If you commit the crime, prepare to do hard time – on Animal Planet.
This January, the network continues to document the dangerous feats of the men and women who risk their lives to uphold the law with the return of Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters on Sunday, Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. Mountain Time.
Two local fugitive hunters star in the show, now in its second season. TV crews follow professional bounty hunters Clint Simmons, of Cortez, and Dayson Goetz, of Durango, as they track fugitives in the Rockies.
This season, the region’s most-wanted offenders, who have history of charges ranging from arson to drug trafficking to assault, will do whatever it takes to escape custody by fleeing into more than 3,000 square miles of dense forests and rocky peaks.
Rocky Mountain Bounty Hunters is produced by ITV Studios America for Animal Planet.
The first season debuted in April, averaging 766,000 viewers per premiere episode. The upcoming second season features 10 new one-hour episodes airing Sundays, at 7 p.m. Mountain Time on Animal Planet.
If someone you know has been jailed, you may recognize Simmons and Goetz in their role as local bondsmen. Many scenes are shot in Cortez and Durango. Simmons operates Mr. Bail Bonds and works with Goetz on regional fugitive recovery.
Both men were born and raised on cattle ranches in Colorado. In his spare time, Clint runs his family’s ranch and works as a carpenter. When Dayson is not catching criminals, he works as a firefighter and EMT in Durango.
The adrenaline of sneaking up on paranoid, violent criminals trying to escape justice makes it exciting for viewers and the bounty hunters.
“The chase can get rowdy and involves a lot of trickery,” Goetz said. “We’ve been shot at and had some take-downs, but usually our physical presence is enough for them to give up.”
The renegade outlaws are rearrested then transported back to jail for skipping court.
All people caught up in the filming sign a waiver to be in the show, including the criminals and bystanders. Once the scofflaws realize they are going to get their 15 minutes of infamy, they almost always sign.
“It’s amazing how many criminals want to be on TV,” Simmons said. “If they’re active, we continue filming them in custody. They like to carry on for the drive back to jail.”
