[Don Thomas]

in reply to: For those going to Africa #52242

Here’s my point: In the Internet era, the distinction between fact and rumor has nearly disappeared. Just in the hunting field, we’ve all seen plenty of examples of this… the “New World Record” brown bear that was just another bear, the “New World Record Elk” that came from a game farm, etc etc… and we haven’t even got to politics yet. When an unusual “fact” appears on the Internet, the first response should be to check it out before passing it along. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: For those going to Africa #52108

I’m curious about the source of this information. Customs rarely checks bags in transit. Is this confirmed fact or rumor? Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Too old to hunt? #52103

I’m 62 and can still do most of the things I’ve always done, although it takes a little longer and hurts a little at the end of a long day. Staying active year around is key, especially if you don’t much like indoor exercise. That’s why I’ve learned to stretch my seasons until there’s no such thing as the “off-season”. September-November were never a problem. Now I hunt lions (on foot) December-March. Then it’s turkeys in April, and instead of sitting in a blind I’m usually climbing mountains looking for them. By May it’s time to go to Alaska, to hunt, guide, or both. June-July I work with my dogs, and then it’s back to Alaska in August. Before you know it, it’s time to start all over again. But the really crucial element is mental. Let yourself start thinking you’re old and you will be. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Recurve or longbow your choice and why? #40855

I’ve gone back and forth for years. I switched from predominantly longbow to predominantly recurve before I could find a takedown longbow that I really liked, since I was doing a tremendous amount of travel. Now I’m hunting with my longbows again. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, but i’ve never shot better than when I’m really in tune with my longbow. As for heritage, let’s not forget that the Asiatic nomads were shooting recurves from horseback long before the first true longbow arrived on the scene. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Washing Clothes: Baking Soda? #40848

In my opinion it doesn’t matter one single bit. Pay more attention to the wind and don’t worry about how you wash your clothes. That’s how I’ve done it for decades. On extended wilderness trip you rarely have an opportunity to wash your clothes in anything. The results are the same. If the wind allows them to smell you, they’re going to smell you, and vice versa. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Nugent gets karma-lized! #41140

An important point is being overlooked in this discussion. Nobody–at lest nobody I know–asked Ted to represent bowhunting to the public. That’s a job description he assumed for himself, and the only reason it worked is that he was already a celebrity for reasons that had nothing to do with his ability or his ethics in the field. Once someone announces that he’s representing me, what he does very much becomes my business, and yours to, and it’s entirely appropriate to hold that individual to a higher standard. Another case in point, former SCI President and self-proclaiimed “World Ambassador of Bowhunting” Gary Bogner. In one of his self-promoting videos, Bogner does indeed show himself facing down and killing an African Cape Buffalo with his bow… from the back of an open truck. Now if he really wants to delude himself into thinking that’s bowhunting dangerous game in the privacy of his home, so be it. But once he’s declared that he’s representing all of us to the public watching this shameless video, it becomes my business, and I’m going to call him on it. Sorry to go on and on, but I think we all have an obligation to put this misrepresentation of bowhunting to a stop. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Truth … Or Consequences? Article #41127

It is an excellent piece. We have all been there, and it’s becoming more and more of a problem as access to private land becomes more difficult to obtain (you can thank the outfitters for that). My own response is, it depends, on a whole lot of things: how much additional hunting pressure would effect the place, the tolerance of the landowner (if private ground is involved), but above all the integrity and track record of the person doing the asking. I have seen lots of friendships ruined in this situation. And I can tell you this: if you’re the kind of guy who drags all his buddies back to a friend’s honey hole after he’s confided in you, that friendship is probably going to become another casualty. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Planning an extended Hunting trip #40006

Your Florida address must explain why you picked the dates you did! Don’t even think about it in Alaska at that time of year, and such a trip would test your winter survival skills in the Mountain West as well. Have you considered Arizona? Tons of public land, archery deer and javelina seasons are open late Dec.-early January, bird hunting is great. Your biggest challenge will be insuring an adequate water supply in the desert environment, that’s easy to do with a bit of planning. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Surprise Tree stand dangers! #40003

Tip: You gotta hit the nest at night, when all the wasps are in it. Otherwise, the survivors that were out flying around when you sprayed it the first time will simply re-populate it. Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Nugent gets karma-lized! #39722

The length of the California regs is irrelevant… you should try Alaska’s! Anybody who hunts deer over bait should have the common sense to check on the legality of the practice anyway. I’ve always been opposed to attacking individuals in these forums, so let me make it clear: I am not attacking Mr. Nugent as a person, but I am criticizing the things he says and does. Dave is right–he has created a lot of anti-hunters. Years ago I got off the plane in Jo’burg to find the front page headline “US Rocker Wounds Rhino in Crossbow Hunt”, complete with a photo of Ted in full hunting regalia (yeah, they were a bit mixed up about the crossbow) The story gets uglier and too long to repeat here, but it led to a two-year ban on bowhunting dangerous game in RSA. Nugent spoke at the Montana SCI convention a few years back, and people I know who attended came away appalled by his performance–and these were hunters. I could go on and on, but here’s the real point: I didn’t ask Ted Nugent to represent me and what I do in the field to the public, and I doubt many of you did either. He appointed himself to that position on the basis of his fame in other fields, and we have very right to hold him responsible for his actions. Don.

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Recurve or longbow your choice and why? #39705

I have to say that all the discussion about what’s a longbow, a recurve, or a hybrid leaves me a little weary. I’m not a “Big Tent” advocate by nature, but this is an exception. These are all real bows, as opposed to you-know-what. Let’s just string ’em up and go hunting! Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Recurve or longbow your choice and why? #37599

This is what psychologists call an “approach-approach” conflict–ie., the anxiety that arouses when a subject is forced to choose between two equally attractive choices. I solve the problem the simple way: by shooting both. (In fact, I have a piece on this issue coming up shortly in the magazine). I love both, and have learned to go back and forth according to the demands of particular hunting situations. One fact needs to be addressed though: the prevailing assumption that the longbow is more “traditional”. In fact, the Asiatic horse tribes were using curved, composite bows (the forerunners of the modern recurve) long before the development of the English yew longbow (in turn, the forerunner of what we know as the longbow today). Cheers, Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Muck Boots? #21666

I have several pairs of Muck (brand) boots, and I love them. (They are now considered acceptable attire at formal occasions in Montana.) The trick is to buy the right model for the desired purpose. If you try to hike through rough terrain, especially in snow, in the summer model, you’ll spend all day sliding on your butt. Get the Arctic model–much better tread. I hunt lions in them in snow and temps down to 20-below. On the Alaska tundra, I wear stocking foot waders inside them and stay warmer and drier than everyone else in camp. They wear out in about two seasons, but they are cheap, so who cares? Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Doug Borland Article #21657

Actually, by Alaska standards, the hike in isn’t that bad, mostly because there isn’t a lot of brush on the North Slope. It’s the hike out that’s the killer. You’ve already lost about a pound per day, and you’re either packing a ton of meat or going home without any. Mark, I’ve been gone for awhile and haven’t talked to Doug, but I figure he ought to be off to a good start pretty soon? Cheers, Don

[Don Thomas]

in reply to: Doug Borland Article #61398

It was a great one for me to edit, because i know all the parties, and I’ve been there. And I wish it was only 20 miles! (25 by my reckoning…) Don

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