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in reply to: Opinions – What would you guys do? #61396
I’ll pass on addressing your specific problem, but I will give you a piece of advice I learned years ago. NEVER plan a wilderness hunt with anyone you don’t know well. I still make hard hunts regularly even though I’m turning grey, but I do them with a select handful of people I KNOW are up to it and will stay capable if things get tough. Don
Chris–I just got back to my computer, or I would have helped you with this one earlier. First, some basic optics. The human eye has a focal distance of 50 mm (actually, it’s usually closer to 52). That’s the way we see the world, and why a 50 mm lens is called normal. Higher numbers are “telephoto”; lower numbers are “wide-angle”. Both have their uses, but for wildlife you’ll need the first. A 300 mm is a great choice, especially if that’s at the high end of a zoom, so you can back off when you need to. Anything less than that will give you problems for serious wildlife work. Now, for reasons too complex to discuss, digital camera technology tend to “magnify” by about 25%, so a digital 300 acts more like a 400. Of course you pay for that on the other end–if you’re shooting wide angle, a 20 mm will produce images more like a 25 mm, but that’s not the problem here. The other essential feature in any lens is its maximum aperature–the smaller its lowest f-stop (2.8 for example), the more light it lets in, which has lots of advantages. However, you pay for that in terms of both cost and weight, and with digital technology allowing you to vary the ISO at will, that’s not as important as it used to be. For your current needs, I would recommend the Nikon 70-300 4.5-5.6 VR. The VR (vibration reduction) technology means you won’t have to pack a tripod everywhere you go. If cost is a big issue, look at the comparable, Nikon-compatable lenses from Tamron and Tokina for big savings at very little cost in terms of image quality. Hope this help. Cheers, Don
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in reply to: The new copy of TBM on the shelves now. #59016Guys, not everyone realizes how long it takes the Pony Express to reach Montana. Cottonwood’s new issue was probably June/July 2008. Don
in reply to: Sorry….Just a pet peeve of mine. #59013George–Speaking from the editor’s desk, you are correct. And if you catch this one in a future issue of TBM, you may contact Dave Petersen for your prize. Don
Hey, Montana Ford–I’ve been away for the past week and apologize for not getting back to you. Wettest May-June in memory, and water all over the prairie. Factor that in to your antelope hunting plans, everyone. Looks like I’ll be doing a lot of duck hunting this year. Don
in reply to: When The Compound Was Born… #59002I once listened to a talk by Tom Jennings–I believe it was at an Alaskan Bowhunters Association banquet–about the early history of the compound. As others have pointed out, it is in many ways a prime example of innovative American technology and entrepreneurship in action. The problem is that some issues were simply not meant to be addressed by technology. It’s rapid acceptance also foreshadowed the way technology spreads today (a la the iPhone etc.). By the time it comes out of the box, it’s too late to stop it. Don
in reply to: Bummed out – a friend is giving up Stickbows #42473The only behavior you can control is your own. Don
in reply to: Instinctive Shooting: Practice Distances #41835Interesting, especially since I often hear complaints from traditional shooters about long distance targets on courses set up by the compound crowd. But let’s face it: there’s no ethical prohibition against shooting at distance on targets. I enjoy taking some practice shots at 40-50 yards. It helps me identify form flaws and appreciate the flight of my arrow. And no matter how well disciplined you are in the field, there are times when shots like that may actually be appropriate at game. What happens, for example, when someone in your party makes a bad hit on a deer, you are aiding in the recovery, and see the wounded animal standing 50 yards away with no realistic chance of getting closer? That’s actually happened to me a time or two, and when it did I was glad a had a feel for how my tackle behaved at that distance. My opinion is that we should lighten up a bit and learn to enjoy shoot farther than “normal” a bit more often. My short range shooting has never suffered from it. Cheers, Don
in reply to: Bow Season vs. Crossbows #37089This is a depressing topic, and an outstanding illustration of the dark side of the American Way: He with the most money usually wins. However, efforts to assign blame for this sad state of affairs shouldn’t overlook one of the real culprits: ourselves. If every bowhunter in America had swarmed their state Division of Wildlife (or whatever) the day the first compound appeared and demanded that these devices be excluded from archery seasons, the manufacturers might not have had sufficient motivation to pour money into the R&D that led to the modern compound. But, we were all too busy hunting, and now we’re paying the price. At the least, we should absorb the meaning of this lesson and be better prepared the next time around, whatever the issue might be. Dn
As I think I said during my talk at the PBS Banquet in Nashville (although I may have forgotten): “If PETA gave Steven Spielberg five million dollars and asked him to make an anti-hunting video, he couldn’t do better than most of the hunting shows on television these days.” I stand by that statement. Don
in reply to: IPad and Traditional Bowhunter #13430Is there such a thing as a traditional iPad? Hmmm.. Don
in reply to: Archery Geese and Ducks? #10287Tailfeather–My ten year old Lab is getting lazy too, but that’s why I have younger ones in the kennel. Sounds to me like you need a puppy for your birthday! Cheers, Don
in reply to: Archery Geese and Ducks? #60902I’ve done it and enjoyed it, and in fact have an article on the subject in an upcoming issue of the magazine. However, I have to say something that I hope doesn’t disappoint too many people. Although I would never kill a big game animal (or anything else that wasn’t flying) with a firearm under anything but survival circumstances, for me, the right way to hunt waterfowl is with a 12 ga. shotgun in my hand and one of my Labs by my side. This is a purely personal opinion. Cheers, Don
in reply to: Most Admired Predators #60886Talk about tough choices! Excellent arguments have been made for the coyote and the cougar, and i find it hard to disagree with those choices. But I’m going to go with the Alaska brown bear (same species as the interior grizzly, of course, but there are real differences). I’ve been fortunate enough to have a lot of experience with these incredible animals, as a bowhunter, photographer, Alaska fly-fisherman, and, yes, as a brown bear guide. They never cease to amaze me with their power, cunning, speed, intelligence, wariness, and toughness. I’m sure I’ve seen a thousand of them in the wild, but each one leaves me just as fascinated as the first. Cheers, Don
in reply to: TBM..Subscribe or buy off the shelf? #60872What Larry said! I hate to sound mercenary, but publishing is a low margin business at best, and the magazine is lucky to break even on newsstand sales. More subscribers=greater ability to give readers a better and better magazine. it’s that simple. Don
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