One on One with Ted Nugent
This past February, I had a chance to speak with rocker, hunter, and activist Ted Nugent. Busy on a successful tour with Toby Keith, Uncle Ted took a few minutes out of a very hectic schedule to give me an exclusive interview for Georgia’s Outdoor Adventures.
For those of you who don’t know, Mr. Nugent is a very opinionated man. A fervent activist for both the hunting, and pro-gun community, Ted shares a passion for both the outdoors and rock and roll that carries over into his everyday life.
Mr. Nugent’s credits are indeed impressive. At present he is a board member for the National Rifle Association, founder of Ted Nugent Kamp for Kids, a best selling author, has sold over 30 million albums, has his own successful TV show, family man, and is an hero to countless Americans who appreciate his stance on common sense government. As a DARE officer,he speaks to thousands of kids each year, introducing them to the discipline of archery, and the shooting sports. He has indeed shown countless kids a healthy alternative to drugs and alcohol.
Keith: Hello Ted, how are you?
Ted Nugent: I’m doing good man.
Keith: First of all Ted. I want to thank you for standing up for our hunting, pro-gun rights, and for all of the people you have educated in the art of activism over the years.
Ted Nugent: I take your thank you to heart. America is the Alamo. With a culture war against our basic freedom’s, and God given rights to keep and bear arms, to defend ourselves, and to harvest God’s renewable gifts of slice the pork. That are being attacked as vigorously and as insanely as it is by the so called animal rights, the anti-hunter’s, the anti-gunners, the Courtney Love’s, the John Kerry’s, the Ted Kennedy’s, the Dianne Feinstein’s, and the Michael Moore’s of the world. I’ve got news for you. Anybody that is not fighting back is a lousy American. Any American, hear what I believe, I don’t believe just sportsmen and gun owners, but any American that is not a member of the National Rifle Association is indeed a lousy American.
When you identify that there are gun owning families, there are sporting families, hunting families that don’t belong to the NRA. They should be ashamed of themselves. It’s like going to the Alamo, sitting and picking your nose, while those of us on the walls are attempting to save freedom. Do you realize how serious this is?
Keith: I fight the fight every day. Of course you taught me, through my active participation in Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America.
Ted Nugent: And we should salute you and those like you. Just think how many friends you have that don’t think it’s important, that don’t belong to these organizations, that don’t know who their Senators and Congressman are, who don’t write letters to the editor, and who aren’t involved with their children’s schools. How many people do we know in our own lives that don’t fight back, who are literally picking their nose at the Alamo while Santa Anna’s anti-gun people are climbing our walls. God Bless you Keith, but our goal, Davy Crockett’s goal, aren’t just to shoot Santa Anna’s men. But to get everybody he knows to stand on that wall and shoot the enemy with truth and activism. I salute all the warriors, but the name of the game, you and I, our work is just beginning.
That is why I’m so exited about coming to the Dixie Deer Classic in Raleigh, North Carolina on March 6th.
Keith: What are some things someone could do to become more active in issues that may affect them?
Ted Nugent: How can you teach the children the discipline of archery, and the discipline of marksmanship skills, and a higher level of awareness if it’s illegal for them to do so? With Ted Nugent United Sportsmen of America and the National Field Archery Association merging now to attack these insane, meaningless, illogical regulations on that simple level where people can shoot their bows and arrows in their own back yard. People should be able to go to a park and shoot their bow and arrow like I did when I was a kid.
So this one tiny baby step example of what every sportsman has got to do. The beginningis to become a member of TNUSA and/or the NRA. Read the literature, and then talk about it.
Get everyone to raise their hands where there is no hunting allowed on Sunday. I have asked hunters, now this is an assembly of 100% hunting people. I ask them how many people have called their elected officials to get back what we the people own, which is our right to hunt on Sunday. Keith, sometimes as little as four, or five raise their hands. How could a sensible person, how could a reasonable person possibly think, that what is legal six days a week, is somehow illegal on Sunday? That is insane. Most Americans only have Saturday and Sunday to go hunting. When the government forbids it for fifty percent of your weekend, who in the hell is going to become a hunter?
Keith: There are a lot of obstacles in the way, and we know that there are many groups of anti hunters and gomers who will do what they can to stop us in our search for common sense government.
Ted Nugent: These are the simple plans that I have, and you know I have been doing this for so long. We have seen progress, we have seen upgrade, but only when we the people get active, get communicable, and we demand these proper, logical upgrades and regulations. So it can happen. I expect, Keith, the Dixie Deer Classic is going to be one of the greatest events ever, and I am exited about coming.
Keith: One of the things I wanted to ask you about is your TV show “Spirit of the Wild”, which airs on the Outdoor Channel. It has grown tremendously. What do you think sets it apart from other hunting shows?
Ted Nugent: It’s kind of funny. First of all the Nugent Family sincerely appreciates the wonderful feedback, and all the wonderful support our show has gotten.
We salute and thank every family out there. The most exciting part about our” Spirit of the Wild” television show, Keith, is that more non-hunters, and young people, I’m talking little children, 4, 5, and 6 into the teenage years and college students, more of that demographic watches the Spirit of the Wild than any other show, we have proof of this. That’s the most exciting thing, but I think it’s kind of interesting to see why we have become so popular, is the same reason we are not as technically good as some of the other shows. A lot of the other shows have better camera work, better editing, they have better clarity, better equipment,but you know its that down to earth, kind of working hard, playing hard, hey, I’m just a hard working American, I’m going hunting attitude. It is the Spirit of the Wild show, even when it’s grainy, when the cameras moves a little, and it’s out of focus, and we miss some of the activity and it’s edited a little less than perfect. I think it’s that rawness that really does attract people. So, yes we want the video to become clearer. We’re going to improve on our camera work, we’re improving our editing all the time and we’re trying to get the state of the art equipment required to make these upgrades.
We will never lose that spontaneous natural, hackly, fun rawness. That is the Nugent family hunting style. I believe it is everybody’s family hunting style. Because we accurately depict that, and we still respect that down to earth attitude, which is a reason our show is connecting with people and I agree to stay on course.
Keith: It’s an amazing show. I love to see the slow arrow.
Ted: Yeah, you know, I think there’s no question to who’s having the most fun out there. I mean, Uncle Ted has more fun than any of those other shows. I think the other shows try to be serious and they try to be apologetic and they wipe blood off the animals, they try to pretend they just shoot something and they really didn’t kill it. I’m offended by that dishonesty. There is blood on the animal when you kill him. It’s disrespectful to wipe that blood away. If someone is offended by blood, that person is an idiot.
Keith: 10-4, it’s just part of life.We all bleed.
Ted: All of our Barbecue bleeds, and without barbecue we have no life.
Keith: Tell us about your relationship with Bill Wiesner and Renegade Archery.
Ted: Well you know that it’s great. I’ve come to the Dixie Deer Classic because I expect one of the greatest master craftsman, woodsman, bowyers of all time, Mr. Owen Jeffries, up there in ColumbiaSouth Carolina, to be in attendance. I also look forward to seeing Owen and Michaels Jeffries, Owen, used to make Fred Bear’s Bows for him and he’s one of the most respected bowyers in the world, in history actually. Bill Wiesner is a modern day version of Owen Jefferies and some of the great craftsmen like Nells Grumley, who originally crafted all the original Fred Bear bows back in the 1920’s. I still have some of the Nells Grumley’s and Owen Jeffries bows. Well, Bill Weisner approached me and he showed me some of his handiwork, and showed me he really understands the mystical flight of the arrow, hand and eye coordination. In the designing of a compound bow for maximum efficiency, while still shooting instinctively and respecting the ballet, the gracefulness of true archery, being one with the arrow. So when he designed the Nuge Bow for me with Renegade Archery, I shot it and realized it was the finest shooting compound. I said,” I’ve gotta have one of these for my buddies, my family, and my wife Shemane.
When I approached him on that, Renegade decided to start manufacturing the Nuge Bow. Now with Bill Wiesner about to take complete control of Renegade Archery, we expect in 2005 and 2006, probably the greatest compound bows anywhere. Now that’s admitting, and celebrating, and congratulating bows anywhere. From Ben Pearson, Fred Bear, to Hoyt, to Matthews, I mean there are no bad bows out there. Darton, and Proline, and PSE, in fact everyone is a wonderment of scientific geometry, and engineering dynamics. Yet I really believe Bill Wiesner retains that touch with the natural function of the old longbow and re-curves in the design of his compound. So that is why I shoot the Renegade NugeBow.
Keith: That spirit showed when Bill took his Fred Bear re-curve and killed that bear at an amazing five yards.
Ted: Wasn’t that exiting man? I think, Keith, you and I, in promoting archery, and the higher level of awareness that is bow hunting. We are really carrying on Fred Bear’s tradition, Howard Hill, Ben Pearson, Art Kragnus, and so many original, kind of grandfathers, in the rebirth of Saxton Pope and Art Young.
Ted: Fred Bear was a hero, and will always remain a great, great spiritual influence in me. Bill Wiesner carries that on. So I thought that particular “Spirit of the Wild” program, with Bill Wiesner and Fred Bear together was really a good parallel between two great men.
Keith: That truly was my favorite “Spirit of the Wild “television show of all time.
Ted: Yeah, I appreciate that. We hope to do more. In fact, right now, Jenny Olson is editing the last two shows of the season, which will have Fred Bear tributes continuing. We will be doing a special feature when the new shows begin airing in July, on the Outdoor Channel, where we’re going to have a whole bunch of tributes to Fred Bear. All in reverence to a great man, because I don’t believe he’s been promoted adequately or respectfully in this industry. I know, now that Johnny Morris, of Bass Pro owns all the FredBearMuseum, tapes, and artifacts. Johnny really wants to take this great man to the forefront where he belongs.
Keith: I hear you Ted, Fred Bear, in my opinion was truly the Rembrandt of modern day archery.
Ted: In fact he was. Yet there are so many incredible bow hunters out there today. From Bill Wiesner, Bob Folkrod, Claude Pollington, Bill Wienke, Richard P. Smith, there are so many great, great bow hunters. I learn something every time I stand next to them.
Keith: To change the subject. I hear you are working with Springfield Armory on a full sized 1911 type 10mm pistol with an 18 shot capacity. Is this going to happen?
Ted: I take forward that vision of Fred Bear, of being a two season hunter. I really promote the use of all legal methodologies. I’m a big fan of compounds, re-curves, long bows, cross bows, black powder, handguns, old flint locks, I love my scoped big game rifles, my shotguns, I love them all. I am a big fan of the 10mm cartridge, particularly Corbon ammunition loaded to optimum ballistic capabilities. Right now, Kimber, is producing a 10mm based on my prodding. Now Springfield Armory, which makes one of the greatest 1911 .45’s out there is building a 10mm, in fact it’s finished. I should be getting my hands on it any day now.
Keith: Ted, I can’t wait to see it. See it, man I want to shoot it. I would also like to say how much we appreciate you taking time out of your busy schedule to speak with us today. Now if someone wants to join TNUSA/NFAA or maybe book a hunt with you at your “Sunrise Acres” how can they go about it?
Ted: They can go directly to my web sight at Ted Nugent.com to join TNUSA/NFAA, and if they want to book a hunt at Sunrise Acres call Paul Wilson at 1-800-343-HUNT.
Keith: Thanks Ted, and we hope to talk to you again soon.
Ted: Thanks, and tell everyone I appreciate all they do.
Keith Gilmer
Rt 3, Box 2780, Hawkinsville, Ga., 31036
478-892-2700
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