By Barb Oates
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Wrangling Beau Turner, the fourth of five children of media mogul Ted Turner, to do an interview for his new Sportsman Channel series Beau Knows Outdoors proved more challenging than expected. Turns out Beau (whose birth name is Reed Beauregard) is just as busy as dad Ted trying to save the world in unique philanthropic ways. Beau has been on the go for the last several weeks hunting and fishing in remote locales, so our interview took place as an exchange of email questions and answers about his new series, which premieres Oct. 6 on Sportsman Channel, and what we can expect.
Tell us a little bit about your passion/vision for Beau Knows Outdoors and how it got started.
Beau Turner: My passion is getting kids outdoors and involved in outdoor activities. The idea for this show came about last year when I was talking to a good friend who owns a production company. He presented the idea of a show that wasn’t just about hunting, but about the importance of keeping our kids active and engaged in the outdoors, like we do at my youth center in Florida. My ultimate goal is to get young people out hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking or just playing in the mud — away from their computers and video games and into nature. This show has given me a platform to reach a broader audience with that message.
We understand you’ll be addressing some of the more “hot button” outdoor issues in the series, yet won’t necessarily be behind a desk debating the issues. So how are you raising the concerns/engaging in the dialogue?
Throughout the show, I’m out in the field talking about everything from our work with endangered species to wildlife management to the crucial role sportsmen play in protecting our environment and conserving our natural resources. I talk to ranch personnel, guides, youth center volunteers, fish and wildlife commissioners — each one of them offers great insight into issues not typically covered on a hunting show.
Would you describe the show format as more educational or entertaining, or a bit of both?
It’s definitely a bit of both. We had a lot of fun filming and I think that shows in the episodes. We went on epic hunts, but we also covered some of the most important environmental issues facing the outdoor community today. I hope viewers feel like they are not only getting an inside look at some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes in the country, but that they learned something about what it takes to manage the land in a responsible way.
Walk us through a week in the life of managing 2-million-plus acres of land. It sounds exhausting, but seriously, what does that involve?
It involves a lot of travel; we [Turner Enterprises] have 15 ranches in seven Western states and several properties in the Southeast. I’m constantly on the road, meeting with ranch managers and checking in on day-to-day operations. My father also visits the properties year-round and is very active and involved in managing the properties. We work hard to manage the land in an ecologically sensitive manner while keeping it commercially sustainable.
The promotional copy for the show says that viewers will be along for some of your world-class hunting and fishing expeditions. Where do cameras follow you this season? Lessons learned?
We covered a lot of territory including an elk hunt on the Flying D ranch in Montana, a New Mexico mule deer hunt, fly fishing in Argentina, duck hunting in Arkansas and quail in north Florida to name a few. We took young folks along on a few trips, which made it a lot of fun. Biggest lesson learned is that doing television is a lot harder than it looks.
How have your father’s actions/insights/philanthropy impacted you as a person? What moved you to make a difference and dedicate your life to this?
When we were kids, Dad introduced us to nature and taught us the importance of protecting our environment. I feel it’s my responsibility to share that gift with the next generation.
He instilled a strong work ethic and awareness of philanthropy in me and my siblings at a very young age. I’ve had a job since I was 14 years old, and I’ve made it a point to give back to my community as an adult. He often says you should give until it hurts, which he’s done consistently throughout his life.
What will viewers be most surprised about when watching your show?
Viewers are getting unprecedented access to Turner properties. They will see footage of private land that has never been filmed before. Incredible natural landscapes and wildlife. These are places that are very special to me, and I’m excited to take viewers along for the ride.
Attention Beau Turner:
Beau,
I saw the episode of Ladder Ranch Archery, Elk 2. In the show there was a boy that you coached who used the crossbow at a target range. My heart went out to Ethan. I was wondering if you could tell me more about Ethan [his address, phone number, his medical condition, etc.]
I thought that if I were ever in a financial position [say hit a big lottery], I would like to do something for Ethan [e.g., send him and his family to Disney World, let him tag along on a live hunt with a professional hunt, etc.]
Thank you for your time.
Fred