In this episode of Burning the Ships, I sit down with Michael Hunsucker, co-founder and host of Heartland Bowhunter, the award-winning outdoor television show that redefined hunting content. Michael shares how he turned his passion for the outdoors into a thriving business, revolutionizing storytelling and production quality in the hunting industry.
We dive into the early struggles of building a brand, how Michael and his team bootstrapped their way to success, and the business lessons that apply far beyond the hunting world. From navigating sponsorship deals with integrity to balancing entrepreneurship with family life, this conversation is packed with valuable insights for anyone looking to turn their passion into a business.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
02:03 Who is Michael Hunsucker?
06:35 The story behind Heartland Bowhunter
13:47 How Heartland Bowhunter started – focusing on storytelling and high quality content
16:49 Creating enough content before pitching to a network
17:50 A unique approach to promotions and sponsorships
20:21 Choosing the right partnerships
24:12 Lessons from running a business based on passion, not just profit
28:53 What was Plan B if the show did not succeed?
30:40 Raising kids in the outdoors and how they shifted Michael’s focus
38:20 Balancing entrepreneurship with family life and personal fulfillment
45:14 The evolution of outdoor media – from channels on TV to Youtube
50:40 The future of Heartland Bowhunter
Quotables
“We didn’t just want to make hunting content—we wanted to tell stories that even non-hunters could appreciate.”
“Authenticity matters. We turned down deals that didn’t align with our values, even when the money was tempting.”
“We had no plan B—failure wasn’t an option. We just kept pushing forward.”
Links
Michael Hunsucker
https://www.instagram.com/michaelhunsucker/
Heartland Bowhunter
https://www.instagram.com/heartlandbowhunter/
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=heartland%20bowhunter
608B Capital
