Bozeman, Montana
Jason Matzinger is an award-winning film and television producer, host of the acclaimed TV show “Into High Country” and one of the only guys we know that’d tough out torrential downpours, frigid temps, and scorching hot days for the love of chasing game. We take our hats off to his resilient spirit, his cinematic, refreshing perspective on the hunting world, and the enormous efforts he puts behind animal conservation. Here’s what goes on behind that multitalented mind of his.
Where is your favourite place to hunt?
Specifically Montana, but really anywhere with hardly any people and wide open space.
Tell us a favourite story from a day out hunting.
I was on a hunt recently trying to help a friend get a deer before he headed off to the Navy. As we were headed down the road to access a new area we wanted to try and hunt, we came across a lady sitting in her truck with a horse trailer attached behind her. I stopped and asked if she needed any help and it turned out she was loaded down with hot coffee and sandwiches and waiting for the cowboys to move the cattle. After about 10 minutes of chatting with this nice lady she told us we could hunt their whole place if we wanted. They even had a cabin we could stay in if we needed. It was a great reminder that being a good person will never steer you wrong.
How do you up your game year after year?
Mainly just taking what I learn each and every year and improving on it as best I can. It may be a new camera technique or hunting an area smarter.
If you could do anything better, what would it be?
I always want to be the best father, partner, brother, friend I can be. So, if there was one thing I would like to always improve on, it’s being there for the people who mean something to me.
Who are your heroes? Who do you look up to?
My dad, Theodore Roosevelt, Gordon Eastman, and Marty Stouffer. (There are others, but those are the top.)
What haven’t you accomplished that you aspire to do in your lifetime?
I still feel like I am at the tip of the iceberg on what I would like to accomplish. There’s so much left I would still like to do. Someday I would like to make a film about the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to really tell the story of how elk hunting, fishing, and turkey hunting all work together. I truly want to show the world how much sportsman treasure the wildlife we pursue.
What part of you, or what you do, reflects a spirit of restlessness?
I’m always trying to outdo my last project or latest adventure. Each and every one of them have been huge for me personally achieving my goals. But I have found that as soon as they are done and the dust has settled, I’m ready to try and make the next piece better.
If there is any love-hate relationship with any aspect of what you do, can you describe what that is?
I feel fortunate to be able to do what I love for a career. I never have really felt like it’s become work or taken away from my passion for it. I think the only thing that maybe falls into that would be never being happy with where I am creative wise.
What does YETI mean to you?
YETI is quality, integrity, rugged, and dedicated to people. YETI builds community while reminding us what is truly important in this ride we call life.