I remember the day quite clearly. It was early September 1996. Bart Landsverk, my friend and coworker at the time, showed up at my desk with a huge box.
“Here you go, Danno,” he said. “This will keep you warm on that Maine trip you’re taking in November.”
I must admit I was skeptical when I opened the box. Inside was a huge, rolled up camo suit. It looked like an uber-quilted sleeping bag. Long story short: Bart was right. I took that thing to Maine, hunted 10 days in sub-zero weather and stayed toasty warm on dark-to-dark hunts every day. I was sold, and have used it every year since.
The idea is pretty simple: Lock in your body heat while you’re on stand, and you can wear fewer layers — and best of all, stay warm all day long — even in sub-zero temperatures.
Fast forward to 2013. It was quite an honor when Heater Body Suit owner Tom Schneider invited Brad Rucks and I to be included in his new national TV advertisement. The video shoot was coordinated and being produced by Blaine Anthony, and it was held at the Kiel High School in Wisconsin. Anthony is the producer and host of the popular TV show Bear Whisperer on Animal Planet.
The commercial, which will air later this year on hunting networks, re-creates a clasScott Matheson is the teacher in charge of a bunch of unruly students. Scott Matheson is the teacher in charge of a bunch of unruly students students (us) learning about the new odor-reducing technology included in the new Heater Body Suits.
New for 2013, Heater Body Suit unveils its O3 Series, which kils odors within the suit via a built-in ozone generator. The process of ionization destroys odors — no masking or covering them up. Even better, this suit is built from 300-gram 3M Thinsulate Ultra Insulation. That’s some serious material for keeping a hunter warm in seriously cold temperatures.
Also in the “class” were ex-Major League Baseball players Matt Duff (St. Louis Cardinals) and Buddy Groom (Baltimore Orioles, Oakland A’s, etc.). Groom is host of the new Buckventures TV show.
Major League Bowhunter is cohosted by former Atlanta Braves superstar Chipper Jones. The show invites all hunters, both experienced and beginner to learn something from every encounter each week that will help them be more successful their next hunt.
Jeff Danker, Duff and Jones believe that there is always something that can be learned from every experience in the field, both good and bad, and their passion and success for harvesting big bucks was what formed a special friendship.
Also appearing in the ad were Tom Schneider and his daughter, Kelly, from Heater Body Suit; Don Pollauf “The World’s Biggest Bowhunter” from Bowhunting Addiction on The Pursuit Channel, Mike Pelletier of Hardcore Pursuit on Sportman Channel, and Brad and I from Deer & Deer Hunting on NBC Sports.
While hunting in cold weather can be challenging, yesterday’s shoot was a total treat. We not only learned some creative filming and editing tips from Anthony, we got to spend some time getting know a whole crew of guys and gals who want nothing more than to share their love of deer and deer hunting with all of the hard-working, fun-loving folks out there who watch outdoors programming.
The finish commercial will begin airing in July on outdoor networks.