Meat Eater - Steve Rinella in Africa

[Hunt anything]

One thing I’ve noticed is him skinning big game with what looks to be a 2” blade on his knife and using the same knife to fillet a fish. Much better tools for the jobs at hand. Just me being quirky i guess.

 

[375Fox]

African hunters should be really happy to see this. Steve Rinella reaches a large audience and I think has been a very positive influence for encouraging new hunters in North America with his message even if I disagree with some points. Many of his past comments on hunting Africa though have really bothered me. This trip will change that. If he talks about it on his next Joe Rogan podcast, hunting in Africa as a positive will reach an even wider audience.

 

[Flbt]

One thing I’ve noticed is him skinning big game with what looks to be a 2” blade on his knife and using the same knife to fillet a fish. Much better tools for the jobs at hand. Just me being quirky i guess.

I think it’s one of the knives he sells

 

[Denvir Tire]

African hunters should be really happy to see this. Steve Rinella reaches a large audience and I think has been a very positive influence for encouraging new hunters in North America with his message even if I disagree with some points. Many of his past comments on hunting Africa though have really bothered me. This trip will change that. If he talks about it on his next Joe Rogan podcast, hunting in Africa as a positive will reach an even wider audience.

I agree wholeheartedly. Rinella is articulate, intelligent, and an effective advocate for hunting.

 

[DieJager]

I really like his show and the spin-offs. He will be a great advocate for African hunting is he dares to go full in. So not the safe buffalo hunting but giving his support for hunting all of the other big five species.

I think he already made the case for sustainable hunting in North America to a lot of non hunters. Even in my own country where hunting is really small the show is on Netflix. If he can change hearts and minds about hunting in Africa he can do really good for us as hunters. To the younger generation he has a great cultural impact.

 

[baxterb]

Although I am glad he went, what’s slightly annoying about this is that if you have followed along, he has been very critical of the “colonialist hunters” who went to Africa, saw a species for the first time them started blasting away. He has now become the very thing he criticized so heavily because he had “no context” I.e living among them, with the animals he hunted.

He really does need to clear that deck on that in mind. It was one of the things that really annoyed me because for a guy who is pretty intelligent, it was incredibly reductive.

 

[baxterb]

Has anyone seen him actually hunting in Africa. Or is it all talking about hunting. Every episode I’ve seen is him and his PH talking. Zero hunting.

It will be out later this year.

 

[Altitude sickness]

He seems likable enough. Just don’t let him cook wild game for you. Especially pork or Bears. He’s given himself Trichinosis twice

 

[Hunt anything]

I really like his show and the spin-offs. He will be a great advocate for African hunting is he dares to go full in. So not the safe buffalo hunting but giving his support for hunting all of the other big five species.

I think he already made the case for sustainable hunting in North America to a lot of non hunters. Even in my own country where hunting is really small the show is on Netflix. If he can change hearts and minds about hunting in Africa he can do really good for us as hunters. To the younger generation he has a great cultural impact.

I probably watch the spin-off shows more. I did like the one where they cooked under utilized species until they claimed you could shoot crows in Alabama when in fact there is no closed season in the state.

 

[Flbt]

He seems likable enough. Just don’t let him cook wild game for you. Especially pork or Bears. He’s given himself Trichinosis twice

I saw where he Tryed coyote and monkey on hunts to.
I have to give him props for that I ant eating monkey or dog

 

[Flipper Dude]

I like watching his shows. He really is a novice at a lot of the hunting and fishing that he does, and it shows. In his defense, he acted as a newbie and never claimed otherwise.

 

[Safari1]

I talk to Morgan often, I'm glad Steve finally made the trip.

What do you think of the Luganzo area ?

 

[Laniarius]

I remember when he had Thomas McIntyre on his podcast, Rinella was saying he couldn't picture himself hunting in Africa because a client hunter is sort of going along for the ride not leading the hunt.

The turning point was when he had Morgan Potter on the first time and he started getting excited about hunting Cape Buffalo.

Listening to these Dispatches podcasts, it's obvious he got interested in watching the trackers in action, and learning about the different approaches to land use in Africa. I imagine this might help convince some North American hunters who have a low opinion of Africa hunting to at least respect it. That would be good thing.

 

[Hunt anything]

I view Rinella as an ethical hunter and would expect that image to carry over into an African hunt. We need to face it that the outside world see safaris as useless for conservation and we as hunters are just trying to stroke our own egos.
To me he could be an excellent spokesman for hunting in Africa.
Admittedly I haven’t seen the podcast but if they go into meat distribution and explain that the money we spend gets funneled back into conservation is a tremendous plus. Unlike the many videos of people shooting from trucks, next to fences, animals with ear tags and hooping and hollering when we kill an animal. The bottom line is we kill to have hunted and should take a que from our European brothers in respecting the game that we kill!

 

[baxterb]

The bottom line is we kill to have hunted and should take a que from our European brothers in respecting the game that we kill!

100%

But it is sad this even need be said.

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

I’m somewhat indifferent to him but other than not really understanding safari hunting, why don’t some people like him?

Most of the hate I’ve seen on him is that he “sold out” even though the reason I watch the MeatEater footprint of hunting content is that it is very low ads. But they threw their name on some products and use them during the show, so they have sold out in some people’s eyes. Other people, including his brother, don’t like him because of the loss of hunting opportunity when more people started hunting public lands after he made a push for people to do it (more hunters, more voices to protect hunting and public lands). Mostly misguided hate or selfish reasons from what I’ve seen

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

I probably watch the spin-off shows more. I did like the one where they cooked under utilized species until they claimed you could shoot crows in Alabama when in fact there is no closed season in the state.

What do you mean? You can shoot crows in Alabama

 

[Adam Stevens]

I've always found my thought on him funny to myself. I absolutely have always loved his shows. The truthfulness in them, honesty, and how they're made.

Then back a few years, I figured I'd love his podcast just like the shows. And boy, was I wrong. Trust me I've tried. Many times and many guests. But there's something about his style of conversation I cannot listen to. Turns me right off

So I am very excited to see him hunt. I listened to the last podcast before the hunt with Morgan and it was okay. Still, it didn't flow to me but I think this is a new benefit to our industry.

 

[Hunt anything]

What do you mean? You can shoot crows in Alabama

As many as you want , 365 days a year.
No closed season on crows, starlings , blackbirds (other than rusty) English sparrows and Eurasian collared doves.

 

[baxterb]

I've always found my thought on him funny to myself. I absolutely have always loved his shows. The truthfulness in them, honesty, and how they're made.

Then back a few years, I figured I'd love his podcast just like the shows. And boy, was I wrong. Trust me I've tried. Many times and many guests. But there's something about his style of conversation I cannot listen to. Turns me right off

So I am very excited to see him hunt. I listened to the last podcast before the hunt with Morgan and it was okay. Still, it didn't flow to me but I think this is a new benefit to our industry.

Not sure you caught it, but there is an even earlier podcast with Steve, Morgan, and Roger Hurt - I think maybe 2022-23?