Sportsman's Blog

Happy Independence Day, America!!

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Remember, currently my primary blogging efforts are now appearing at the Minneapolis StarTribune.com’s Club Outdoors pages which you can directly link to here:

While I will still occasionally make blog postings at this site, they will tend to be more infrequent and sporadic.

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and on facebook by using the following link:  www.facebook.com/jim.braaten

 

 

Tags: startribune.com+club+outdoors, twitter.com, facebook.com

I Got This Idea The Other Day

…Now bear with me on this one.   I’ll explain my idea in just a minute, but first I want you to look at this short little 10–second video tease that The Sportsman Channel is currently playing between their scheduled programming:

http://tinyurl.com/n52bre

Kind of makes you wonder what they’re up to, eh?   I mean, c’mon…why do we need to wait until 6.29.09 for the big announcement?   We live in a world where we want to know what’s happening NOW!   Oh sure, this sort of marketing builds intrigue and wonder…but forcing us to wait two more weeks to learn what’s happening at the cable TV network is just a bit ludicrous, if you ask me.

Fortunately, I think I’ve decoded what’s going on.   Now keep in mind, I have no inside information…as what I’m about to tell you is strictly a guess.   And as far as guesses go, some folks might say it’s pretty far-fetched at that.

Okay, are you ready for what I think the big announcement will be?   Here it is.   I think The Sportsman Channel is planning to announce the debut of a new outdoors-oriented reality TV show.   Yup, that’s right.   In a world filled with popular shows of that ilk such as “Survivor,” “I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here,” and “American Idol,” among others…isn’t it about time us sportsmen have our own high-drama show?   Seriously, I’m talking about a human interest show that is woven into a predictably humorous plot that we simply just have to tune in from week to week to see what might happen next to the participants.

Now, should we get down to specifics and hear my guess?   I think the name of the new show will be called THE SNIPE HUNT!!   Yup, a humorous concept that most sportsman are already keenly aware of, but nonetheless a practical joke that has been absolutely legendary standing the test of time.

Alright, for the sake of a few rookie readers who might not understand the concept of snipe hunting, I refer you HERE for an explanation.   For the rest of you, consider the concept.   What could be more hilarious from week to week than sportsmen tuning in to watch gullible, unsuspecting, totally green-horn type outdoors folks being dropped off in the woods with a burlap bag and a lantern.   Oh, and, of course, a camera-man who documents their every action as they slowly discover the gig isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be.

Honestly, I have played this concept through in my mind and when you watch the teaser promo video and listen to the voice-over it leaves me convinced that what you have here is a couple of innocent folks out on a good ‘ol fashioned snipe hunt.   In my mind’s eye I can picture one of them holding the bag wide open and the other trying to direct the light as they hear the approaching sounds of what POSSIBLY could be an incoming snipe.

Now seriously, if you had to develop an outrageous reality TV show of great interest for most outdoorsy folks what could possibly be better than snipe hunting?   I think the time has finally arrived and The Sportsman Channel has recognized that the traditional sport of snipe hunting deserves 30–minutes of air-time each week.   There’s already enough shows chasing deer, elk, and lunker fish…isn’t it about time the oft disrespected snipe (the fictional one, not the migratory bird) gets the attention it is rightfully due?

Then again…I’m told that a new teaser promo will be airing each week before the cable TV network’s big announcement and perhaps the next clue will dispel my most recent guess of a reality TV show.   I certainly hope not…but for the record, I have been known to be wrong a time or two before.   I guess we’ll all have to stay tuned to see what’s happening on 6.29.09 even though I think it’s downright mean for them to make us wait that long.

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Tags: Snipe+Hunting, The+Sportsman+Channel

Too Much Arrogance In Our Outdoor Community

I’ve got to get something off my chest.   In fact, today’s blog post is more of a gnawing pet peeve than perhaps anything else.   It’s about people who simply have an arrogance about them in such a way that it becomes a big turn off.   Let me explain what I mean.

For example, it’s about the outdoors writer who places themselves on such a high pedestal as an expert on any given outdoor subject that their writings become almost condescending to the reader.   Frankly, I can do without the braggert slant and when I begin reading something written in such a manner I quickly stop.   Honestly, I don’t care if you are the best turkey hunter east of the Mississippi River.   Instead, will you write the article in such a humble manner that I will draw those conclusions myself…I don’t need to read about you “tooting your own horn.”

Closely related to this example is the wildlife photographer.   In my profession I deal with many photographers purchasing images for various calendar projects.   Granted, there are many photogs who are real gems to deal with…but then there are others who think their work is second to none.   Now granted, there can be a fine line between arrogance and cocky confidence, but too many photogs step way over this line.   Truth is, when I have 12 images to purchase for a calendar project and 1,000s of potential images submitted by photographers looking to sell…well, one tends to sometimes base final selection decisions on the personality of the image owner.

Lately, another big gripe of mine has been the raw arrogance displayed by many tournament fishermen.   It seems some of the bass fishermen tend to be the worst.   Now I fully realize there are some real down-to-earth sincere types that do not fit the blanket statement I am making, but those folks are the rare exception.   In my opinion, too many amateur and pro tournament fishermen need to eat a healthy slice of humble pie before their next event.   This may come as a surprise to you…but I don’t worship your piscatorial prowess in the slightest.

I could go on with many other examples, but I will leave you with one more.   Is it just me, or do you find certain bowhunters to be a bit on the arrogant side?   Understand, I used to hunt with a bow but I no longer choose to do that.   Yet, I have some friends who would snub their nose at me if I shot a trophy deer with a firearm rather than taking it with a bow.   Is that fair?   Should my achievement be scrutinized with such a heavy bias toward one method and not another?   Fact is, in many instances this is exactly how it works out.

I suppose it’s not just in our outdoor culture where we’re going to experience this prevailing attitude of superiority.   You might say it’s simply a fact of life in a modern society.   True, but that doesn’t mean I have to like it pervading the outdoor world I so dearly cherish.   I guess as I grow older I also grow a bit more intolerant of situations like I have just described.   If your attitude about the outdoors tends toward being arrogant, don’t expect to earn a whole lot of respect from me.   Nope, not anymore.

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Ammunition Just Gets Harder To Find

A few days ago I was discussing with a friend the current state of our retail ammunition supply and the perceived “shortage” many of us are experiencing around the country.   My friend, who happens to work in the retail gun industry, was quick to snap back “there is NO damn shortage!   People are hoarding ammunition so badly that the normal ammunition supply just can’t keep up.   There just happens to be an overabundance of stocked ammo now being held in private reserves.”

Indeed, my friend is correct in his observation.   His response was quickly evident that a certain frustration also exists among retailers who are trying their damnedest to keep shelves full of all calibers of ammunition.   Yet, the buying frenzy continues.   Ammunition manufacturers, retailers and consumers, alike, have grown frustrated by this current situation.   One day shelves will seem well stocked, a few days later everything is empty again with replacement product still weeks away on backorder.

I’ve heard stories of individuals driving several hours just to purchase a couple boxes of desired ammo in stock.   I’ve also heard rumors that people are paying outrageous prices for ammo they know in their heart is not worth that much, but for some reason they must have it now.   So, this craziness lingers on and perhaps seems to be building with the passage of time.

So what’s causing the shortage?   Well, quite honestly there is no simple or definitive answer.   Surely it’s a combination of factors.   No doubt the election of Obama, a perceived gun-control advocate, has a lot to do with this.   Prior to last fall ammunition supplies were rather stable, albeit the prices were creeping higher thanks to the volatile metals market, but out-of-stock situations on ammo were not nearly as troublesome as they are today.

Oh, sure, I’ve even heard some of this blamed on the fact we have been at war now for several years.   Well, I guess this would explain the shortages of 9mm, .45ACP, .223 and 5.56mm…but since when did our armed forces start using .380Auto in large quantities?   It’s widely believed this caliber is one of the most difficult rounds to purchase these days.   Even .22LR has been flying off the shelves — that’s definitely not a popular military round.

Some even explain that our law enforcement agencies are stocking up for their practice reserves and this is diverting supply from the normal retail shelf.   I suppose this is possible, to some extent.

Of course, we are living in some extraordinary times these days.   Whenever economic strife hits our population there grows a general uneasiness about the future.   Remember that “clinging to their guns” comment made during the election campaign last year?   Guns without an adequate ammunition supply happen to be worthless.

Speaking of guns, did you know that some gun industry experts believe that roughly 30% of all guns being sold today are to “first time” gun buyers.   That’s amazing.   Of course, these individuals will need ammo.   New consumers of a product will certainly further stress the supply side of things.

Yet, another facet of the current political climate threatens us with outrageously high taxation on ammo.   How long do you have to listen to the political rhetoric proposing 500% tax hikes on ammunition before it has a negative effect?   Or even more ridiculous, serialization of our bullets so that every bullet is registered to a particular individual.   Oh sure, this sounds great in theory…but practically speaking this bullet identity measure would be the final nail in the coffin for the firearms industry.

Honestly, I’m not really sure anybody has a good handle on why certain kinds of handgun and rifle ammunition are now being found in short supply.   Certainly there are many factors at play here.   I suppose that one could even conclude that investing in ammunition has proven more worthwhile than the stock markets as of late.   Indeed, I’ve heard stories of individuals buying certain calibers of ammo when they don’t even own a gun now that shoots it.   You just wouldn’t have witnessed bizarre behavior like that pertaining to ammunition back a decade or so ago.

I guess what matters isn’t so much analyzing why ammunition in certain calibers happens to be difficult to buy.   No, what matters more is simply being able to purchase the ammunition one truly needs.   Problem is, when you wait weeks to finally locate the ammo you seek and then pay a much higher price at the cash register…how likely are you to go home and actually shoot it?   Honestly, when the commodity you’ve finally attained has such a high perceived valuable…does it somehow diminish your enjoyment for actually shooting it?

As my friend originally said, this may not be an ammo “shortage,” but whatever you want to call it, its a stinker of a situation we must now somehow deal with for at least the short term.

© 2009 Jim Braaten. All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.