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in reply to: Donating meat? #44131
Well said, Mark. Of course this whole discussion assumes the presence of some meat to donate (or not) in the first place, and in my case it’s been a while! Too much fishing and photography, I guess… but archery antelope season opens soon, and I’m going to have to do something about that! Don
in reply to: Elephant with a bow #42331I have not had an opportunity to hunt elephants, but I have been close to a lot of them in the wild and would do it in a heartbeat if the opportunity arose. The late Bill Negley (and this is not the place to debate whether Negley or Hill was the first to take the Big 5 with a bow) was a great friend, and when I asked him which of the 5 was his favorite to hunt he replied emphatically: elephants! In reply to Michael I can only say that I have eaten a fair amount of alligator and a whole lot of cougar and found it all delicious! Don’t let cultural biases unfairly influence your assumptions about wild game on the table. Don
in reply to: Reminder: Pigs can hurt you! #42314I couldn’t agree more. Carrying a long gun while bowhunting is a real pain, which is why I seldom do it. As for handguns, that’s simply a skill I have never bothered to acquire. I would be lucky to hit a barn with a pistol bullet if I were standing inside it when I shot, which is why I don’t carry one! Don
in reply to: Donating meat? #42309Sounds to me like we are all pretty much in agreement here. We at the magazine appreciate big horns too… but we’ll continue to emphasize that the real meaning of the hunt involves far more, including an appreciation of the meat we bring home. Don
in reply to: Donating meat? #40801I don’t want to butt heads, Mark, since as I think my first post made clear this is a complex subject. My comments really reflect my growing concern with the general over-emphasis on trophy hunting we all face these days, aided and abetted by the mainstream outdoor media. I think that when it is feasible to assume responsibility for the meat you make, you ought to do so, utilizing or distributing it personally, and I think there is a certain element of hypocrisy described in the scenario I outlined. And I’m certainly well aware of the economic value of hunting. But let’s face it: if you really want to feed the hungry here, you can buy them a side of beef… which has all of the same economic benefits as donating a deer you never wanted to eat in the first place. And taking your venison home and eating it–when possible–doesn’t cost any of the economic beneficiaries you mentioned a cent; in fact, it makes more work (and wages) for locals. Don
in reply to: Reminder: Pigs can hurt you! #38519Brown/grizzly bears are the only North American game animals that I think deserve routine firearm backup. But I heard enough hog stories–and saw enough scars–during the time I spent in Australia to know it can happen. The real moral of the story is that all large wild animals are potentially dangerous and deserve respect at all times. Don
in reply to: The Running Woodsman #38507Great idea. I’m sure I’ll think of many more, but right now I’m remembering some ruddy ducks in prime spring plumage. The drakes’ blue bills are a color I don’t think I have seen anywhere else in nature. Don
in reply to: Donating meat? #28440Actually, I think GTA has raised a very interesting question that receives surprisingly little attention… Some years back a former neighbor was having a tough time when her husband left her with five kids to feed, and I’d always use a doe tag or two each season to help her stock her freezer. Of course a lot of us do that kind of thing and I think we’d agree that it’s not just ethical but considerate. On the other hand, a lot of trophy hunting outfits are using their local Hunters Feeding the Hungry chapters as meat disposal units. In this scenario, the rich hunter arrives from out of state, flies home with his horns, and never even has to think about the rest of the animal. I think that’s ultimately bad for hunting. Of course, someone is sure to point out that I did something similar when I hunted in Africa, to which I can only reply that taking meat home was impossible, and the locals who received it really and truly did need the meat for their basic nutrition. So the answer, as usual, is: it depends. Don
in reply to: Your Maximum Yardage #28431While I rarely take shots over 25 yards in the field, the results of those I have taken have been pretty darn good… which probably just reflects the fact that I was “in the zone” when I took them. On the other hand, I’ve made some embarrassing misses at very close range and there’s a funny anecdote about that coming up in the magazine soon. Point is, yardage is just one component of the often complex decision about whether or not to take the shot. And as always, if in doubt, wait for the situation to get better… Don
in reply to: HUNTING FROM THE GROUND #28422Readers in interested in doing more from the ground will be interested to learn that the magazine is starting to run a regular feature on ground hunting in every issue. This slot will be a mix of hunting stories and practical information, but should be helpful and entertaining for all. Look for it to start early next year. Best, Don
in reply to: Defining "Traditional" Bowhunting #26575The question is so hard to answer because there is no answer. There never will be a universally accepted definition of “traditional bowhunting.” It’s all about drawing lines on a highly personal basis. I don’t have a GPS and have never had any desire to hunt with arrows made of anything but wood, but I have friends shooting carbon arrows… who can’t understand how I can hunt cougars with dogs. The important thing is to keep questioning the propriety of everything we do in the field and drawing those lines to increase the level of challenge. Where you choose to draw them is up to you. Don
in reply to: need advice on delaminating robertson stykbow #26569I’m with Larry–call Dick and get his advice. If it’s a matter of nicks in the finish, a dab of super glue will hold you out until you can get it refinished, if that’s what it needs. And keep it away from moisture as much as possible. Don
in reply to: Your Maximum Yardage #26563I can only answer in one way: “It depends!” On what? all kinds of things… The species of animal, time of day, weather, tracking conditions, terrain, how I felt when I got out of bed that morning. I occasionally take 35-40 yard shots at big game when everything feels just right, but am more likely to pass up shots at 15 yards when they don’t. The trick is to shoot your bow enough and to spend enough time in the field that you “know”, without any conscious estimation of yardage. As a general rule though, if you have to ask yourself if it’s too far, it probably is. Don
in reply to: grouse and squirrels #56508I’m with TJ on this one. I’ve center-punched grouse with blunts only to have them fly off into Never Never Land looking like shish-kabobs. My basic rule is: don’t shoot anything you want to kill with anything but a broadhead. I keep a box of old, dinged up, rusted heads for just this purpose. They have too many miles on the chassis for big game, but they’re fine for grouse and bunnies. Don
in reply to: Turkey Hunting Montana #55435The closest good public land turkey hunting for you would be the Missouri River Breaks. There are probably more birds n the south side of the river. You can get good land access maps from the BLM office in Lewistown. Most of that country (but by no means all) is BLM or CMR Refuge. The farther east you go, the more birds you will find, with the very best area probably north of Jordan. Merriam turkeys probably aren’t quite as sharp as easterns, but you’re still going to have to do a lot of things right to kill lone with a bow. If you head to the breaks next spring, be sure to watch the weather report. If it rains on you down there, you may not get out for days. Don
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