Editor’s Note: Many times the story behind the story is better than the story itself. What are the people really like that we see on outdoor TV shows? How does an outdoor TV show start? What are the high and low points of bringing outdoor TV shows to your TV sets? What are the lives of the TV hosts like? This week I think you'll enjoy learning more about the people on “Live 2 Hunt with Cody and Kelsy Robbins” TV (www.live2hunt.com) from Kelsy’s point of view. Kelsy Robbins has lived in Delisle, Saskatchewan, Canada, her entire life. She co-hosts their TV show, she’s a Mossy Oak pro, and her favorite pattern is Mossy Oak Break-Up Country. Kelsy says, “That pattern fits in with all the terrain we hunt. Before Country came out, I was 100 percent a fan of Mossy Oak Break-Up.” She’s a mom, a wife, a business partner, a barrel racer and an avid hunter - far more than the person you see on TV.
After Cody and I got married, I became more involved in the TV show. At first I was featured in one or two hunts every now and then, and I hosted a small segment of the show. But as time passed, Cody wanted me more and more involved in the show. Cody wanted me to go on more trips with him. He didn’t want me staying at home. However, there are so many husband and wife outdoor TV shows that I didn’t want Cody’s show to just be another husband and wife TV hunting show. There’s a tough line between trying to stand out and make your show different without being like other outdoor TV shows.
I thought it was a scary move 2 years ago when Cody wanted to change the name of the show to “Live 2 Hunt with Cody and Kelsy Robbins.” We wanted “Live 2 Hunt” to reflect how much we loved to hunt together, and we would be involved equally in the show. I was really concerned because “Live 2 Hunt with Cody Robbins” was just getting on its feet and had become successful. I'm of the philosophy, “If it’s not broke, don’t fix it.” I was afraid to change things, but finally the change came down to just switching the name of the show and having me in a few more episodes than I had been in previously.
Having me behind the camera was one of the biggest hurdles that Cody and I had to overcome. I wasn’t really a computer person or a technology person. It seemed like every time I picked up a camera to photograph or video, something got bumped or turned off or something else happened to the equipment. Even today, if I know I'm going to have to run the camera on a particular hunt, I don’t sleep for 2 days before the hunt. I worry about what will happen when I run the camera. We have a child now, Berkley. So, when we’re on a trip, I also have the stress of being away from our daughter. I can’t concentrate as much on running the camera, because I'm thinking about her. In the beginning, I also hated being in front of the camera. I'm a very reserved person, and I like my privacy. But now being on camera seems natural, and I've gotten over being shy on the camera.
I also felt really stressed out when we first started going to trade and consumer shows. I wasn’t accustomed to people asking me questions and wanting to take my picture and get my autograph. I learned to relax at last, enjoy hearing other people’s hunting stories and telling them my hunting stories. Now, I look forward to going to shows and meeting outdoors people.
My mom and dad are proud of what Cody and I have accomplished, but my three sisters think I'm nuts. My sisters - Jolene, Brandy and Breanne - are very girly girls. I'm still a girly girl too. I like fashion, wearing makeup and styling my hair, however, I also love to be outdoors - hunting and riding my horse. I don’t think there’s any conflict in being a girly girl and being an outdoors woman. I can be both, and you can too.
To learn more about hunting, check out John E. Phillips’ new eBook and print book, “Bowhunting Deer: Mossy Oak Pros Know Bucks and Bows.” You also can download a free Kindle app that enables you to read the book on your iPad, computer or Smartphone.
For information on making jerky from your deer to provide a protein-rich snack, you can download a free book from http://johninthewild.com/free-books.
Day 2: Kelsy Robbins' Hunting Love Story
Tomorrow: Kelsy Robbins’ First Elk Hunt
