Sporting Classics TV new series with Chris Dorsey airs Mondays at 3pm, Thursdays at 11:30 am, Saturdays at 12:30 pm, and Sundays at 11 pm.
1. What is one hunt everyone should try once in their life?
A: The one that they thought–perhaps for many years–they’d never be able to do. Maybe for health or age reasons or because of cost or time, every hunter has the one hunt that they thought they’d never be able to experience in their lifetimes. But if you’re determined and plan and save well, often times you can live your hunting dreams. I’ve hunted with many people across the globe who started from very modest means but who saved or built successful businesses or what have you to be able to afford an adventure that always seemed out of reach. To watch people like that experience a dream fulfilled is to relive my own hunting history.
2. What brings you the greatest joy?
A: Watching my two sons come of age as hunters, anglers, and informed conservationists. I worry what the future holds for kids who enjoy the outdoors as much as I did at their age. Nevertheless, it’s heartening to hear them articulate to others the rationale for the outdoor life and their fearlessness in defending the lifestyle. They never shy from the chance to educate others about the virtues of hunting and fishing to both people and wildlife.
3. Best advice you have ever been given?
A: Speak less and listen more
4. Who do you follow in instagram and twitter?
#CamerasOnTrees…it’s amazing what trail cams capture in remote places. We used trail cams to document the wildlife moving around the build sites during the production of our long-running ‘Building Alaska’ TV series…seeing black and brown bears, wolves, etc walk through and around cabins under construction was fun TV and emphasized the remoteness of these wilderness builds. And who doesn’t want to know what critters are moving around when you’re not present?
5. What is on your bookshelf?
A. Most of the African safari classics–my favorite being Horn of the Hunter by Robert Ruark. But I have an eclectic mix of biography, natural history, and adventure. Theodore Rex was an exceptional biography and reinforced–to my way of thinking–that Teddy Roosevelt was one of our bravest leaders. I’m also a big fan of most anything written by Jim Harrison–and I spent a night at the Hitchin Post tavern in Melrose, Montana, in a chance encounter with Harrison several years ago before he died matching beers with his glasses of vodka…and he still outlasted me. Next up on my reading list is Beast in the Garden and The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival…I have a thing for cats eating people. My late father used to tell me that people who do not read have no advantage over those who cannot read. Voracious readers tend to be more interesting people.
6. Last three items on your credit card statement?
A: Two of three items are mundane but one was for a last minute trip to Cabela’s for some gear for a recent trip–one item of which was a pair of hiking boots. I only tried on one boot, which fit perfectly, and then went and purchased the boots and packed them for the trip. When I arrived in Alaska I discovered that I had two left-footed boots. Lesson: make sure you try on both pairs of boots–or at least make sure there’s both a left AND right-footed boot in the box.
7. Who are your heroes?
A: Mostly people who take the road less traveled and who are independent of the good–or bad–opinion of others. They’re folks with an unwavering compass who care little about a PC culture, don’t need applause, and move forward with their life’s mission.
8. What is the best gift you ever received?
A: Freedom. My father, a Bataan Death March survivor, was fond of telling his children that we all won the lottery the day we were born Americans–and don’t forget it. I echo that to my own kids and may we never take it for granted…every day is Veterans Day.
9. One thing you wish you knew when you were younger?
A: To enjoy the process more and the outcome less.
10. What is this new TV show ‘Sporting Classics with Chris Dorsey’ all about?
A: It’s really the television manifestation of the magazine–if you love the magazine, I think you’ll enjoy the TV series. I’ve been a fan of the magazine for a long time and, at the end of the day, we’re story tellers and the TV series will take viewers a little farther down the path of a sportsman. Along the way we’ll meet some great characters, experience some epic adventures, and remember how we got here as a sporting community. If people look forward to watching the show as much as they do receiving the magazine, we’ll have achieved our goal.