bird hunting and fancy magazines

There are hunts and then there are hunts.

I've been to a number of invitational "social" pheasant hunts where you're assigned a loader for your best gun pair (you brought yours with you, didn't you?) and you get a spot on a field where there's a table and your just poured glass of champagne waiting for you. Beaters and dogs flush the birds towards you and you just shoot whatever you like. You're expected to dress accordingly, including a suitable tie and hat, of course. Probably the most OTT hunt I've been invited to so far was a wild boar hunt where they had waiters serving you refreshments, walking quietly from stand to stand so you have a variety to choose from. It's a different world altogether. For some people it defines hunting, for the rest of us it's a social event loosely related to hunting. Nevertheless, there's an amazing number of people who are really enthusiastic about it and I don't complain - at least they're not playing golf or getting brainwashed how guns and hunting are pure evil.

Myself? I prefer to pack light, head to the woods with my dog(s), hunt whatever I have license and tags for and return after a couple of weeks, in a dire need of bath, shave and a shoulder massage from my beloved wife. That's when I really feel alive.

Whenever I get one of those fancy $8 luxury hunting magazines, it seems the only thing they talk about is bird hunting. I get that you can spend a lot of money on a fancy shotgun, but why does bird hunting have this elite quality that other types of hunting do not?

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Because only us elite rednecks hunt birds.

My own bird hunting isn't quail or other upland stuff. I waterfowl and dove hunt. Dove hunting is quite the redneck sport, really, sit on a swivel hunting seat and chat with your buddies as you scan the skies. Most use pumps, though I do have this high quality European Baikal built SXS. (that's an attempt at sarcasm)

Duck hunting, though, is quite the traditional sport. I picture a guy in his den on his work table a month before season starts painting his hand carved decoys, his Parker SxS hanging on the wall, his Lab or Golden or Chessie sitting by the fireplace with a grin. That's the romantic image of duck hunting in the classic era. Me, i use carrylite inflatables. I believe in modern technology. I also shoot a Mossberg pump or a Winchester autoloader. There are no classic shotguns that I would fire steel shot out of and bismuth costs too much. Bummer.

Anyway, you don't have to be rich to hunt ducks in Texas. Plenty of quality public hunting. Helps to have a boat or two but you don't have to have one. There's a bit more investment in it, waders, deeks, calls, and such. But, a working man can do it.

I grew up in the '70's bird hunting in NW Oklahoma, and it was a far from "gentile". When we had a dog, it was my uncle's dumbass pointer that pointed halfway decent but wouldn't find a dead bird if his life depended on it, so I ended up hunting for the dead birds. My Dad had an old Remington 1100 from his college days, and I had a Westernfield bolt action 20 ga with a full choke. We worked our butts off for the birds we found, but I didn't know any better and loved every minute of it.

My Dad passed in September, but he remained a serious bird hunter till the end. Over the years, he upgraded his shotguns and owned a jam up good Brittany, so I guess many would say his bird hunting became more "gentile". However, my best memories in the field with him were those from many years ago.

I subscribe to Shooting Sportsman, it is the ONLY gun mag I do. I like the articles, the photos, the write-ups and reviews (it helps that I know one of the writers and a group of us all give him our ideas on guns he gets to review), and yes, I like the ads for places to go shoot.

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I get an online version, it's a free. haven't bought an outdoor mag in years unless my LODGH newsletter counts.

Flashback to the 80's Gun Dog and Wing&Shot were at the top of my list and I still re-read them now and again.

Then Huntsman, you might enjoy this:



Sorry for the large size but I do not know how to copy and resize

That is the point most here were trying to make.

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I disagree. I see disdain for folks who have more than they do. BTW, I am NOT one of tose rich folks, but I can appreciate all sides of this.

I remember several years ago seeing Prince Charlie's and other royalty shoot driven pheasants (on TV). The cool,part was princess Diana, Fergy and the queen were reloading. Somehow that made me feel good.

BTW, I tired of gun and outdoor magazines. I get "American Rifleman" as I've been an NRA member off and on since the age of 14. I took "American Hunter" for one year, went back to "American Rifleman". I like the gun articles vs hunting stuff.

magazines

I subscribe to two magazines - only two. One is American Rifleman. The other is a quarterly, "The Double Gun and Single Shot Journal". The latter is, arguably, the handsomest (if that is a real word) magazine produced about anything.
The emphasis is on high end guns, their history, construction and use. Marvelous photography of firearms that I cannot afford but certainly do appreciate.

About those "rich folk" dress up hunts, etc. I do not find the mindset or practice of that to be terribly different than what one sees at Rendezvous or at Civil War Re-enactments. Just the style of costume is different and the cost (maybe) of the firearms.
Pete

I agree with oneounceload . Seems to be worrying about what somebody else is doing and how they are doing it.

I do envy the rich myself. Wish I was.

ZeroJunk said:

I agree with oneounceload . Seems to be worrying about what somebody else is doing and how they are doing it.

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I think the question asked by the OP was why the majority of gun rag articles are about things the majority of gun rag buyers do not wish to do or can afford to do. While 99% of the readers do not own a shotgun worth more than $800, why are the majority of shotguns in the articles are $2500 or more. While maybe only one tenth of 1% of subscribers will ever hunt Africa, why there is a article on African Big Game in every issue. While the majority of those folks that subscribe have to hunt grouse without a dog on public land, you never see an article on that. While the bulk of readers hunt deer in small woodlots close to home, the majority of articles are about pay-to-shoot hunts outta towers in Texas or outfitted hunts in the mountains or Canada. The truth is, there are tons of hunting experiences out there for the average person. The problem is stories of those kind of hunts don't sell the advertisers goods. The successful grouse hunt 20 miles from home with the family dog in the 5 year old clear cut on public land is just too mundane.

This implication by some that others are jealous of their wealth seems a bit narcissistic to me. Looking down your nose at someone you think is looking down theirs is a classic example of the pot calling the kettle black.

Yeah right, except I didn't start a thread about seeing things I can't afford.

Why don't you start a magazine about what all of us do every day we hunt and see how entertaining that would be.

ZeroJunk said:

Yeah right, except I didn't start a thread about seeing things I can't afford.

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Neither did I. I just gave a response to the OPs question.

ZeroJunk said:

Why don't you start a magazine about what all of us do every day we hunt and see how entertaining that would be.

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If you go back and read my reply in post #36 you'll see why I stated why stories like that don't sell gun rags.....maybe you missed it.

The truth is, there are tons of hunting experiences out there for the average person. The problem is stories of those kind of hunts don't sell the advertisers goods. The successful grouse hunt 20 miles from home with the family dog in the 5 year old clear cut on public land is just too mundane.

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Folks tend to get uptight on these forums when others don't feel the exact same way about something. The difference of opinion can not be because of just a difference of tastes or priorities, it must be because the other guy just too poor and jealous or too stupid to know better. Truth is, we are all different and thank the good Lord we are. Truth is, wealth is measured by more than material things. Truth is, money cannot always buy happiness nor can it buy hunting and shooting skills. But many think it does. That's why some folks pay big bucks to hunt for trophy bucks behind high fences. This is also why folks get such a kick when the "someone with a half-assembled Mossberg always beats the guy with the fancy gun". Many is the hunt of a lifetime, that took place right outside our back door with a POS gun. From the first post most of us here tried to say that the quality of a hunt is not measured by the amount of money spent on it or the equipment used. Apparently you disagree.

But this is not the season to dis or quibble. This is a day to relish what it is all about and give thanks for what we have, however how much or how little it is. Merry Christmas.

Shotguns and bird hunting can mean different things to different folks, as the Holland and Holland video demonstrates:

http://hollandandholland.com/about/

I grew up with grandpa's .410, kicking quail and doves out of the scrub on the banks of the Arkansas River, but I don't begrudge those who want to make it a social statement.

I love bird hunting, mostly grouse. For me, it's about getting out with my dog, getting exercise, and enjoying my day in the mountains. I don't have a $5000 shotgun or a professionally trained dog with electronics strapped to him but it's always a great day. 1/2 the time, I end up eating chicken anyway. It's all about what experience you want to have.

Magazines are for entertainment and hunting vicariously often in places the reader will only daydream about.

I don't know why they are on bird hunting, but you can bet research has indicated to them that it is of interest to readers and targets an audience that means something to advertisers.

When that ceases to be the case it will be on to the next idea.

While 99% of the readers do not own a shotgun worth more than $800, why are the majority of shotguns in the articles are $2500 or more.

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Cite your facts, please. Considering there are tens of thousands of target shooters who own guns well over 2500, the mags in question are designed who appreciate something more than a black plastic pump gun decked out to slay zombies or other imaginary things.

If you do not like those mags or articles or you find your wealth envy raising your blood pressure to unsafe levels, go to your local grocery magazine section and gaze upon the two dozen dealing with black plastic pump guns and buy one of those

Cite your facts, please. Considering there are tens of thousands of target shooters who own guns well over 2500, the mags in question are designed who appreciate something more than a black plastic pump gun decked out to slay zombies or other imaginary things.

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You take such things so personally! Okay, he should have said "the majority of readers...." and not cited specific percentages...but it's a figure of speech! I do that all the time...."99 percent of the time".



Yes, I don't like reading how Billy Bob hunts squirrels with his H&R 20 gauge. I'd rather read about things I'll never be able to afford to do. I read motorcycle magazine road tests of Ducatis even though I'd never own a friggin' Ducati. I read about tours of the alps. Tours of south Texas I can do myself. I just got a magazine with an article on the Blue Ridge parkway. That's a ride I COULD make, but I've always preferred to ride west. But, I read the article 'cause I've never done it. Who wants to read about what you do all the time?

I can understand newbs reading stuff about hunting in their local area, trying to learn about it. I used to do that with bass fishing articles when I was all that interested in bass fishing. Man, there seems to be no end to the angles you can take on bass fishing beyond locations, stuff concerning temperatures, lake turn overs, colors of baits vs turbidity, plastics, spinner baits, plugs, yadda, yadda. Seems you practically have to be a limnologist to fish for bass anymore..unless you're like me and just go and toss baits hoping they're hitting this or that and when they don't, you come home a lie about the one that got away.

Yeah, hunting and fishing are participation sports. I don't get a lot out of reading about it or watching it on outdoor channels.

[Jules Winnfield]Say 'WEALTH ENVY' ONE MORE TIME![/Jules Winnfield]

Yup, there I am

second from the right

oneounceload said:

If you do not like those mags or articles or you find your wealth envy raising your blood pressure to unsafe levels, go to your local grocery magazine section and gaze upon the two dozen dealing with black plastic pump guns and buy one of those

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You need to chill out. For the life of me I don't know why you have such a fixation on this wealth envy thing. Makes about as much sense as this sentence of yours....

the mags in question are designed who appreciate something more

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You don't know me or anyone else here but automatically assume you have more wealth than any of us that don't like the same magazine articles as you do. Where does that assumption come from?

My blood pressure is fine and is not rising because of any jealousy or animosity towards you. Get over yourself. You ain't that special or that wealthy.

I've always wondered how the "little" people hunt birds?

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well they may be a bit short but I wouldn't call them midgets.

Wealth is relative and it doesn't matter what hobby you choose, there will be a very diverse group participating.

When I go trail riding and camping, I haul a 5 horse aluminum gooseneck trailer, we sleep in the tack room over the the hitch. No AC, no heat, no tv. I have a full set of cast iron, some folding tables and chairs, and we do all our cooking over a fire. My water supply is a 55 gallon drum jammed in the bed of my truck under the nose of the trailer. We ride quarter horses retired from showing that both have AQHA registers of merit.

I can walk one campsite over and find people sleeping in a tent, next to their 1962 2 horse bumper pull trailer hooked to a 1973 pickup truck. They can't cook a hot dog without hiking out to find a suitable stick. Both of their horses combined cost less than my saddle, and when trigger gets thirsty they have to walk him down to the creek.

I walk one site over in the other direction and I find the family who brought their 40ft diesel pusher motorhome to sleep in, as well as a brand new dually pickup truck hauling a 35 ft trailer with living quarters. Both have generators running to power the AC, lights, and big screen TV. They buy their fire wood on the way in and only keep the fire going long enough to drink some high dollar craft beer as the sun sets.

The only thing any of us have in common is that we have fun.

If you were going to publish a magazine about trail riding you'd have a hard time making an article about choosing a good stick to cook hot dogs. You might get some readers if you shared dutch oven recipes but you're not going to sell any ad space.If you focus on the elite with all of their gear and gadgets, now you have people who will buy things.
You can review gear and destinations and sell all kinds of ads. The well heeled people won't read an article about riding a rescue thoroughbred, and sleeping in a tent, but a guy with a rescue TB and a tent might read about a camper, or a week long ride out west because that's the only way he'll get to see it. So you write about the stuff that will get you the most readers and sell the most ads, even if it doesn't reflect how most people live. Pick any hobby you want, from hunting to cooking, or cars and trucks, that's just how it is.