I really didn't even want to give an opinion on this one way or another. I don't follow them, or know much other than what I've heard from others. I've tried to keep an open mind regarding them, until I listened to the podcast concerning the Nashville River buck. It made me sick.
Based on his own assertion on that podcast, that he always does what's best for the deer, I've gotta disagree.
By his own admission, does passing up a good shot in favor of a really crappy shot sound good for the deer? We all have made bad shots, but my take on this one is that it was done for nothing more than video footage, which translates to likes, subscribes, and money.
Does asking for retrieval permission after the fact sound good for the deer? Is it a habit with his group??? No, it's not good for the deer, and is begging to let an animal go to waste if a home owner denies retrieval permission. But, it gives video footage and likes and subscribes.
I heard Lee say that he doesn't like attention. I don't know him, but from what I heard on the podcast, I'd seriously doubt that's the case. Why do the type videos he does then? If he doesn't like attention, from the remarks of his admirers at his side, they're gonna make sure he gets it.
There's nothing wrong legally about hunting heavily populated areas and going after a good buck or any deer for that matter. But more than any place you could hunt that I can think of, toeing the line is even more necessary in tiny wood lots and back yards. The way that subdivisions are sprouting from the ground in middle Tennessee, it's making it even tougher on the larger tracts of land around them as well. We'll all be faced with it when the lot owners are claiming the deer as their pets.
The podcast made me sick, and I don't really need to hear more from him. What stood out was excuses, self-glorification, and encouragement from his friend-groupies.
I heard the mention of Tennessee Rednecks. From what was told in another thread, it sounds like the " Tennessee Redneck's" in the boats main concern was finishing off a miserably wounded deer, because of piss-poor shot placement, purposely chosen by the group leader over a better shot, all for video footage, likes and subscribes and ego.
I tell you, I'd share a campfire anytime with the "Tennessee Rednecks", and based on his own comments, I seriously doubt he'd do well debating his detractors and holding them accountable.