Q and A with Sportsman Channel ‘s Heli Hunters
OutdoorHub 08.06.14
Sportsman Channel is in the midst of its #Aporkalypse 2014 series of programming including marathon coverage this week of Heli-Hunter.
Recently, the network engaged Craig Meier and Terrell Coleman, owners of Heli-Hunter LLC., and hosts of Sportsman Channel’s popular TV series Heli-Hunter, for a Q&A session about Sportsman’s programming week dedicated to the eradication of feral hogs.
Q: How long have you guys been in business eradicating hogs from the air?
A: (Craig) We’ve been in business since 2009.
Q: Any special clients you’ve had up in the helicopter with you?
A: (Craig) We’ve had all sorts of clientele – politicians, professional athletes, musicians, TV personalities…you name it, but we consider all of our clients special.
A: (Terrell) Ted Nugent was QUITE entertaining, but I think the best one for me was my wife and son.
Q: What are the biggest mistakes first-timers make when hunting with you from the air?
A: (Terrell) Not being ready for the adrenaline rush, it’s like somebody hit the “mass chaos” button in their brain.
A: (Craig) The biggest mistake that our clients make is that they watch our videos and hype themselves up too much. If they would just relax and remember basic shooting techniques they would be more effective.
Q: We need to get real here: Who is better at shooting at hogs from the helicopter – Pigman or Nugent?
A: (Craig) Are we talking quality or quantity?
A: (Terrell) Nugent had his machine gun in “spray-n-pray mode” so he didn’t miss a whole lot, even though Pig was in semi-auto he did a helluva job. So I would have to say they both were on target.
A: You’ve mentioned that you like to give back to your community with donations to local food banks – tell us more about that.
A: (Terrell) It’s just human nature to want to help your fellow man, and at the same time it is gratifying to know that you were able to help someone else that may not be as fortunate, put food on the table. Thanks to Hogs For A Cause, we were able to distribute thousands of pounds of meat. There’s no way we could have done it without them.
Q: What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen a feral hog do? Or eat?
A: (Craig) The craziest thing I’ve seen a feral do is eat a whitetail fawn.
A: (Terrell) We were chasing a big boar, he must have gotten tired of running and turned around and started charging our helicopter.
Q: What’s been the feedback since your show debuted on Sportsman Channel in June? Do you feel you are educating more people are the feral hog problem in Texas?
A: (Craig) We have had great feedback thus far. I believe showing the public WHY we have to resort to such drastic measures has been a big factor in the general acceptance of the hunting community.
A: (Terrell) We’ve been able to reach many non-hunters and educate them on the issues in Texas. Many will tell us they had no idea the feral hog problem was this bad.
Q: What one person (dead or alive) do you wish to take feral hog hunting? (and why)
A: (Craig) If I could take one person dead or alive aerial hog hunting it would definitely be Theodore Roosevelt. I have tremendous respect for his accomplishments, moral fiber, and content of character. He once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
10-4 Mr. Roosevelt.
If he is unavailable……come on John Wayne!
A: (Terrell) Augustus McCrae. For those of you who didn’t get that reference: Lonesome Dove.
Q: What do you think it will take to curb the spread of feral hogs? And do you feel the nation as a whole is taking this seriously? Why or why not?
A: (Craig) I don’t know what it is going to take to curb the spread of feral hogs. All I know is we are doing all we can. I think the nation as a whole realizes that the pigs are a problem due to recent media attention, but I don’t think they understand the severity. We aim to change that.
A: (Terrell) I don’t think the nation is taking this seriously enough, but we are changing that slowly but surely.
Q: What do you think Pigman should do next year to top this year’s #Aporkalypse stunt?
A: (Craig) If you’ve never seen Pigman ride a horse………
A: (Terrell) I see a hot air balloon in his future.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Tom Caraccioli, Sportsman Channel, P: 212.852.6646; tcaraccioli@thesportsmanchannel.com
Ryan Nolan, Sportsman Channel, P: 262.432.9100 ex 117; rnolan@thesportsmanchannel.com
Shannon Kolpin, Sportsman Channel, P: 262.432.9100 x102; skolpin@thesportsmanchannel.com
