I haven't gotten it yet, but like most of the post on the original thread, I will and it will essentially gas up an already roaring fire for this season. I do wonder what happened with the crew at Primos? It's not like it's something new, with a man leaving (Kenneth, Dean, Troy, etc.) but this was a wholesale change. I'm sure money is in play, but with Primos as big as it is now with their mergers and acquisitions one would think they could pony up what it took to keep a crew together, so I figure there is more to it.
Anybody have any insight into what happened there? I've heard in the past the Will might not be the guy you see on the screen, but in my experiences with him at the convention he seemed legit. Obviously in the public people can be different but it seemed like he was a cool guy. Just puzzling to me.

Was watching a dvr'd bone collector and the "hardcore" team was with them. It was keith, chris, the young guy with the lucky t shirt in the primos intro, and another guy from primos. Didnt think much about it till I just read your post.

Only time ive ever seen will was at matks outdoors turkey day. A older woman brought her grandson (5-7 years old) to it. Will called him over and talked with him a while and gave him a slate call and several strikers. he took off runnin back to mawmaw like he just robbed a bank

Wasn't there a post earlier about several of the crew leaving? I either read it here or on OG. The gist of the post tied it to Bushnell buying Primos and Bushnell cutting them loose.

Primos was bought out by Bushnell a couple of years ago. I'm sure that it was a big change from the Primos family ownership to the corporate lifestyle of Bushnell. Probably didn't sit too well with a lot of the old timers.

Word is that the Primos brand was recently bought by ATK Sporting Group. ATK is oriented to firearms, law enforcement, military, etc. I figure the new owners didn't want to pony up to keep that crew on board and Michael Waddell was more than happy to swoop in and take a group of guys already established in the hunting industry and expand his brand.


I heard it got pretty ugly over in Mississippi when it went down.

This is correct. ATK bought out Bushnell which already owned Primos. Some of ATK's other brands are Federal, Savage, Weaver, Blackhawk, Butler Creek, and many more. So, you can see they are a pretty big corporation

My cousin is a producer and hunter for them.
Let's just say it's not the same around there.

I saw a Bone Collector show last year where T-Bone was hunting with Kenneth Lancaster in Mississippi during the last couple of days of the season. During filming he stopped in the Primos corporate offices and visited with Will.


Bet that won't happen again........... lol.

One thing I noticed was they no longer are pimping remington shotguns or nitros. They shoot what they have and use federal heavyweight

Pro team members come and go on ALL TV shows.

I remember the first Primos guys really well. Ronnie Jolly, Jeff Sherwood, Dean Davis , etc. And I know exactly what happened with all of them leaving.

Also there was Troy Ruiz, Shane, and a few other pro team members over the years.

I know Will as well as we were a Primos sponsored TV show on 4 out of five of the shows I did. I was sponsored by Will way before doing TV actually when I was a guide and outfitter in the early nineties. They supplied us all with gear and we also were dealers for their stuff.

I also know Brad too, and have spoken to him many times at both the SHOT and Archery trade shows, as well as on the phone as he was in charge of video productions when we did tv.

The way it works is all the Primos pro staff members on the show regularly also WORK at the Primos facility doing non TV related tasks as well.

It is a job..just like ANY other job. However it just happens to be in the Outdoor Industry, and on TV during the hunting/filming seasons.

Like any other job...there are changes. Primos was sold years ago..2006 I believe. Will was to stay and help the transistion just like all companies do. I believe as with the standard Ive seen in the industry it was for 2 years, but hes established a good working relationship with the new owners and they retained him I guess.

It also happened to Double Bull..when they too went under the Primos "umbrella". Keith and Brooks were to stay for 2 years to help the transition.
What most DO NOT understand is that when a company is sold like that..and part of the proceeds is dispersed over those next two years, to help motivate the old owners to help the new ones. It sometimes is done by the company to keep from paying the entire costs, as some of the payment is CONTINGENT on the old owner helping the new owner in the transition. If you leave early..you dont get the Full amount.
Thats why you saw Keith Beam from Double Bull on the Primos team for two years..he was honoring his commitment to get the full amount of the money. When his commitment was done..he left Primos (with his full amount) and went to work with Jay Gregory on the Wild Outdoors, and to support Jays show as the Exec Producer with some of his money, as he and Jay go WAY back.

His partner Brooks just cashed out...took the original money and semi retired. Keith had told me that they made a TRUCKLOAD of money(his words) off the sale. I believe him. I had heard how much when I was still doing tv but the actual amount I cannot remember now. (21 Million maybe?)

Also, there are internal problems and strife within pro teams..between each other, but usually more with the producers.

I know...Ive had both occur. As both a pro team member and as a producer.
Also...as a producer I had pro staff members who caused alot of problems. One I had to let go halfway thru a season in which we were airing on TV.( due to conflict with sponsors..he thought the show was about HIM....it isnt. The show is about HUNTING, and the GAME ANIMAL...and regretfully the sponsors gear since THEY pay for the whole thing. The idiot actually called sponsors directly to give them advise ( and negative critcism) about their gear. Also..to try to steal them to do his own "upcoming" show.
So what happened is normal. Pro team members come..and they go. Especially on a proteam that has been together since 1988!as you see this is Primos the TRUTH 26. Hecks..thats A LLOOONNG Time running and you have to expect stuff like that.

heres from Cody Kelleys facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/cody.kelley.18

did anyone speak to them at the NWTF show? would have been a great time to ask! they were all there at the Bone Collector booth I believe

It looks to me they got their chance to go from Pro team to PRODUCERS.

It looks like they started their own show under Waddells umbrella and have decided to work as CO PRODUCERS. meaning..they actually share the profits from the show instead of WORKING for Will, if the show is a success and they make money.

It is a tough row to hoe these days with the glut of shows..but with their familiarity with both viewers and industry sponsors they should do well, in both their ability to get viewers as well as getting the dollars to put on a show.
I wish them the best luck.

Also, when your in the industry..there are non disclosure forms you sign so Im sure we may not know everything for a few years

I'm sure if they keep up their antics and comradarie they will do great

Saw their show tonight, brad and will were hunting together in Texas. They both had a camera man with them. Guessing since brad was decked out in real tree and Will wore bottomland that they were filming for both shows. Right before will shot(both birds) you can hear brad say "Kevin's got them on his camera". I guess wills camera man didn't have the shot but brads did, so bottom line they got the money shot on film.

I saw that show too Yaper. Nothing like a good Texas/Florida turkey hunt combo show to get the blood pumping!

My favorite part on a lot of the more recent Truth videos is when Cody (I think that's his name) puts a turkey over his knee while posing for the video, and Mr. Jimmy comes and pushes him over. It never gets old!