Interview by: Freddy Martinez El Cazador Outdoor Interviews

Rusty, first of all, thanks for stopping in.

Thanks for having me, anytime.

You’ve been busy…

Ya we’ve been going at it pretty hard the last few weeks, you know, trying to get this first pilot done and all.

Which leads me to my first question then! So the rumors are true? Is RBO going to television?

(Laughing) Ya, we’re gonna try our hand at it. I don’t know if it’s as big of a deal as some people are making it out to be or not though. I am having a blast though. It’s something I always wanted to do, and so now it’s been kinda neat, you know, just seeing things all come together.

Any insight you can give us as to what network? You’ve been pretty secretive.

We’re waiting for the network to make the first announcement, but I guess it should be made sometime in the next couple of weeks….maybe. If they don’t do it soon then maybe I will let it slip (laughing)…

You just got out of the ER after being treated for a nasty spider bite. What’s up with that?

Oh man… Ya that sucked I guess…. You know, I can’t say what it is about me and bugs, but man I am always gettin’ bit. I guess when you make your living outdoors, you know, it’s just something you gotta learn to contend with. I’ve been hospitalized with tick bites, spider bites and all that. It’s just part of it. I mean, I guess I’m just thankful I ain’t getting treated for paper cuts suffered while filing someone’s taxes.

Any snake bites?

___ NO!! I hate those little things. I hate them. I admit I am terrified of snakes. No way man, no bites yet….I hope never. Spiders are one thing, those ___ are another. We just saw a big water moccasin in fact, on our last shoot. We were filming in East Texas and he was laying in a mud hole we needed to cross. Thank the Lord one of my crew saw him ‘cuz I didn’t.

And you let him be I am sure!

I blew his ass to pieces.

You like being out on the road, obviously, but do you get homesick?

Uhmm…I don’t get homesick, really. You know, I miss being at home, for sure. But homesick is something you get when you spend the summer with your Aunt and Uncle as a kid. I start wishing I was able to watch TV at the house, or work in my yard, or drink a beer on my porch. But no, man, I really don’t call it homesick. I am not married yet, so it’s not like there’s anyone nagging at me to get back (laughing)…I enjoy being home, but after a week or so, I start pacing up and down the hallways. I start looking at the calendar wondering when we load up and head out again.

Are you busy this month?

We’re pretty steady I guess. I think we’re gone this weekend, then home a couple of weeks. We then go up to Tennessee for 6 days and then finish the month up in the Hill Country filming an exotic hunt. I think we’re 15 gone and 15 home this month…not too bad.

Give me the first thing that comes to mind when I say the following:

Aww __. I hate these. Ok, go ahead, I’ll try….

High Fences-

Important for wildlife management, good coffee shop talk.

Corn feeders-

Need to be filled!

Jerry Johnston

Hero.

Ted Nugent

(long pause)…..Great spokesman for our industry. Rockstar.

Hillary Clinton

An idiot.

Rusty, always a pleasure, always fun to talk to you.

Likewise. Thanks for letting me drop by.