It is crazy to sit back and think of what the outdoor industry has exploded into the last twenty five years. What used to be seen only in a few short hours of Saturday morning television on TNN is now on multiple channels and social media outlets 24/7. Hunting shows and the technology that drive them has come a long way in a relatively short amount of time however among the chaos there is a man who can vividly remember those early days and very humbly recalls them every chance he gets.
Tr
oy Ruiz is easily one of the most honest men I have ever had a conversation with. He is not afraid to share his love for Lord. He is quick to let you know where he came from and will have you wishing you could have seen the days of the bayou before Troy first started filming hunts nearly 30 years ago. You see, growing up on a boat Ruiz did not realize that he would play a huge part in the growth of the outdoor industry and see it reach the heights of today all through the lens of his camera. To be completely truthful about it he just thought it was cool to film a turkey hunt. Then one day the good lord blessed Troy with an opportunity to share the woods with long time turkey fanatic Preston Pittman and well, the rest is history!
From that one day meeting Pittman until now, Troy has seen and heard just about everything and he still loves every second he is able to spend in the outdoors. There was a time when he would have to leave the Mossy Oak offices in West Point to drive master tapes to Memphis just so they could be shipped to the appropriate offices in Nashville. The end result of the trip would be the hunting shows we enjoyed on Sunday nights! Honestly, it is amazing at what all went in to a production and Troy loves to recall those days. He is also quick to go into detail about how he wept like a baby when the first show they produced aired.
As I think back on our recent conversation and the many years of tv shows, vhs and dvds featuring Troy’s work there is something he always says. “If you leave the woods without learning something then you have wasted that day.” I personally do not think there is a more true statement. Many people today just think it is cool to kill as many animals as possible so their social media account will reach more people. So let me be very clear when I say that there is a level of respect for the land and animals that has been lost and everyone, including myself, should be proud that we live in a country where we can pursue these animals and know that we have a God who put them there for us to enjoy.
