Fred Hurt became a well-known figure for his appearance on the television show Gold Rush, but many are wondering if his documentary Gold Blooded is affiliated with the Discovery franchise. Let’s clear up the confusion on this matter.
Fred Hurt rose to fame through his role in the popular TV show Gold Rush, but many fans wonder if his Gold Blooded documentary is connected to the Discovery franchise. Gold Rush, which first aired in 2010, chronicles the journeys of various placer gold mining crews as they search for fortune in the rugged terrains of Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory. Over the years, the show has become one of Discovery’s most beloved series, spawning twelve seasons as well as multiple spin-offs.
Among the personalities who have found fame on Gold Rush are Parker Schnabel, Freddy Dodge, and Fred Hurt, better known as “Dakota Fred.” Fred joined the show in its inaugural season, working with Todd Hoffman’s crew at their claim in Porcupine Creek, Alaska. Eventually, Fred formed his own crew called the “Dakota Boys” and continued appearing on the show until the fourth season.
Although the reasons for Fred Hurt’s departure from Gold Rush remain unclear, a post on his Facebook page in 2014 hinted at salary disputes with Discovery Channel. After leaving the series, Fred embarked on a new venture with the release of Gold Blooded in 2018. The documentary follows Fred, his son Dustin, and former Gold Rush cast members Wes Richardson and Paul as they attempt to extract gold from beneath the McKinley Falls waterfall in Alaska.
While Gold Blooded shares similarities with Gold Rush in terms of its star and theme, it is not officially affiliated with the reality franchise and was independently produced outside of the Discovery Channel.
It can be easy to mix things up, especially with the season 5 episode of Gold Rush called “Gold Blooded” and the Gold Blooded documentary’s director Kirk Roos later becoming a co-executive producer for the spin-off show Gold Rush: White Water on the Discovery Channel. This new show also marked the return of Fred Hurt to the Gold Rush family.
Premiering in 2018, the series follows Fred and the Dakota Boys as they head back to Alaska to try their luck at suction dredging in the gold-filled pools of McKinley Creek’s powerful rapids. Gold Rush: White Water has seen five seasons so far, but Fred, nearing his 79th birthday in 2022, was less involved in the latest season of the spin-off. Rumor has it that he’s stepping back from the gold mining scene, which might mean he’ll be leaving the Gold Rush franchise for good soon.
Up next: Find out how much the cast of Alaskan Bush People get paid for being on the show.
