Archive for January, 2006
Screen shot of the Grand Canyon using Google Earth
If you have not heard of Google Earth yet, then you have been missing out. Google Earth has been in Beta for some time now, but they have just released the official version a few days ago. For you Mac users, there is good news as they also have released a Mac version as well.
What is Google Earth? It is a Free program that you can download and have access to satellite imagery anywhere in the world. This is not just basic imagery. Google has put together an incredible program that even in the free version, it gives you unbelievable access and features of your favorite area. Want to know how steep a ridge is on a new area you are thinking of hunting next fall. Check it out in Google Earth. Want to see New York City with all of the buildings in great detail? Google Earth has it.
I used Google Earth to help me scout areas for my goat hunt last September. Here is what Google has to say about it:
Google Earth streams the world over wired and wireless networks enabling users to virtually go anywhere on the planet and see places in photographic detail. This is not like any map you have ever seen. This is a 3D model of the real world, based on real satellite images combined with maps, guides to restaurants, hotels, entertainment, businesses and more. You can zoom from space to street level instantly and then pan or jump from place to place, city to city, even country to country.
Google Earth is technology at its finest. The only drawback is that you must have a newer computer and basic broadband internet connection to run it properly. All of the data is being streamed in real-time over the internet. Not all locations are as clear as others. Certain locations have high definition imagery which is unbelievably clear. I was checking out Bahgdad in Iraq the other day and I could see the bottom of the river and the cars on the road. To see what areas in North America that have high definition, click here.
One of coolest things that you can do with this program is share locations and “fly throughs” with other people who have the program as well. Mark some of your favorite locations and save the file and email it to your buddy. Scouting out a new area? Plot it out on Google Earth and save the points, then email the file to your hunting party and they will be able to see the locations you have plotted out.
I have set up an example here as I have saved out a .kmz file (Goolge Earth file format) for the location to King’s Outdoor World. First, go to Google Earth and download and install the program. After installation, come back here and download this file to your desktop. Once downloaded simply double click Kings Outdoor World.kmz and it will open up automatically in Google Earth.
Google Earth Web Site
Google Earth Product Tour
Sample location file of King’s Outdoor World Headquarters (Kings Outdoor World.kmz) 684 KB
January 16th, 2006
I just got some information from an Oregon contact about two monster blacktail deer that were taken this past year. Both of these bucks were taken with a bow. One is a buck that scores 212 net non-typical. Another buck potentially scores 187 net typical. This could be a new world record if this score is legit and holds up. I should find out in the next few weeks after the official scores come in on how these bucks stack up.
January 14th, 2006
Travelling from Utah to North Dakota in the middle of January usually doesn’t produce the best in road conditions. Hunting Illustrated Predator Editor Travis Osmond is currently on the road right now slowly making his way to the North Dakota Coyote Classic held in Dickinson, ND at the Days Inn. There was a big storm that came through Wedesday night that is making travelling conditions the pits.
I just talked to Travis on his cell phone a few minutes ago and he told me how they closed down I-80 east of Rock Springs and west of Wamsutter about 6 p.m. yesterday. He had to turn back and spend the night in Rock Springs, WY. He is on his way again this morning hoping that the road conditions hold up so he can make his destination.
Travis is on schedule to to do a coyote seminar either Friday night or Saturday night (it depends when he can finally get there). So if you are heading to the Coyote Classic in ND, check out Travis’ seminar - he does a great job.
UPDATE: Sorry everyone, but Travis is coming home. I just talked to him and he said the roads are horrible. There is about a 60 mile stretch with nothing but semi-trucks parked off the side of the road because they can’t continue. He has been going about 15 mph for the past five hours. Sorry for all of you who were expecting Travis at the show. We will try again next year.
January 13th, 2006
Usually when talking about trophy bull elk, you are talking about the coveted 6×6 point bull, or even the monarch 7×7 and beyond. There are some great 5×5 point bull elk out there that would make many 6×6 point bulls envious. Here are two of my favorite 5×5 point bull elk. These incredible bulls are a freak of nature and top my list of “The Most Amazing 5×5 Point Elk”.
Stuart Stedman took this 5×5 typical frame bull scoring 385 7/8 gross and 367 2/8 net B&C. The incredible front brow tines measure 25 and 29-inches long! This photo was included in the White Mountain Monarch feature in the Special Winter Issue of Hunting Illustrated.
Slade Sanborn was shed hunting in 2004 when he came across what he was looking for. These amazing 5×5 elk sheds score 403 gross with a 46-inch inside spread. The right third tine is 33 6/8-inches long, which could quite possibly be the longest third point ever known. Slade’s sheds and story were featured in the April/May 2005 “Best of 2004″ Issue of Hunting Illustrated. The antlers are also featured in our new 2006 King’s Bull Elk Calendar.
Another photo showing the incredible tine length of these antlers
January 11th, 2006
Lloyd Jacobsen with his Utah state record elk scoring 421 6/8 gross and 408 4/8 net typical B&C
Yesterday I had the great opportunity to visit with Lloyd Jacobsen at his home and see first hand his awesome bull elk. It was great to sit down and have Lloyd tell me the story on his great hunt for this bull. It is amazing how many people who saw this bull on the hoof believed he was “only” a 390 class elk. I was able to get some great photos of the antlers as well and you will see Lloyd’s new Utah state record typical elk in the future 2007 King’s Bull Elk Calendar which will be available later this year.
Hunting Illustrated will also be the first place you will find the featured story on this great elk hunt. If you are not a subscriber yet, you better get signed up as Lloyd’s bull will be featured in our upcoming “Best of 2005″ Issue out at the end of March 2006.
One thing that amazed me with this bull is just how big it is. I was able to get a copy of the score sheet. Let me just throw a couple of numbers out to you so you can fully grasp just what I am talking about (I will go into greater detail in a special sidebar in this upcoming featured story in Hunting Illustrated). Lloyd decided to score and enter his bull as a typical. However, there is one abnormal kicker point on the right side that is 5 2/8-inches long that counted as a deduction to his typical score. Did you know that this bull would have also shattered the current state record non-typical as well! The current record is 412 0/8 net non-typical B&C. Lloyd’s bull also scores as a non-typical an amazing 419 0/8 net! Wow, that is something to think about. Either way you score it, it is a new state record. Congratulations Lloyd.
January 5th, 2006
There has been a lot of talk about this bull, but the official results are in on the Shawn Patterson archery bull elk. Touted as a potential world record typical elk, it looks like this status will be upheld. This amazing elk officially scores 423 6/8 gross and 414 0/8 net P&Y. It is a pending world record typical elk for Pope & Young.
What does this mean? The score is official. However, when a bull is challenging the current world record (which is held by Chuck Adams at 409 2/8), the elk must be panel scored. The last panel scoring was held in the spring of 2005. Therefore, it won’t be until 2007 before the Patterson bull could be officially recognized as a world record.
You never know what could happen at a panel score. Last year Chuck Adams had another bull that he arrowed in 2003 that was green scored around 412 net and looked to surpass his current record which he holds at 409 2/8. Unfortunately the bull got knocked down at the panel with a final official score of 399 1/8 P&Y. From what I understand, a lot of the discrepancy was due to the inside spread measurement.
I know the Patterson bull has a wide inside spread and long 60-inch main beams to match. Hopefully it can hold up and officially become the world record archery typical elk for P&Y at the next panel. Until then we will just have to wait.
January 4th, 2006
James Cheek with his Colorado mule deer wearing King’s Desert Shadow Camo
What is the King’s ShadowCamo Photo Contest? If you took a big game animal, a predator, or even a turkey and you were wearing either Desert Shadow, Mountain Shadow, or our Snow Shadow Camo pattern you are eligible. You must send in your “kill shot” photo that is out in the field. It cannot be a photo of the animal in the back of your truck, in your front yard, hanging in a tree, etc. It must be from the summer/fall hunts of 2005 and goes until January 31, 2006. We put the deadline at the end of January 2006 because our Desert Shadow pattern is very popular for the Mexico rut hunts in January.
Here are a couple of answers to some common questions:
Hunter Orange is just fine in your photo if you have ShadowCamo under it. Another hat is acceptable, but cannot be another camo pattern. We are a little more lenient on giving away a subscription, but to be a contender for the contest you must present the animal very well and showcase the camouflage (clean the animal, set it up, do not sit on the animal, get low to the ground when taking your photos, photo clarity and quality counts). The above photo is a great example of what to do. If you have a digital camera, email the files or burn them to a CD instead of printing them out.
Send in your photos via email or snail mail. The higher quality of photo the better. Include your contact information and information about your hunt and animal. What do you get? Every photo that is sent in and meets the requirements automatically receives a one-year subscription/renewal to Hunting Illustated. We will then pick the top two photos from each pattern and award some great prizes…like bows, optics, and much more.
There have been some great animals taken this past year. Many of them will be featured in the upcoming pages of Hunting Illustrated. One thing you will notice…a lot of these hunters are wearing King’s ShadowCamo. Why? It is the most affective camouflage on the market today.
I received this email the other day from James Cheek. Just a great example of the awesome animals taken with hunters wearing King’s ShadowCamo (specifically King’s Desert Shadow). James just got a free one-year renewal to his current subscription and is in the contest along with many other great entries that you will be seeing more of shortly. Here is what James included in his email to me:
I would like to enter my deer in your photo contest.
I first saw this 7×5 on Nov. 7 and was able to sneak within 64 yards of him before he took off chasing does. I hunted him hard until on Dec 8. I was able to take him almost five miles away from where I first saw him. Not my biggest. I even saw two that were bigger throughout the season, but I killed the buck that I had told myself I was going to kill.
I also thought you might enjoy the coyote picture. I walked out my back door on Oct 30 and saw a coyote wandering across the pasture. I went back in, put on my cammys, grabbed my .204 and took a stand about 100 yards from my house. I let out two aggressive howls on the old red desert howler and 10 minutes later took this picture.
Your magazine is the best out there, the only problem I have with it is that it only comes six times a year. Please keep it up.
THANKS.
James Cheek - Wray, Colorado
January 3rd, 2006
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