When Ben Brettingen was 10, he dressed from head to toe in camo, “borrowed” his parents’ VHS camera and set up a deer stand in the backyard of his suburban Minnesota home, pretending to film an outdoors TV show.
Now, he’ll be filming one for real.
“In-Depth Outdoors” TV has hired Brettingen as a multi-media content producer.
While Brettingen will wear many hats at IDO, his main focus will be filming shows. Other duties will include video editing, writing and photography.
“Ben is a fantastic addition to the growing IDO production team,” says In-Depth Outdoors TV host and CEO James Holst. “He’s got a hard-to-find skill set – he can write, shoot video and has an excellent eye as a still photographer. Add in the fact that he’s a very accomplished angler and we feel very fortunate to have Ben on our team.”
Before joining the IDO team, Brettingen helped start “Minnesota Sporting Journal,” serving as associate editor. He graduated from North Dakota State University in the spring of 2012 with a degree in Natural Resources Management and “a minor in waterfowl hunting.”
During his four-year stint on the North Dakota plains, Brettingen developed a knack for luring fowl of all sorts into their last descent. Most of these moments he captured through the lens of his DSLR and video cameras.
“It was just as exhilarating having some of those once-in-a-lifetime hunts on film, as it was to be pulling the trigger,” he says.
While Brettingen has already compiled an impressive resume in outdoors media, Holst says, “his passion and enthusiasm – not just for hunting and fishing, but for capturing a moment on video or in a still photo – really sets him apart.”
Brettingen grew up in the woods and on water, chasing both fin and feather. “Growing up near the shores of Lake Waconia offered an excellent chance at spending an extraordinary amount of time learning the local waters,” he says. He put that knowledge to use as a guide with Trophy Encounters Professional Guide Service and grew intro a great multi-species angler. But it’s the mighty muskie that Brettingen is most passionate about and remains “hopelessly enthralled by,” he says.
“He brings a strong background in muskie fishing to our team, which really helps round out our group, which has been rapidly becoming more diverse,” Holst says.
Beyond the outdoor world, Brettingen is an avid wedding photographer and videographer. “Weddings have been photographed forever, and to bring a new creative spin is what intrigues me,” he says. “I believe great photographers are multi-faceted, and it pushes me to become better photographer.”
In-Depth Outdoors TV appears on Fox Sports North, offering 26 weeks of the hottest ice- and open-water fishing action from the best lakes and rivers in North America. With its ability to educate and entertain, the In-Depth Outdoors Fishing Team keeps viewers on the edge of their seats from hook-set to landing net. Every In-Depth Outdoors episode is offered on-demand at idofishing.com as a streaming web video.
Also featured at in-depthoutdoors.com are fishing and hunting reports covering many species of fish and small game, along with reviews of the latest outdoor equipment. From walleye, bass, perch, catfish and more, to whitetail deer, turkeys and pheasants, outdoor enthusiasts can find all the info they need in IDO’s active online community.
Brettingen is joining on the IDO team Holst and fellow multi-media content providers Ben Larson and Greg Huff. Working in outdoor media for “an amazing company with an incredible reputation like IDO,” is a goal toward which Brettingen worked from an early age.
“I have dreamed of working in the outdoor industry ever since fake filming and hosting outdoor shows when I was 10,” he says. “I am thrilled to let my creativity run wild in this great position.”
