By: The Grit Staff
“The only thing more disappointing than this shotgun are the bullshit accolades from every industry player they gave it to.”.
These words were spawned during an unfiltered conversation between good friends. The subject of my vitriol was a new double gun. A who's-who of uplanders were carrying it. Magazine articles all gave it great reviews.
Never mind the fact that some reviewers hadn't patterned the gun, or shot more than a few rounds of skeet with it. The new shotgun was widely touted as a “great entry level double!”. The build quality seemed passable for the cost, but reviewers largely ignored a glaring deficiency: this great new shotgun weighed a solid pound more than its competitors.
The upland hunting scene has changed dramatically in the past decade. Just like the revolutions that swept over the fly fishing and big game hunting worlds, social media is at the forefront of this change. Never have bird hunters been more connected. It’s a double edged sword.
The digital framework that now props up our pursuit has fueled a burgeoning community. I have a long list of friendships that started over tailgate snapshots and bird dog stories. Casual chats about hunting experiences have grown into indelible bonds.
The new world of upland hunting has also brought challenges. Hotspotting was a thing long before the internet, and codger magazine writers still spill the beans on the latest greatest hunting spots to pummel. There will always be someone willing to sell out a great spot, but now there are a lot more voices. One loudmouth goes off on Instagram, and next you know there’s five trucks parked on your favorite backcountry cover.
We are awash in a sea of information, some of it helpful, some not. “It’s on the internet, it must be true.” Even though most of us know it’s a quip, this mindset erodes our judgment when we are bombarded by a constant stream of data. In the upland world, gear reviews are sometimes more comical than useful. Everyone seems to have a latest-greatest doodad that you couldn’t possibly chase birds without, from sticker packets and dog CBD oil all the way up to high end shotguns.
Reading the reviews, these products are all the greatest thing since sliced bread. It’s uncommon to find a gear review with any critiques. Oftentimes the reviewer has barely used the product, if at all. This leaves readers without the objective information they need to make informed decisions. The army of influencers and brand reps clamoring for attention is enough to turn your stomach.
Most game birds eat grit to help their gizzards digest food. The unfiltered coarseness of pebbles and sand unlocks the nutrients in their intake. Our mission at The Grit is to make your diet of upland hunting media digestible.
We promise to bring you compelling stories that tell the good, the bad, and even the ugly of our pursuit. We will never tell you where to hunt, but we’ll help you figure it out for yourself. We won’t shitpost- we will seek out the best in every person, experience, and product. We’ll just skip the sugar coating.
We will test product samples, but we’ll never accept payment for a gear review. We will call it the way we see it, especially when it comes to preserving wild birds and wild places. We won’t care what politician, industry rep, or nonprofit we happen to irk in the process. We will speak the truth (as best we know it), with love for gun dogs, the birds they pursue, and our passionate community.
This is our promise.
