Ax Men Show

stumphugger · November 07, 2013, 05:59:00 PM

Was checking stuff in an active unit a few years ago, and a raspy voice yelled out something like did I want an autograph. I wasn't wearing my glasses and I didn't recognize the guy. But he told me who he was--Joe, the evil Alaska hooktender on the show, so I took this picture. He was filling in for a friend that day and seemed to be highly thought of as a good worker who knows his stuff.

I also had a helicopter outfit working a sale that was supposed to be on the show but they refused to comply with the wishes of the show. First of all, a faller told me they were interviewing them on camera and wanted them to say bad stuff about their coworkers and they refused because they weren't that kind of guys. Then, I guess they wanted the helicopter pilot to do some unsafe things and that was the end of it.

Paul_H · November 07, 2013, 06:07:02 PM

Talkie Tooter! Had one of those on my hip for a long time.

stumphugger · November 07, 2013, 06:19:41 PM

Quote from: Paul_H on November 07, 2013, 06:07:02 PM
Talkie Tooter! Had one of those on my hip for a long time.

It is a very cheery noise to hear in the woods.

SPIKER · November 07, 2013, 06:44:41 PM

I DO like the Alaska Last Frontier show, but it is still NEW so have not gotten to the AMP it up BS most of the other shows have taken on... Watching it now (recorded it other night.)

Mark

CCC4 · November 07, 2013, 06:52:52 PM

Quote from: stumphugger on November 07, 2013, 06:19:41 PM
Quote from: Paul_H on November 07, 2013, 06:07:02 PM
Talkie Tooter! Had one of those on my hip for a long time.

It is a very cheery noise to hear in the woods.

Hey there! Yer saw gives you away! ;D Heard ya got to meet one of my internet buddies the other day at the GTG. I asked him he saw you there, he said he met you and the "used dog". Nice to see you here.

Nemologger · November 07, 2013, 08:44:45 PM

I was like some of you and interested in there methods of harvesting timber. I wanted to see how they worked with yarders and stuff but after just a few times of watching it I soon came to the realization it was all just a JOKE. The guys I have working with me are like brothers to me and Im like a brother to them. We all respect one another and stick together, you mess with one of us you got all of us to contend with.

OlympicYJ · November 08, 2013, 06:50:09 PM

It is unfortunate that guys, who for the most part are otherwise good loggers, agreed to the BS to sell the show. Like Git says the first couple of shows were pretty true to how it actually works but after that it just went downhill. Papac is a good logger and I can see the extra money from the show being an enticement as the outfits in AK get fewer and fewer. He also had a tough go at home, his old man refused to sell the family company to him. So he got some backing and struck out for AK. By all accounts he is an extremely nice guy and a nice guy to work for whereas his old man is known for being a screamer and very unpleasant to work for. I can personally verify his old man being an unpleasant type.

GATreeGrower · November 11, 2013, 05:47:51 PM

Half the time when I tell somebody what I do for a living, I have to say, "no, not like on Ax Men"... I liked Swamp Loggers but the real business is not entertaining enough for the public so they canceled it

ksks · November 11, 2013, 09:33:20 PM

Not knowing anything about the business, I enjoyed it at first. Then it began to be more drama. I would record it and fast forward over the stupid parts. Last show I think I FF over the whole thing.

There was a shooting show where they would have a couple teams and give different challenges. Fun to watch. Then it became all about the drama, and not relationships I've seen with a group of men together.

The shows have become the Housewives of...the forest, or the gun range.

stamper · November 12, 2013, 08:01:51 PM

Should have a show on RFD TV, About logging, Have a "logging News" section, a "tips & Tricks", and go visit a job site, something new every week

CCC4 · November 12, 2013, 08:08:25 PM

Quote from: stamper on November 12, 2013, 08:01:51 PM
Should have a show on RFD TV, About logging, Have a "logging News" section, a "tips & Tricks", and go visit a job site, something new every week

It's been several years ago but I have seen on RFD TV horse logging and crews pulling with teams of oxen...really neat to watch!

CCC4 · November 12, 2013, 08:44:00 PM

The way I see it, there's things I like and things that get under my skin.

Here's my take on it...worth about .02!

!

The Good

Personally the PNW stuff is pretty neat to me. Separate the the "made for tv BS" and you have a type of logging from the PNW that I probably won't ever get to see. So for me, to see how timber is brought out on a sky line is really interesting.

Shelby Stanga is a raving lunatic...but I like the heck out of him! I can't see how people think what he says is scripted...do you really think Shelby is much different in real life?

!

The Bad

Too many obviously scripted scenarios of breakdowns, yelling, screaming temper tantrums. Too much usage of the term "logging and logger" in the water logging parts. That one really arrogant group of guys, "Oh I'm the best "logger" out there" talk just kinda pisses me off. Firstly that crew leader couldn't tie the shoes of a "logger", heck I bet none of them on that pontoon can even sharpen a saw much less run one. But yet from them all you hear is logger this logger that. Granted, they are pulling logs out of a river or lake er something...but *DanG, do we need the arrogance?
Also there are just too many setups for disaster on the PNW side of the show, what are people willing to do for ratings? I see that Rygard crew is all green horns this year...is that for views? Or was the green horn crew hired by the show for ratings...set up for failure type crap. What is a kid with zero experience in the woods doing out on a rigging crew? I know you have to start somewhere, but it seems you would want a fairly good hand out there...not a bunch of green horns. And Joe acting like he was teaching that kid to fall a tree...I'm pretty sure that kid knew what he was doing...

Summary

It's just TV. Heck do you all like "Deadliest Catch"... I do, but don't ya figure crab fisherman just roll all over the floor *pithed off saying the same things about that show as we do about Ax Men? I watch the show, I'm not like "ALL" into it er nothing, it's just a fricken show. A least James the "Aqua Nut" isn't on there this season...that's a big step in the right direction.