Sound Off: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Sound Off
The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly

Need the Numbers

I read with great interest the article on the number of hunters and the total amounts spent yearly in the top ten States. Could you advise me of the source of those numbers? I am writing an email to my local government official on the local economic benefits of hunting in our area, and would really appreciate being able to pass on the no doubt credible source of these figures. We also would like to be able to generate our own estimates for our area, and this has been a good help to start.

Don Twa – Provost Fish and Game Association

Don, thanks for your request and glad the numbers we are including in the magazine are making a difference. We use a few different web sites to pull reports and trends from. The report you are referring to you will be able to get at the National Shooting Sports Foundation web site. This web site is packed full of great information that is very valuable. They have many things freely available and also have a paid membership that can get you even more detailed reports on the hunting and shooting industry. The website address is www.nssf.org. Go to the home page and click on hunting. A direct link to the state breakdown reports you are wanting can be found at www.nssf.org/07report/. I hope this helps.

Editor

ATV Blues

Upon receiving this issue I was disappointed to not see the section toward the back (the section I read first) on ATV evaluations. This is my favorite section even though I am an avid hunter and outdoor person. In addition to this section, I would really like articles on ways to stop the closing off of dirt roads in the back country; e.g., Sheep Creek - The Forest Service closed more dirt roads there since last hunting season! I know that a few bad or deliberately careless riders can ruin it for the rest of us. However, the canyon dirt roads are becoming an “endangered species” to legitimate ATV riders in Utah! Perhaps your magazine can help!? Thanks for providing my favorite magazine.

Errol Bartholomew – Springville, Utah

Great Stuff!

I just wanted to let you know how satisfied I am with my subscription to Hunting Illustrated. It is the first magazine I have ever subscribed to and not ended up with buyers remorse for one reason or another. I saw the winning photos for the yearly photo contest, what a great bunch of sporting photographers you have at your disposal! I am so impressed! I can’t wait to get the next issue and keep up the good work!

Keith Johnson – Green River, Utah

Deer Season days

I’m an avid deer hunter and would like to voice my opinion regarding the nine day hunt in Northern Utah. Deer herds would benefit changing from nine days to five days statewide. I’ve deer hunted 54 years and 44 years in Utah and in all units and in the five day units there has been a big improvement of bucks size and numbers. The five day deer seasons helps in the management of deer herds in a easy enforcement and cost effective way. There are many other management tools needed, but the five day is a large help in buck to doe ratios and age of bucks. Adding this question to the state hunting surveys would give the DNR a better opinion not just the Southern regions wanting to improve deer herds in the state. Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Bryan Dalton – Veyo, UT

Shed Hunting Concerns

The recent tough winter has led me to comment on one of your stories, and the overall disregard by a few antler hunters (low percentage) for the welfare of the resource. The “Sweet Success” story in April/May was of interest, until the part where the gentlemen had to go back because the other antler was still covered in snow. If there is that much snow, he should have given the animals a break until they had a chance to move to other ranges. While I realize it is a cartoon and a joke, the unfortunate truth to Hunt’n with Russell’s image (page 77) is it happens more often than not. Recently Utah antler hunters, who are restricted by a season, have been cited in western Wyoming pushing the deer away from winter range and causing stress by walking out towards the ridges and forcing them into deep snow. Wyoming must institute a season now for that reason. Many animals have been pushed over the edge by antler hunters from all states going in way too early. I could always hold off until May 1 and hike over a little snow to go in, but as recently as three years ago, folks started pushing the edge of the elk range March 1st, before the bulls even shed in our part of the world. It is apparent the police ourselves ideas and having a bit of respect for the animals is not going to work. Too bad, but with more and more people, articles and promotions for shed antlers, it has to be controlled by the agencies and land owners, be in BLM, State, Forest or Private.

James Rinehart – Laramie, WY

A New Twist

I’ve been reading your Hunting Illustrated Dec/Jan 2008 issue. The section that was of particluar interest was Coyote Crazy, “A New Twist On Predator Shooting”, by Hazer Bulkey. I totally believe him when he says that bullets with high ballistic coefficients rule. In his tables he makes reference to a Nosler Competition 80 grain, 22 cal. bullet with a B.C. of ±.500. I have searched both Nosler’s web site and my Nosler reloading manual and find no such bullets listed. Where did he get his information/bullets? I’d like to find a .22 caliber bullet with a B.C. around .500 too.

Jim Blossom – Via Email

Jim, it is good to hear there is another ballistic coefficent not out there. Some of these bullets are a little hard to find, but well worth the search. I usually make more phone calls than web searches. However, to find this bullet I went to www.nosler.com. At the top of the page go to Information and then find and click on Ballistic Room. From there go to the 22 cal tab and then find 223 Rem 1-7” TWIST and click on 80 grain. They give a B.C. of .415 for the 80 gain Nosler custom competition bullet. That rating is usually for speeds of 2,800 fps, but at speeds of 3,400 fps plus we have to type in a B.C. of at least .480. I get that number from 10-15 years of shooting thousands of bullets of that design. Good Luck and keep searching for the latest and greatest.

Hazer Bulkley

Nuge Factor

Ted, I own a Martin Ted Nugent Pro Safari bow that is at least 14 years old. I want to get into deer hunting here in Nevada, but I have a problem. I am a disabled vet, not as bad as those poor soldiers that have lost limbs, but classified as disabled by the VA. I suffered a crush injury on the flight line in Kodiak Ak and have lost partial strength in my right hand and need to come up with a special release. That is if I accept the modern day way to hunt with a compound bow. When I started hunting as a high school student I used my dads hickory stick. I hunted with a 50lb draw model and learned to stalk rabbits and squirrels in the little patch of woods next to our house. This was a good lesson and taught me patience. I had pelts drying all over the place from my hunting all through high school. I say that to say this: I wonder if I can be effective without a release and shoot instinctively. The compound bow allows me to pull effective killing weight, but not have to hold it too long. I want some advise on how to get the most from my “Nugent” bow for this hunting season, should I draw a tag, and how to consider and possibly adapt the same style that I used as a young hunter. I hope you can give me some ideas. I have been hunting for many years with a rifle, but have this burning desire to really challenge myself and be worthy of the game I hunt. Thank You for all you do for our sport!!

Ken Dawson – Las Vegas, NV

Great hearing from you Ken. Godbless you sir for your great service to our great country. We salute you and say thank you very much. I emphatically encourage you to pursue the healing properties of the mystical flight of the arrow!! I do not know the draw weight of your old Nuge/Martin bow, but you should really get yourself a new lightweight draw bow in the 40 pound range. It will be more than enough to kill big game and much more comfortable and graceful, therefore more effective in your hands. Experiment with various mechanical releases to find the one that feels best for you, or of course you can use fingers if you so desire. I would highly recommend a release aid for best arrow flight and optimal consistent accuracy. With a lightweight draw bow, a solid, cut on impact broadhead is essential. The Magnus 2 blade Stinger of Buzzcut would be perfect. Same goes for sights vs instinctive. I do both. Discover which works best for you, then get out there and let the backstrap jihad begin!! Goodluck and Godspeed, BloodBrothers.

Ted Nugent & family

Tags: HI36

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