New Berlin, WI - (October 10, 2012) - Season two of MeatEater with Steven Rinella has kicked off and will deliver some of his most adventurous expeditions for "killer hunts and killer food," including his upcoming four-part mini-series that brings the thrills of New Zealand hunting and its stunning landscape to life for viewers. Rinella will take audiences on a quest through the South Island of New Zealand to hunt Red Stag, Wild Boar and the elusive Himalayan Tahr - and he will prepare a meal from his hunt that same day. The special mini-series begins exclusively on Sportsman Channel this Sunday, October 14 at 9pm ET/PT, with the Red Stag episode, and continues every Sunday night at 9pm ET/PT through Nov. 4.
Viewers will have a unique opportunity to ask Rinella questions during a live Facebook chat on Sunday, October 21 beginning at 9 pm ET. Viewers can log onto Sportsman Channel's Facebook page (http://facebook.com/sportsmanchannel) at 9pm ET to ask their questions while simultaneously watching the show.
A free-range Red Stag hunt kicks off the mini-series on October 14. Red deer are a non-native species to New Zealand and Rinella is eager to show viewers the glaciers, peaks, grasslands and forests that make up their South Island habitat. Dropped off by his guide, Remi Warren, Rinella immediately sets up camp and begins his solo hunt. "When you hunt for a brand-new animal, especially in a faraway place, you feel like an interloper in some way. It's something I overcome just by being out in the place," Rinella tells viewers during the show. After a rigorous climb, Rinella spots hinds, the female red deer, and is worried they will warn of his arrival. Luckily, he's up on the mountain, and they are down in the valley - along with a grouping of stags. Viewers will have to tune in to see if the hinds are on to Rinella - or if they'll let him get his stag.
The New Zealand mini-series continues on October 21 as Rinella takes on something that falls outside of his comfort zone: hunting wild boar with dogs and just a knife as his weapon. Rinella quickly learns to keep a sharp eye and keen ear as he tracks the invasive animals. "It's up close, it's personal, it's very visceral and it's the one kind of hunt that makes me a little uneasy because you are breathing the breath of the animal that you are going to kill," Rinella shares during the show.
Beginning on October 29 and concluding on November 4, Rinella takes on a two-part Himalayan Tahr hunt. On the first day of glassing for Tahr, they spot a herd of chamois, which Rinella hoped to see, but finding them at that spot was unexpected. They switch gears to go after the chamois, but there's a large glacial river between them and the herd. The following day, they spot the chamois herd again and attempt to cross the fast-moving, icy-cold stream. But the current is too strong. They move downstream for another crossing attempt and immediately, Rinella spots a chamois buck walking dead at them in the river bed. He doesn't take long to put that buck down, but then another challenge faces the team: How to get to the animal on an impassable river? The first part of this thrilling two-part series concludes with Rinella and his guide, Remi, rigging up a safety system of ropes to get across.
The mini-series concludes with Rinella and guide, Remi, eventually creating another ingenious device to slide the buck across the river. But viewers will have to tune in on November 4 to see if Rinella gets his Tahr to make a dish he dreams of trying: Tahr tartar. "The scenery and incredible snowcaps that were our 'dining ambiance' was truly amazing," said Rinella. "This double-episode Tahr hunt is visually stunning and is one of the most adventurous shoots we've ever filmed."
Steven Rinella is an avid outdoorsman, writer, and television personality best known for his ability to translate the hunting lifestyle to a wide variety of audiences. He is the author of recently released book, "MeatEater: Adventures of the Life of an American Hunter." Other books include: "The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine" and the award-winning "American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon." Rinella's writing has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Glamour, Men's Journal, Outside, New Yorker and more traditional hunting and fishing publications like Field and Stream. He is a columnist for Petersen's HUNTING, has appeared on NPR's All Things Considered, CNN's American Morning and Fox News' Fox and Friends.
About Zero Point Zero:
Zero Point Zero is an Emmy Award Winning television and digital content company that has produced over 225 hours of television in 80 countries around the world, including the critically acclaimed Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Diary of a Foodie. Specializing in distinct storytelling, a handcrafted look and feel, international destinations, and food-oriented programming, Zero Point Zero has produced television shows for Discovery, Travel Channel, History Channel, PBS, and Bravo. In 2011, Zero Point Zero expanded into other media and content platforms, launching two iPad Apps and Quarterly publication (Lucky Peach) as well as Zero Point Zero Live, an exclusive talent management and lecture agency.
About Sportsman Channel: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel, and Sportsman HD, is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities. Sportsman Channel reaches more than 31 million U.S. television households and is available in HD, visit http://sportsmanhd.com for more information. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl
