybody.....like I said, it's just the way things are and everybody has the right to do what they want to as long as it's legal. Too many people talk out of both sides of their mouth when they say they hate the commercialization of predator hunting or any other kind of hunting, yet they support the commercialization by spending their money on videos, etc. I'll never understand that.

Anyway.....glad you enjoyed their video! Randy & Randy shared a lot of info. that will help you become a great predator hunter and they shoot straight from the hip. I've hunted with both Randys numerous times and what you see them explaining in the video is exactly how they do it and they aren't holding anything back. Not to mention that you don't get a lot of extra "filler" footage just to make the video longer or annoying plugs just to push some product that they don't even believe in. If Randy likes a product, he uses it and tells people about it....if he doesn't it quickly goes by the way-side no matter who makes the product or what kind of benefits he might receive from it. That's what I like about Watson....he'll tell you how it is. It might not always be exactly what you want to hear at the time (because the truth can sometimes hurt! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif)but he does it because he's open to sharing his vast knowledge base on what works vs. what doesn't. That is a rare quality these days.

Again, sorry for the misunderstanding.....and good luck with your night hunting!! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Take care and God Bless,

Rusty
 
the only trouble i see in the video is no vol 2 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
That's Watson's fault. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Randy, when watching it again I paid attention to the opening mono-log about poling predator masters and then the commentary about people wanting to learn about hunting and that was what the tape was going to show. I would have had a different review of the tape if it would of said what you stated earlier in this tread.

After listening to that and watching the first 10 minutes of video there is no more then 30 seconds of training in that section.

Let me know if you would any free help in your next video. Just remember you get what you pay for /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Hammer
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif Then we accomplished our mission. One day we sat down together and said "If we make that video, let's make sure we don't include more than 30 seconds of training during the first ten minutes." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Just razzin' ya hammer007. But, I think we'll be fine if we make another video. We've got some plans and would hate to mess them up with instruction. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
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