|
Newsletter July 2007
Volume 1, Issue 4
In this issue:
Tips and Tactics
Hunt Preparation
Several months before every major hunting trip, I sit down and generate a list of all the gear I think I'll need on the trip. Once I feel I have everything listed, if I'm hunting with an outfitter, I get in touch with him and ask for his recommended gear list. Most outfitters will provide a list, even if it's short and sweet.
As the months go by, closing in on the hunt, I refine the list as I do my research. By the time the date arrives, I know what I plan to bring. There's nothing worse than forgetting something on that trip of a lifetime.
Using Your Binoculars
There are many strategies people employ when glassing for game. Before you employ any strategy there are two extremely important things to remember that will improve your glassing from the start.
First, movement is your best chance to see an animal. Use a tripod or get into a position where you can keep your binoculars steady and watch for any movement. Even when lying down, animals will move their ears or head.
Second, look in the right places. Although you can never predict an animals behavior, they will often favor certain areas. Look in the shadows, not in the sunlit areas. For whitetail, look in the river bottoms, for mule deer check just below the peak of the ridges. Doing a little research on an animals habits in the area your hunting will pay off in finding them with your binoculars.
Lastly, don't give up. Your always better off if you see the animals first, so glass hard and hike less.
Archery Stalks
For you archery hunters, once you have found a stalkable animal, if you have to sneak around a mountain or hillside to get above the animal, bring along a small digital camera. Take a picture of his bed before you start your stalk and one through your spotting scope as well. If you don't have a camera pick no less than three landmarks. The terrain never looks quite the same when you get there and it can make or break the stalk.
New Products
Our latest addition to Hunting Videos Online is a video by Steve's Outdoor Adventures. Steve West runs a hunt booking agency and has a television show on the Men's Outdoor and Recreation Channel. This is Steve's first hunting video.
I was skeptical about the video being one big advertisement at the outset, but the quality of the footage and the game taken on the video make it well worth watching.
If you enjoy down to earth hunting with no frills and a wide variety of game animals taken on film, this hunting video would be a great addition to your library.
We have also been speaking to Steve Chappell about featuring his videos on the website. Steve has some great Arizona footage of monster bulls, as well as, a strictly Coues deer video. This will fill a missing niche in our products and provide another great elk hunting video.
Video Review
Hunting North American Big Game Vol. 1 by Steve's Outdoor Adventures
Steve West of Steve's Outdoor Adventures produced this hunting video based on hunts he and his clients enjoyed and from footage for his television show Steve's Outdoor Adventures on the Men's Outdoor and Recreation Channel.
 The video begins with mule deer hunting in Alberta. The hunters take four different mulies, two stalked and shot in their beds. One hunter takes a beautiful, heavy 200+ B&C buck during the rut. All bucks would be great trophies.
The hunting then moves to Wyoming where Steve's clients hunt with Brian Beisher and Big Buck Outfitters. The first hunt is a great antelope with nice hooks. The hunting continues with several great whitetails, one over 150 with great mass. The final hunt in Wyoming is another great antelope in a huge herd.
Colorado is the next stop where several six point bull elk are taken on private land.
Montana is next with several hunters taking some great mulies. One buck scores over 192 B&C and is a tall, heavy buck we all dream about. Steve takes some time off to hunt antelope with his father, and makes a quick trip to Oklahoma for a great whitetail.
The final destinations are Alaska and Quebec. A beautiful 63+" bull moose is taken along with a monster black bear and numerous bull caribou.
This video is filled with stalks, the kill shot, and the hunters comments once they retrieve the animal. It is no-nonsense and showcases some great animals. All the hunts are fair chase with no staged shots or tracking. It should be a great seller for those of you curious about what western hunting is all about.
|
|
|
A Hunting Trip to New Zealand
Welcome to another Hunting Videos Online Newsletter. Susan and I have just returned from an amazing trip to New Zealand and will share the highlights with you in this and the August Newsletter.
We hunted with Craigieburn Alpine Safaris on the South Island of New Zealand. Johnny Westenra is the owner of the outfitting business as well as a 42,000 acre ranch, approximately two hours west of Christchurch. The land was homesteaded by his family many years ago and Johnny is a great host and knows the property like the back of his hand. 
We planned seven days of hunting and I hoped to take a red stag and a chamois, with a red stag for my brother-in-law, Fred. Johnny's property is all free range, and the hunting is very similar to mountain hunting out west. Johnny actually does most of the guiding and truly knows his profession - he is a great hunter. Because Fred and I appeared to be young and relatively fit, Johnny took us to some areas that reminded me of my Yukon sheep hunt, except more physical. We would climb the mountains in the morning and return each night (often the last couple miles in the dark), so any altitude gained would have to be gained again the following day.
The first day was spent searching for chamois up high without much luck. It was a great day of hiking with some amazing views and we did run into a possum on the way home to fire the rifle. These possum have an excellent coat and are used for blankets, coats, socks and more and are considered a pest. As with most huntable animals in New Zealand they were introduced, and there is no season or limits. 
Day two was another day of chamois hunting for me, and stag hunting for Fred. I once again, didn't have much luck with the chamois, but did manage to kill a great boar on the hike down the mountain. After several missed off-hand shots on the run, I finally killed the boar just before he disappeared over a ridge. Fred also had a successful day, killing a beautiful gold medal free ranging stag. We'll include the details on his hunt in the August newsletter.
Day three was my turn for a stag hunt. By now my legs were warmed up (or maybe burning is a better word), and we started off with a steady hike up a steep grassy ridge. After hiking and hunting several hours, we found some fresh sign and Johnny was on the hunt. He left me to watch a canyon (I think to keep from slowing him down) and headed out in search of the red deer, hoping to find a stag. He was soon waving me toward his direction and I topped a ridge to see a beautiful stag feeding across the grassy bottom below.
The distance was around 400 yards and the shot was a steep angle downhill. We were concerned he would continue to feed further out of range, so I steadied for the shot. About that time, out of pure luck, the stag laid down. After a short conference, we decided I should get closer and I made a stalk down the side of the hill in sight of the stag, but in the shade of the ridge. I eventually reached about 220 yards, and decided that was close enough. The waiting game began as I could only see one antler of the stag, and after two hours of shivering in the cold, he finally stood up.
I put three 140 grain Hornady bullets from my 270 Sako right on target before he finally fell, and I had my stag. As I walked up, I knew he far exceeded my expectations and it was a moment I won't forget. The stag is truly a giant for a free ranging stag with great mass and long points throughout. We had a long hike home, but it was easier knowing I had taken an excellent stag that day.
Fred spent day three hunting boars with dogs and a knife. This practice has been a hunting tradition in New Zealand for many years. We were able to capture some of the excitement on film, so check out the video in our Hunting and Outdoor Clips section. The hunt is fairly graphic, so if you have a weak stomach, you may want to skip this one. Fred was also lucky enough to get a hog with a rifle and we will fill you in on the details next month. I think you will really enjoy the footage. I have shortened it somewhat, but you will see it is an adrenaline filled and high action hunt.
If you have some exciting video footage, we would love to see it, and add it to our Hunting and Outdoor Clips page. Send us an e-mail with your story of what the footage is about and we'll get it posted. We will continue with the rest of the hunt in the August Issue.
Once again, we hope you enjoy the newsletter and come visit us at Hunting Videos Online.
back to top
|
|
Prairie Dogs with Mark Buchanan in South Dakota
 Mark Buchanan of Big Bore Productions just returned from an ammo burning trip to the Badlands of South Dakota. Prairie dogs were on the menu and they spent a few days testing rifles and heating up barrels. Following are Mark's comments and some highlights from his trip:
Hunting high volume doves in Mexico is one of my favorite ways to burn ammo, but a good prairie dog hunt might have the edge when it comes explosive action.
We had about 15 different calibers from the .17 fireball to the .50 BMG. All worked well unless you were a prairie dog! The .17 Fireball is brand new and shoots a 20 grain bullet at 4000+ feet per second, with virtually no recoil. You get to watch the little doggies jump.
The real surprise for me was the .204 Ruger. It shoots faster and flatter then the .223 and hits just as hard. We all agreed its probably the best all around cartridge.
Bill Davis, wildlife artist and sculptor, joined us on the trip for some action packed shooting. Bill has created some masterpiece bronzes for the NRA and is working on his next piece as we speak.
We have plenty of video, with over 100 exploding doggies. We are going back in May to do it again, as it's very addicting. The summer heat in July warmed the barrels up in a hurry, so we're going to try out the action when it's a little cooler.
I agree Mark, it's hard to beat a good prairie dog shoot. If you get the chance, this is a great way to get familiar with your rifle at long ranges. Prairie dogs are a small target and as the day progresses, they get wise to the shooting and the targets get further and further away. Often the wind in South Dakota is a factor and it's a great way to learn to compensate for the wind as well.
Don't underestimate a good prairie dog hunt. Get out west and give it a shot. It will get you through the summer hunting blues if nothing else.
back to top
Jim Shockey Travels to New Zealand and Australia
Jim Shockey has been spending his July hunting and traveling in Australia and New Zealand. Below are some comments and highlights of his trip:
Jim hunted first in New Zealand. We’re here to hunt tahr, chamois and red stag, and the first day of hunting we snuck up on a free-ranging tahr, and I was able to make a 130-yard downhill shot, perfect through the shoulders, and the beautiful tahr went only 20 yards. The tahr had 13 1/2-inch horns, magnificent mane, just a really handsome animal.
The next morning we went out for chamois, and we bumped into a big wild boar which I missed on a tough shot at about 120 yards downhill. The boar was moving pretty quickly, and I just plain missed. We continued climbing for about 2,000 vertical feet, tough climb, and saw several chamois but spooked them all. Finally we had one that came out of the brush at 200-plus yards. I had a perfect rest and confidence in the shot and was able to hit the chamois right through the heart, breaking both shoulders in the process. It was a tough, tough, long day of hunting by the time we packed that chamois off the mountain.
The next day we went after red stag and found a big 5x5 stag bedded down. Again, this is entirely free-range, no fences. We went all the way around the mountain to come down on top of the stag. It was 208 yards, a severe downhill angle which ranged 160 true ballistic distance on my Leupold rangefinder. But somehow I missed the shot.
The next day from the exact same distance we found another 5x5 and again I missed!! No explaining it, obviously I’m doing something wrong on downhill shots. I was depressed and felt that feeling all hunters know like the world is caving in after a failed opportunity. We watched the 5x5 and a smaller stag run off together down into a little drainage far off in the distance, and worked our way after them.
We managed to sneak to within 125 yards of where they were bedded and waited until they stood up. This time, the shot was perfect, right through the shoulders, and the stag tipped over dead.
Jim then headed to Australia: We’re up here on the Cobourg Peninsula in the Northern Territories, the very most northern part of Australia and I got a banteng. Made a 50-yard offhand shot as it was going through the trees and hit it just a bit forward. We were looking for it, and I was split off to the side alone, and all of a sudden it came out of the grass charging me, and I shot and luckily hit it right in the head and we found the bullet about four feet back along its spine. Dropped it right in its tracks.
Banteng can be dangerous, and this was really thick country and really dangerous. The professional hunters here have talked about being charged by these animals before.
 Jim then headed to an aboriginal camp to hunt Asian water buffalo: I took a great big, nasty, mud-covered bull with a 65-yard shot, wide open for video, and hit the buffalo right through the heart. In the last couple of days near our camp here on a billabong, I also have taken two big wild hogs, one black one and one black and white.
A couple of days ago, Bran, my son, got a big buffalo ... incredible footage. The buffalo came walking out of the mist on the floodplain, walked up head-on toward Bran and the guide to about 20 feet. I was videotaping and saying, "shoot him in the head," but they couldn't hear me. Finally the guide turned to me and looked, and I gave the thumbs up.
Sounds like a great hunting trip Jim.
Final Thoughts
With August comes the early hunting seasons in several states, including javelina hunting here in Arizona. Hopefully, by the time I send out the August newsletter, I will have taken my first javelina with a bow and will have some footage and stories to go with it. This will be my first javelina hunt, so send me some tips if you've got it mastered! They are interesting looking little rascals and should be a lot of fun to hunt.
Hope you enjoyed the July 2007 newsletter. We sure enjoyed reliving the hunts. We'd love to hear your comments at dukatsoutfitting@yahoo.com. See you in the field!
Susan and David Dukat
Dukats
Outfitting LLC
www.huntingvideosonline.com
back to top
|
|
