Loved It
I just finished reading Hunting Illustrated from cover to cover and
found most interesting the pages under "Fresh Sign." Keep up the good work!
-Larry Isley
Just got your magazine and did I ever enjoy it! First time I've ever
got a magazine I read cover to cover. Dennis Wintch's ability to call it like it is was
refreshing. Sign me up!
-Shane Sorenson-UT
Great website and magazine. I joined your club and have told several
friends about it. Keep it up!
-Brian P. Scott - via e-mail
Your magazine has a great layout and with full color throughout. I
think you are a step above the rest of the field. I also thought it had a lot of
information about the animals we all love to hunt that some of the other magazines lack.
Your offer was very impressive and I don't think anyone can beat it.
-Zach Shetler - via e-mail
The magazine is excellent. I think your magazine is going to be a hit!
We had good reviews from everyone who has seen it. I really liked the article on
"Where Have All the Mule Deer Gone?" Hits it right on the head. I also
liked the article on bugling big bulls.
-Dave W. Jolley - via e-mail
Thank you for the magazine. Your insight to the hunting world is one of
the best.
-Jim Stewart-OH
Thanks Jim! (Or can I call you "Jimmy") We loved what you did in your movie
"It's a Wonderful Life!" I Watch it every year. -Editor
Far Shot
I recently received a copy of your magazine. There were many articles
and stories I found very interesting, short articles about the PETA organization and their
stupidity. As well as deer and elk hunts. However, a story about a Wyoming elk hunt had my
attention. In an article titled "The Hunt of a Lifetime," the author, Paul
Mutschler, said he shot four times at a bull elk from 650 yards; finally shooting and
dropping the animal at 400 yards. The weapon was a 7mm mag. I was stunned that a magazine
would print these words and call themselves a hunting magazine and not a "Hail Marry
Sling All the Lead You Can and Hope Something Drops"" magazine. The author obviously doesn't understand his
weapon of choice. A rifle zeroed at 200 yards would have a drop of 35.8 inches at 500
yards. At 650 yards the bullet would be dropping 103.97 inches. The author was using
extremely poor judgment as well as very unsportsman-like conduct. Shooting at an animal
over a third of a mile away is not hunting! This is the very thing that gives PETA and
other boneheads the ammunition they need to make hunters look bad. I do not consider the
author a hunter or a sportsman, and he would not be welcome at my fire!
-Norman L. Clark-OR
We forgot to mention the wheels the gun has on it, a military scope with a built in
GPS unit and a turbo booster to really make those bullets fly. -Editor
Mistaken Identity
I received your publication and all I have to say is this: Become a
vegetarian and stop the death of the beautiful, extinct, rare mountain lions. I didn't
expect Americans to kill innocent beautiful mountain lions. don't send me any more of your
literature or I'll sue you!
-Martin Aguilar-CA
So does that mean lunch is off? -Editor
No Jet Lag
I picked up your new magazine one day before going on a hunt to the
Jicarilla. I thought it would be good reading going down there. What a great publication.
It was one of the most interesting hunting magazines I have ever picked up. Hats off to
you guys for putting that thing together. I really liked the quotes and facts - quick and
easy reading. Great photographs too.
-Aaron Howell via-e-mail
Shootin' the Bush
I have received the premiere issue of Hunting Illustrated and am very
impressed with the contents. The only problem I have is in the story "Word of
Mouth." The hunter shoots into the brush at a deer he is not even sure is a buck. He
also guesses at where his shot placement should be. I bowhunt and have been doing it all
over North America for 20 years. One of the reasons I bowhunt is the lack of hunting
skills, unethical practices and down right stupid actions of some gun hunters. This hunter
seems to fall in all of the above categories. When stories are sent to you for
publication, please take a little editorial privilege and take out the parts about the
unsafe conditions (or acts) that the hunter has put himself and others around him or her
in. Thank you for your time and good luck in your future issues.
-Bernard Slocum - via e-mail
Bernard, excellent point for all of us. It's not just gun hunters though, as proven by
the arrow stuck in my rear end during last years elk hunt. -Editor
Cover Story
I appreciate your stand on mule deer and hope to promote your opinion
to the board of the Arizona Mule Deer Association, the Game and Fish Dept. and
Commissioners. We sportsmen need to start voicing our position and working to promote the
outdoor heritage. Thank you for all you do.
-James R. Lara-AZ
I have just finished reading the article by Dennis Wintch and I
couldn't agree more. I am originally from western Colorado and like yourself have seen
nothing short of epidemic sized reduction in mule deer numbers. I recall not being able to
sleep the night before the opening day in anticipation of knowing that you were going to
see hundreds of deer with many bucks in the 24-28" range. Our minimum was a 30"
until the last day when we would fill the freezer with a "puny"
22"-24" 4x4. I remember knowing you were going to see at least one 30" plus
buck every year. Even if you didn't"t get a shot you at least saw one.
If the DWR doesn't agree that predators
are a major factor, how do they explain the fact that the deer herds are not booming in
national parks where hunting is prohibited? I lived near a national monument and even on a
hard hunting year there would be huge bucks and thousands of does that you could see any
given day. I recall the day when lion, bear, and coyote numbers were lower.
-Ron Allred -via e-mail
Great magazine! I especially like the focus on western animals. I would
like to comment on what a great article Dennis Wintch provided. All of his points were
right on in my experience. It is about the money with the departments of natural resources
and with many of the organizations that "support" the mule deer.
On our Colorado ranch we have experienced the politically correctness
of dealing with not only the research and conservation officers of DOW, but also in
dealing with a certain mule deer organization in trying to enlist support for saving
critical habitat. Specifically we were trying to halt the development of human hike and
bike trails through a wildlife corridor that supports many of the mule deer in our area.
We provided research articles on human-deer interaction, provided several photos of the
area showing the numbers of deer using the area and went to many meetings. Of course we
lost. Interestingly the national headquarters and most specifically the president of that
organization did not even respond to several e-mail and letter pleas for help even though
I was a member.
Riding over our ranch daily we see year round the problems with
predators (this past two weeks, four lion kills within a mile of the house). Coyote
predation of fawns in the spring is a huge problem. Does DOW view predators as a problem?
No is the usual answer and the politically correct answer is the habitat. I will admit
they are completing a study in southern Colorado that seems to indicate that coyotes might
be a problem in fawn survival-but of course, more study is required. Keep up the good
work, I joined!
-Jack Harvey-CO
My belief of why the deer herds are gone is "Mag" rifles.
With all the new big guns and big scopes, the deer don't have a chance. We need to go back
to the 30-30s and 270s with iron sights. It was prime time back in the 40s through the 60s
and all we had were open sight guns. I don't think the deer will ever come back until we
stop the pressure of big guns. Now days it's fly-in or ride-in with ATVs. Besides that,
the Fish and Game have dropped the ball on things.
-Ira A. Truedail-CA
I knew that my iron sight pellet gun would come in handy some day. Does
anyone know if it will kill an elk? -Editor  |
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