Engel’s Outdoor Experience: focuses on the journey rather than the hunt

By Tom Pattison

An accomplished hunter, Jeffrey Engel ‘78 is nationally known as a public speaker and television personality who actively promotes hunting education and conservation. He currently hosts his own outdoor adventure and hunting television show, Engel’s Outdoor Experience, which airs on the Outdoor Channel and Fox Sports-North cable channels.

Because of the show, Jeff and his crew spend more than four months a year traveling around the world to exotic locations filming interesting hunts.

“We spend upwards of 90 days a year in Africa along with trips to such places as New Zealand, Alaska, the Arctic Circle, the Yucatan Peninsula," Engel said.

Engel’s wife and co-host, Sherol, also enjoys the outdoors. She often joins her husband in the field and is the behind-the-scenes production leader as the show’s award-winning editor.

Engel’s television career started when he was asked to make a guest appearance on an outdoor show on PBS. According to Engel, one thing led to another, and his career in front of a TV camera was underway. He has made numerous appearances on PBS, ABC and CBS affiliates to discuss hunting, fishing, and animal behavior.

"A major portion of the communication skills that I incorporate in my TV show I derived from the degree that I earned at UW-Whitewater," Engel said. "I am grateful for my college education, which eventually led me to becoming a very good public speaker and greatly enhanced the opportunity that I received to host my own television show."

Engel’s Outdoor Experience, which first aired in January of 2000, is considered by many viewers to be an enjoyable and thoughtful celebration of outdoor adventure. Quality hunting, outstanding videography, editing, and writing explain why this show continually wins awards for excellence. The show won the coveted Golden Moose Award for the "Best Waterfowl" show and was also among the top five nominated for "Best Editing" and "Best Camerawork" at the Outdoor Channel 2003 national awards ceremony.

"Even though we are a hunting show we focus more on the journey than the hunt," Engel said. “We downplay the kill while allowing the viewer an appreciation of nature and wildlife."

Update 2007

Jeff and his wife, Sherol, have written a new book in 2007, "Chasing the Hunters’ Dream". This book is a complete illustrated guide to the 1001 best hunting destinations around the world. They are co-authoring the book with James Swan, one of the top hunting writers in North America.