Chuck Adams Hunting articles

[bittersweetmuleymeat]

A freind of mine and myself always butt heads over the accuracy and honesty of hunting articles you read in these magazines. I know some of those guys take alot of jabs from people like myself (out of jealousy)
Are all of the hunts reported to be on "Public land, open to all" really so?
Can somone REALLY arrow hundreds of animals without missing the kill zone on any?
Dont get me wrong, Im sure these guys are great hunters and through hard work have made their living doing what we would all love to. My freindf takes every article and vidio as gospel and will change his hunting techniques and gear from year to year depending on what the latest report is.
I subscribe to a couple magazines, I just look at the pictures. (I CAN read by the way) I particuraly like the sections where pictures are published of "average Joes" and their kids with game they have harvested.
Chuck Adams, Dan Evans and the likes. Anyone have an OPINION?

 

[tufferthandug]

In all the magazines I read, my opinion on one of the most down to earth people that writes hunting stories would have to be Jim Shockey. At least he will throw in a couple stories on how he missed the big one or just write about how his cameraman did hunting that year.

Every year it seems bigger and bigger animals are being taken, and its nice to have a wide variety of hunting magazines covering all sorts of game. I like seeing what's getting taken around North America and learning about the geography of the continent.

As long as good ethics and good hunting etiquette is being practiced, along with giving credit to the guide or friend that went with the hunter on the hunt there's usually a good story to go with it.

I do blame hunting mags and vids on the craving I have to buy a pair of Swarovski's though.LOL.

 

[Lien2]

tufferthandug -
I have to agree with you on Jim Shockey. He is one of the most entertaining writers and impressive hunters out there IMO. Chuck Adams is a stud too, just a little dry in his writing.
To answer the original post, I don't take everything I read as gospel, but I would say the majority are truethful in what they write. I can't imagine anyone calling themselves a hunter would put total b.s. into an article hoping you'd believe it. I will admit though........I have read some amazing stuff in some articles.

Lien2

 

[cabinfever]

I purchased Chuck Adams book "Super Slam" (I think thats the name of it). I personally thought it was a good read. Were some of his stories hyped up a bit? Probably! After all thats what makes a good story. I believe Chuck has worked dang hard for most of the animals he's killed, but has also been on plenty of guided hunts that were probably pretty easy. In contrast, many magazines are pretty misleading. They have cover to cover articles that show mostly 200 class Mule Deer, and while I subscribe to many and love looking at the pictures, I pay little attention to the tecniques they say made them sucessful. I'd wager that well over 75% of the trophy animals you see in these magazines were either killed on guided private land hunts, or premium draw hunts. IMO there are 4 skills that make a successful hunter. 1)preseason scouting 2)perserverance 3)patience 4)Honed shooting skills, and finally 5) Lots of luck.

Mike

 

[Texas_Hunter]

A few years ago I was on an outfitted hunt that had Craig Boddington and a couple big wigs from Leica in camp as well. Boddington apparently was writing an article about the hunt in the NE corner of Wyoming. When I read the article in Peterson's hunting, it made you wonder whether he and I were on the same hunt. He used the dates and names of people who were in camp when we were there. It was dissappointing to see the stretching of the truth and the misrepresentation of the types of animals seen and taken on the hunt.

I met Jim Shockey at the Saskatoon Inn Restaurant this past December and came away very impressed. Very down to earth and even though we were not hunting with him, he took the time to speak to us and chat for a few minutes. He continued the conversation when we were prepared to step aside so he could go back to the meeting he was having with his guides. What you see on his hunting videos is the same personality he had with us.

 

[OSOK]

Cabinfever,

I'm not the reading sort. But, after having shook his hand at the ISE show, my 9 year old son was pretty impressed, I said what the heck and bought his book. Pretty interesting read for the most part. I kind of got caught off track towards the end, when he felt the need to defend himself...

I would also agree with your analogy of a successful hunter!

 

[YELUM]

I like Jim and his goofball attitude. But I was impressed with him when watching an Alskan moose and while floating to river he came upon a huge moose, but wouldn't shoot it because he thought it was unethical from the boat. He later tried to find it and had no luck. He say several smaller moose and I can't remember if he took pone or not but he didn't get the big boy. He is very intertaining. I think his boy drew a paunsagant tag last year. I wonder how he did.

Yelum

 

[txhunter58]

Guess it shows my age, but I am still a Jim Zumbo fan. Lots of stories about how it did it himself on public land and lot of stories about taking his kids hunting. Pretty down to earth, average Joe kind of hunts. I realize that he may have had it easier in the last few years, but he cut his teeth on hunts that you and I can take.

I imagine all of us remember the good points of a hunt more than the negative.

As far as reading articles, I do read some. The hints that I see over and over by yearly successful hunters I take to heart.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[Deerlove]

A couple of years ago Petersons did an article on a canned hunt here in No Ut. It made me sick reading it, you would of thought they were packed into a wilderness area. A lot of people write to sell, not the truth. Russ

 

[sixgunn]

I'm a Zumbo fan as well, I have always enjoyed his articles. Its sad how big of a money game hunting is becoming. Don't get me wrong, I would love to have the money to hunt some of the areas we read about. Maybe someday...I liked the analogy of what it takes to be a good hunter. Good Post.

 

[bittersweetmuleymeat]

Back when I USED to read, on the shelf was Zumb, Schuh and Lapinski. Great stuff. And schuhs video with the Burkes stalking the open country mule deer really was a classic. Man has video came a long way in 15 years!!

 

[cabinfever]

I apologize in advance for being negative, however, it really irritates me when you read an article and it talks about how a trophy animal was killed on public land only to find out later it was killed on private. Its really hard to know what to believe anymore. I guess thats why I trust my own experience and take with a grain of salt what I read in these hunting magazines. Don't get me wrong I have read some really good articles and picked up some good tips, consequently you have to wade through a lot of crap to get to the good stuff. I guess I'm to much like a little kid;i love looking at the pictures.

Mike

 

[supersider34]

I read stories and enjoy reading them. I would assume that alot of the stories I read are hyped up alittle. But reading between the lines help out. Every experience will give an insight on different hunting. I have heard out of mouths of hunters that have had there stories published totally different stories. I had my story published of Trophy Hunter wrote it almost word for word of my hunt. Changed some of the spelling or added a word. Except they put the wrong state in there. I am a lucky hunter and put in lots of time.
But I agree that stories in some are like most fishing stories. Fish gets bigger every time. Didnt want to use hunting stories as we all never exaggerate on them.LOL

 

[Triple_BB]

Zumbo has been married several times. One of his ex's was the sister of a guy I worked with. Supposedly he had a penchant for the bottle. Later I moved to Cody, WY where Zumbo likes to call home. Some of the local guides I met claimed he was a huge whiner and primadonna in hunting camp. Never met the guy, so I wouldn't know.

 

[Elkcrzy1]

I met zumbo at a sports show in denver and wasnt impressed at all with him. Maybe he had other things on his mind who knows? Cant say for sure. I also read chuck adams book and thought it was great till the end when he turned into a whiner and was defending himself. Not cool at all, ruined the book for me, he could have done so many things to make that an awesome book and being a writer he should know it. Gary

 

[Zigga]

I can't blame these guys for a little embelishment here and there but when you have a picture posted in a magazine and the location of the trophy isn't mentioned, other than in what state it was taken in, I get very frustrated. I noticed on Chuck's bigger Montana bulls, there was no mention of where the animal was taken. I'm sure people like Chuck don't compete with other hunters like you and I do and they already have the animals pinned down by some guide on private land. The least they can do is confess to the area and whether it's private or public. I would give my right arm to have an ounce of the experiences these guys have all had and I greatly respect their talent.

 

[B_F_E]

Through my filter, seems that some people have their heroes other people don't. Typically when people start studying every move another individual makes they will eventually come across info that makes them shake their head, or be disappointed, people are hardwired to have thier faults, so in my opinion take what you like.... disregard the rest.

Having said that, for your top 5 list, Cabinfever your my hereo, now please don't post anything bad so I may become disappointed ;-)

 

[COLO3D]

Zigga,

Chuck said that he shot both of his HUGE bulls in roughly the same area on public land in Montana. Until proven otherwise I think we should all believe him. Yes, it was a guided hunt.

 

[Zigga]

Thanks for the update on Chuck COLO3D, but what area? If it was in a limited area, then how can these guys get drawn so often? I read a Zumbo article a few years ago and he mentioned that he had drawn and taken his 3rd Montana bighorn. By now he must have killed a dozen or so. How is this possible? Don't tell me it's luck of the draw! I think the only thing that makes a successful hunter is LUCK, not money or hunting skills. I'd rather be lucky than good.

 

[BOHNTR]

Quote: "I think the only thing that makes a successful hunter is LUCK, not money or hunting skills."

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you Zigga. Although luck plays a part in success, hunting skills is a major factor in whether or not one is successful in the field.

Have you ever wondered why certain hunters out there consistently shoot trophy animals? When you meet or talk to these people, you'll notice they have several things in common; Time to pursue their passion, ability to buy and/or enter several hunt drawings a year, know everything about their prey (scouting, etc.), and they are very SKILLED hunters with good woodsman skills. JMO

BOHNTR )))---------->

 

[antlerradar]

LAST EDITED ON May-18-05 AT 09:28PM (MST)[p]As I recall Chuck Adams said that the aria was interspersed public and private land. He indicated that the public land is heavily hunted by the local hunters. This is an exagreation at best. Adams killed his first large bull in Rosebud county (Fair Chase) A quick look at the montana public land map will show that the only aria in Rosebud County with interspersed public and private land that has elk is in the southern end of the county. The part South of Ashland The rest of the county that has a elk population containes only a few isolated state sections and a small amount of BLM. There are some Block Management ranched but I don't think he could hunt them on a guided hunt. In the southern part of the county there is a fare amount of BLM in the breaks off Tounge River. Most it is in acessable with out premision to cross the private land. This nocks out the heavily hunted by other hunters. Also I know every landowner in the aria on a first name basis and I am related to half of them. Chuck did not kill his elk on the BLM in the Tounge river breaks. This leaves the Custer Nationl Forest. This fits Adams discription well. There are not alot of elk on the forest in Rosebud County. Most are in Powder River County. It is however possible but very unlikely The Adams found his bull on the forest. Adams did not kill his elk on the forest. There is only one Outfitter with a permit to hunt the Custer Nationl Forest in Rosebud County and he is not permited to hunt elk. I also know him and he is a repuituable outfitter and Adams is not hunting with him. If Adams is hunting with and outfiter and killed his elk on the Custer he did it illeagaly. Also the pic. of Adams second elk has a lot of back ground in the picture. The pic was not taken in the southern end of Rosebud County. I know the county too well and would know the aria. Adams is hunting a large ranch in the central part of the county. I know many of the ranchers in this part of the County but not the landowner where he is hunting. The neighbors will conferm that this is where he is hunting. I asked the Game warden If there is any acessable public land in the aria. There is one State section and it is heavely hunted buy the locals. Maybe he killed his elk on this section. This is not likly Most of the elk are run off of this section of ground the first weekend of the season and Adams claims to have taken his in the middle of Sept. He also claims to have walked I think it was 5 miles to get to the spot were he got his elk. This would be hard to do this on a single section with out running off the elk himself.

First. I belive that Adams got both his elk leagaly and have no reason to belive other wise.

Second; The stories Adams tells in his articals don't add up. Why he is writing this way I don't know. Maybe he doesn't want people to know where he is hunting or maybe he just wants to put out a better story.
Adams needs to be more carful. Exagrations and half truths in his articals will only lead to aligations that he is a poacher and that his hunts are not on the up and up. If you read his artical it is easy to asume that he was hunting on the Custer Forest. My good freind that works for the forest told me that they recived many calls inquiring where Adams was hunting and Elk hunting pressure on the forest trippled after the artical was out. Again There are no Outfitters prermited to hunt elk on the Custer Forest in Rosebud County. It is easy to see how someone could come to the concultion that he is using an ileagal Outfitter. Again Mr Adams is not hunting this way, but this is how rummers are started.
I have no problem with Adams writing the story the way he does. It is his right as a writer to take the libertys he wants. I just think he should be carful. His hunting reputation is on the line.
I do have a problem if he used the stories he wrote to get his awards at Pope and Young.

Antlerradar

 

[cabinfever]

Much has been spoken of Luck on this thread. IMO there are two kinds of luck. Dumb luck, which would be having a 200 class buck cross the road in front of you on opening morning, and than stop broad side at 100 yds. And finally there is the luck we create by perservering and patiently waiting for that oppurtune moment when luck will eventually strike.

Mike

 

[Zigga]

I agree that skills have a big part to do with being a successful hunter. The luck I am talking about is being:
lucky enough to have time off from work;
lucky enough to be healthy with two good legs;
lucky enough to not get screwed by other hunters;
lucky enough to have a break in bad weather;
lucky enough to catch a critter out in the open;
lucky enough to have the animal's hormones think for him;
lucky enough to be able to afford the right equipment
lucky enough to have the wind in your favor
lucky enough to hunt on prime land
lucky enough to blahblahblah
You can be the most advanced hunter and still get skunked plenty. But persistance helps create luck. It's still a high percentage of luck that gets you the animal. It's just how you want to look at it.

 

[nbjbhunterman]

Its all fake!!!!

NBJB

 

[txhunter58]

Triple_BB said: Never met the guy, so I wouldn't know.

A point that would keep me from posting such info on an internet unless I knew personally that it was true. I have heard an unsubtantiated rumor that you Dad is a boozer, whiner and a prima dona. Is it ok if I post that or is it better if I only post what I KNOW to be true?

Guide reports could be sour grapes and envy

I just know that he has inspired me to be a good, self reliant, ethical hunter. So when people trash him on rumors, it bothers me.

Go back and read B F E 's response. I agree with it wholeheartedly.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

 

[bittersweetmuleymeat]

Antlerradar, Folks like you and I that have a little personal insight on Chucks bulls make up only a fraction of a percentage of all the outdoorsman that read his articles. The rest that do not have any reason to question the information, MAY take it as 100% truth. (Thats what the book says)I really wouldnt say Mr. Adams or any of the other Hunting/writers are downright lieing about what they put in ink for you and I to read but I do believe alot of the truth is "stretched" to make themselves look better or the hunt itself more exciting to the reader. Kind of a lawyer type thing (Sorry Johnny Chockran RIP) Alot of the words printed are "Leading" or "Missleading" depending on how you look at it.
Again, I have tried to chose my words carefully. My OPINION, is it would be alot harder to be very successfull making a full time living hunting and writing, or making videos or promoting a hunting product (lets say...Trophy Taker Rest) with only printing the FACTS, and not witholding FACTS and not writing to misslead (or lead). Make sense? Sometimes I almost confuse myself. And no, Im not a lawyer!!