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How about a Hunting Thread

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don't be bullied by people who try to impose there opinion on everyone else. Listen, if they can have threads on cats, dogs, kids, close up of bugs and so on there can be a hunting thread. Be proud of who you are and what you do. I can and appreciate them commenting on the quality of the pictures but not the subject matter.

regards,
Outsider
 
I was unaware of this occurrence in Iowa. But from a much different perspective. I respect the opinions of those that don't agree with hunting, but you make it sound as though limited numbers of states allow the hunting of doves.

Truth of the matter is that dove is one of the more heavily hunted and most popular "game birds" in the United States. After reading some articles about this situation in Iowa it became clear that Iowa was the ONLY state west of the Mississippi river that was NOT allowing dove hunting.

As far as your opinion about killing doves with a .22 rifle....that might be 100% correct if based off what most see in their garden or in populated neighborhoods where "resident" doves live. Much like geese that fail to migrate and become permanent residents of a golf course, dove are a migratory bird. Therefore I propose there is a big difference between "hunting" wild migratory doves, the "skill" required to shoot them in flight with a shotgun, and what is required to kill one sitting on your patio.

I agree that this is a photography forum. But where do we draw the line? Photographs in thread that clearly indicate they are about "hunting" should be avoided by those that are offended by hunting/killing. Photographs and photography involving hunting/killing do have an audience and a place on this forum if shot using Olympus equipment.
 


E-3 12-60SWD
gatordog93 said:
2) From a photographic point of view....you may want to attempt to make the "hunt" more personal. Give a better view of the hunters, maybe their faces, or some close-ups of them with their gear and dog. Safety being very important and obvious, it can be much more difficult to shoot from angles that illustrate the intensity (facial expressions of the dog for lack of better terms).

Gary
Click to expand...
Hey Gary!

Great suggestion. Here's one that probably fits the bill. It's just tough to get into that position safely, but I did it a while back. This is a West Texas quail hunt - March 2010. I was the photographer, not the hunter - but I did get into a good position here and lived to tell about it. This shot (the photograph) was taken after the English Pointer locked down on point and the hunter walked into the direction of the point, beginning pretty far behind the dog and walking out in front of the dog as the dog held its point.

The bird was not where any of us thought it was - note the expression of the hunter and the dog (check the dog's ears as the flap from its raising its head so fast). What is NOT shown in this picture is that this was actually a 10-12 bird covey of quail and I (not the hunter or the dog) caused the covey to flush from slowly walking into the scene with my camera. But, the only bird that was in the image was the one shown. The rest are behind me and flying away from me, the hunter and the dog. So, the expressions you see are a result of a covey rise, rather than a single bird - which explains the intensity and surprise of their (dog and hunter) expressions.

Anyway... hope you enjoy.

BTW, this quail lived to chirp another day!

Cracker Brad
--
Shoot lots of images of your kids - they grow up fast!
 
Nice job! Your image and your story brought a smile to my face. I think you did a wonderful job (with image and story)...and in my opinion this is what photography is all about.

You may not like the topic or the thought of an animal being killed. I don't agree with or like some of the other threads that end up here. However that's what makes photography "photography"...it is an individual preference. And if one wanted a real challenge (photographically) they ought to try to capture shots like you've captured.

The OP didn't mention this when the thread got started but I saw something that possibly should be pointed out. Pheasant hunting "rules" prohibit the shooting of a "hen". If you examine one of the two original photos of this thread you may detect that the flushing bird is a HEN....it appears to me that the hunters recognize this (as they should) and aren't making an effort to shoot/kill it. So though it isn't said my bet is that the bird captured in the image also "lived to chirp another day".
 
STOP LOOKING NOW IF OFFENDED BY HUNTING/KILLING:
Free to interpret that how you like!

Many months ago I made an effort to participate in regular Photo-Essay thread (thanks Roel for your efforts). My effort was poor as I am still working towards becoming "better"...because it is something I am interested in. I am pleased to report that I selected a "topic" that involved hunting though I knew many may not approve. Fortunately I was not blasted for posting images that involved "hunting".

I continue to put forth an effort to illustrate and photograph "hunting" related topics. Again I find it challenging, and in this case I went for a lesser-known form of hunting...WILD TURKEY.

My contribution is far from "perfect"....focus off many times...exposure all "wrong"....

all the result of trying to be "part of it" without disrupting the event (spooking the TURKEY, or cheating a hunter out of many hours of effort).

Here are a few "poor" examples of my attempts to photograph the elusive (but legal and ethical) turkey hunter.

Tools of the trade. By the way, the turkey call was hand-made by a fellow Olympus shooter (maybe that helps)





Awake hours before day-break....hours of searching, calling, and attempting to remain motionless eventually catch you off guard. Hunters do NOT kill when they drift off to sleep!





I wanted a unique and "different" image. I failed in multiple ways...crappy image and my movements "saved" this one.





Call it a "day", time to head home and eat. By the way...the hunter that couldn't keep his eyes open is NOT one of the three walking out with a turkey.



 
Regarding the hen pheasant. Agreed, or it's a hunting preserve. Generally either sex can be legally harvested on a preserve. The image I shared was on a private preserve - where seasons are extended and the bird population is increased by working the land and releasing hatchlings, breeding pairs, etc. The preserve in my pic is operated in conjunction with a group known as Quail Unlimited. I have gone out there numerous times to do photog for hunters I know in exchange for a steak dinner and some good fellowship.

To me - in shooting upland bird hunting pics - the challenge is alway to get into a good position without disturbing the birds and/or getting in the line of fire. In my pic, I basically did BOTH no-no's. I literally walked right into the covey! Yet, it's one of my favorite images - even though the critics can pic it apart for settings/focus, etc... To that I would say - you'd have to be there and see how good your pic is "in the moment"!

Cracker Brad
--
Shoot lots of images of your kids - they grow up fast!
 
Is that hunting or a black op’s , Hell they have more gear attached to them than a tourist arriving at OR Tambo International for a safari. With all that camo its no wonder so many hunters get shoot. :) I have fishing mates that I recon are more “tackle junkies “ than fishermen , they spend so much time changing lures/rods/reels and bait that the line is seldom in the water. Then they wonder why they don’t catch anything.

The last time I was involved in hunting was inadvertently . I was photographing wild life when all hell broke lose near me. Some hunters had veered/ poaching in a no hunting area they ran faster than their prey in the opposite direct when they saw the camera. I did not take any shoots as I was afraid of retaliation (Chicken hearted) I did get the car plate’s though as the speed off I left it at that as It would have been there word against mine.

Very nice treatment on the pictures.
--
Collin

(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )

http://collinbaxter.zenfolio.com/

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. (George Carlin)

New Seventh Wonder of the World.

 
Thanks for commenting! I am still laughing at the "Black Ops" comment...you are correct. In fact that is an element I need to illustrate better.

The "mission" (sticking with the Black Ops theme) involves the hunting of a bird that is very easily spooked, and has vision that many claim is 10X's that of a human. The detection of motion goes without explaining, but I doubt you'll find a more "camo hungry" group of hunters than those that hunt wild turkey.

Most commonly they are hunted from the ground....as in sitting on the ground...which places you at eye level with the turkey. Camo can become an "art" at that point! Unlike the "sniper" using a rifle to kill something (a Rhino) at 200 plus meters, turkey hunting regulations in my case prohibit the use of a rifle. Shotguns are the weapon of choice (many pellets of "bird shot"), but to ethically kill the point of aim is the head/neck. That presents another challenge...shooting distances often are no more than 25 meters.

The backpacks in my photographs are specially designed turkey hunting "vest". Complete with a drop-down padded seat and back rest...in addition to plenty of pockets designed to transport/hold all sorts of various turkey hunting devices. It wouldn't be uncommon for a turkey hunter to pack 12 different turkey calls...all with a slightly different "pitch" or sound...or designed to duplicate all possible sounds of the "turkey language".

Typical of most things in life, the more you explore/learn the more you realize things are much more complicated than they may initially appear. Those that I associate with hunt and "kill"...and initially it may sound like a contradiction but they are also heavily oriented towards conservation and preservation of the game they enjoy hunting. As with many things a few ruthless and illegal hunters/poacher (small percentage) tend to ruin it for all.

In the U.S. there are large organizations of hunters that dedicate hours and money to the preservation of their respected targets. Organizations like "Ducks Unlimited", "Pheasants for Ever", and "Quail Unlimited" are formed by hunters with the intent of increasing public awareness, improving habitat, and not only sustaining but keeping herd/flock numbers in healthy alignment. Makes me wonder what your African plains would be like if many years ago there were a group of hunters that frowned upon illegally killing Rhino and assisted in maintaining the herd/population.

There is far more to it than just "killing". That is one of the reasons the "sport" is called "hunting" and not "killing". There are far more "hunts" that don't end in killing than most imagine, and with certain game/animals there are no predators maintain a healthy equilibrium. In most cases, in the U.S.A., I've learned that hunters are often the best and ultimate "conservationist" and enforcers of the rules.

My goal as camera operator (I shouldn't be considered a "photographer") is to make an effort to illustrate there's more to "hunting" than casually meets the eye.

And when it comes to wildlife photography....a specially designed "turkey hunting vest" can be very helpful! Worth having even if one "hunts" wild game with a camera.
 
i dont have a problem with people who choose to hunt with a camera
i do have a problem with people who hunt animals to kill them

you want to hunt animals with weapons, hunt each other
see how it feels when the opponents have equal risk

side bet
there are less hunters the next time

--
Riley

any similarity to persons living or dead is coincidental and unintended
 
Thanks for the info. Looks like killing takes second place to the hunt and the gear as it should be. As I have said before. I do not have a problem with controlled hunting. I even prefer the “Pay for what you shoot” and yes some hunters in our country game parks are the biggest conservationist around. As I have previously stated if there was not a commercial value, game farmers would not keep them and protect game. We have large animals and some that hunt back like the buffalo etc.

Due to the amount of space these large animals require as some of the lone bulls in true wild life would require about 1 sq KM, space has become a premium . The predator ratio has become unbalanced and natural selection of the fittest has gone out of the window. This leads to animals getting past their “Sell by date” and this cause’s a load on the environment and hassles with the gene pool. Here hunting dose have a roll to remove these older animals to make way for the younger ones. It also relieves stress on the environment as some large animals like elephants get very destructive in their Old age ( Rotting teeth , arthritis, loss of sight etc) . They would have normally moved elsewhere to die or get easier food to eat but they are now hindered by fences and that really stresses the environment.

The biggest problems in Africa is the destruction and whole sale hunting of predators due to cultural and EGO boosts. The imbalance of predators has actually caused a decline in some species. An Example is the lions keep jackals and hyenas in check. These animals keep the smaller predators in check and so on and so on . Take any one of them out and the whole system start’s to collapse. Nature is so finely balanced that sometimes the destruction of what we call pest’s comes back to bite us in the bum. ( Farmers poison rats , the vultures eat the dead rats , result dead vultures , result more rats and endanger Cape Vulture.) Commercial hunting also has a very big commercial value here and this gets ploughed back into the local communities and the environment. The annual wildlife sales in South Africa are a big thing. An example is a young TB free buffalo will cost about $4000 and a rhino about $20000 . These are used as breeding stock ( The rhinos are protected so cannot be hunted.). These animals will be used to breed with and increase the number of animals out in the wild and some of the endangered species.

It sounds like I am an advocate of hunting ? Yes I am but with strings attached and hunting not killing , It’s got to be a trade off. I will never attend a game hunt again. However when your bloody mallards **** our yellow bill ducks my my finger itches. ( We do have a alien bird unit in Cape Town fortunatly )

--
Collin

(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )

http://collinbaxter.zenfolio.com/

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. (George Carlin)

New Seventh Wonder of the World.

 
--
Collin

(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )

http://collinbaxter.zenfolio.com/

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. (George Carlin)

New Seventh Wonder of the World.

 
This turned out to be a good thread after all. BTW I smoke cigarettes,maybe I'll start a thread,sometimes the smoke looks cool. :)
 
Unfortunately I don't have any decent hunting photos, but I do have a lot of fishing photos from various saltwater expeditions.





First up, a nice 6 kg Snapper that put up a decent fight, and was returned, unharmed to live another day. One of the things that is now a common practise here in New Zealand is the catch and release of large fish. Fewer people are keeping the trophy fish, as these are the big breeders and release a huge amount of eggs/sperm at spawning compared to smaller fish.





A reasonable 12 kg Kingfish. These guys are excellent eating, and a true gamefish, reckoned to be pound for pound, one of the strongest fighting fish. They do grow to excess of 40 kgs, and will certainly give most anglers a good run for their money. Generally we fish for these guys with reasonably heavy tackle (24 - 36kg braid and 100-120 lb mono traces) in shallowish water. Given half a chance on of these wily characters will wrap your round a rock and bust you off given half a chance.





Hooked up to a regular sized Hauraki Gulf Kingfish...





A Skipjack Tuna still alive, and fresh out of the water. The blue irridescence fades immediately upon death. These little guys are like torpedoes, very fast and streamlined. A great fight on light gear. Most canned tuna in stores is either these chaps, or Albacore Tuna.





My son with a very large Kahawai he caught, we were live baiting for Kingfish, he had the rod, and his live bait was snaffled by the Kahawai. They are impressive fighters, and will jump to try and throw the hook. Easy to catch, will take spinners, bait, softbaits. Not great eating unless bled straight away, generally we return them alive.

--
It is better to light a candle than it is to curse the darkness
 
It’s nice to be wrong for a change. When I saw this post I though hell it’s going to go pear shaped.

Well it did not and has been informative with ALL views put forward. That is not saying it should be a continual post as that will go pear shaped with true hunters , Ghouls and bunny/tree hugers (like me) posting on a very subjective subject.

For and against was handled responsibly and informatively with restraint.

Nice.

--
Collin

(Aficionado Olympus DSLR )

http://collinbaxter.zenfolio.com/

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. (George Carlin)

New Seventh Wonder of the World.

 
Rriley said:
i dont have a problem with people who choose to hunt with a camera
i do have a problem with people who hunt animals to kill them

you want to hunt animals with weapons, hunt each other
see how it feels when the opponents have equal risk

side bet
there are less hunters the next time
Click to expand...
Now that's a brilliant statement, what a jacka$$
 
Hunting help to increase the health of the population of the animal hunted? Ask the Buffalos how that worked out for them!
--
Bluephotons
Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now. Bob Dylan
 
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