Outdoor Life - Big Game RSS

Study: Speed Not the Biggest Factor in Cheetahs' Hunting Success

Alex Robinson — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:41:23 -0400

Cheetahs might be the fastest terrestrial hunter on the planet, but it has only recently been discovered that speed is not the most important factor to the big cats' hunting success. A study conducted by the Royal Veterinary College in London determined that: “Grip and maneuverability, rather than top speed, were shown to be key to hunting success. Hunts involved considerable maneuvering.”

This information came from a 17-month study that saw three female and two male adult cheetahs make 367 hunting runs while fixed with GPS and motion sensing collar. While several runs exceeded speeds of 58 miles per hour, none saw cheetahs top out at the fastest recorded times of 75 mph. Speeds such as this have only been documented on captive cheetahs running in a straight line.

One interesting fact to come from the study deals with cheetah acceleration.

“The greatest acceleration and deceleration values were almost double values published for polo horses and exceeded the accelerations reported for greyhounds at the start of a race. The acceleration power for the cheetahs was four times higher than that achieved by Usain Bolt during his world record 100 meters run, about double that for racing greyhounds and more than three times higher than polo horses in competition.”

That’s fast!

Coolest Taxidermy Photos from Instagram

Alex Robinson — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:36:20 -0400

Taxidermy has become the latest pop culture fad and everyone, from hardcore hunters to hipsters, is uploading their best mount photos to Instagram. We rounded up the 21 coolest shots.

Taking Care of Taxidermy: Tips from the Reigning World Champ

Alex Robinson — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 13:03:15 -0400

If the name Dale Manning sounds familiar, it should. He’s a regular part of the OL Optics Test team, and he’s among one of the best taxidermists in the country. In fact, the world.

Manning, who owns Custom Bird Works and Big Game Connection taxidermy in Missoula, Mont., won the “Best in World” in the waterfowl category at the 2013 World Taxidermy Championships in May. His flying snow goose, according to internet message boards, wowed everyone in attendance.

I stopped by Manning’s shop in April to drop my harlequins and Barrow’s goldeneye off and watched as Manning tried out a new technique for making the legs look more realistic. He was carefully layering powder on the orange legs, trying to get that perfectly realistic look for which all taxidermists strive.

“You know how when you look at the leg, you’ll see lighter skin in the cracks and folds of the skin?” said Manning. “That’s what I’m trying to replicate here.”

The seemingly innocuous detail is what makes a world champion. “When you get to this level every little thing matters. Everything has to be perfect,” he said.

Often a taxidermist goes into competition with several pieces to better his odds, but this year Manning went with just his single snow goose. “I’m putting all my eggs in one basket this year,” he said, noting that his associate, Tyler Hoffman, entered four pieces in the Professional Division, which is a step below Manning’s Master Division. Hoffman brought home the “Best of Category” in waterfowl, too. To say they did well on one of the largest stages is an understatement.

Unlike most taxidermists, who usually stick to one discipline, and rightfully so, it’s very difficult to be excellent in multiple categories, Manning is also recognized for his big game work. In 2007, he and Hoffman entered a polar bear in the world championships, which features entrants from around 20 or so countries; they won the “Collective Artists” award, as well as first place in the “Large Mammals” category. Manning also produced a full-body ram leaping down a rock outcropping that cleaned up at the state level competition, garnering nearly every award possible.

To say I’m stoked to get my mounts back is also an understatement. I routinely check out the pictures on Manning’s website, which just gets me more excited – Manning himself doesn’t help the situation when he texts me pics that tease the promise of what’s to come (although, I continually reference those photos, too).

With my mounts in the not-too-far-distant future, and with a world champion on the other end of the telephone line, I thought to ask about proper care of mounted birds. Here are a few tips from the master:

Keep it dusted: Manning recommends regular dusting and cleaning of mounts so that the dirt doesn’t build up. How often depends on how dusty your place is – if you live on gravel road, odds are you’ll have to brush it off more often. Use a feather duster to knock the excess dust off.

“There’s an odd old wives’ tale about using a fresh piece of white bread to clean the dust off birds,” said Manning. “I’m sure it will work, but it will also leave the oils, crumbs and whatever else is in that bread behind. It might also make it smell good to your dog.”

Use lacquer thinner: Don’t use water to remove residual dust and bring out the shine of a bird’s feather, but instead lightly soak a rag with a little lacquer thinner and wipe it over the mount. “Lacquer thinner evaporates from the feather, leaving just a clean mount with bright colors behind,” he said. “Water will matte the feathers and mess them up.”
Keep it out of the sun: Feel free to display your mounts prominently, but take care where you put them. “Direct sunlight will definitely bleach and fade feathers. If you want to keep the original richness and vibrant colors, keep it out of direct sunlight,” he said.

Watch Fido and Fluffy: Kids throwing a ball through the house can knock a mounted bird off the wall or its base, but Manning points to pets as major culprit of destroy memories. “Dogs and cats always seem to get bird mounts,” said Manning. “And, you can’t really blame them if you leave it where they have access to it.”

Repairs are possible: Whether the kid, cat or a natural disaster damages your prized mount, often times it can be salvaged. “Birds are more forgiving than people think,” he said. “Most of the time they can be spruced up; broken tails, wings necks and feet can all be fixed or repaired to one degree or another.”

RMEF Opens Prime Elk Habitat in California

Alex Robinson — Fri, 31 May 2013 09:21:17 -0400

California may be a state best known for celebrities and nonsensical anti-hunting laws and regulations.

But, despite the best efforts of PETA and HSUS, California remains the home of tens of thousands of hunters and some darned fine hunting and fishing in areas of the state not covered up in million-dollar estates. And, thanks in large part to the folks at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, a chunk of prime Tule elk habitat has been protected and opened to the public for hunting and fishing.

A 339-acre parcel was acquired and added to a 2,750-acre tract of land previously purchased for public use in the San Antonio Valley of west-central California. The land, which sits at about 2,300 feet, adjoins Henry Coe State Park and offers excellent wildlife habitat.

Formerly a working cattle ranch, the property was a prime candidate for the California-style treatment before RMEF and its partners stepped in.
“This is a big win for elk, elk country, and the people in west-central California,” said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of Lands and Conservation. “This property belonged to a family for more than 100 years. It faced a very real possibility of development but thanks to the work of our dedicated partners it’s now protected and in the hands of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.”

RMEF was joined by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Wildlife Conservation Board, California Deer Association, Santa Clara County Open Space, The Nature Conservancy and a private landowner in the property purchase.

This land purchase is only the most recent in RMEF’s efforts to protect elk habitat and provide more access to hunters and anglers. It’s certainly not the only parcel the organization has helped secure. In future Open Country entries, we’ll take a look at a few more RMEF-led efforts.

Connecticut Woman Kicks Bear to Save Dog

Alex Robinson — Thu, 30 May 2013 11:51:01 -0400

On Wednesday morning, around 7:30 a.m., Sharon Flannery spotted a black bear and its two cubs exploring her backyard in West Hartford Connecticut. Just before the bears appeared, she had let out her dog, Maggie.

Moments later Flannery looked outside and watched as the 200-pound bear began chasing Maggie towards the house.

Flannery ran to her backdoor and tried to scare the bear off. When the bear got dangerously close to Maggie, Flannery started kicking it to protect her dog.

“It was definitely the scariest thing that happened to me,” Flannery told NBC Connecticut. “Before I even had time to process it, there was a bear. It was right in front of me.”

In the end, Flannery was able to get Maggie, and herself, safely inside. The bear and its cubs ran and climbed a tree in a nearby yard, according to NBC Connecticut.

Local police and officers from the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection responded and tranquilized the bear and the bear cubs.

However, the bear was euthanized and tested for rabies as a precaution, according to state officials.

The cubs were deemed old enough to survive on their own, and will be released in another area, officials said.

Flannery suffered a puncture wound and several scratches to her lower leg. She was treated for her injuries and is expected to make a full recovery.

Maybe this story will serve as another hint that Connecticut needs a bear hunting season?

Father's Day Gift Guide 2013: Best Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Gear for Your Dad

Alex Robinson — Thu, 30 May 2013 09:42:14 -0400

He's the man who taught you how to shoot a B.B. gun, throw a baseball, and pop open a beer bottle with a knife. The least you can do is get him a decent Father's Day gift.

Check out our editors' top gift choices for your first, and best, hunting buddy. From handguns and knives to boots and jackets, this round up has it all.

HUNTING

Zippo Woodsman
I’m a hatchet man. There may be no other tool that’s as capable of handling so many outdoors tasks: whittling a spear, splitting a buck’s brisket, limbing a tree, pounding tent pegs, truing a table, defending a family… But Zippo’s new Woodsman tool may trump even a 3-pound hatchet. The versatile Woodsman features a mallet, a keen-edged hatchet, a peg-pulling claw, and a tempered saw blade that’s capable of making quick work of limbs up to 4 inches in diameter. It pulls hard duty cleaning up deadfall in my back yard and is a fixture in my pickup. ($80, zippooutdoor.com) —Andrew McKean

ThermaCell Heated Insoles
Your old man doesn’t need them now, but come November, he’ll be grateful for warm toes provided by ThermaCell and you. Whether you’re on stand, in the duck blind, or waiting for a train, the remote-controlled insoles adjust their intensity with the push of a button. Need a quick burst of heat to warm up your extremities? Turn the insoles to high for a few minutes. Or keep a low simmer for longer sessions in the elements. The rechargeable batteries provide up to 5 hours of heat when you need it the most. ($120; thermacell.com) —AM

Victorinox Hunter Pro
The Swiss Army Knife folks have jumped into the folding hunting knife market with the Hunter Pro, a heavy gauge stainless steel 4-inch lockback. Though best suited for big game, we recently field tested the 5.7-ounce folder on spring turkeys, easily reducing 11 birds to freezer-sized portions without a hitch. We especially liked the ergonomic, no-slip grip and olive drab nylon carrying pouch. Can’t wait for deer season. ($80; swissarmy.com) —Gerry Bethge

Filson/Stanley 100 Vacuum Bottle
This gift idea is admittedly “splurgey,” but it pairs products from two great American companies: A Stanley vacuum bottle inside a Filson shoulder sling. The bottle is guaranteed to keep contents hot or cold for 24 hours, has a double-wall stainless steel construction, and a vintage hammertone finish adorns the exterior. The tin-cloth-and-bridle-leather sling is flannel-lined. With a 1.1-quart capacity, it’ll keep an entire pit blind full of goose hunters warm all morning long. ($175; stanley-pmi.com) —John Taranto

Gerber Myth Compact Fixed Blade
I've used this little paring knife on three deer, a spruce grouse, and a turkey, and I couldn't be happier with it. With an overall length of 7.25 inches and a flexible 3.25-inch blade, it's great for skinning and field dressing game big and small. The knife is well designed, feels great in your hand and offers up quick and precise cuts.

It's super-light (1 ounce) and can ride along in any daypack or hunting coat pocket. The only downside to this knife is that the blade dulls quickly, but the hard plastic sheath has a built-in carbide sharpener. ($27; gerbergear.com) —Alex Robinson

FISHING

Rapala Scatter Rap
Newer, more realistic, better—the claims are made throughout the outdoor industry regarding any number of products, but here’s one that seems to actually be true. Last winter, there was quite a bit of secrecy tied to a mysterious forthcoming introduction from Rapala. When its new line of Scatter Rap crankbaits was finally revealed, it was obvious that Rapala had something very cool on its hands. Key to the Rap is a revolutionary cupped-lip design, which causes the bait to move erratically from side to side. The Scatter Rap series—Crank, Shad, Minnow and CountDown—is available in 14 to 16 classic and new colors. ($9) —GB

Channellock E388
Known for their high-quality tools, ChannelLock’s 7.5-inch E388 Bent Long Nose Pliers will be a welcome addition to dad’s toolbox or tackle box—especially if he deals with toothy fish like pike and muskies on a regular basis. Forged from American high-carbon C1080 steel—and made in Meadville, Pennsylvania—the pliers feature an angled nose for getting a grip on hooks, cross-hatched jaws for a sure grip, and knife-and-anvil cutting edges for snipping line. ($24; channellock.com) —JT

SHOOTING, TACTICAL

Ithaca 1911
If you’re looking for an excuse to spoil your dad, or just suck up to him to get the lion’s share of the inheritance, get him a 1911 from Ithaca. Under the leadership of Mike Farrell, this venerable company, now based in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, has made a huge comeback. The quality of workmanship is second to none, thanks to the extensive investments Ithaca has made in CNC equipment and a talented workforce to operate them. Their 1911s are beautifully constructed. The fit and finish is outstanding and they function exceedingly well and are accurate to boot. There are many models to choose from in both target and tactical configurations. (From $1,799; Ithacagun.com) —John B. Snow

Spartan Ares Knife
The perfect knife is an elusive creature, but this functional and deadly edged piece of art from Spartan Blades comes very close. The two guys who run this company have decades of experience in the Special Forces and know first-hand what is needed in a knife for personal protection. The Ares is 10 ½ inches long with a 5 3/8” fixed drop-point blade. The knife is large enough to get the job done but conceals well and weighs just 6.75 ounces, making it very portable. I carry mine everywhere I go and it has become an essential piece of my survival kit. The Ares balances perfectly in hand, and the grip positions the knife for effective stabbing and slashing. There’s no doubt from the moment you pick it up that this is tool created by expert craftsmen. ($328; spartanbladesusa.com) —JS

The Book of Rifle Accuracy
The author of this informative tome is none other than Tony Boyer. Tony, in case you didn’t know, is the most successful shooter in the history of benchrest competition and knows this subject matter inside and out. The technical details contained in the book will prove useful for any shooter seeking to understand what goes into achieving extreme rifle accuracy. No matter whether you’re a casual fall hunter or a die-hard rifleman, this book will enlighten you and maybe even inspire you to try for an elusive one-hole group. ($34.50; rifleaccuracybook.com) —JS

Accuracy and Precision for Long Range Shooting
Bryan Litz is the chief ballistician for Berger Bullets, a company that is dedicated to making the most accurate projectiles possible. But having accurate equipment doesn’t do you much good if you don’t know how to shoot. This book bridges the gap between practical shooting skills and the science behind long-range ballistics. Litz, an aerospace engineer by training, brings his background in rocket science to explain clearly, and in great detail, what happens to a bullet in flight and how to interpret the data from your own shooting. Read this book and take his wisdom to heart and you can’t help but become a better shot. ($34.95; appliedballisticsllc.com) —JS

TAB Rifle Cover
The shooting equipment made by TAB Gear down in Texas is the real deal. It is tough, lightweight and, most critically, it works. TAB’s rifle cover is a perfect case in point. This protective sheath, made of 1000 Denier Cordura, drapes over your rifle and clips securely in place with Fastex buckles. A carrying handle on the cover lets you transport the rifle easily and it is designed so that a bipod can be deployed while the cover is on the firearm. When it comes time to shoot, the cover can be removed in a matter of seconds. This clever product eliminates the need for a bulky drag bag system. ($130; tabgear.com) —JS

APPAREL

Cabela’s Guidewear
Make no mistake—there’s a lot of leaky raingear on the market that couldn’t hold up to a sunshower let alone a squall. Isn’t it about time that your dad had a quality set of storm gear?

We’ve been testing the new Cabela’s line of Guidewear for the past six months and are happy to report that we have yet to pop a seam. The 2013 line is available in four distinct categories: Bass Angler, Xtreme, Tidal and River Runner. Each is designed to help anglers deal with weather conditions and fishing situations they’ll encounter in different regions and seasons. You owe it to your dad to check it out at cabelas.com —GB

Keen Louisville
For the dad who goes from the work site straight to the treestand (or vice-versa), Keen’s new waterproof full-grain leather Louisville boot provides ASTM-rated safety protection, as well as many features that will be appreciated in the deer woods. The eight-inch height lends ample ankle support, while a waterproof breathable membrane keeps feet dry. ($160; keenfootwear.com) —JT

ACCESSORIES

Smart Optix Digiscoping Adapter
One of the signs that we’re living in an enlightened age is the invention of digiscoping, adapters that let you mate your cell phone’s camera to a spotting scope. But if you’ve used one of the many adapters on the market, you know it’s frustrating to try to actually get the two devices to work together. Enter Smart Optix. This Utah company has produced a universal cell-phone adapter that’s nearly infinitely adjustable, allowing you to capture cell-phone photos through nearly any scope. It’s bulky and with its screws and dials it’s a little bit of a Walter Mitty contraption. But it works—with just about any brand of smart phone and optic—and it’s durable enough for the backcountry. ($60, smartoptix.com) —AM

Pocket Monkey
What has to be the thinnest, lightest multi-tool ever imagined, the Pocket Monkey combines a dozen tools in a one-ounce, hardened stainless steel unit that fits in a wallet. Among the included tools are a bottle opener, phone kickstand, flathead and Philips-head screwdrivers, hex wrenches for four bolt sizes, a ruler, a letter opener, and, of course, a banana peeler. ($15; zootilitytools.com) —JT

Otter Box Defender with iON Intelligence
Is dad constantly forgetting to charge his iPhone? You’ll never have to worry if he’ll answer when you call to see if the fish are biting if he has this new back-up battery case from Otter Box. It features rugged construction and two-times power capacity, and after dad downloads the iON Intelligence app, the case will automate the phone’s power management process based on his usage habits. ($130; otterbox.com) —JT

Duck Dynasty Greeting Cards
The Duck Dynasty guys are taking over the world—and that’s pretty much okay with us. How can you not be a fan of the Robertsons?

Hallmark, the greeting card folks, are high on the Robertsons, too, and have introduced a line of Duck Dynasty-inspired greeting cards just in time for Father’s Day. The cards can be found in select Walmart stores beginning June 3. —GB

David Vitter Campaign: Hunting Alligators and Big-Dollar Donations

Alex Robinson — Tue, 28 May 2013 15:09:07 -0400

Leave it to politicians to spoil a good old southern pastime like alligator hunting by turning it into one of the main fundraising components of a multi-million dollar campaign.

U.S. Senator David Vitter of Louisiana is offering a weekend (September 5 to 7) of Cajun cooking, airboat swamp tours and alligator hunting featuring himself as the special guest. Vitter is considering a run at governor in 2015 (and yeah, he's the same Vitter from the 2007 prostitution scandal).

Those wishing to attend the event will have to fork over at least $5,000 per person to the Fund for Louisiana’s Future, a super PAC created to support Vitter.

Lisa Spies, a prominent GOP fundraiser, told The Washington Post that participants "will go on a real alligator hunt where all guests will receive a license . . . to hunt an alligator," and will be lead by “professional alligator hunters."

In September of 2011 the former Senator of Louisiana, Jeff Landry, hosted a similar event that was appropriately titled, "Landry for Louisiana Alligator Hunt." Again, the cost was $5,000 per person.

The maximum that federal candidates can ask for is $5,000, but through super PACs candidates are allowed to accept donations of any size.

The exact figure raised from Landry's event is unknown, but of the $2,283,073 Landry raised in 2011-2012, a whopping $1,901,453 (83 percent) came from events such as his alligator hunt, according to OpenSecrets.org.

Including the hunt, there were four events during that time period.

Ask African Officials Your Hunting Questions

Alex Robinson — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:55:11 -0400

Here’s your chance to ask anything you want of high-level African hunting officials. Outdoor Life Editor Andrew McKean has arranged an interview with Namibia’s Secretary of State, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah next month in Namibia.

Nandi-Ndaitwah was previously the country’s Minister of Environment and Tourism and during her term in that office she promoted the concept of selective and ethical hunting as the primary wildlife management tool in the southwestern Africa nation.

Also participating in the interview, which will take place in Windhoek next month, is the country’s incoming Minister of Environment and Tourism, Uahekua Herunga.

Outdoor Life would like to deliver questions from its readers to these influential leaders. Please submit your question below. We may edit them for brevity and clarity, but we’ll post the entire Q-and-A on outdoorlife.com later this summer.

Firefighters Hoist Black Bear from Tree in Colorado Springs

Alex Robinson — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:30:13 -0400

How do you get a black bear down from a tree? Leave it alone and let it climb down … or, you tranquilize it and tether it to a crane.

This from Business Times: "According to the Colorado Springs Fire Department, a female black bear climbed and got stuck in a tree Sunday morning, though residents did not notice the bear until about 3 p.m. that day.

That’s when the fire department and officers from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department were called in to subdue the bear."

The first attempt to tranquilize the bear failed, and the bear climbed even higher up the tree. Five hours later, with a crowd of locals gathered round, the bear was finally sedated and hauled from the tree by a crane.

Wildlife officials released the bear 100 miles away, according to ABC News.

Video: Lone Wolf Battles Elk in River

Alex Robinson — Thu, 16 May 2013 10:26:34 -0400

This amazing footage was shot by Boone and Crockett Chief of Staff Tony Schoonen in Yellowstone National Park. Here's the story behind the clip...

"The first week of April was spring break so my wife and I decided to take our six-year-old daughter to Yellowstone Park for a couple days. Spring is a great time to see wildlife in and around Yellowstone.

We were not disappointed. We saw elk, deer, bison, sheep, and pronghorn. As we driving up the Lamar valley we came to a spot where the Lamar River flowed close to the road and we noticed a yearling cow elk standing in the middle of the river. We thought it was odd, so I stopped the truck and started glassing. After about 10 minutes we spotted a wolf curled up and sleeping on a rock bar about 100 yards from the elk.

I wasn’t quite sure why the elk didn’t run out of the river opposite the wolf and figured there had to be another wolf or two around keeping the elk pinned in the river. We kept glassing but never spotted any more wolves. Suddenly, the wolf got up and ran down the rock bar, swam the river, and maneuvered around on the bank so he could jump on the elk. When he did, the elk got into the deepest water it could find so the wolf couldn’t touch bottom and would float off. The wolf attacked the elk several times and then would get tired and curl back up and rest for 20 minutes or so. Then he would go back and attack the elk again. Each time the elk would either run for deep water or dive underwater. At one point, the wolf did manage to tip the elk over and both went underwater and floated downstream but eventually the elk stood up again and the wolf floated off.

We watched this scene repeat itself for almost two hours. In that time several cars had gathered and we finally had to leave. My guess is the wolf won the battle eventually because he was getting rest and the elk was not. Regardless of the outcome, the experience left a permanent impression on my family. It is not something we will soon forget."

See the full video on the Boone and Crockett Club Facebook page.

Elephant Crushes Suspected Poacher to Death in Zimbabwe

Alex Robinson — Wed, 15 May 2013 10:02:29 -0400

An accused elephant poacher got a lot more than he bargained for when the Zimbabwean tusker he was after crushed him to death.

Authorities say Solomon Manjoro was found – or rather what was left of him was found – by rangers in the Charara reserve, near Zimbabwe's Lake Kariba in late April. Zimbabwe's government controlled Sunday Mail reported that Solomon was killed by the elephant while poaching with friends Noluck Tafuruka and Godfrey Shonge. Those two men have been arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms and various wildlife crimes.

While I find elephant poaching appalling, I find the Sunday Mail’s reporting of this incident even more so. This quote in particular: "The poacher was recently trampled to death by an elephant after he failed to gun down the jumbo during a hunting expedition."

Poaching is not hunting. Poaching cannot occur during a hunting expedition.

Am I right?

Comment below.

Wildlife Photos: Charged By a Bull Elephant in Botswana

Alex Robinson — Thu, 09 May 2013 10:18:39 -0400

This year Botswana officials announced that sport hunting would end in the country after the 2013 season. The decision was an emotional (not scientifically-based) one made by President Ian Khama, who stated: "The shooting of wild game purely for sport and trophies is no longer compatible with our commitment to preserve local fauna as a national treasure, which should be treated as such."

This decision was met with much criticism as the country has no formal wildlife protection plan. Some experts say the move will hurt wildlife (with some estimating that certain species will decline by 75%) thanks to the ever growing threat of ivory poaching and poaching for meat. Both types of poaching are currently being curtailed by hunter dollars. Wanting to see what the closure of sport hunting would mean first-hand, I stayed in Botswana for three weeks last month and was fortunate enough to tag along on elephant hunts for two of those weeks with Ivan Carter of Johan Calitz Safaris.

Elephant hunting actually isn't much different than hunting whitetails in North America. Botswana’s 205,000 elephants are free-ranging. Just like deer, elephants cause damage to crops and farmland, destroy their habitat if overpopulated, and are constantly coming in contact with humans due to habitat loss. The highways are spotted with elephant warning signs just like there are deer crossing signs on rural roads in the U.S.

Hunting for elephant is conducted through tracking and spotting and stalking. Hunting is done on both public and private land (again, all elephants are free-ranging here … really. Just try to stop one from crashing through a barbwire fence). Only 500 elephant tags are issued each year at a cost of $60,000 to $100,000. Hunts generally last at least 14 days and most elephants are shot at under 40 yards.

Early in the hunt we came across a lone bull that appeared to have pretty decent ivory. We decided to check him out despite the fact that he was obviously in musth. Musth or must is the period when reproductive hormones in bull elephants escalate exponentially. Testosterone levels will spike 60 times greater than normal. During this time, fluid surges from the bull’s temporal glands and seminal fluid drips from its penis. Tracking this elephant meant simply watching for wet sand. The smell was unbelievably rank.

Ivan led clients Brian and Denise Welker and me to within about 15 yards of the elephant and then judged his ivory too small. Ivan estimated the bull’s tusks to weigh about 40 pounds each. A good Botswana tusker will carry at least 60 pounds per tusk. At 15 yards you can hear an elephant breathing, listen to its stomach rumbling, and you'll choke on its musth stench.

Despite the fact that we were only 45 feet from the bull, he never knew we were there. An elephant’s eyesight is terrible, but his hearing and sense of smell is incredible. Playing the wind and keeping quiet are key. We watched the bull for a few minutes before he ambled off to continue feeding. We were still searching for a trophy bull, so Ivan sent our tracker Roy up a tree to scout for more “eleies.” Despite the fact that these animals weigh a couple tons and stand about 13 feet at the shoulder, spotting them in brush is unbelievably difficult.

No sooner had Roy climbed the tree than the wind swirled to give away our location. But rather than flee, the enraged bull turned toward us and charged forward.

Ivan had Brian, Denise, and I slowly back away as the bull thundered forward. Roy wisely stayed in the tree.

When the bull made it to the tree (about 9 yards from us on the ground), Ivan yelled, “Hey ‘ey ‘ey!” and waved his Heym .600 Nitro Express Double Rifle over his head to appear larger. The bull took notice and left in a cloud of dust and ammonia-scented musth.

Could the bull have killed us or pulled Roy from the tree? Absolutely. Under certain conditions, elephants can be the most dangerous big-game animals on the planet. This truth came to light when I heard news that just two days earlier Professional Hunter Erwin Kotze was killed by an elephant in another part of Botswana. Kotze was killed when an elephant charged and crushed him with its head and feet. Although killings such as these are rare, they do happen. According to the World Wildlife Fund, more than 200 people have been killed by elephants over the last 7 years in Kenya, which banned hunting in 1977.

When I asked Roy if he was scared, he shrugged it off as if the event was no big thing. “My God Roy, weren’t you scared?”

“Naahhh, he didn’t want me.”

I guess that Roy’s 30-plus years as a tracker have taught him to read an elephant's intentions.

Best Dad Ever: Man Fights Brown Bear To Save Family, Wins

Alex Robinson — Fri, 03 May 2013 12:20:03 -0400

Toby Burke, a wildlife biologist for Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, was on a bird watching excursion along the Alaskan Kasilof River Beach with his family when they spotted a brown bear in the distance.

At first they didn't think much of the sighting, and soon enough the bear disappeared among some sand dunes. But the bear reappeared at close range and started heading right for Burke, his wife, their 7-month-old baby, 8-year-old son, and 11-year-old daughter.

This from ABCnews.com:

“We were raising our arms and made loud noises,” Laura Burke said. “That’s supposed to scare the bear away. Instead of running away, it came right towards us.”

"That’s when the bear bounded towards them and Toby Burke yelled to his wife, 'Get behind me!'

Laura Burke, with her 7-month old baby on her back, grabbed her two other children to get behind her husband...

Toby Burke grabbed the first thing in sight: his scope attached to a 6-foot-long tripod.

'I put the scope sideways into the bear’s mouth, keeping it away, and it swatted at the scope and severed it,' he said.

The severed metal tripod left a sharp shaft, which Burke used to hit the bear in the face to scare it away. Yet it still didn’t seem to budge and smacked the tripod out of Burke’s hands.

'It was just me between my family and the bear,' he said. 'At that point, I made physical contact. All I could do was put my left arm up. Then its mouth clamped down on my forearm. So I remember hitting it in the face with my right arm.'

After several minutes of scuffling, the bear gave up and ran away, and Burke managed to walk away with minor bruises and scratches."

The family called the Alaska State Troopers immediately after the bear took off. The troopers eventually shot and killed the bear.

“We weren’t terrified only because we always knew it’s a reality when you live up here,” Burke said. “We knew this day may come one day. Mentally, we were prepared for that.”

The Ultimate Red Meat: Venison vs Beef

Alex Robinson — Wed, 01 May 2013 12:24:59 -0400

Beef has taken a beating lately. Biblical droughts in the Heartland last year have prices on the rise, new research suggests that bacteria in the human digestive system could make red-meat eaters more prone to heart disease, and health-conscious consumers from Seattle to Brooklyn are demanding "grass fed" and "free range" fare.

And the flaws in beef only seem to highlight the qualities of venison. With the latest (and strongest) trend in dining being all about eating organically and locally, there should be no meat trendier than deer right now. Not to mention that the whitetail deer population, approximately 15 million in the U.S., has never been larger than it is today.

As hunters, we like to brag about the qualities of wild venison: "Most people can't even tell the difference between a beef steak and a venison steak;" "It's way healthier than beef is;" "I haven't bought beef from a grocery store in years;" and on we go.

But is eating wild venison truly better than eating beef? Or is that just something we say when we feel the need to justify killing deer? I conducted an objective (and partially subjective) investigation to find out.

NUTRITION
This one is pretty straightforward. Deer are leaner and wilder animals than cattle. Venison - even taken from a slob, cornfed buck in the Midwest - has less fat than beef does. Three ounces of lean beef contain, 247 calories and 15 grams of total fat. Three ounces of venison contain 134 calories and only 3 grams of total fat. Most importantly, venison contains about one sixth the amount of saturated fat that beef does. Venison has more protein: 26 grams to 23 grams in beef. The only category in which venison loses is cholesterol: 95 mg to 76 mg in beef, according to Livestrong.com.

Venison also has more vitamins and minerals per serving than beef does. It has advantages in iron, vitamin B6, niacin, and riboflavin.

But there is a wild card in this debate: a compound called L-carnitine, which is found in venison, beef, seafood, lamb, and dairy. A recent study published in the journal of Nature Medicine found “significant dose-dependent associations” between levels of L-carnitine and the risk of heart disease. Bacteria in the human stomach breaks down this compound to produce trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) which prior research has linked to heart and artery damage. Venison has a slightly higher level of L-carnitine than beef does, but this research is still very new and ongoing.
Advantage: Venison

TASTE
To tackle the most subjective category, I conducted a blind taste test pitting backstraps and steaks from a 2 1/2-year-old Catskill Mountains buck against ribeye steaks bought from the best butcher shop in south Brooklyn. Ten friends with discriminating palates served as the test panel. Both beef and venison were seasoned evenly and cooked on a charcoal grill to medium rare. The meat was cut to bite-size portions and served on color-coordinated toothpicks (white for venison, black for beef). Venison crushed beef 8 to 2.

Venison just might be experiencing its glory days in the culinary world. It has a rich flavor (don't call it gamy) that hunters have appreciated forever and foodies have finally seemed to discover.

Beef is generally more tender, fattier, succulent, and versatile.

Even though I was raised on venison, I personally would still take a thick ribeye or T-bone over a whitetail tenderloin when given the option.

However, the test panel has spoken.
Advantage: Venison

COST
The cost of beef is on the rise. An epic two-year drought in Texas has ranchers struggling to keep their cattle grazing while drought across the Great Plains has driven feed prices sky high. Retail beef prices have risen on average by about $1 per pound since 2007.

"We can't let beef turn into lobster," Ed Greiman of Garner, the president of the Iowa Cattlemen's Association, recently told USAToday.com. Experts say beef prices could rise another 10 percent by grilling season.

In February, USDA choice steak and sirloin had a national average retail cost of $7.08 per pound, the highest since July 2004. Ground chuck cost a national average of $3.40 per pound retail, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

But how much does wild venison really cost? It's impossible calculate a perfect figure. The farmer who shoots three deer off the back 80 acres spends significantly less money than the nonresident hunter who flies to Kansas for an outfitted hunt.

But we can at least get a close estimate…

The average cost of a deer hunting license is about $21 across the top 10 whitetail states in the country. But a lot more goes in to the cost of venison than license fees. A 2006 survey conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service found that deer hunters spent $885 per year on hunting and trip expenditures. The survey also found that only about 50 percent of the deer hunters across the country killed one or more deer in a season. This isn't perfect math, but we can figure that deer hunters take an animal about every other year. This means it would cost $1,770 per animal. Factor in about 60 pounds of venison per deer and you get $29.50 per pound. Even if you take a deer every season, the cost per pound still runs $14.75.
Advantage: Beef

FOOD SAFETY
Venison taken from a healthy deer that has been field dressed and butchered properly might be the safest red meat on the planet. But there are still some diseases and bacteria you need to be aware of. The two most publicized safety concerns with venison are chronic wasting disease and bovine tuberculosis.

CWD has been found in 16 states, but according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there has never been a documented case of a human contracting CWD from a deer. However, the CDC recommends not eating deer that test positive for the disease.

It's possible for a human to contract bovine tuberculosis through venison consumption but it hasn't happened yet, says Dr. David Wolfgang, a whitetail health specialist from Penn State University.

"We're getting theoretical here," he says. "We're talking very rare."

Bovine tuberculosis has been found in deer herds in Michigan and can be identified by white spots or abscesses on the lungs.

Wild deer can get all kinds of diseases and parasites (from Lyme disease to worms) but none can be transmitted to humans through consumption. The real safety concern for venison is if bacteria from the stomach, intestines, or anus is spread to the meat during the gutting or butchering process. If this bacteria is spread and the meat is not cooked properly, it's possible to get E. coli, Wolfgang says. If you butcher and cook your own meat, you can eliminate this risk.

Beef has it's own host of safety concerns, but if processed correctly, it's perfectly safe too.

"A healthy steer in a feed lot does not bring any more baggage with it than any other animal," Wolfgang says.

The catch is that you just never know what you're getting with commercially processed meat. In April, Louisiana-based Manda Meat Packing Company recalled 468,000 pounds of meat (including roast beef, turkey breast, and corned beef) because of possible bacterial contamination. In January, investigators found that 37 percent of beef burgers sampled in Europe tested positive for horse DNA. Some burgers contained 100 percent horse meat (while this isn't a health concern it shows the sometimes shady nature of commercially processed beef). A recent study by the Center for Science in Public Interest monitored all of the documented food poisoning cases caused by meat in the U.S. over the last 12 years. Rearchers tracked outbreaks in bacteria like E. coli and salmonella and found that chicken and ground beef were the 'riskiest meats' to eat among all commercial meats. Ground beef accounted for 336 illness outbreaks and caused more than 3,800 people to get sick, according to the study.

This is only a glimpse at a long history of illnesses stemming from bad beef processing practices. The worst case in recent history occurred in 1993 when four children died and 700 people became sick from E. coli after eating undercooked hamburgers from Jack in the Box restaurants.
Advantage: Venison

WINNER: VENISON
Wild venison is the ultimate red meat. It's healthier, tastes better, and is safer than any meat you can buy in a store. It's also the more ethical choice. Beef cattle all meet the same destiny, but deer are hunted and killed in their own environment, where the smartest and luckiest animals survive and reproduce. It's the predator-prey relationship as it has been for millions of years.

ALL PHOTOS BY: Aaron Binaco

Illuminated Reticles Are Useless on Big-Game Riflescopes

Alex Robinson — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:49:54 -0400

The fastest growing segment of the sporting-optics market is electronic illumination of a scope’s crosshairs. And it may be the most useless hunting-gear gimmick since the DeerView Mirror, a backward-looking reflector for your treestand. Check out the lineup of new scopes at your sporting-goods store. I’ll bet more than half have a bulbous illumination knob above the eyebox or opposite the windage and elevation knobs, distorting the otherwise lovely lines of the optic. But illumination modules also add weight, as well as a mechanism to fail and a battery to die.

Red is the most common illumination color, but a number of scopes also feature green and blue. And instead of illuminating a subtle aiming point, most of these battery-powered units light up the entire reticle like a Christmas tree on fire.

Illumination is a great asset on some scopes, like the low-magnification optics used on ARs for short-range work, such as clearing dark, dangerous houses. But here’s why they’re worse than useless on higher-magnifying big-game hunting optics:

- Legal light for most big-game hunting is a half hour before sunrise to a half hour after sunset. Outdoor Life’s annual optics test has revealed that all but the cheapest, darkest glass is bright enough to resolve antlers, vital areas, and aiming points even several minutes after legal light fades. Not only will most glass let you “see” into the dark, but most non-illuminated reticles are visible long after legal light has ended.

- Any illumination brighter than a barely perceptible point will ruin your night vision. Yet many of these reticles are calibrated for high intensity, not subtlety, forcing shooters to concentrate on the blazing crosshair instead of the dim target. And when a reticle is awash in light, the optic glows with so much internal reflection that precise shooting becomes increasingly difficult as ambiant light fades.

- Artificially illuminated aiming devices are illegal for big-game hunting in some states. Even if you never turn on the illumination, its presence on your rifle could be setting you up for an avoidable wildlife violation.

- Building a bright, clear optic is difficult and expensive. Instead of investing in optical technology, scope manufacturers that turn to high-intensity illumination are grabbing market share with the luminescent equivalent of bells and whistles. Savvy hunters would do well to spend their money on good glass, not electronic gimmickry.

PETA Goes Drone Shopping, Hopes to Spy on Hunters

Alex Robinson — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:21:32 -0400

PETA, the organization that labeled fish “sea kittens,” publicly asked 1980’s band extraordinaire Pet Shop Boys to change their name to Rescued Shelter Boys, produced a “vegetarians have better sex” Super Bowl ad, promoted their belief that drinking cow’s milk causes autism, and called on ice cream maker Ben and Jerry's to start using human breast milk instead of cow’s milk in its frozen desserts has announced its intention to buy some drones.

PETA states on its webpage that it will use the drones to "monitor those who are out in the woods with death on their minds." Among the illegal activities the animal rights organization says it will be looking for are hunters drinking alcohol while hunting, utilizing bait, or breaking game laws. PETA says it will also begin using the remote-controlled aircraft to monitor factory farms, popular fishing locales and "other venues where animals routinely suffer and die.”

For a group that hates to see animals killed, they sure plan on watching a bunch of it in the future.

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk told CNN that it doesn’t have any drones yet but once one is acquired it will be used to watch for bear hunters in New Jersey illegally baiting the animals or taking mothers with cubs. Newkirk said PETA will adhere to U.S. requirements while flying drones (keeping them at least 400 feet above ground level, away from airports, etc.).

As word of PETA’s aerial reconnaissance plans spread online, many hunters have taken to the Web to say they plan on shooting down the unmanned drones. Newkirk said she’s not concerned by the threats. Rather, she welcomes the idea.

"I'd rather have them shoot something inanimate than an innocent doe," she said. "It's not the bedroom; it's the great outdoors, so let's see what they're up to."

Massachusetts Man Criminally Charged After Shooting Backyard Bear

Alex Robinson — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 14:46:30 -0400

Richard Ahlstrand of Auburn Massachusetts was criminally charged by local police after he shot a black bear that was eating bird seed in his backyard.

The 76-year-old man was feeding birds at about 9 p.m. at night when he heard a loud crash. This from WHDH News: “I grabbed my shotgun and I hit the safety off," said Ahlstrand.

Ahlstrand said he was defending himself when he killed a black bear behind his Auburn home.

'Walking toward [me] was this big black thing and it was on all fours,' said Ahlstrand.

Ahlstrand said he couldn’t believe it when police charged him with illegally baiting and killing a bear. He told 7News the 50-gallon feeder in his yard is only meant to attract birds.

'I’ve been feeding the birds for so long now I almost know them by name,' said Ahlstrand."

Ahlstrand was also rung up on an illegal possession of firearms charge as he didn't have proper license for the shotgun or rifle, according to WCVB.com.

Are We Planting Too Many Annual Food Plots?

Alex Robinson — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:09:56 -0400

If you are like most of the whitetail freaks out there, you have started thinking food plots. It happens every year, the spring thaw comes and deer property managers start thinking about what to plant for the deer. Note; I said “for the deer”, not “for the deer hunter.” Let me explain.

Over the past few years I’ve noticed an increase in the use of fall attractant annual food plot products. Seems like every seed manufacturer has come up with a new whiz-bang seed mix to attract whitetails to a hunting plot and everybody is planting them. The trouble is, some of them are just that, fall attractants. They are planted in late summer to early fall, grow a couple of months, and die. They are one-year wonders; feeding deer just when they need it least. By fall, fawns are grown and weaned, antlers are formed, and the countryside is covered up with foods.

Let’s be honest, the main objective in planting fall annuals is to attract whitetails to hunting locations. Sure, late summer and early fall plantings feed deer, and some food is better than no food at all, but (especially in poor habitat areas) but unless the seeding carries over into winter (like a few acres of brassicas or high sugar oats often will), the deer are getting a free lunch just when they need it least.

If you are serious about helping (and hunting) deer you need round out your annual plantings with perennials. We like a property to be planted in at least 60% perennials. Perennials green up early with the spring thaw and feed deer when they need it most. A good old fashioned clover-chicory blend, for example, will produce highly nutritious forage for whitetails just when they need it most—after a tough winter, when fawns are dropping, the does are lactating, and the bucks are building bone. A good perennial plot will produce from spring green up through the summer (drought excepted), and well into the winter. The best part is a well-maintained plot will last 3 to 5 years or more.

Now, before you go start burning up your keyboard in response, please understand, I’ve got nothing against planting fall attractants. I plant them myself and hunt them hard. But come spring I’m out there making sure I have plenty of perennial plots producing 24-7- 365 (give or take a few months). I plant by the 60-40 rule.

This food plot and habitat thing has to be more than attracting deer to hunting locations. With a little less work (remember they last longer) you can take care of your deer all year long and we’ll all be the better for it.

New Proposal Would Ban Hunting in Russia

Alex Robinson — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 12:50:27 -0400

Citing that hunters can’t be called “normal” because they “feel pleasure when they kill animals” and that hunting is unnecessary and immoral, MP Oleg Mikheyev of the center-left Fair Russia parliamentary party has entered a draft law for preliminary discussion that will ban hunting.

Mikheyev’s proposed law would ban hunting by anyone other than indigenous peoples in remote regions and certified rangers. In a press interview with the RT, Mikheyev pontificated, “What many people call hunting now is more of a cruel killing that has nothing in common with the ancient art of fair competition between a man and a beast.”

(Actually Mr. Mikheyev it’s a conservation tool).

MP Oleg Mikheyev does see hunting as useful in one regard however. He told daily newspaper Izvestia, “The procedure [hunting] can help us in early detection of latent madmen and murderers.”

Mikheyev’s law change would up the penalties for poaching. The act is currently considered an administrative offense in Russia. If enacted, Mikheyev’s change would make poaching punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

TrackingPoint Field Test: Hunting With a Precision Guided Firearm

Alex Robinson — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 15:04:24 -0400

Shooting Editor John B. Snow took the new TrackingPoint system hunting in Texas for nilgai. This innovative system is billed as a “precision guided firearm” for the unique—and controversial—way it operates.

Most Honest Poacher Ever: Man Pays $6K for Poaching 40 Years Ago

Alex Robinson — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 09:20:01 -0400

Washington wildlife officials recently received a $6,000 check from a Montana man only known as "Roy." The man had apparently illegally hunted deer in Washington between 1967 and 1970, and finally his conscience caught up to him.

The man was "burdened with guilt" and called the wildlife agency a few weeks back to explain what he had done so many years ago, according to the Spokesman.

This from the Digital Journal: "Capt. Richard Mann in Yakima told the man that penalties back in the late 1960s were $250; today the same offense is about $2,000.

'But I told him the crimes are well past the statute of limitations and no charges could be filed,' Mann said. The officer told Roy he could volunteer if he wanted to help, but being he now lived in Montana, that was not an option for him.

A few weeks later the state agency received a $6,000 check given as a donation to the agency's enforcement division."

“My conscience has not allowed me to put this sin to rest until now," Roy wrote in his note. "I know that God has forgiven me and hope that WDFW will as well.”

Rest easy Roy, your debt has finally been paid.

United Arab Emirates Resort to Offer 'Hunting' for $3K Per Day

Alex Robinson — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 15:26:41 -0400

Long known as the playground for the rich and famous, the United Arab Emirates is about to add another group to its impressive list of tourists: hunters.

This September the Barari Hunting Resort will open to hunters seeking to take oryx, gazelle, and deer. Hunters will also have the possibility of taking certain bird species. The resort is actually located near Al-Ain, the second largest city in the capital Abu Dhabi, and is owned by the Abu-Dhabi based Mourouj Hotels and Resorts.

MH&R Managing Director Tarek Elsherif told media outlets that hunting will run in “coordination with the UAE Environment [Agency] and it will of course take into account safety and security.” Elsherif added that the resort is “going to be a very boutique hotel,” and that it will be open on a “seasonal basis, from September to about April.”

Prices are set to start at US $3,673 per day.

The Ultimate Dangerous-Game Rifle

Alex Robinson — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:52:24 -0400

Until recently, the field of dedicated dangerous-game rifles was pretty narrow. Classic British doubles have always been in demand, even when they weren’t in production, and their prices were (and are) extremely high. The only other option was a bolt-action, but even the best hand with a bolt rifle couldn’t match the second-shot speed of a double.

On a recent hunt with Namibian PH Cornie Coetzee, I was impressed by the rig he carried—a gun that serves as his last line of defense against elephants, buffalo, leopards, and lions. Part high-tech bolt gun, part tactical rifle, Cornie’s Blaser updates the concept of the dangerous-game gun.

The Rifle: It’s a Blaser R8 Professional with a synthetic stock. The rifle’s straight-pull sliding bolt head allows for faster cycling than a traditional bolt, and a camming system locks the bolt closed when firing. Plus, the rifle is 2 to 3 inches shorter than bolt guns with barrels of the same length, which means it is more maneuverable in the thick stuff. The R8 Professional is available with either a steel or an alloy receiver. The alloy receiver works fine with .375 H&H and .416 Rem. Mag. versions, but when stepping up to the .458 Win. Mag., .458 Lott, or .500 Jeffery, stick with the heavier steel receiver to reduce recoil. ($7,304 with steel receiver, $4,685 in alloy; blaser-usa.com)

1. The Light: Following up wounded game often occurs in low light or complete darkness. Having a hands-free optic is essential for casing wounded game in low light, and TacStar’s Weapon Light System 2000 allows the shooter to mount the company’s 150-lumen T6 light to the underside of the barrel for illumination in heavy cover. ($105; tacstar.com)

2. The Sights: Professional hunters like good-quality iron sights, and New England Custom Guns offers a special “See-Thru” fiber-optic sight that is skeletonized so it doesn’t obscure the lower portion of the sight picture. ($80; new englandcustomgun.com)

3. The Stock: Beautiful walnut is eye-catching, but wood can warp and split. Synthetic stocks hold up better and are impervious to thorns, water, and bad baggage handlers.

4. The Optic: Aimpoint’s Micro H-1 red-dot sight allows for rapid target acquisition in low light. The rifle’s saddle mounts allow for quick removal, so that the shooter can use auxiliary iron sights. ($927; aimpoint.com)

5. The Trigger: Hemingway hated the trigger on his fine double so much that he preferred to use his .30/06 on everything up to buffalo and rhino. The days of poor triggers on dangerous-game rifles are coming to an end, and the Blaser breaks cleanly at 3 pounds.

6. The Magazine: The Blaser comes with a detachable box magazine. Many hunters fear that DBMs will fall out at an inopportune time—like when they are being chased by something very big and very dangerous. The Blaser magazine, however, has a dual locking system that virtually eliminates dropped magazines. The system also allows for blind magazine exchanges. The magazine can be loaded through the breech if required.

7. The Safety: Traditional safeties still mean carrying a cocked rifle. But the Blaser’s safety is also a decocker, which means the rifle can be carried with an extra measure of assurance against unwanted discharge.

8. The Recoil: Dangerous-game guns produce heavy recoil, and heavy recoil slows follow-up shots. To reduce this, Blaser has developed a recoil reduction system known as Kickstop, which utilizes a stainless steel cylinder filled with tungsten powder in the stock to reduce recoil up to 20 percent.

The Cartridge: When the late Jack Lott was tossed by a buffalo while hunting with a .375 H&H, he decided he needed something bigger. Jack decided that he would design his own cartridge, so he necked up the .375 to accept .458-inch bullets. The resulting cartridge became the .458 Lott, which drives a 500-grain bullet at 2,300 fps, generates almost 3 tons of muzzle energy, and is powerful enough to kill anything that might want to kill you.

Blaser R8 Tested By Fire
Cornie Coetzee’s client had just made a bad shot on a lion. The light was too poor for a follow-up, so after a restless night Cornie, his assistant PH, and his fox terrier set out to track the lion’s spoor. It wasn’t long before the stillness of morning was broken by a series of short grunts as the lion came for the men, tail thrashing, rushing low and fast from a nest of mopane. Cornie lowered himself, centered the sights of his Blaser on the lion’s open mouth, and squeezed the trigger. Over the muzzle, Cornie saw the cat fold, somersaulting and landing just ahead of Cornie’s feet. With a jerk of the bolt, Cornie fired again for insurance. Despite a poorly placed first shot, the client had his lion.

Deer Photos: Alberta Muley With Crazy Rack

Alex Robinson — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:40:38 -0400

Alberta guide Justin Eckert finally had an evening to himself last October and made the most of it by putting a stalk on this 'droop-tine' buck. See the story and photos here.

Russian Brown Bears Huff Gasoline to Get High

Alex Robinson — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 15:26:33 -0400

Some of the brown bears of Russia’s Kronotsky Nature Reserve, a Unesco World Heritage site, have developed quite the huffing addiction. It seems that the bears have learned to sniff fumes from discarded kerosene and gasoline containers. Witnesses say the bears inhale from the spent barrels for several minutes before zonking out in a “nirvana” position.

The bears’ love of a light head has even sent some of the apex predators to approach helicopters where they seek out fuel that has leaked onto the ground.

"[In one case] Workers of the nature reserve didn't take the barrels in time and a female bear named Suzemka - who is apparently fasciated by the smell of fuel - used the opportunity… She seems to be one of the addicts," Bear photographer Igor Shpilenok told the Daily Mail.

It should be noted that the discarded barrels were used to fuel generators in the reserve. Not to entice the bears into drug use. (See photos here).