My Stand

Real Fisherman.

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 23:08:00 +0000

(Originally Published on Outdoors with Othmar Vohringer, July 26, 2008)

© By Othmar Vohringer

I do visit fishing forums from time to time to read what other fisherman/women talk about and what their opinions are on a variety of topics. Or I check in to share experiences and tell tall tales. Recently though, each time I visit these places it gets my dander up. It seems that there can’t be any half decent conversation anymore that does not end up with anglers going at each other. The " rage on for pages about whose fishing method has more merit and is more noble. Fylfishers against bail reel fishers and it still gets worse in discussions about keeping fish or releasing them.

If you think that only fly fishers turn their noses up at others think again. The boat paddles the other way too. Lure and bait fishers have no hesitation to belittle fly casters as elitists. Anglers subscribing to the catch-and-release method have no hesitation to call those that keep fish for the dinner table "unethical" and a determent to the fishing sport.

Since this is my column I am going to tell you honestly what I think about the endless and pointless squabbling and finger pointing. It’s utterly counterproductive to the future of fishing sport because it drives young and novice anglers away.

Many young and novice fishers seek information and advice on Internet forums. Ask yourself, what must newcomers to fishing think if they read all that trashing ad nausea, page after page? Do these opinionated people really think that they can educate and promote fishing by slandering others that do not happen to share their views or type of fishing method?

Does it really matter what motivates a person to fish? Is it important what tackle and tactics a angler prefers to use? Is a person stalking a salmon with a fly rod nobler than the fisher fighting a big bass out of a lily pad? Of course none of it matters or makes one dime of a difference. Unless you think that God personally has approved of your fishing method and opinion you formed of it.

Here is how I see it. We’re all fishers. We're all equals. Not one single way of pursuing our activity is superior, nobler or better than another one. We’re all anglers enjoying our rich fishery and pursuing happiness. Not one of us deserves any more or less consideration or special attention than any other legal fisherman. Now I suggest that we all head out to our favorite lake or river and do some fishing, and if we see another fellow angler say hello and wish him/her good luck rather then judge the person on the tackle he/she uses and what method he/she prefers, because it really doesn't matter.

Tight lines…and don’t forget to have fun!

Othmar Vohringer Outdoors
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The Mentor

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:40:00 +0000

(Originally Published on Outdoors with Othmar Vohringer, November 19, 2008)

© By Othmar Vohringer

Kristine from Gun Safety Innovations issued a challenge on the Outdoor Blogger Summit (OBS) to write about a person that was influential as a mentor or inspiration for us to hunt, fish or to write a blog. This challenge is part of an ongoing series called “Write About the Good Challenge” whose purpose is to write about the positive things that happen in our lives or motivates us to carry on with what we’re doing as outdoor enthusiasts and blog writers.

It is difficult for me to choose one single person that inspired me to hunt. There have been, and still are, so many to be thankful to for spending their time in mentoring or inspiring me. Without a doubt if it were not for the good folks at Cimmaron Archery in Richmond, Illinois I would have never become a bowhunter. Their dedication, good will and patience renewed my will to become a bowhunter at a time when I was about to give it up. There have been many people throughout my life, and no doubt will continue to enter my life, that inspire and mentor me. As my late mother used to say: “Life is an ongoing learning process from the day we’re born to the day we die.” And, “Inspiring people are everywhere; you only have to keep an open mind.”

But since I have to make a choice as to who was my greatest mentor I will have to say that it was both of my parents- and I say “both” because they were a strong and undivided team, even in raising their children. Things like “go ask Mama”, or “Wait until Papa comes home.” were foreign phrases in our house.

Since both of my parents were enthusiastic outdoors people who hunted, fished and loved to hike in the beautiful mountains of Switzerland I was naturally raised to do the same. The passion for the outdoor lifestyle was consciously nurtured and encouraged from early childhood on and no doubt influenced me when I decided to found Othmar Vohringer: Smart Hunting Strategies through which I became able to apply another lesson I learned from my parents: “Share your knowledge freely with the less knowledgeable and those willing to learn. Knowledge is only useful if it is made accessible to many.”

My writing, blogs, seminars and other hunting related activities such as hunting courses, hunting strategy consultation and becoming a hunter education instructor of British Columbia are a direct result of the mentorship and inspiration of my parents. The people I have encountered in my life that further inspired or mentored me can also be seen as a direct result of the values and beliefs my parents instilled in me.

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Becoming a Bowhunter

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 23:09:00 +0000

© By Othmar Vohringer

Spellbound the young boy sat in his father’s “hunter den” which was decorated with the memories of past hunting successes, and listening to the hunting adventures of a well traveled family friend he called uncle Heinz. The uncle told stories of hunters that pursue wild game on foot in the vast forests of North America and the savannas of Africa with nothing more than bow and arrows.

Fascinated by the magical stories his eyes gazed upon pictures of African tribesmen with crude longbows made from wood that was capable of taking down a big elephant or even a lion. Other pictures the uncle handed to the boy showed hunters in North America sitting and smiling next to a majestic whitetail deer or elk and proudly displaying their longbows with which they had shot the animal. From that moment on the boy had but one dream: to travel to these far off countries and hunt like the men in the stories and pictures of uncle Heinz.

Fast forward from 1959 to 1989.

On a rainy February day in 1989 the airplane touched down at O’Hare airport in Chicago. A driver of my new employer was waiting to drive me to my new home and workplace about seventy miles north of Chicago. It was in the middle of the night and there was not much to see on the way there but that didn’t matter too much to me since I was very tired from the long flight and several times almost fell asleep.

Within the next few days I got acquainted with my new surroundings, saw my very first whitetail deer in the back yard and had an unfortunate encounter with a very smelly animal they called “skunk”.
Over the next few weeks I got to know the rest of the staff and one of them in particular got me curious.
Tim regularly left after work with what looked like a gun case and I assumed he was going to a shooting range. After wondering about it for some time I finally decided to ask him “What are you carrying in this case?”
“A bow” came his reply.
A bow? Did he say a bow? Instantly I had flashbacks to my childhood memories of listening to the stories Uncle Heinz told me about the bow hunters. Needless to say my interest was at its peak when I asked Tim: “What are you doing with the bow? Do you go hunting with it?” Tim answered back: “Not yet but soon. Hunting season is opening in two weeks and so I head to the archery range to get in shooting shape”. All of a sudden my childhood dream of bow hunting suddenly and totally unexpectedly seemed to be within reach.

Not a week later I was the very proud owner of a compound bow that I purchased in a well-known chain store. A dozen arrows and a few other must-have-items to get started and soon I was on my way to becoming a bow hunter.

At this particular time my employer had sent me on an 8 month trip that would take me through America and parts of Canada and it was at this point that my trials and tribulations of becoming a bow hunter began. A complete novice to archery I was just barely able to understand the fundamentals of holding and shooting a bow but eventually I was able to get the arrows to hit somewhere on the portable target. Getting the arrows to group tightly, however, was proving to be a little more difficult.

I was getting pretty frustrated about this and so, while in a small town in Texas I visited an archery store telling the clerk about my dilemma. What do you know? He had the solution for my problem. “What you need” he said, “is better arrows.” That made sense to me and the next day I was the proud owner of a dozen brand new arrows but an hour later my hopes were crushed by a grouping of arrows that was so open that a deer would have to be the size on an elephant to make sure I could hit the vitals.

In yet another archery store in a town in Kansas it would be the same story; again I walked out with a new gadget to ad to my bow that promised to improve my shooting. Alas, the results were the same: wide open groups. This went on for eight months; my bow started to resemble one of those contraptions that you would see in a Rambo movie. The bow was brimming and heavy with add ons, gadgets and gizmos that were designed to make me become a better archer. By now the bow also had considerable weight and got very noisy to shoot but my shooting had not improved one bit.
I was ready to give up and stick with rifles - something I knew plenty about since I grew up with them. I was even ready to admit that the European hunters were right when they said “bows are children’s toys and not for hunting”.

But then how did the men in the stories of uncle Heinz do it? Had they a special talent that I somehow lacked? In any case I was sick and tired of trying to get a hang of archery and spending my hard earned cash on gadgets that didn’t work. I decided that as soon as I got off the road I would visit the archery shop in town and ask them to sell my bow for me. That’s it - I was done with it.

Shortly after coming home to Illinois I visited Midwest Cimmarron Archery fully intending to end my bow hunting dreams. But things turned out quite differently and I am glad it did. I am a great believer in fate. It just so happened that Joe entered the store at the same time I did. Was that really just a coincidence?

Will, the owner of Midwest Cimmarron Archery, after listening patiently to my sad story of disgust with archery simply replied: “I will take your bow but I would like you to talk with Joe before you make up your mind and in the meantime I will have a good look at your bow.” Not one to turn down a reasonable suggestion without giving it some consideration I agreed.

I followed Joe to his truck were he took a traditional longbow from the trunk. Then he proceeded to show off what he could do with it. My jaw hit the ground in sheer amazement as I watched arrow after arrow hit the bull’s eye squarely in the middle. Then Joe proceeded to operate a manual clay launcher and again I watched in astonishment as each clay disc was blown to pieces in midair. What really surprised me about Joe was that his bow was nothing more than a bent wooden stick with a string attached. How did he do that without fiber optic sights, stabilizer, peep sight and all the other gadgets that I was told you needed to become a proficient archer?

I ended up having a long talk with Joe and it came quickly to light that he not only loved archery and bow hunting, he lived it every minute of his life.

In our conversation it started to hit me that, for reasons I can’t even explain, I had foolishly come to believe despite the fact that I should have known better that gadgets really could make me a better archer. I had abandoned common sense and had fallen for the salesman’s pitch. Of course Joe was right with the advice he gave me that in becoming good at something required dedication and a need to keep things simple. How could I have forgot this important lesson that has served me so well all my life?

Joe and I went back into the store after the shooting demonstration where Will was waiting for us. Will gave my bow a good expert look and found that my el-cheapo super-store bow had a bent riser which explained why I could not get it to shoot right no matter how hard I had tried. In short, it was a piece of garbage. Will offered to set up a brand new bow and a dozen arrows for me for which I would not have to pay. “Take it home and try it out and if you’re not happy with it bring it back, no questions asked. If you like it you pay for it and it’s yours to keep.” What an offer that was and what great customer service.

At home I took the new bow to my backyard range and after the first arrow hit the target right in the middle my confidence climbed high and when the second arrow stuck less than an inch next to the first I was ecstatic. That evening I was hooked on archery and bow hunting and the next day I went back to Midwest Cimmarron Archery and wrote a cheque out.

Thanks to Joe and Will I am a dedicated bow hunter today and in honor of Joe in particular, for the time he generously took to show me what archery was truly all about, who shockingly and sadly passed away only a few days after our one and only meeting, I named that new bow “Joe”.
I still own that bow, a Jennings Buckmaster, and I still use it every hunting season in the woods and fields in the pursuit of deer and other critters.

By today’s standards “Joe” is an old bow but it is still the perfect hunting bow. It has a simple three pin sight in combination with a peep sight and the only additional gadgets you will find on that bow is a detachable Kwikee Kwiver. Another product that I found helpful in making the bow quieter is a set ofLimb-Savers mounted on each bow limb and string silencers. That’s all there is to it; plain and simple. I also still use aluminum arrows that are a bit on the heavy side tipped with cut-on-impact Magnus 125 grain 4 blade broadheads.

My advice to people who are taking up archery or bow hunting for the first time would be to keep it simple so that you can shoot more and worry less.

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A good time to honor turkey conservation

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Sat, 08 Mar 2008 22:52:00 +0000

The resurrection of the wild turkey population is one of the most successful conservation programs in conservation history. The success continues and keeps showing astounding results.

It’s spring. The days get longer and warmer as thousands of hunters all over North America feverishly anticipate spring turkey hunting season. The wild turkey is one of North America’s most popular game species, second only to the whitetail deer. Small wonder. With the exception of Alaska, Hawaii and the northern provinces of Canada turkeys number in the millions.

Millions of hunters take it for granted to see these magnificent game birds everywhere they go but not so very long ago, about three generations, the wild turkey was an inch away from total extinction. There have been a few, at best feeble, attempts to restore the turkey. It was not until sometime mid-century when there came a breakthrough as biologists discovered the success of the trap-and-transfer methods. This made it possible to capture birds in locations and transfer them in other suitable habitat. Despite this new method the re-establishing of the wild turkey could be best described as agonizing slow.

In the early 1970’s a few hunters and biologists got together and founded the National Wild Turkey Federation. At the time of the founding the estimated turkey population numbered 1.3 million compared to an estimated 1.5 million turkey hunters the birds were outnumbered. Thanks to the hard work of many volunteers in corporation with state and provincial wildlife agencies, there are now more than 7 million turkeys and nearly 3 million turkey hunters.

The resurrection of the wild turkey population is one of the most successful conservation programs in conservation history. The success continues and keeps showing astounding results. Today we have turkeys roaming the wild, even in areas that traditionally never has been known to hold turkeys. It is no wonder that turkey hunting has become the fasted growing segment with the second highest participation of any type of hunting.

Since 1985 the National Wild Turkey Federation has spent more than 258 million dollars on upholding and promoting the hunting tradition and conserving more than 13.1 million acres of wildlife habitat. The land not only supports wild turkeys but a vast variety of wildlife and flora. The NWTF has today 550.000 members in 50 states, Canada and Mexico plus 14 foreign countries, supporting wildlife management and habitat conservation on public, private, and corporate lands.

So if you head out this spring in the pursuit of a big tom take a moment to remember who you have to be thankful to for the opportunity to go turkey hunting. Or still better yet join the National Wild Turkey Federation and become active in your state or province chapter in the conservation effort of one of the most majestic game birds in North America.
For more information on the National Wild Turkey Federation, check out the NWTF web site or call (800) THE-NWTF.

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Get active in the protection of our rights

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 00:51:00 +0000

© By Othmar Vohringer

I don’t know about you, but when I read the blasphemous accusations the antis make against us, calling us criminals and liabilities to societies safety I feel personally insulted.

A few days ago our local newspaper published a reader’s opinion letter of an animal rights activist, mocking a car sticker that read "Kids who hunt or fish don't rob old ladies", in the most derogatory way with the usual ranting and rhetoric common to all animal rights activists.

Over the course of the week the newspaper published more letters of animal rights activists. This in turn led to many angry and outraged comments made by hunters on a hunting forum, not to the newspaper in question. Finally I couldn’t stand it any longer and just had to ask the complaining forum members: “and what are YOU going to do about it?”
Only a handful of the responses to my comment said that they are going to write a letter to the newspaper to set the record straight. The vast majority of the responses consisted of the usual “I don’t have time” and “it’s a waste of time” to the worst response of all “I don’t care what this bunch of lunatics says about us.”

Here is what one forum poster said about the hunters that could not be bothered for one or another reason to reply to the slanderous attacks by animal rights:

“We can all just bitch and say whatever, another granola cruncher etc... but if all the crunchers put the effort to write in and we don't, well we fall on silent ears and their way will be etched into peoples minds.”

Very true words!

There are many good organizations at the national, state/provincial and local level in America and Canada that defend our rights and actively lobby the governments and authorities on our behalf. Many of these fine organizations struggle because hunters are reluctant to support them in the numbers needed to make a real impact.

We live in a time where we can no longer blithely sit back and enjoy our outdoor pursuits with no regard for the future of it – we can’t just take it for granted any more. Our outdoor heritage faces huge challenges and if it is to survive into the future we all have to do our bit to protect it. To rephrase a famous quote attributed to John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your hunting organizations can do for you; ask what you can do for them.”

Standing up for our rights to hunt, fish and own firearms takes time, effort and money. In order to give the many fine hunting organizations the clout they require to fulfill their purpose they need volunteers, members, and money. Getting active goes much further than just joining an organization and then letting them worry about your rights. The thing you can do that will go a long way towards educating the general public and persuading politicians about hunting and fishing is writing letters to the editors of newspapers and local government representatives.

Writing letters works, why do you think that the animal rights activists get so much exposure? Because animal rights activists tirelessly write letters to editors and local political representatives. They write responses to every article where animals, meat, rodeo, circuses, hunting and fishing are mentioned. They let no opportunity pass by to make sure the public hears, sees and reads their opinions. I don’t know about you, but when I read the blasphemous accusations the antis make against us, calling us criminals and liabilities to societies safety I feel personally insulted.

Unless hunters and fishers stand up and make their side known the public never will hear the truth and the antis will therefore gain more influence. In order to help you to write letters I leave you with a few simple tips that will make sure your letters will be read, published and make the desired impression.

Writing an Advocacy Letter

Negative Issues
You should write to your Member of Parliament or your political representative whenever you feel that your governments have infringed your rights to hunt, fish, shoot, or trap on.

Positive Issues
It is important that you write to politicians and let them know that they have your support when they have done good things. If your politician has opposed the efforts by anti-hunters, write them a letter and let them know you appreciate the stand they have taken and that they have your continued support.

Letters to Newspapers

Remember that the letters-to-the-editor section is, after the first page, one of the most widely read sections of any newspaper. Bear in mind as well that roughly speaking 10% of the population are pro-hunting, fishing, and trapping and a little less than 10% are opposed. That leaves an astounding 80% with no pre-defined opinion one way or another on our issues. So your letter-to-the-editor does matter! There are a lot of people out there ready to hear what you have to say. The outdoors community must reach that 80%. They are out there waiting to be convinced.

To stay in power politicians must listen to their constituents. Letters-to-the-editor regularly find their way onto the desks of your political representatives. Your representative will know if your letter-to-the-editor has been read and believed by their electors. Their political future depends on knowing.

When to write letters to the Editor?

Negative Issues
Any article which contains negative, slanderous or inaccurate information on hunting, fishing and trapping, demands an immediate flood of letters-to-the editor by the outdoors community. More specifically, any time the slander, deliberately confused facts, "junk biology" and "junk" consumer polling employed by animal rights activists appears in a newspaper.

Positive Issues
When a positive article is published it warrants a congratulatory letter-to-the-editor. Editors tire of constantly being bombarded with bad news. A positive response to a positive piece of journalism is certain to get publicity.

How to write letters to the Editor?

Pay close attention to how you address the letter. Articles should always be addressed to:
"Letters to the Editor" / name of newspaper
Street Address
City, Province or State
Postal or Zip code
Always start your letter with:
1.) Exact headline name of article you are writing about and the name of the writer
2.) Date that the article appeared in the paper.

If you do not follow this format your article will not be considered. Always check the editorial section of the newspaper you are submitting your letter to; there may be slight variations in the format outlined above.

With letters-to-the-editor timing is of the essence. For your letter to be current you must submit it to the newspaper’s editor within a day or two of the appearance of the article upon which you are commenting. So it really should be faxed or emailed.

When writing your letter-to-the-editor it is imperative to remain cool-headed and factual. Making threatening statements will guarantee that your letter will not be printed. Reflecting anger is fine but sounding hysterical is not. Positive and constructive criticism will gain you the respect of the editor and ensure your letter is run.

Disputing a fact is OK. Say what the right fact(s) about a case are. Then draw a conclusion and in the process state your views. Don’t try to give them pages upon pages of facts. Remember that a letter-to-the-editor is more than anything else about your views. The editor wants opinions on the op-ed page.

And letters-to-the-editor should be short. Keep it under 100 words. Any longer than that and it will not pass muster.

So there you have it and now please spend ten to fifteen minutes to write a letter to your political representative and/or the newspapers. The more of us that take the time to write the more we will be heard and that might very well be what it takes to save the future of our hunting and fishing heritage for future generations.

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The Economics Of Hunting

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 00:11:00 +0000

© By Othmar Vohringer

It is my opinion that if we want our heritage to survive into a prosperous future we must educate the average man, women and child on the street, in the schools and in their homes via the media. It is these people, the majority, which have no opinion on hunting and could become our biggest allies on the ballot box.

Recently I came upon some information about the economic impact hunting has in North America and decided that I should write about it so that other hunters can see too what good we hunters do for our countries economy and wildlife conservation in general.

With the ongoing bashing of our hunting tradition by politically motivated radical groups and organizations that portray hunters as beer-swigging redneck slobs and trigger happy morons that are just as capable of killing a human as they are an animal it might be time to set the record straight and provide some heavy weight ammunition, no pun intended, to combat the slanderous comments the antis loudly proclaim.

Here are some interesting figures published by the Congressional Sportsman's Foundation:
34 million Americans hunt and, or fish. Together these sportsmen and women pour 76 billion dollars annually into the economy and give 1.6 million people jobs. Eight out of ten voters in America are hunting and/or fishing. This is a significant number of people that could produce a significant political clout on the ballot box provided they make use of their right to vote during the presidential election and make their voices heard at the local level on hunting and fishing issues.

Do you think that tennis and skiing are popular? Yes they are but hunting and fishing are more popular; more people hunt and fish than play tennis or ski. If all the hunters in America would decide to move to New York and Los Angeles, everyone else in these cities would have to move out to make room for all the hunters. Everyone knows that NASCAR is very big and popular but not as big and popular as hunting. If all the hunters and fishermen in America would attend a NASCAR race they would fill out every single seat at the track – not once but 13 times.

According to the Congressional Sportsman's Foundation, if we just took the hunters in America and created a corporation to receive all the revenue generated from hunting, that corporation would be listed in the top twenty of Fortune 500. If the fishers would be added to that corporation they would have a financial net-worth of that of Microsoft, Google, E-Bay and Yahoo (76 billion versus 73.6 billion) combined. Very impressive don’t you think? And that is only America. Add to this Canada with similar figures and heck, why not Mexico too, and you are talking about some serious money here. Why Canada and Mexico too, you might ask. The hunting heritage is a North American tradition that is shared by all hunters in these three countries and so are the efforts of wildlife and habitat conservation. Here is another bit of good news that came from the same survey: the vast majority of Americans support legal hunting and more than 95% support legal fishing. Compare that to the miniscule 3% that subscribe to the animal rights agenda. Most of these 3% are not consistent in their animal rights beliefs and only a handful of them are activists.

But the hunters financial, material and physical input does not end with the dollars generated through the purchase of hunting goods and license fees. The survey tells us that the vast majority of hunters in America are active members of such notable organizations as the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants For Ever, Trout Unlimited plus a long list of equally important national and local wildlife conservation organizations and clubs that generate additional billions directly earmarked of wildlife and habitat restoration. Many hunters and fishers are members in more than one such organization and club. Hunters and fishers are also the folks that almost exclusively donate their own time and personal efforts in various programs provided by organizations and wildlife agencies to actively get involved in wildlife and nature stewardship.

In short, the report shows very clearly that no single person or organization does more for wildlife and habitat than hunters and fishers. These efforts can be enjoyed by all people, including the anti hunters and animal rights folks. The quote attributed to Winston Churchill, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” seems also very appropriate to what the hunters and fishers do for the rest of society. The fact is that if it weren’t for the actions and dollars of hunters and fishers the elk, turkey, ducks, geese, salmon and trout would have gone a long time ago the way of the Dodo. The same is true for the many state parks and other publicly accessible lands; it is the hunters and fishers that keep these lands and water bodies open to the public with money and personal efforts.

So next time you see a TV show where animal rights protest against hunting or ridicule hunters in slanderous ways, remember that this is not the big picture. Also remember that PETA and the likes spend less than 0.2% of the millions they make annually on wildlife and habitat conservation. Remember that these folks do not speak for the majority of the American people even if they make it sound like they do. It’s also worth knowing that some jurisdictions that have in the past adopted some of the animal rights agenda on wildlife and habitat conservation have had to regret the negative consequences it had on wildlife and the environment.

Next time you see a flock of ducks or geese flying south thank the hunters. The next time you hear the thunderous gobble of a turkey or the bugle of a bull elk remember that hunter’s dollars and their personal efforts saved these species from certain extinction and not the animal rights groups. Next time you hike in a state park and admire the beauty of nature and wildlife thank the hunters whose money makes sure that parks stay open to the public and remain safe from developers. If it were not for hunter dollars much of the public land we take for granted only could be kept open through drastic increases of taxes or making visitors paying an entry free.

As you surely have figured out by now the abundant wildlife that makes North America one of the ecologically richest areas in the world is the direct result of our hunting heritage and the hunter’s active commitment to wildlife and habitat conservation.

Looking at the above dollar figures and comparing them to that of the animal rights movement it amazes me that we seem to have such a struggle against the anti hunting lobby. Perhaps we should learn from the animal rights groups how to promote our heritage in the media. Animal rights groups get heard in the media because they know how to make it work for them. To use a quote of Ingrid Newkirk, founder and president of PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) “We are absolute media whores.” Indeed, the animal rights movement spends the lion’s share of their dollars on promoting their agenda in the media, the schools and in the communities.

My suggestion is that our hunting industry and the various hunter-founded organizations actively go public with their efforts in the mainstream media to promote our cause to the communities at large. While everybody knows who PETA is you will be hard pressed to find a member of the general public that knows anything about the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ducks Unlimited or the National Wild Turkey Federation let alone knowing what these and many other fine hunter founded organizations do for our wildlife and habitat.

I am convinced that if the hunting industry and the large organizations would get together and invest just a comparatively small sum of the multi-billion dollars to “advertise” in the mainstream media and promote our cause in the schools on a national level we could silence the animal rights movement and make their threat to our heritage a thing of the past. It is my opinion that if we want our heritage to survive into a prosperous future we must educate the average man, women and child on the street, in the schools and in their homes via the media. It is these people, the majority, which have no opinion on hunting and could become our biggest allies on the ballot box. Isn’t it about time that the general public heard the full truth and not just the lies and deception of the animal rights activists?

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Hunting and Wildlife Conservation

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 15:53:00 +0000

Looking at hunters as wildlife conservationist we can be very proud of what we, as a relatively small group, have achieved for the greater good of all.

To the average non-hunting person hunting and wildlife conservation may not seem to fit together. I would not be surprised given that the mainstream media generally portrays hunters as trigger-happy Bambi killers. Since I know that this blog is also read by non-hunters I would first like to shine some light on the contributions hunters make to both wildlife and habitat conservation.

When looking at the facts, hunters really have nothing to be ashamed of - quite the opposite in fact. In British Columbia hunters annually generate about $100 million – yes, you read that right: One Hundred Million Buck-aroos. Through license sales and hunting related goods and services, immense sums of money are garnered by the provincial government’s “Fish And Wildlife Recreation and Allocation Branch” (The somewhat longwinded name of the British Columbia wildlife agency.)

Similar sums are generated in the other Canadian provinces and U.S. states as well. This is the money which is used by the wildlife agencies for the upkeep of provincial and state parks, wildlife research and habitat conservation.

But that is not all. These government agencies can count on the reliable support of hunter organized wildlife conservation organizations, most of which contribute many additional millions of dollars annually. There are literally hundreds of such organizations in Canada and the USA. Some of these organizations operate at the national level but many are also international, such as the Safari Club International and Ducks Unlimited.

Nationally orientated organizations such as the Wild Turkey Federation and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, among many others to numerous to list here, mostly concentrate on one species of animal. And finally, at the local and state/provincial level, wildlife organizations are mostly concerned with wildlife and habitat in their particularly defined areas. The membership of such organizations is in the majority made up of hunters who not only spend dollars, but also time and personal effort to improve animal populations and diverse habitats.

As a showcase of hunter dedicated wildlife conservation let me showcase three scenarios as example for many. The North American wild turkey has rebounded from near extinction to numbers never known before. Thanks to millions of dollars from hunters and their personal dedication and hard work we can admire turkeys even in places where they have not been seen in more than hundred years.

The elk had a similar fate as the turkey: about hundred years ago this majestic animal was near extinction. Today, thanks to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, working closely with federal and local wildlife agencies, the elk bugle can be heard all over North America again- even in states such as Tennessee where elk haven’t been seen in more than two generations.

Waterfowl numbers have dramatically increased in the last two decades; alone in the last two years the duck population has increased a staggering 42%. This would not have been possible without the dedication and commitment of Ducks Unlimited and their waterfowl hunting members.

So the next time you camp or hike in a state park or provincial park and admire the variety of wildlife, remember that hunters – a minority group – have paid the lion’s share for it and that it is hunters who take out their personal time to actively participate in enhancement programs, wildlife counting, wildlife enhancement programs, tree planting among many other time consuming activities to help wildlife and habitat. And yet, the benefits of these efforts can be enjoyed by all- even the non-hunters and the animal rights activists.

Governments have known all along that if hunting would cease to exist tomorrow then so would wildlife and habitat conservation. There simply would not be enough money available for it without huge tax increases, which is why governments rely on hunter’s dollars to finance conservation. You see, hunters are not all just a bunch of gun toting rednecks heading out to the woods every year to kill a deer for the sheer thrill of it. Hunting is not a sport, like football or tennis; it is a lifestyle that can be acquired or one is born into it. Hunters spend all year in the woods, fields and on the water observing wildlife. Often it is hunters that alert the wildlife agencies of changes in wildlife populations, habitat degradation and other issues that negatively affect wildlife and habitats. In other words, hunters are the eyes and ears of the wildlife agencies.

Looking at hunters as wildlife conservationist we can be very proud of what we have achieved as a relatively small group for the greater good of all.

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The Science of Hunting and The Good Old Days

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 04:13:00 +0000

I learned a lot about the woods, plants and animals from my father and the old men of the hunting camp. Today I sometimes have to force myself to recall the wisdom of those men. Each time I do so my hunting success improves dramatically.

The recent controversy surrounding the Scent-Lok company and their supposed promise that their carbon lined apparel is 100% capable of eliminating human odor got me thinking about how hunting is today compared to the time of our fathers and grandfathers.

Today hunting is all about science and modern technology. Hunting has moved from a simple outdoor activity to a space age, technology driven race to sell hunting-success promising products. From the technologically advanced compound bow that can shoot carbon arrows at lightening speeds to the image stabilizing, high precision rifle scope; it’s all here to help us kill that elusive monster buck and the moment we purchase one of the high tech products it is outdated by even better high tech products.

Technology and science does not stop with products that guarantee 100% hunting success. One of the newer fashions in the world of QDM (Quality Deer Management) is ‘growing’ better and bigger deer with the purpose, obviously, of growing larger antlers. Scientifically designed and mixed seeds will make sure that the deer in your area will all grow into record book trophies. No bull, it has been scientifically proven to work! And then there is, of course, the plethora of products that promise to take care of human odor, the age-old problem hunters face when dealing with the fine nosed whitetail deer.

Clothing lined with carbon, soaps, shampoos or laundry detergent all have one thing in common. They promise instant success that has been scientifically proven. Or how about the all-synthetic, better than nature, deer attractant lures? Doe and buck urine that never saw the inside of a bladder but which science will have you know is a chemical mix that is 100% better than the real stuff. If we are to believe the advertising dominating every hunting magazine and TV screen, we hunters have nothing to do but sit and wait for all the gadgets and gizmos to bring a trophy buck our way.

Let’s stop right here for a minute and make a leap back in time.

I fondly remember my childhood, sharing hunting camps with my father and his hunting friends in the days where we didn’t have all that science available and the gadgets derived from that science. We wore lots of wool clothing, not camouflaged, which was washed with any old laundry detergent available. Game calls were not invented yet. There were a few old men that could produce a perfectly pitched buck grunt with the mouth and a blade of grass. I admired these men. The only deer scent we had available was the urine of harvested deer.

What I remember really well was that the game pole on any given trip was quickly filled to capacity with deer and other critters- often to the breaking point.
I honestly cannot remember a time where any hunter in our camp went home empty handed. What I do remember is that besides deer a lot of small game and birds were brought to the camp as a welcome addition to the otherwise boring camp meals.

How did they do it? Nobody had high-powered magnum rifles with synthetic stocks and stainless steel barrels firing composite ammunition. Most game was shot with the trusted old .30-06 and open iron sights. The next popular deer hunting gun was a shotgun loaded with buckshot and the odd lever action rifle. Game was taken at very short ranges compared with the ranges we take game today. Back then we rarely saw a rifle topped with a scope; that was something only wealthy hunters could afford to buy.

And yet miraculously, despite the lack of technology, back then hunters were successful in shooting game. They probably killed more game than the average hunter does today. Another puzzling aspect to this hunter success rate was the fact that the deer population then was nowhere close to what it is today. Today’s deer numbers are several millions stronger than they were forty years ago, yet we harvest less deer today than when I was a child. How come?

Sure these days bag limits are not as generous as they were forty years ago or even longer ago. There was little true wildlife management and most certainly not of Quality Deer Management and planting food plots with scientifically mixed seeds. In those days most hunters went to the woods each fall to provide nutritious sustenance for the families.

So how did they do it?

Here is what I think has happened. Today we have come to rely too much on modern products. I lost count of how many times I heard something like: “Since I started shooting with bow ‘x’ I kill more deer.” or “The deer saw me because I didn’t wear the right camouflage.” And even this one: “I missed the buck because the scent lure I was using was no good- it spooked the buck.” Rarely if ever do I hear somebody say. “I messed it up because I didn’t know better”.

The hunters of yore had no high tech products to blame for mess-ups. They only had to blame themselves. These hunters knew that their hunting success was in direct relation to how much they knew about the animals they pursued, the lay of the land and the weather conditions. A good hunter was also a good woodsman and animal biologist. I remember listening to my father and the older hunters with an intense thirst for wisdom. Their knowledge of animals and habitat was simply stunning to me. Some of the hunters could tell by looking at broken grass, leaves, or twigs what direction the deer was headed.

I have learned a lot about the woods, plants and animals from my father and the old men of the hunting camp. Today I sometimes have to force myself to recall the wisdom of those men. Each time I do so my hunting success improves dramatically. We have come to rely so much on gadgets, gizmos and expert advice that we have forgotten how to think, how to observe, and how to register it all and then put that information together in our noggins to formulate a hunting strategy. It seems we can’t function anymore without the aid of modern technology and if success fails us we’re quickly ready to blame it on the technology and not where the blame should really go - ourselves. In no way do I attempt to diminish modern science and technology but these things should be viewed as useful aids and not as do-all and be-all necessities. Once all is said and done hunting success boils down to one thing: us! We make it or break it- not our guns and not our camouflage or any other product.

The most modern rifle or bow will not shoot a deer for you if you don’t have the time or inclination to practice and become proficient with it. Reading hunting magazines explaining the latest tactics will not make you a better hunter. Spending time in the field observing and studying will make you a better hunter. The best scent control product will not work if you do not hunt with the wind in your face. The best scientifically written book on scouting will not reveal where you have to hang the stand if you do not go out and scout the area thoroughly and figure out how the deer travel and what time of the season they use an area and why. It’s all about YOU!

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Where I stand on Crossbows.

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 06:08:00 +0000

by Othmar Vohringer

Wouldn’t it be wiser for us to be more tolerant of each other and pick our battles with the ones that really threaten our way of life instead of with our own?

For as long as I can remember this issue has been festering among archers. The Internet forums are full of heated controversy between the vertical and horizontal archers. What puzzles me most is seeing how some archery organizations feed this controversy by purposely spreading false hype and misinformation, and for what? Mainly, to protect their own agenda and selfish goals.

Here are just some of the commonly made statements that surface with regularity about crossbows:

“Crossbows are an ineffective hunting weapon.”
“Crossbows lead to unethical behavior”
“Crossbows are not archery equipment, they are guns with a string.”
“Crossbows are not traditional archery”.

Hogwash, I say. Lets look at some undeniable facts.

Is the crossbow traditional?
You bet. Crossbows are as much traditional as the longbow and certainly more traditional than the modern compound bows. The first mention of crossbows can be found from 800 years ago in Europe and more than 1000 years ago in China. How much more traditional can it get?

Does the crossbow lead hunters to unethical behavior?
This is the most ludicrous of all the statements against the crossbow. Actually it is a ludicrous statement for any hunting weapon choice, be that a rifle, longbow, compound or a crossbow. Weapons do not lead to unethical behavior. People, however, can and at times will engage in unethical behavior regardless of what they use to hunt with. In other words it is the person using the weapon that has to make the decision to use that tool in an ethical manner and within its capability or not.

Are crossbows or not archery equipment?
Yes they are. A crossbow is styled and functions exactly on the same principle of a vertical bow. An arrow is placed on the string and if the string is released it will catapult the arrow off the shelf. The mechanics are exactly the same too in that just like with any bow the string is attached to either end of a flexible limb that bends backward if the string is pulled and then reflexes when the string is let loose, thus creating the force that shoots the arrow. The only difference is that the bow is mounted onto a “stick” (that is all it was in the beginning of the crossbow history) and that the string is held by a mechanism that has to be released with some sort of trigger. Not much different than using a release aid for a compound bow with the only difference that the string is not held in place manually with muscle power. The crossbow is mounted onto a stock that looks similar to a gunstock, that is the only similarity it has with a rifle and that does not make the crossbow a gun, not by a long shot – no pun intended.

“Not by a long shot”; that brings me neatly to the next accusation:

“Crossbows are an ineffective hunting weapon.”
Really! If that is so then how could a small band of Swiss freedom fighters some 800 odd years ago send the mighty longbow army of the Austrian and German Emperor running and scrambling for safer places? There are many other related examples from early history proving the efficiency and accuracy of the crossbow. The crossbow, just like any other game harvesting tool, is a very accurate and efficient weapon when used within its limits. A crossbow has about the same efficiency and accuracy range as the modern compound bow.

With expanding deer populations every where and the efforts of game commissions to control this deer explosion, more hunting opportunities have been created and seasons have been made longer. Shouldn’t we welcome more hunters into our ranks so the wildlife populations can be controlled effectively? What I do not understand is that archery organizations complain about the decline of archery hunter numbers, yet they fight with tooth and nail to stop crossbow hunters from joining our ranks.

The good news is that more and more American states are slowly introducing crossbow hunting for every legal hunter, and not like in the past, just for the physically challenged. It seems that the game commissions are starting to see behind the smoke screens put up by traditional archers and their single minded, often self-serving, organizations. Ohio, one of the first states to legalize crossbow hunting has proven that crossbows are indeed a very effective means to harvest more deer. It is encouraging to see that more states such as Alabama, Kentucky and Tennessee are following the Ohio example and are legalizing the crossbow for all hunters. As time goes on more and more states will join in despite the cries of the traditional archery hunters and their organizations.

So where do I stand on the crossbow issue? I guess by now it’s pretty obvious. I am in favor of allowing any person with hunting in his blood the opportunity to enjoy his time in the field with the weapon of his choice, and if that weapon happens to be a crossbow, then so be it. As a bowhunter I do not feel the least bit threatened by this new “competition”. Neither do I feel any prejudice against anyone for the choice of weapon they make, including horizontal bows. Heck, I may even pick up a crossbow to hunt with and extend my own hunting season. There is plenty of room and lots of game to accommodate every law abiding and legal hunter to his hearts content. As I see it crossbows just add another dimension and opportunity to our hunting legacy.

For me the most troubling aspect in the whole crossbow issue is seeing how much energy hunters exert squabbling about the pros and cons of crossbows. Meanwhile, these same hunters blissfully ignore the real issues that threaten our hunting heritage. Wouldn’t it be wiser for us to be more tolerant of each other and pick our battles with the ones that really threaten our way of life instead of with our own?

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Thinking of taking up hunting?

atacov@yahoo.ca (Othmar Vohringer) — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:14:00 +0000

by Othmar Vohringer

So you want to become a hunter. But unlike most hunters you have no family background experience to draw from. I admire you for the decision you are making, despite the bad rap hunting and hunters get these days in the one-sided politically correct media.

Of course you know that hunters are not primitive Neanderthals, and that is why you press on with your wish. But you have questions, many question. How do I get started? Whom am I going to ask? What will all the equipment needed cost me? And finally but not last, why do we hunt?

I know about the questions you have, because I have heard them often asked myself. I get many emails asking me something like – “how can I become a hunter?” or “what do I need to do before I can go hunting?” It was emails and letters like these that gave me the idea to write this column and answer to everybody that is interested in becoming a hunter but does not know where to turn too.

If you want to become a hunter for the sole reason to shoot with guns and kill something, hunting is not for you. In fact, you never will become a hunter.
I know, I know:
The anti-hunters keep telling everybody that hunting is for feeble minded, drunken slobs that have a perverted joy for killing. If they only would know what a real hunter is all about.

I thought for some time how I am going to write this column and what advice I could possibly pass on. Then it hit me and a thousand light bulbs went off simultaneously in my head. You see, we hunters are all different, some hunt with bow and arrow while others use high-powered rifles, but one thing we all have in common is a deep respect for nature and animals and we all feel privileged to take part in the important task of wildlife and nature stewardship.

Hunters for the most part are a friendly and outgoing bunch. This comes from being close to nature - the root of our very existence - and understanding our place within it. We love to sit together by the campfire exchanging knowledge, experiences and yes, sometimes telling tall tales too. With this in mind I thought, “Why not enlist the help of other hunters in providing some of the answers?” So, I posted a topic on the BCHunting Forum and my own SHS Hunting Chat Forum asking for some input on the subject from my fellow hunters.

So if you’re thinking of getting into hunting it would be worth your while to stop in at the HuntingBC and the SHS Hunting Chat Forum. Better yet, register as a member. You will need to choose a user name. If you are looking for me, I go by the user name of “Huntwriter” at HuntingBC forum and by my first name “Othmar” at SHS Hunting Chat Forum. Both of these forums have a special section dedicated to the newcomers, both young and old. You’ll meet many hunters and huntresses willing to share their knowledge with a newcomer (and plenty of strong opinions too.)

Such forums are great places where you will find topics on just about any issue concerning hunting, such as different game species hunting, different styles of hunting methods, hunting politics and much more. Like I said, we talk about every issue that concerns our sport. Look around on the forums and you’re bound to find members from your area. Many lasting friendships are formed between hunters this way by the sharing of our common interest.

What follows now are some thoughtful and knowledgeable quotes from a variety of experienced hunters that I received when I posted this question: “What is your advice on getting into hunting?”

416: “My first question would be how does the perspective hunter feel about being responsible for taking the life of an animal. Everything else is secondary in terms of what you use, seasons, species etc.
I understand my place on the big wheel of life and its a fact that l need nourishment to survive and that usually come at the expense of something else. How a person makes peace with himself over this issue has a lot to with how enjoyable the total experience is perceived. Personally, if l have done everything l can to make the harvest as quick and humane as possible, it’s good…”

Rod: “While starting small can be a benefit it certainly isn't necessary, choose what interests you and give the animal the respect it deserves regardless of size. If you are not going to put it to use then don't kill it PERIOD…”

Vadim: “I would say that it would probably be a good idea for a person who thinks that they would like to go hunting, to go out with an experienced hunter to see weather or not it really is for them…”

Gatehouse: “Internet sites like this help as well, as hunters tend to be a pretty good bunch, and many new hunters have been taken out by more experienced ones that they meet here. I've taken out several (I think 5) new hunters that I met on one site or another…”

Bsa 30-60: “When I first started hunting I know I asked the same questions over and over and to many different people and always got different answers. Once I had these answers I was able to decide what was best for me…”

Bushman: “…I think that besides hammering the point of the importance of safety at all times, the best advice I could give an up-and-coming hunter would be to obtain books (perhaps from the library if you can't afford to buy them) written on each and every animal or bird they intend to pursue…”

Sideofbarn: “…I hunted with a friend who was at my level for a time, and I cherish those experiences as we found things out together…”

Phil: “…New hunters should spend time with the people who inspire them to hunt. Hunting is contagious and eventually family friends become interested in it. The excitement of a new hunter makes hunting new again for experienced hunters…”

Fisher101: “I think you should always start by asking a lot of questions from older hunter or at least hunters that have been hunting for a while…”

Retiredmedic: “First, I would let a new hunter use one of my weapons on his first hunt. Some people state they don't know if they can harvest a animal and to buy a weapon and find it's not for them is a waste of cash…”

Tobybenoit: “It is important to learn the basics of the hunt, i.e. when and when not to move, sitting quiet and still, looking, listening, and basic safety…”

So there you have it. Lots of good points have been made and more can be read on the forums. Why not introduce yourself, and perhaps a friend too, to hunting by joining a forum and get involved. Make some friends, have fun and become part of an important heritage. As I said before, hunting is part of human nature. The only difference is, some deny and suppress it and others enjoy it.

Here are the links to the forums mentioned in this column. HuntingBC and SHS Hunting Chat Forum.

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