Gene Wensel Interview - Discuss Here
Whitetail Deer
What did he mean about the poacher "kirk\cook"?
I didnt get it.
Many predictable responses (in a good way), particularly about overhunting stands, checking trail cams, Celebri-hunting on TV, etc...
Pat - you are an excellent interviewer and Gene did not disapoint. As down to earth as they come. If I had to choose one and only one guy to hunt with and learn from, you chose my top pick..
Thank you
Wow! That feature was incredible. I just finished listening to it all. You can hear how much he loves whitetails.
I can appreciate his honesty on hunting celebrities. I am so sick of all that BS.
Thank you Pat, these interviews rock!
I will add, if you only have time to listen to one question, the last one should be mandatory. Gene really knocks "the future of whitetail hunting" completely out of the park.
I have most of Gene and Barry's books, starting way back in the early 80's, with "Hunting Rutting Whitetails". I've tried to model my hunting morals around,a lot of those same beliefs.
I wish most of the celebri-hunters would take notice, as they are educating an entire generation.
His knowledge is unsurpassed. He is honest and straight forward. As it should be.
Prolly the BEST feature/interview of Bowsite so far!
Gene hit the nail on the head!
I am glad he enlighten me bout the Fart'n in the Carbon pants!
He has a great sense of humor!
Ole thumper
I like big antlers as much as the next guy, but I wish he would have discussed how antler obsession has HURT hunting by losing access to property. Loss of hunting access is the #1 threat to our hunting future.
Very refreshing! Thanks Pat and Gene! Pat I was waiting for you to ask Gene how he kept from getting bored while waiting on stand. I'm sure he would have had to refrain, but would have given you his thoughts. Ha! Gene and Barry are real class. Thanks again.
I lost all respect for Gene when at a seminar here in NJ about 25 years ago he was asked about shed hunting and his response was that it would be very difficult in NJ as all the spikes are laying flat on the ground as compared to MT where the large racks are sticking up. Imagine, making fun of the NJ deer herd:) Have his first book, autographed by the way, and also some rattling antlers from that show. Great interview.
Emailed back and forth and spoke to him once in person about a nearly unknown bowhunting legend named Frank Garske. He was more than happy to answer any and all questions I had.
Good guy and fantastic ambassador for bowhunting.
This interview was great as usual. Gene has the unique ability to put into words what bow hunting whitetails is all about. We are very fortunate to have him and Barry. This thread will go on many pages before it stops. Check it one week from now and I'll rest my case.
Nice - a good listen and good info to be gained. Gene and Barry's "Bowhunting October Whitetails" was the first video I ever saw on hunting back int he mid or late 80's I think it was. ever since, I dont miss out on info those two put forward.
Nicely Done.
The reason Gene has a tendency to stray from a question is because when you ask him a straight forward question he has 100 different ways to answer it. It's called experience. Good job Pat.
Now there's a no BS hunter, I like the way he views deer and hunting them. Never was interested in most big name hunters, but after hearing this interview I'm a fan of this guy.
Wow, thanks Pat. I am a Gene fan now.
As a self taught hunter Gene's books were a great help to me. Got the pleasure to thank him at a shoot in Cloverdale Indiana.I think a show with Barry and him would be way more entertaining than duck dynasty.
Fantastic interview! Many thanks to Gene and Pat.
Really good stuff! I really hope I still have the opportunity and the same amount of passion when I hit Uncle Gene's age. You keep the fire lit Gene!
Good stuff, but didn`t understand the Kirk or Cook thing, anyone else? Other than that, I think Gene and Barry should do a tv show because you know it would be done right, and would be number 1 in no time....
The guy was talking with a lisp. He was pronouncing the name "Kirk" as "Cook".
I just listened to the whole interview top to bottom. I agree with pretty much everything he said (in regards to deer hunting and society as a whole) and I really enjoyed hearing that there's "professional" hunters out there doing it for the right reason. Here's to hoping Gene doesn't get audited next year! Haha....
One of the reasons I like my activity (I'm not going to call it sport our of deference to Gene) is people like Gene. They say you can gain wisdom as you age, and I hope I have half what he does as I get older. Thank you for the interview.
Gene & Barry are "the Real Deal"... always liked those guys. Enjoyed the interview.
Gene shared a lot of experience and wisdom in this interview. I appreciate his willingness to share with the Bowsiters. This interview shows a lot about him not only as a bowhunter, but more importantly as a person. Really appreciate his honesty.
Nice job Pat !!
Thanks for the great job Pay and Gene.
The future of hunting - not only whitetail. New technology is rapidly changing the "oneness" we had growing up. During our younger days we thought ourseleves as innovative by strategically placing tread on a game trail. Our minds could only imagine what broke the thread, and when. We had to search to find books to read about hunting, field and stream only gave us tidbits of information. We learned through books how to identify tracks, fresh, old, male, female, size, etc., we never knew for sure and had to spend time outdoors, that was the romance, hunter vs. wild; the hunt never ended. Our choice of bow; either wood or fiberglass recurves. Even Sears sold hunting gear!
Kinetic energy, fps, fixed blade, let off, grains, grams, were never talked about. We measured our skills by the game we were able to wrap up and get into the freezer.
The Future? Instagrams from trail cameras sending images via satellite to our wrist phones. Wind direction, temperature, deer activity will all be known's prior to entering the field. (At least for those that will be lucky enough to be employed). 400 f.p.s speed's and clamp on laser range readers will be the norm.
No matter how modern we get, there will always be a group of hunters that go the extra mile, and work hard for their harvest.
The real "Hard Core" will be the ones that embrace traditional values and skills.
Great interview! I really enjoyed it. The 2 stories he shared about the world record not being broken were really cool. Id be sick if i was the guy who bought the broken camera.
Here, here! Great interview!
Very honest interview. Good pick Pat.
Yeah Gene is a good guy. Only thing, should have had Barry on too and had a 6 hour interview.
Maybe have Barry on in the spring before bear season. He's got over 40 kills from east coast to west coast.
Great interview. I love the passion they have.
So wonderful to listen to Gene speak.
He reminds of all the people who taught me how to bow hunt and what it should mean. I hope we never lose that thought process. I wish there could be a philosophical rebirth of what it means to be a bowhunter. You can almost hear the plea for respect and reverence that has been eroded over the years in Gene’s voice.
Technical question.....is there a way to listen to the interview continuously, without having to go question-by-question? That would sure be handy for listening while driving....
Pat Thank You! for posting this awesome interview. I've bow hunted for over thirty seven years, and Gene's comments made me realize just how much I've changed as a hunter. It made me think of how I used to feel about hunting but have been drawn in by all the grandeur, hype, and commercialism. It's time to go back to the way I felt when I was a kid spending countless hours shooting a longbow and recurve. And having the thrill of just being in the woods, seeing not only whitetail but other animals as well. Not to mention all the sacred memories I have.. best regards, Arrkner
The most amazing thing about this interview is it has been up a week and we only have 40 comments on it. it deserves a heck of a lot more attention and kudos than that.
a rage head thread will get that in the first 22 minutes.
The bowhunters on this site are much more experienced and mature than AT or, God help me, Facebook. The young hot-shots would probably take issue with some of Gene's comments. This is why Bowsite always will be #1 in my book.
"The most amazing thing about this interview is it has been up a week and we only have 40 comments on it. it deserves a heck of a lot more attention and kudos than that."
I agree with you. I think the main reason is while guys like us cut our teeth on Gene and Barry's books and magazine articles...and could predict the answer to many of Pat's questions...the younger generation probably don't even know who they are...just a couple old fat bald guys who hunt, with all things, one of them there old wooden bows with no wheels.
Signed, A fat old bald guy who hunts with an old wooden bow...and still enjoys the hunt and the chase more than anything!
Pat - thanks for getting this interview together. I have followed Gene & Barry since the early years and go out of my way to hear them speak. Would love to share a campfire with them.....
>>>>-------->
I count Gene among my friends and people I can trust to talk straight. I met him so many years back when he was doing the whitetail tour. Little did I know....and even less did I suspect how the occasional interaction with Gene would affect my life as a bowhunter. Several months ago we spoke on the phone...I ended up with a sprained jaw from laughing at his stories. His whitetail knowledge is unparalleled, as is his (un)common sense.
I have known Gene and Barry since the mid-1980's. Both are as genuine and sincere as they come. Both try to give back more to bowhunting than they have taken. Both have passed on quite a few lucrative offers to have their own tv show, advertisements, etc. Just didn't seem right to them. We need more "Wensel Brothers" out there.
"The most amazing thing about this interview is it has been up a week and we only have 40 comments on it. it deserves a heck of a lot more attention and kudos than that.".
I think the reason it hasn't got much attention is most if us feel we know enough to be successful on whitetails...animals like elk, not so much. What we dont know about we click on and investigate. I feel a turkey interview coming soon and I can tell you most people don't know jack about true, real, turkey hunting. They are much like elk and where turkey and elk are killed by experts deer are killed by anyone and everyone who hunts them.
Pat, is TBM a plant by you to boost thread counts? With wisdom like that gem above, things should get busy here.
Genius...
Great interview. Gene is not only the consumate whitetail bow hunter, but has always had a wonderful sense of humor and the ability to share it.
Over all the years,...35, I don't know if I have become more in awe of his trophy bucks or his prowess with words and wry humor.
TBM, turkeys are stupid. Four legged animals are cool.
Come to Alabama and let our turkeys change your mind. Nobody but me and my fad are killing them down here with bows on a consistant basis. Thier a lot smarter and harder to kill than deer I have hunted up north...our southern bucks are somewhat harder though. Basically what I'm saying is until you van come to the south and have more success than most of us you really don't have a clut what your ate talking about. They need to have your brain handcuffed.
I'm trying to listen to the interview...its one heck of a good interview and folks talking about stupid turkeys are distracting me.
I'm trying to listen to the interview...its one heck of a good interview and folks talking about stupid turkeys are distracting me.
I'm trying to listen to the interview...its one heck of a good interview and folks talking about stupid turkeys are distracting me.
Totally enjoyed it although Pat I thought you almost screwed it up by coparing Gene to the President but you did come with a great comeback Great interview imo.Lewis
I have all of their books and they are amongst my favorites.
Great interview.
Thanks Gene and Pat for a great interview.
The Wensel brothers have been my mentor for many years and hopefully many more.
Russell
Sorry should have commented sooner. I thoroughly enjoyed it and plan in listening to it again. What a gem.
Pat, I am going to Africa with Gene next summer, but I think you may have interviewed the wrong brother...this just in from Barry.
I like to call Gene "The Godfather", but right now, Uncle Barry is "The Man". Great buck UB!
These guys are almost 70 years old. They do everything on their own, not on guided or outfitted hunts. They hunt private land they have nocked on doors to get and are incredibly consitenetly successful on big bucks with the stickbow. Great guys who give much, MUCH more than they take.
Hall of Famers in every way.
I have not listened to the entire interview as yet but I needed to comment on the #8 question about genetically modified deer. He answered about the farm raised deer but left open the question about the offspring of that deer. The offspring would be born in the wild and live wild but they would still be the direct result of scientific modification not natural breeding. They to me than are also freaks and not natural wild deer.
These two brothers are true sportsmen who use skill and hard work to hunt their quarry.
It is increasingly difficult to say what is sporting and what is not. Are compound bows, mechanical releases, bow sights,range finders, binoculars, etc. non sporting?? If so than store bought arrows, recurves, medal broadheads, could all be looked at as unfair technical advances.
I have a hard time justifying trail cameras, food plots, cover scent, anti bacterial clothing, compound bows, mechanical broadheads and releases, but I cannot say what is right and wrong. If I don't make my own bow or arrows does that make me uncool? Is not a leather finger tab just as much not being natural as using a mechanical release? All I can say is what is right for me. Doing the scouting and hunting for myself, trying to use at least non-electronic devices, thinking of hunting as a skill of my brain and body against a prey using its brain and body. After all the animal does not carry artificial weapons. They can't shoot back. If you want to use technology than hunt others that can use technology to avoid and/or hunt you.
Fantastic interview, refreshing in so many respects. Thank you!
I don't know the back ground on theses two fellas, but I am sure they have worked hard to get where they are and they should enjoy it.
But 1500 acre leases in ks, lots of private ground in iowa. The average public land joe can no longer relate to that.
The methods used to hunt those lands and locations will not work for 90 percent of the average hunting population.
Not discrediting them or there accomplishments, they have done wonderful things, but one must very closely evaluate what's real tics and what's not.
"The methods used to hunt those lands and locations will not work for 90 percent of the average hunting population."
That's because 90 percent of the average hunting population will not do the most important thing required for great whitetail hunting and that's securing a good place/places to hunt with limited access.
midwest, you nailed it ! " you can't make chicken soup with chicken sh!t " .now, I gotta go listen to the interview.
