‘Country Bucks’: Matt Busbice Opens Up About Life On A Reality Show And Hunting [Interview]
Country Bucks star Matt Busbice is eager to talk about his new reality show on A&E. If viewer response to the premiere episode is any indication, the rest of America is looking forward to hearing what is on the young Wildgame Innovations marketing director’s mind as well. Matt and Ryan Busbice founded the successful hunting company and opted to enter the reality show realm so customers and potential consumers could get to know the family behind the brand.
At least one thing became abundantly clear during the first few moments of my interview with the Country Bucks star, Matt Busbice eats, sleeps, and breathes a true country boy outdoor lifestyle. Neither one of the Busbice brothers sit behind a desk in a three-piece suit directing nameless underlings to develop, test, and promote products designed to help hunters score big bucks, they do it all themselves — with the help of their family and a few friends.
As previously noted by the Inquisitr, some feared that Country Bucks would merely be a Duck Dynasty rip-off. The millions of Americans who watched the premiere episode of the new A&E reality series likely realized the Busbice brothers and their loved ones are unique in their own right and got the full stamp of approval for the new hunting show from Willie Robertson and the rest of the Duck Dynasty clan. Willie Robertson made a guest appearance in the premiere episode of Country Bucks.
Every once in a while reporters get the distinct pleasure of doing an interview where the conversation feels more like a chat with an old friend than an informative yet highly-structured work task. Speaking with Matt Busbice of Country Bucks was most certainly a big dose of the former.
The affable and intelligent Matt Busbice and I spent probably far longer than the Country Bucks producer would have liked, talking about his recent trip to Ohio Amish Country and about Beignet recipes. Busbice is originally from New Orleans and now shares a 55,000-acre property in rural Louisiana with his family. Before we got down to discussing the new A&E reality show, we enjoyed discussing our respective home states since we were both familiar with the locales. Matt was thrilled to learn that young ladies in Ohio consider both he and his Wildgame Innovcation co-founder and brother Ryan, “country boy eye candy.” Matt laughingly said, “Very thankful I was included in the eye candy grouping, it is usually just Ryan who gets the attention from ladies.” After bonding over a mutual love for Café du Monde and a host of outdoor pursuits, Busbice began talking about his business with a vigor only someone who truly loves their means of earning a living, can do.
IQ: Why did you decide to do a reality show?
Matt Busbice: Well my brother would say that I never really contributed very much to the company. Being the marketing guy and just spending marketing dollars year after year, he kind of thought I wasn’t pulling my weight enough. [laughs] I was approached multiple times about doing a reality show and thought, the marketing guy can finally bring something to the table and help take Wildgame Innovations to the next level. Making the business a household name is one thing I can say for sure I did that was positive for the company, if the show goes nicely. I have produced hunting shows and commercials in the past, but to be a part of this on A&E is like a dream. It’s the big leagues. I was able to convince Ryan that doing Country Bucks was a good idea after a few conversations. When talking to the rest of the family, I said if we are going to do it, we are going to do it big, and they all agreed. I was so glad they did, we are really blessed to have this opportunity.
IQ: Country Bucks is one of those rare television shows the entire family can watch together. How do you feel about such a perception of the series and the affection being shown for the Busbice family as a whole already?
Matt Busbice: That’s refreshing to hear because I didn’t really necessarily go into it as like this G-rated family gathering for viewing show, but I wanted it to be a real depiction of what goes on in our life. At the end of day, I guess we’re just not the risqué type of people. So, with that said, I love to hear that families feel like watching us, that they can bring the kiddos around and gather, and not worry about it. That is important to us, if I know my nieces and nephews can watch it, I can add an extra notch on our belt and know we are really nailing our real life on screen.
IQ: Getting to know the people behind the Wildgame Innovations products will likely help build trust and a sense of familiarity with customers. Feeling a connection with someone who enjoys the same activities and has demonstrated their skill in the arena seems like it would be beneficial to buyers?
Matt Busbice: I completely agree. If I am about to buy a product, in any category, a watch let’s say, I would rather know that I am buying it from a family or group of some sort that has been dedicated to process for a long time, real experts. By attaching our brand with our family and showing the viewers that our family is fully immersed into [the] outdoors, are true sportsman, and hands-on with everything, I think it builds confidence in our products.
IQ: What is it like being on a reality show and working with family? From Country Bucks reviews and social media comments I have read, it seems like America has really taken to the Busbice family already.
Matt Busbice: Being accepted by the country is humbling, really. So many reality shows have launched and people are quick to change the channel — being accepted by the audience is truly a blessing. To be at least interesting enough without being R-rated while holding onto interest and showing the love of our family is very endearing. What you see is the real deal. My family is everything to me. We had such great role models growing up, our parents, and grandparents; my siblings and I all learned from them all of our life. We have been blessed with a great family, working together on Country Bucks makes us even closer. We basically eat, sleep and breathe together about every single day — everyone can understand that a breathing room is sometimes necessary though. [laughs] I am not sure if my sister will ever be on show. She has never been really a camera person. But County Bucks is much different than hunting shows I have been involved with, so who knows. If Country Bucks is blessed with another season, she might want to get involved. My little nieces and nephews might want to join in as well.
IQ: In the first episode of Country Bucks, your Uncle Hard Luck was trying his hand at inventing a new product for WildGame Innovations. It was something to do with naturally warming deer urine?
Matt Busbice: Oh, the Sac Attack doe urine idea! Hard Luck comes up with terrible ideas, things we would never dream of making, but he has been on a mission to warm up deer pee for years. The Sac Attack was a culmination of all his years of training, of pouring hot doe pee in order to attack big bucks. The poor thing, we just had to shoot him down. I am rooting for him though, maybe one day Hard Luck will come up with an incredible idea for deer pee. We have gotten quite a bit of comments, ideas, and suggestions about best ways to heat doe urine and how well it works for viewers!
IQ: Did your buddy Willie Robertson from Duck Dynasty give you any advice about being on a reality show?
Matt Busbice: Willie loves to give advice! [laughs] We have been very involved as business partners and as friends for years. He was kind of with us throughout this whole thing. He talked to us about how to cope with task of filming and balancing business obligations. He is kind of like a big hairy brother [laughs] truly a very good mentor.
IQ: Country Bucks is a lot different that many reality shows. It does not focus on materialism and cat fights. Even though Duck Dynasty also focuses on outdoor pursuits and life in rural areas, I think there is room on television for more than one series about country living. Although it might have been your intention when you signed up for a reality show, Country Bucks has a bit of an educational component as well.
Today, far too many Americans are entirely disconnected from the “food to table” process — having no idea how the meat, dairy, vegetables, and fruit we all consume on a daily basis, is grown, raised, and harvested. Calling country folks “rednecks” appears to be the last acceptable form of stereotyping. Assuming that families which choose to live in the beauty of nature and in a virtually crime-free zone are uneducated, unfortunately, has become commonplace.
Matt Busbice: If we can help to break down country stereotypes, that would be an honor. I think there is room for more country type shows on television. I think that it is a great thing that our show and Duck Dynasty have less emphasis on drama and lives of city folk. To me it is kind of, I don’t know, it is a downer to watch things like that on television, where people are focused too much on the wrong things in life. I find being in the outdoors an uplifting experience. I think this country and the general public can use some general upbeat things in their lives, true happiness, real life grasp. I am so glad that A&E started this explosion of country life reality television and were kind enough to pick us up and start the Country Bucks series.
