DENVER – Last year, Outdoor Channel introduced North American audiences to one of the world’s most popular and exciting hunting methods – driven hunting – with Wild Boar Fever 9. This year, Wild Boar Fever X presented by Aimpoint, the most-celebrated driven boar hunting series ever produced, returns to U.S. airwaves on July 6-7 on Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel Canada (6 p.m. ET).
In the last several decades, mild winters accompanied with changing agricultural practices have created a scenario in which the wild boar population in Europe, and around the world, has exploded into the millions. The invasive wild boar species – also known as feral pigs – cause billions of dollars of destruction to property, agriculture and resources each year worldwide. The population culling of these feral swine is a practice that is steeped in the centuries’ old tradition of driven hunting.
Although still relatively new to U.S. audiences, wild boar hunting in Europe involves more than a bolt-action rifle and steady nerves. A driven hunt pushes boar towards hunters from their daytime cover using specially-trained dogs and a team of fearless beaters. Wild boar are smart, sit tight and often double back behind the beating line making the hunt a complicated exercise. The hunters selectively shoot the boar with single shots from bolt action rifles as they run through the gun line. This style of hunting is the most popular method in Europe because – not only is it a highly-effective means of managing a growing and menacing population – it is a fast-paced, challenging and thrilling method of shooting game on the run.
The stories of Wild Boar Fever X presented by Aimpoint will, once again, be told through the lens of conservationist, popular host and charismatic marksman Franz Albrecht Oettingen-Spielberg. Driven hunts result in a substantial meat harvest of the destructive wild boar and conclude in a deeply traditional ceremony. The harvested game is gathered together and laid out in a tableau, then honored by horn-blowing and speeches. These traditions date back hundreds of years and were first introduced to North American viewers last year.
Oettingen-Spielberg will not only reintroduce U.S. audiences to the exhilarating, driven hunting style, but also welcome American sportsman and television executive Mitch Petrie to the team for his first experience in the traditional European hunt. Together, Oettingen-Spielberg, Petrie and others will educate viewers about the intricacies of this form of hunting, the difficulty involved, and safety needed in shooting a running boar, as well as provide viewers with an understanding of the conservation, meat harvesting, land and animal management issues involved in this process. Also joining the pack are hunters from Germany, Sweden and France.
“Wild Boar Fever X takes the genre to the next level,” Outdoor Sportsman Group Senior Vice President and General Manager of MyOutdoorTV, Sean Luxton said. “Never has the action of a driven hunt been captured this way – putting viewers closer than ever before. Some of the most exciting wild boar sequences ever filmed have been shot from multiple angles, with forest-cams, in slow-motion and from drones. As the largest hunting production ever filmed in Europe, Wild Boar Fever X immerses viewers in the full driven boar experience.”
Wild Boar Fever X presented by Aimpoint launches July 6 at 6 p.m. ET on Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel Canada. Weekly episodes of Wild Boar Fever also will air every Monday beginning on July 8 on MyOutdoorTV (MOTV).
For more information on Wild Boar Fever, Outdoor Channel and Sportsman Channel Canada, visit: www.outdoorchannel.com.
About Outdoor Channel: Outdoor Channel has been taking viewers across America and around the world on unparalleled adventures since 1993. Dedicated to the outdoor lifestyle and conservation, the independent cable network is a division of Outdoor Sportsman Group and provides a complete spectrum of riveting hunting, fishing, shooting and adventure entertainment. Outdoor Channel is the largest outdoor TV footprint in the country and is available in more than 50 countries internationally. Outdoor Channel can be viewed in HD and is accessible by broadband and mobile platforms. For program times and other information, visit www.outdoorchannel.com. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.#WhatGetsYouOutdoors. #MyOutdoorTV
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman HD/Sportsman Channel Canada (added in 2019) are television and digital media networks fully devoted to honoring a lifestyle that is celebrated by millions of North Americans. A division of Outdoor Sportsman Group, Sportsman Channel/Sportsman Canada delivers entertaining and informative programming that showcases outdoor adventure, hunting and fishing, and illustrates it through unique and authentic storytelling. Sportsman Channel/Sportsman Channel Canada embrace the attitude of celebrating the Great Outdoors in equal measure. Stay connected to Sportsman Channel online at thesportsmanchannel.com, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.#IAmSportsman. #MyOutdoorTV
About MyOutdoorTV (MOTV): MyOutdoorTV is the No. 1 global, subscription, streaming service from Outdoor Sportsman Group created just for outdoor lifestyle enthusiasts. MOTV features favorite Outdoor Channel, Sportsman Channel, World Fishing Network, Sportsman Channel Canada television shows, the entire Hunters Video library and exclusive Major League Fishing content, acquired content from around the world, as well as exclusive MOTV Originals. MOTV is the pre-eminent voice for all outdoor enthusiasts and super serves the outdoor enthusiasts with an expansive acquired library of the best hunting, fishing and shooting programming in long and short form, recipes, tips and tricks, how-to instructional videos, as well as educational and exclusive content focusing on improving success in the field and on the waterways. MOTV is powered by the four networks, along with additional exclusive content available from Outdoor Sportsman Group’s established integrated media arm that includes 15 category leading outdoor magazines, such as: Guns & Ammo, Game & Fish, In-Fisherman, Fly Fisherman, Florida Sportsman, Bowhunter, North American Whitetail and Petersen’s Hunting, and 19 top websites, including: BassFan.com. MOTV is available in English, French, German, Swedish and Danish. Subscribe to MOTV at www.MyOutdoorTV.com , as well as the following streaming platforms: Apple IOS (iPhone and iPad), Android (phone and tablet), Roku, Apple TV, Xbox, Amazon Channels, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung SmartTV and LG SmartTV. MOTV is available in 192 markets worldwide.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tom Caraccioli | Outdoor Sportsman Group | 212.852.6646 | Tom.Caraccioli@OutdoorSG.com