Jim Zumbo is one of the most renowned and respected outdoor writers of our time. Unfortunately Jim Zumbo is now taking a lot of heat from the very industry he is apart of. Jim Zumbo “had” a blog on the Outdoor Life web site. Jim recently made a post on his Outdoor Life Blog in regards to AR and AK rifles that were negative and how there shouldn’t be a place for these types of rifles in hunting. Here is a short portion of his comments:
I call them “assault” rifles, which may upset some people. Excuse me, maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I’ll go so far as to call them “terrorist” rifles. They tell me that some companies are producing assault rifles that are “tackdrivers.”
Unfortunately these comments have made a lasting impression on his supporters. Outdoor Life has now pulled his blog and has left the following message on the blog site:
Statement from Outdoor Life
Due to the controversy surrounding Jim Zumbo’s recent postings, Outdoor Life has decided to discontinue the “Hunting With Zumbo” blog for the time being. Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the looks of the firearms we choose to own, shoot and take hunting. Please direct any comments you have to OLletters@time4.com.
Furthermore, another blow has come from one of his major sponsors – Remington Arms Company. It is ironic that the very hunt Jim Zumbo was on that he made the blog post from was a hunt accompanied by Remington Arms personnel. Remington Arms has since released a statement that they are severing their sponsorship with Jim Zumbo:
Remington to Sever Sponsorship Ties with Jim Zumbo
Madison, North Carolina – As a result of comments made by Mr. Jim Zumbo in recent postings on his blog site, Remington Arms Company, Inc., has severed all sponsorship ties with Mr. Zumbo effective immediately. While Mr. Zumbo is entitled to his opinions and has the constitutional right to freely express those opinions, these comments are solely his, and do not reflect the views of Remington.
“Remington has spent tens of millions of dollars defending our Second Amendment rights to privately own and possess firearms and we will continue to vigorously fight to protect these rights,” commented Tommy Millner, Remington’s CEO and President. “As hunters and shooters of all interest levels, we should strive to utilize this unfortunate occurrence to unite as a whole in support of our Second Amendment rights.”
We regret having to terminate our long-standing relationship with Mr. Zumbo, who is a well-respected writer and life-long hunter.
To try and stop the landslide of criticism, Jim Zumbo quickly made a follow up post on his blog making a serious apology (all of this has since been taken down from the Outdoor Life Blog site). Here is how it started out:
I was wrong, BIG TIME
Someone once said that to err is human. I just erred, and made without question, the biggest blunder in my 42 years of writing hunting articles.
My blog inflamed legions of people I love most….. hunters and shooters. Obviously, when I wrote that blog, I activated my mouth before engaging my brain.
Let me explain the circumstances surrounding that blog. I was hunting coyotes, and after the hunt was over and being beat up by 60 mph winds all day, I was discussing hunting with one of the young guides. I was tired and exhausted, and I should have gone to bed early. When the guide told me that there was a “huge” following of hunters who use AR 15’s and similar weapons to hunt prairies dogs, I was amazed. At that point I wrote the blog, and never thought it through.
Mr. Zumbo continues to apologize, expressing his concern for not understanding the rifles he was criticizing before making his comments, but also confirming his stand on his lifelong support of hunting, the NRA, our Second Amendment Rights, and his support of the troops overseas fighting for our freedom. He concludes that he already has plans to hunt with Ted Nugent using AR 15’s as a way of learning more about them.
It will be interesting to see how this unfolds in the future. There has been some damage done already and the future of Jim Zumbo the outdoor writer could be in jeopardy. I hope that there can be some give and take on this issue, maybe a little forgiveness, and most importantly a good lesson learned. For Mr. Zumbo, unfortunately that lesson was learned the hard way.
UPDATE: I thought it would be best to try and post the whole comments made by Jim Zumbo so people would be able to get the whole picture instead of tid bits here and there and to allow you to make a better conclusion for yourself. I went through my RSS feed reader, and I was fortunate enough to find the feeds of his blog posts (I subscribe to his blog feed). I was able to find these posts in my reader that stored them in cache. Since they are now taken down on his Outdoor Life Blog site, the only way of getting a true account of this is if you grabbed it before it was taken down or if you have it saved in cache somewhere. Well, I have it saved and therefore thought I would post his whole orginal blog post and then his second post where he makes his apology. What’s interesting is the disclaimer that was posted by Outdoor Life after Jim’s original post.
Original Post (made Feb. 16, 2007)
Assault Rifles For Hunters?
from Hunting With Jim Zumbo by outdoorlifeAs I write this, I’m hunting coyotes in southeastern Wyoming with Eddie Stevenson, PR Manager for Remington Arms, Greg Dennison, who is senior research engineer for Remington, and several writers. We’re testing Remington’s brand new .17 cal Spitfire bullet on coyotes.
I must be living in a vacuum. The guides on our hunt tell me that the use of AR and AK rifles have a rapidly growing following among hunters, especially prairie dog hunters. I had no clue. Only once in my life have I ever seen anyone using one of these firearms.
I call them “assault” rifles, which may upset some people. Excuse me, maybe I’m a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I’ll go so far as to call them “terrorist” rifles. They tell me that some companies are producing assault rifles that are “tackdrivers.”
Sorry, folks, in my humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting. We don’t need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern. I’ve always been comfortable with the statement that hunters don’t use assault rifles. We’ve always been proud of our “sporting firearms.”
This really has me concerned. As hunters, we don’t need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons. To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let’s divorce ourselves from them. I say game departments should ban them from the praries and woods.
UPDATE: As a point of clarification about this blog, it is important for everyone to realize that the opinions expressed here are Jim’s and not necessarily those of Outdoor Life.
I’ve been friends with Jim for many years and have shared countless great times with him talking about both hunting and guns. While I totally support Jim’s right to express his point of view—this is his blog after all—I don’t happen to agree with him on this matter.
His position that AR- and AK-style rifles don’t have a place among our “sporting arms” is not one that I personally, or Outdoor Life as a magazine, happens to share.
In the six years that I’ve worked at Outdoor Life we have never wavered in our support of our Second Amendment rights, which don’t, and shouldn’t, make a distinction about the cosmetic look of the guns that we choose take to our local gun clubs or into hunting camp.
That said, I don’t expect every other hunter and sportsman out there to have a set of opinions that moves in lockstep with mine. So while I don’t share Jim’s view on this, I also know that he is still the same wonderfully talented and good-natured person he was before this post went up. For those of you who have followed him for all or part of his more than thirty years at Outdoor Life, I would ask you to bear that in mind before damning him with personal attacks.
John B. Snow
Executive Editor
Outdoor Life
Second Post – Apology
I was wrong, BIG TIME
from Hunting With Jim Zumbo by outdoorlifeSomeone once said that to err is human. I just erred, and made without question, the biggest blunder in my 42 years of writing hunting articles.
My blog inflamed legions of people I love most….. hunters and shooters. Obviously, when I wrote that blog, I activated my mouth before engaging my brain.
Let me explain the circumstances surrounding that blog. I was hunting coyotes, and after the hunt was over and being beat up by 60 mph winds all day, I was discussing hunting with one of the young guides. I was tired and exhausted, and I should have gone to bed early. When the guide told me that there was a “huge” following of hunters who use AR 15’s and similar weapons to hunt prairies dogs, I was amazed. At that point I wrote the blog, and never thought it through.
Now then, you might not believe what I have to say, but I hope you do. How is it that Zumbo, who has been hunting for more than 50 years, is totally ignorant about these types of guns. I don’t know. I shot one once at a target last year, and thought it was cool, but I never considered using one for hunting. I had absolutely no idea how vast the numbers of folks are who use them.
I never intended to be divisive, and I certainly believe in United we Stand, Divided we Fall. I’ve been an NRA member for 40 years, have attended 8 national NRA conventions in the last 10 years, and I’m an advisory board member for the United States Sportsmen’s Alliance which actively fights anti-hunters and animal rights groups for hunter’s rights.
What really bothers me are some of the unpatriotic comments leveled at me. I fly the flag 365 days a year in my front yard. Last year, through an essay contest, I hosted a soldier wounded in Iraq to a free hunt in Botswana. This year, through another essay contest, I’m taking two more soldiers on a free moose and elk hunt.
When I started blogging, I was told to write my thoughts, expressing my own opinion. The offensive blog I wrote was MY opinion, and no one else’s. None of the companies that I deal with share that opinion, nor were they aware of what I had written until this firestorm started.
Believe it or not, I’m your best friend if you’re a hunter or shooter, though it might not seem that way. I simply screwed up. And, to show that I’m sincere about this, I just talked to Ted Nugent, who everyone knows, and is a Board member of the NRA. Ted is extremely active with charities concerning our wounded military, and though he’s known as a bowhunter, Ted has no problem with AR 15’s and similar firearms. My sincerity stems from the fact that Ted and I are planning a hunt using AR 15’s. I intend to learn all I can about them, and again, I’m sorry for inserting my foot in my mouth.
Matt J
February 28, 2007 at 9:04 am
We as hunters need to figure out how we can preserve Jim Zumbo’s position in the hunting world. He is a hunter first, and I believe his motive was honorable, to preserve the image of hunting. No one alive today has done so much to preserve the honor of big game hunting…with guns. He did not make an anti second amendment statement. FLASH…hunting preferences are not second amendment issues! He caused some folks to take offense, but I believe their response is quite indicative of poor self image…point made.
Get over it, and work on your image folks, that was IMO the message, not take your guns.
BTW, I own the “black gun” but I do not hunt it, it was not made to hunt with. I do not hunt with semis anyway, so I do have bias…as you all do and have stated rather viciously.
Matt J
February 28, 2007 at 9:12 am
I guess my button is pushed this morning, but I want to make an observation.
Last night I watched the outdoor channel, and during that time there were a couple gun ads, one by Panther Arms. Even the gun maker does not “advertise” their product as a hunting implement. the add was universally about competition shooting; target, defense games, etc. Hey if you want to use them, OK, but i have yet to see one in the field…wonder why?
BTW, I turned it off at 7:30 PM…had enough of the “ya’all.”
c Fiscella
March 1, 2007 at 9:29 pm
This is long over due. Jim Zumbo is entitled to his opinion but unfortunately he has written divisive and negative columns in the past, that serve not as debate but a bullying attitude. As a younger hunter and avid sportsman I am sick of the in fighting amonst my fellow sportsman. Jim Zumbo is one of the leftovers from that “Old School” mentality that seems to demonize anyone who he disagrees with. We need to stop this “Old School” negative behavior and unite to work things out, or we are finished. The “My way or the highway” attitudes have no place in the sportsman culture anymore. His time has come and gone. It’s time for him to move on. Enjoy retirement. Kudos to OL and Remington. I’m keeping my subscription!
Jeff
March 2, 2007 at 4:04 am
I have read Mr. Zumbo’s articles and books for years. I too had the same opion of AR style rifles until I bought one and outfitted it for long range shooting. I have never had a bolt gun near as good, including Remington. I’m sure if Mr. Zumbo follows through with his plan to hunt with Ted Nudgent that his feelings will change. I know I want to get a .308 to use deer hunting.
I think that people are over reacting to this. If OL and Remington had let this go Jim would have gotten quite a bit of feedback from AR and AK fans, which I’m sure he could get over and still maybe evn have been able to appreciate a well setup AR after having shot one more.
But now the antis are being drawn to this because of the kneejerk reaction. Hopefully those at Remington and OL have the same kneejerk reaction to the antis when they use this.
Mark DeFrancisco
March 2, 2007 at 10:37 am
Jim Zumbo has been publishing hunting articles for most of all our lives. I cannot rember a time without his professional take on western hunting. I have read his blog now in question.
As a dedicated hunter of over 35 years, I am appalled at the reaction of Outdoor Life, Remmington, and anyone else who has taken a stand against this legend of American hunting.
When did the second ammendment superceed the first ammendment of free speech?
Agree or not with Mr. Zumbo, NO ONE has the right to challenge his integrity and commitment to all hunters.
And certainly no one has the right to take away his first ammendment rights to speak freely.
If you disagree, that is YOUR right.
Mr. Zumbo, I’d hunt with you any time and more hunters support you than condem you.
Outdoor Life and Remmington should be made to realize that they have stepped on the rights of free speech and pay for their mistake as you write from a more respectful publication soon, and we will all shoot firearms NOT made by Remmington.
I personally will trash my 870 and 1100!
c.m.
March 2, 2007 at 11:01 am
im not a hunter or a gun owner. i just happened to read about this jim zumbo on a piece of discarded newspaper i was using to pack a box with. i looked up his biography and he’s a remarkably accomplished authority in his field, it really is a shame that his career could literally end over one gun! or really over one word. “terrorist” was obviously the word that got under everyone’s skin. and he maybe shouldnt have used it. but he certainly shouldnt apologize for what he meant to write. he, as a hunter, is preserving the purity of his sport. those who profit from munitions and war are using hunters as pawns to keep making money off of human death all over the world. we all have the right to bear arms to defend ourselves (or our “honor”, depending on how drunk we get) and thats cool, but make no mistake: a gun is a gun is a gun is not true. guns that are designed to take out multiple troops, or rival gang members are not really meant to help you bring home that trophy elk, although they might help. and zumbo just wants to distance himself, and you too, from that sort of thing. if you are a hunter you should be proud of what he’s doing. if you are a gun enthusiast you should stop and think. don’t get your apples caught up with his oranges. he may have offended you, but does it at all affect his authority when it comes to game hunting? you know in your heart the answer is no.
C.Whitmore
March 2, 2007 at 3:25 pm
In the 100 or more blogs that I have read so far, at least 80 percent still do not have a clue as to the real battle that us gun owners are facing in these times. Yes, I agree that Jim slipped in his words. But do all of you really beleive that his is still not on OUR side. You would be a fool to think otherwise.
As a member of the NRA, who at times I might not agree with them in some of their statements, I will still stand by them. Why? Because we all need to. That is, we all need to stick together in the battle to keep our rights to bear arms.
We have a image that all of us must maintain, especialy in the eyes of those that would pounce at the opportunity, those eyes being the anti gun lovers.
I myself own an SKS rifle. or the so called assault weapon. Would I use it for hunting? No! Why? Because I want to make sure that no one sees me using it in the field. Get real everyone! Yes, it can kill game, when used accuratly. And so can the AR-15. I’ve read the letters from those that they have used there .223’s for taking deer. But a real hunter knows in their heart that the puny little 55 grain bullet is not the best choice for taking medium game. Then there are those that want to use the 50-cal bmg for antelope. Are they out of their minds? Have any of you seen the pictures of any of the terrorists that have been shot with one of those rounds. They are turned inside out! A true hunter kills game to eat it. All of it. Not waste it with this caliber of a gun. They are just wanting to see what it does or, what they can accomplish with it.
Do any of you remember Jack O’Connor? I wish I could hear his words right now! I would tend to believe that he would be disgusted with what he would be reading right now, if he was still with us today. We must all stick together. Through thick and thin. We need to help with our fallen, not stomp him into the ground. I would bet that some of those that are doing the blasting have not even contributed a dime of thier money to the cause. But I would bet you my last dime that Jim has put more of his money where his mouth is than some of you. Think strong my fellow gun owners. Think smart!
C. Whitmore
mark
March 3, 2007 at 7:21 am
just goes to show you don’t talk about things you know nothing about. I have taken people out shooting that hated all guns.
Why? because they knew nothing about them.
I think Jim Z.needs to shoot and see how much fun these
weapons are to use.
Neil McMillan
March 4, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Well Jim I hope you are scanning these.I hope this isn’t your swan song,you have contributed SO MUCH over these many years,If it is your demise Thank-YOU for all those entertaining hours of reading.Those hunting tips that have made many of us better hunters more caring sportsmen and woman.
Whatever you do whereever you go keep your eyes on the target and beyond!!
I’ve LOOKED at 15’s and 47’s and not found ANYTHING I want to have to haul through the woods.Maybe to the range not thru the woods.
Gary Courtney
March 4, 2007 at 7:28 pm
Once something is said ,you cant take it back! I agree with Remington about this , the very money they were paying Mr. Zumbo and the millions they give to protect our rights conflicted with Zumbos views! A house divided cannot stand!!!
Griff
March 6, 2007 at 1:13 am
SHAME ON OL! I can’t believe they cut a guy loose for one “mistake” after that many years of service. Jim there is a bunch of us out here that support you still.
Dan Shideler
March 6, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Seems to be some confusion here. First, an assault weapon, properly speaking, is a selective-fire weapon (i.e., capable of both semi-auto and full-auto operation). I have never heard of anyone who advocates hunting with an assault weapon. It’s illegal, anyway. An AR-type semi-auto is no more an assault weapon than a Browning BAR Stalker or a Benelli shotgun is.
Second, it is not censorship when a company bounces a spokesman for saying something with which it doesn’t agree. It’s a business decision. Censorship can be done only by governments. No one has said Zumbo isn’t entitled to his opinion.
Some of the AR-type semi-autos are wonderfully accurate. I see nothing wrong with using them for hunting where legal, keeping in mind the relevant magazine and caliber restrictions. I might not trade my Model 70 for one, but there are a few of them I wouldn’t mind having. And no, I’m not a Rambo wannabe. Far from it.
Zumbo’s comments were probably not well considered, and they certainly could have been stated better. Still, he has done his penance and should be allowed back into the fold.
One other thing? Those posters who try to extrapolate this situation into a larger conclusion about the president, gun owners in general, or anything else have some serious IQ problems.
David
March 6, 2007 at 2:32 pm
I’m just up here in Alaska, I’ve got my rifles and pistols and have done just fine without an ak or ar. I’m also a Vietnam Vet(‘68-’69) and have some familiarity with “assault rifles”. I don’t own one. Wouldn’t buy one. What Jim said is right, packing around any of the weapons in that classifications does scare people. They see ak’s and ar’s on the nightly news in the hands of people with ski masks and such whacking off hostages heads. My wife won’t go hunting with me anymore and mostly because she is afraid of these folks. I’m getting to the point that I may quit hunting from anywhere but out my kitchen window for much the same reason, for I see that many of the same people that carry ak’s and such are the ones least likely to have learned how to properly handle a gun. A rifle or pistol has primarily been a “tool” used to provide food or protection. Even though the ak’ etc and all the varied knock offs can be used for both they also do more harm to the cause of “the right to keep and bare arms” then many of you apparently realize. The stuffing of it in the face of the people just supports the anti’s and gives them that much more fuel for their cause. It also disgusts me that the NRA, Remington and Outdoor Life feel it necessary to punish someone who has a belief slightly different than their own $ and have denied him his “freedom of speech” in the process. I don’t find what Jim said offensive, to me it’s a sad commentary that I find to be quite accurate. It also strikes me that the arms manufactures and the NRA and many magazines have made some very large fortunes out of this whole “second amendment” battle, a battle that was mostly opinion in the past. Reality has no right to be expressed when it might cut into the profits and power that have been created by these folks. And that, my friends, is the real bottom line here. $$$$ The millions that have been spent for “gun rights” is taken out of the tax base so we each pay more. It has not a whit to do with our rights. The NRA lost my respect many years ago. Now I have some companies that I will never purchase from again. (As I cut up my former favorite 700 for tent stakes)
Bruce Bortnem
March 6, 2007 at 8:12 pm
I don’t agree with what Jim said in his blog. I am personally thinking of getting an AR-15 set up for hunting in .458 SOCOM( about the same as a 45-70 lever action in effect and speed).
I think the outpouring of anger against Jim is a sign of the war we are in against the mainstream media anti-gun hype and government restrictions of our rights.
His Opinion was that he didn’t like guns that in the general publics view were associated with terrorists being used for hunting. Typical traditionalist venting there? It is a sign of how much anti-gun hysteria there is out there when a certain type of gun has ‘terrorist’ connotations attached to it. Every gun ever made has probably been used militarily.
The fact that he is(was?) a highly respected hunting guru gave the anti-gunners alot of ammo. A member of our positive press fed the already rabid anti-gun media a big free juicy steak.
This would not have been nearly as big of a deal if the government was populated by people who understood that the second amendment is a specific limitation on government to not make laws against the god given right to keep and bear arms.
Unfortunately there are innumerable bureaucrats out there that are only out for themselves and the greater bureaucratic animal. They pay only lip service to the constitution they swore to uphold and protect. They are fearful of an armed populace.
The constitution is under constant attack. Our rights are abridged every day. Sportsman around the world have lost their guns. People have lost the means to defend themselves against tyrants.
One of our own made a serious error. I think I heard him right when I heard a traditionalist worried about the image using guns that are shown on popular TV being connected to “terrorists”. What exactly is a ” terrorist” anyway?
Hopefully now that He has been chastised for doing it on a very public blog in a very insensitive way he will be somehow able to show how these guns are actually good hunting guns, just like many of the other military-derived guns of previous generations were.
MPJ tx
March 6, 2007 at 9:48 pm
I completely agree with Mr Zumbo , on a hog hunt one year this guy brought along one of these rifles and right as the hogs came in this guy cuts loose with that rifle and a 20 round clip and didn`t stop shooting until it was empty he wounded 4 hogs which got away, and ruined our hunt not to mention I was deaf for 2 days. assault rifles have no place in the hunting fields.
Frank Carbone Jr.
March 7, 2007 at 12:12 am
Many of the bloggers who’ve vilified Jim Zumbo didn’t have the courage to even state their own name.
This fiasco would’ve never happened pre-blog when folks had to use their real name.
I may not agree with every single word Jim used in his blog — but I’ll defend his right to state it.
If Jim Zumbo can be vilified by anonymous writers just for expressing his opinion then there’ll be many other American writers out there
who’re going to think twice before they write what’s on their mind — for fear of the “Secret Gestapo.”
Anyone can agree or disagree with Jim or any other blogger but please be ethical and professional when doing so.
One thing I’ve noticed is how those who disagree with the way Jim was treated are ethical in their comments — while those who vilified Jim are unethical in their comments.
In my opinion OL and the others who fired Jim will suffer the consequences by those who remained silent.
Jim was respected around the world by the many outdoorfolks who grew-up and learned from him.
If you want to sign the petition in support of Jim Zumbo please go to —
http://www.petitiononline.com/JZ12550/petition.html
Jack Zeller
March 7, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Jim Zumbo was tired. Tired after a long hunt. Well, I too, am tired. I earn a policeman’s salary, and constantly send a bit of that to the NRA, GONH, 2nd Amendment Foundation etc. I constantly write and call my Congressmen, and I do these things in the name of preserving freedom of choice granted us under the Bill of Rights. I do not want to hear Jim Zumbo whine. He has his opinions, and he made them clear. He does NOT support hunting or the shooting sports. He spoke like a neophyte ignoramous, which IS unforgiveable after spending some forty years sucking a good living out of sportsmen. He needs to fade away.
Edward J. Thomas
March 8, 2007 at 7:48 am
Why are we willing to take a major contributor to our hunting and outdoor activities, a teacher, a mentor, a great human being and send him into oblivion based on saying something that he already apoligized for? Most of the tempers will subside in a flash, and in a flash, we will have lost the experience and dedication of a great outdoorsman. Ed Thomas, Ringtown, Pa.
Scott B
March 8, 2007 at 4:02 pm
Jack are you kidding me!! if ther eis anybody out there that supports hunting and shooting it would be Jim. turn off the sierin and get off your horse and come down to reality that the rest of us live in. if you can say that you have never made a mistake in your job as Jim has well there would be churches named after you. Jim will be missed by all
mason
March 8, 2007 at 9:29 pm
jim ur a nice guy and all but ya shouldnt have said that
Karen D. McMahen-Dix
March 9, 2007 at 10:09 am
Talk about throwing the baby out with the bath water…..
I have been a hunter/shooter for over forty years and a Zumbo fan for as long as I can remember. Still have my NRA medals from the sixties….
As a former AR owner (pre-ban model) I also disagree with his comments, but must add that I sold mine because it was grossly inaccurate , poorly balanced and awkward to handle. Prairie dogs died laughing at me – not from being shot.
All the sponsors fleeing ship do themselves a huge disservice, not to mention the loss to readers and TV show viewers. The lead-in alone to Jim’s hunting show is almost enough to convert a non-hunter. There are few shows that capture the essence of why we hunt – the road, not the destination – like Zumbos. Most try to sell you the “essence” – in a bottle, a high fence, etc., etc……
All these sponsors have acted in haste and should, themselves retract their actions before they lose the support of those of us spending our money for their products.
Jim – if you are left with too much free time now – come go shed hunting with some other baby-boomers down by Laramie Peak. You are always welcome.
K. D. McMahen, WYO, USA
SCott GRiff
March 10, 2007 at 1:19 am
JIm is just stating facts that truely separate (hunting) from (shooting).They are both considered sports,were one is more of a hobby then a pastime.I am not condeming these guns but stating that they really dont belong to a hunter.Its foolish to walk around chassing deer with an assult rifle.We must come to grips with this crazyness.
Outdoor Writer Dave Langston
March 10, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I have been an outdoor writer in Idaho for 17 years. This I have to say to you Jim, “I support you in every way, even though the majority seems to disagree with your comments or personal feelings, you do have the right to voice your opinion”.
You have been one of the many positive influences in my advancement in the outdoor industry and will always be. I met you and Grits Gresham in the 1980’s at the Harrisburg, PA show and you talked a young teen into the best decision of his young life. Thank you for showing me the true meaning of OUTDOORSMAN. I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life.
I have “STUCK MY FOOT IN MY MOUTH” many times and this is the nature of the beast I have found.
At this moment I am under attack by PETA and IDAHOWOLVES.ORG for the comments I recently made on the wolf situation in Idaho. But, I still firmly stand my ground.
Check it out at
http://www.pocatelloshops.com/blogs/outdoors.php
for a look at how us outdoor writers are constantly stepping into the fire for supporting the rights of Outdoorsman!
Good luck and drop me an email Jim at
westernstatessportsman@msn.com
Joe
March 11, 2007 at 2:58 am
Take what Jim said with a grain of salt. He will have fun doing something new with an AR.
It is hard to believe that there are so many folks against using AR’s or AK’s for hunting but OK the use of 742’s and BAR’s. Neither, the AK or the AR, is a pretty rifle but they can sure be efficiently used for hunting. I am in Texas where we are lucky to have no number of rounds restrictions.
The point that needs to be made though is that ban this and ban that activists need to be banned.
…at least I know what I’m doing…
Dan McCormack
March 11, 2007 at 6:49 pm
I consider Jim Zumbo a friend and have never met the man, I have been reading his works for 30 years and realize he has earned the right to make a mistake, and besides even if it is not a mistake this is America and the freedom of speech is just as much a part of the bill of rights as the right to bear arms. I own an “assault” rifle, but would never take it hunting, only to the range, if someone chooses to hunt with theirs, so be it. I really think that gun owners, hunters, etc. should give Jim a break!! he apologized wholeheartedly, it is not right to ruin his life, drag his name through the mud or whatever just because they do not agree with the man. WHat more can he do? he has lost everything over this, and that is not fair, I think that man is entitled to make a mistake and should be forgiven for it..like it is said, let he who live in glass house cast the fisrt stone……
Travis Rooks
March 12, 2007 at 1:36 pm
To Outdoorlife: you have made a mistake, I guess I’ll drop you like you did Mr Zumbo. And To Remington Arms: you have upset millions of remington gun owners, maybe we should can you as well.
spec
March 12, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Wake up hunters! Wake up NRA! Wake up all target shooters!
Jim is exactly right. There is no true use for a military-style firearm in the field. Period. While cable tv permeates every household in America, exposing virtually everyone to everything, what do bored housewifes, metrosexual males and gun haters everywhere see while channel surfing? Some bearded gomer in camo, sitting in a camo blind, drawing a bead on Bambi with a sniper’s rifle. But at least it’s a gun like dad or granpa had, not one they see daily on the News at 6.
Those guns–automatic, military weapons–are seen daily being used in an unpopular (hated?) war, by men similarly dressed and armed as hunters. The message is clear to these people that these guns are evil–they kill people. They kill civilians, they kill women and children, they kill the young men we went to school and church with a few months ago. What better way to turn those for gun control against hunters and shooters than to have daily doses of these weapons of death shown to them multiple times per day? And now those who are pro gun want to show them how these military weapons can kill Bambi, or, for heavens sake, the family dog (coyotes)?
Wake up! If you want to keep the spotlight off gun control, do your hunting with true sporting arms, in a sportsman-like way. Use your ARs at the shooting range, but keep the image of hunters in the tradition of LLBean, etc, not Iraq.
Remember, in America, image is everything. Jim is right as rain on this one.
Tim Smith
March 13, 2007 at 8:40 pm
I agree with JIm I am tired of being lumped in with the can shooters and paper killers. They try to sway you there way by telling you your guns are next. I have yet to turn on CNN and see anybody robbing a bank with a 12 gauge deer gun. How many gang bangers are picked up with a muzzleloader used for deer hunting .our guns are for hunting those serve one purpose that is to kill humans. Hence the reason our military uses the M16 the twin of the AR15
Bob from Helena
March 14, 2007 at 8:41 pm
Mr Zumbo made a commit that most of us hunters agree on one thing these guns have no place in the hunt they are fun to shoot as far as targets go but I would not take them hunting.I don’t own and most likely never will but I will never stop a person from owning one if he choses to My daughter owns one and shoots it all the time and enjoys it She does not hunt just target. Mr Zumbo said he was sorry Get with the program OUTDOOR LIFE No wonder I don’t by your magazine.
MPJ tx
March 19, 2007 at 9:46 am
I truly believe that OUTDOOR LIFE and everyone else who agrees with them in doing what they did to Mr Zumbo , have shot themselves in the foot, its going to come back and sting them.I was going to buy me new Remington rifle but I have changed my mind, I think I`ll spend my money on a different firearms company who doesn`t go along with this stupidity.
jay wheeler
March 20, 2007 at 9:41 pm
DEAR JINZUMBO
I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I HAVE USED MY AR15 HB FOR
HUNTING ROCK CHUCKS FOR OVER 10 YEARS…
ONE SHOT ONE KILL..IT MAY TAKE ME OVER AN HOUR TO GO THROUGH 10 ROUNDS ONE SHOT AT A TIME..
JAY W
Bart W.
March 23, 2007 at 8:07 pm
I didn’t agree with what Mr Zumbo said. However, the reactions of many, and OL in particular, were excessive. That kind of “bunker mentality” reflects poorly on other gun enthusiaists who value all freedoms.
Richard Hoon
March 24, 2007 at 3:18 pm
Jim was right in the Hunting context,the 2nd Amendment and the killing of animals are two very separate human conflicts.With Hunting ethics becoming a center piece for respectable human behavior towards game animals using Fair Chase methods as role models while in the field gives the whole hunting experience a life time of memories.
Pointer.Buddies taking out 500 doggies with assault weapons,firing 10,000 rounds into the village OR Buddies taking out 50 doggies with 100 rounds.
I guess Jimmy grew up with rubber band shooters and tart guns,maybe even a good single shot Remington 22.
Without Jimmy Z ,OL just won’t be same.
fnbrowning
March 27, 2007 at 1:39 am
To all you pro-zumbo, anti-Remington, Fuddgunners:
So you “purists” think you can ostracize one element of the shooting community an make a clean getaway?
Contrary to what Tim Smith posted on March 13th, 2007, shotguns HAVE been used in crime, and it was a shotgun crime that got a huge gun ban passed in England, or have you conveniently forgot?
And when all of us “evil black rifle” owners have been vilified and outlawed, how long before the antis come for the redoubtable Remington 700 series bolt action, calling it a “sniper rifle?”
The latest gun ban proposed (H.R. 1022 ) includes All semi-automatic shotguns. (E.g., Remington, Winchester, Beretta and Benelli, used for hunting, sport shooting, and self-defense. H.R. 1022 would ban them because they have “any characteristic that can function as a grip,” and would also ban their main component, called the “receiver.”)
- All detachable-magazine semi-automatic rifles-including, for example, the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire-because they have “any characteristic that can function as a grip.” Also the Remington 740 series.
Divide & conquer is the name of the gun-ban game. However, you shotgun & black powder purists would have us hung to save your skins.
For all of you Zumbo supporters who hate us “black rifle” owners, I’ve pharaphrased the 2nd Amendment just as you would have it:
“A well regulated duckhunter, being necessary to the security of absolutely nothing, the right of the people to keep and bear double barrel Fuddguns, shall not be infringed”
Steve Phipps
March 27, 2007 at 10:46 pm
Jim Zumbo doesnt owe any an apology,Its about time someone had the guts to say what he did.Iam tired of the nra selling this” your either for us or against us crap. All I ever get from them is letters asking for a donation to fight some assault weapons ban.Your opinion doesnt count just your money. , When I go to gun shows more and more you see these bald headed tatooed on their neck camaflaged ston cold wannabes selling assault weapons. They act like they just got back from active duty an won the war all by themselves.Jim was fighting for or rights long before most of them were ever born.If the nras and the gun makers have know chosen to eat there own, then the antihunters have won.I have climbed many a mountain chasing big game and I never saw anyone up there stupid enough to bring an M16 along
Ron
March 28, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Jim Zumbo certainly DOES own an apology.
On March 20, 2007 — In a speech to the Economic Club of Detroit in May 1999, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., committed to speak on the issue of gun control and he quoted Zumbo. Zumbo’s ill-fated remarks will continue to to be quoted and lauded up and down the anti’s side of the gun control fight.
Both Zumbo AND Steve in post 85 ought to own up to their bigotry against people that aren’t like them and they don’t understand.
Steve in post 85 claims to have >>”climbed many a mountain chasing big game”>”bald headed tatooed on their neck camaflaged ston cold wannabes”
JIMMY L. LOUISIANA
March 28, 2007 at 12:32 pm
PEOPLE WAKE UP.JIM DID NOT JUST FALL OFF A BANANA BOAT.IF SOME OF YOU THINKS HE,S WRONG YOUR A SICK PUPPY.I,LL NEVER BUY ANOTHER O.L.MAG. OR REMINGTON.”SORRY”
R. Thomas Funk
April 4, 2007 at 8:30 am
As it has been pointed out, comments from celebrities are often used as media fodder; held up as the gospel by one side or the other as a revelation supporting this opinion or that.
Unfortunately, Mr. Zumbo’s comments did not lend any support to the pro-gun camp; they instead fueled the opposition. As we are all well aware, the pro-gun side seldom has access to the mainstream media to present our side in any arguement, and I noticed that Mr. Zumbo’s comments reversing his earlier “slip-o’-the-tongue” never made it into the press or political speeches.
Marius
April 7, 2007 at 11:04 am
I feel a bit sad for Jim Zumbo but he gets what he deserves in my opinion. I rarely hunt but own several different rifles which are designed with hunting in mind. I also own a MAK 90, does this make me a terrorist? Seeing how I am a SW Asia vet and worked for KBR supporting the US military in Iraq in 2004 I doubt it. Jim made an ignorant comment which I believe represents his true opinion. No apology can change my mind yet still I would gladly risk my life again to defend his right to make such a statement. AS for his career and his sponsors dumping him I applaud them for doing so. Jim Zumbo is no different than Sarah Brady, they both think “know what is best” for the rest of us.
Rich Fletcher
April 12, 2007 at 3:26 pm
The military style rifles I’m aquainted with are poor substitutes for traditional hunting rifles. I think Jim Zumbo’s comments were reasonable and probably valid. It’s unfortunate that anti gun factions have succeded in creating paranoia among gun owners, but that’s the world we live in. A place where individuals are disposible.
martin
April 13, 2007 at 11:13 am
in my opinion I feel both camps acted a bit too quick it looks like on not thinking (Jim) and the other reacting(remmington) all my back ground is with the standard issue stuff which is accurate for its job but not for hunting I am not fanilar with civilian versions but have many friend who use them with accyracy and are quite happy with them. Hey as long as your hitting where ya aim who are we to judge what a person ehticaly hunts with.
Tim Jones
April 17, 2007 at 5:34 pm
Impossible to forget the attitude expressed by Zumbo both in public and in person. Jim Zumbo represents everything I like about hunting. I could never turn my back on such a person. I can’t imagine any hunter or gun enthusiast thinking he has “changed his ways!?” NO, hunting is more than his way of life, it is what defines Jim Zumbo. How can anyone think otherwise? If all the supporters that pulled the plug think they are “protecting” their investment, what has all this division caused? Those that point their finger and say “I told you so” never had anything to say anyway. Good hunting Jim! Peace will be with you in the woods.
Art Hutson
April 18, 2007 at 7:44 am
With all the enemies we already have with the anti-gunners we sure don’t need un- inrformed friends such as Mr. Zumbo. This guy is a gunwriter for decades? No matter what the gun is, we stand united,sir, or we will be taken down. The Second Amendment is a Right not a privalige given to us by our elected representatives.
Douglas B. Egenolf
April 18, 2007 at 8:22 am
I never get mad if someone shows up at the grocery store in a black corvette. If that is what they choose to drive, so be it. we do not need anymore negative comments towards guns that do no harm. I love my AR. You can do anything with it. It is a wonderful little rifle…:)
Brent
April 18, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Seriously, what gun industry is he coming from? Never seen an AR15 used as varmint rifle? Come-on! Some of these writers are guys that sit behind a desk and tell stories of canned or guided hunts without concept of who the audience is. I agree with his sponsors, I would not want my name attached to his comments about gun toting americans regarded as terrorists. Everybody wake up! This dude got what he deserved. In his statements he proves that he is just as uneducated as the people trying to ban our guns. Forgiveness is noble, but taking responsibility for your foolish acts is couregeous. He’ll be alright and I’m darn sure he is much more educated. He just had to learn a lesson the hard way like many of us do.
Jere Harrison
April 18, 2007 at 9:56 pm
It really is sad that his career would come to an end this way. His opinion got to a lot of folks and encouraged us to regulate a firearm based on its appearance and perceived suitability.
We just got finished with the clinton era “assualt weapon” ban and a lot of folks are sensitive to that kind of RHETORIC.
What about a highly specialized, high powered, super long range “SNIPER’S RIFLE” like the kind that he hunts with? His opinion was recently re-calibrated at great personal cost but being an highly public agent of the 2nd ammendment can have its risks.
His opinion was fired from the public spotlight and I am pleased.
Note to Jim Zumbo:
This too will pass…..It just requires time and humility.
Bodie Owens
April 19, 2007 at 8:48 am
I have been reading Jims work for 40 years the stories he has told the adventures he has taken us on since I was a kid and enjoyed each and every one, he is a man of dignity and should be treated as such.
His comments/opinions are his own just as his stories however I do NOT AGREE with them
I own an AR style RRA a great hunting rifle for coyotes, ground hogs and more, in rough country they cant be beat, but in the mass media world we live in your words can make you or break you just ask Don Imus Jim you will be missed
Major Brick Loomis U.S. Army
April 20, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Dear Jim Zumbo,
To say that my group of soldiers, officers, shooters, hunters, friends, and I were angry at you for your fallacious and irresponsible comments concerning the weapons that we bet our lives on every day can not be conveyed in our actual words of anger in this civil forum. To say you became our enemy would be a monumental understatement of the past two millenniums!!! You became a traitor in our book!!!
Like Judas that was once Jesus Christ’s most beloved, like Benedict Arnold who was once George Washington most trusted Lieutenants, and you, who we thought to be our champion of our 2nd Amendment Rights, and hunting guru betrayed us all with your ignorance and hypocrisy!!! You became the enemy!!! You became the terrorist!!! You Betrayed America!!!!!
Like Judas and Benedict Arnold you have a very very long “row to hoe” to ever get back into our good graces. I have read your apologies, but the damage has already been done. You can not un-ring the bell you rung, and the un-American, communist, and anti-gun scum are running with your words and using them against us to destroy our Constitutional Rights!!!
To redeem yourself in our eyes and GOD’s eyes you MUST become the Charlton Heston, Tom Sellick, Audey Murphy, General George S. Patton and President Ronald Regan fighting for our GOD given, 2nd Amendment, and Constitutional Rights!!! You must become our “champion of champions” and fight for our Rights!!!
I hope you have learned through this “mega monumental mistake” that the 2nd Amendment dictates the most important Right, that being the Right to protect our lives, our families, our properties, our communities, our states, and our country. The 2nd Amendment has nothing to do with hunting, target shooting, gun collecting or any other miss-construed or communist, liberal traitor’s interpretation of the U.S. Constitution. To give up any our GOD given or Constitutional Rights is the beginning or the end to all our RIGHTS!!!
I, you, or any good citizen have the ABSOLUTE RIGHT to own ANY WEAPON that we can afford and properly safeguard in order to protect ourselves, our families, et al, PERIOD!!!! BUT!!! The communists, socialist, fascists, liberals, “demoRATS” (misspelled by design) have taken that GOD given and Constitutional Right and have perverted it, diluted it, to the point that we, as a country, as a society, now really do believe that we can not own, carry, or use any weapon we chose to protect ourselves, our families, et al.
Our GOD given and Constitutional Rights are NON-NEGOTIABLE. Our RIGHTS do not end at the rivers edge, the city limits, the state line, the chapel door, court house steps, or in any school in America!!!! Who said we can not protect ourselves from terrorist, criminals, or any scum that would do us harm anywhere in this Great Country!!!! It is, and was the communists, socialists, fascists, liberals, and demoRATS that have taken, and are now taking, our RIGHTS to protect ourselves!!!! These communist liberal pukes would have all of us defenseless and die at the hands of terrorists, criminals, and a dictatorial oppressive government!!! CASE IN POINT!!!! Not one un-Constitutional, anti-American, RIGHTS restricting, Gun grabbing, traitorous law has ever been proposed or passed by a Patriotic, America Loving, GOD loving, Conservative Republican!!!
Oh yah, did I tell you that I, like Ronald Reagan, was a liberal democrat for over 30 years but when the liberals and demoRATS attacked my Gun RIGHTS they betrayed me and America!!! And, I, like Ronald Reagan, left the demoRAT party. Or as Ronald Regan so eloquently put: “I did not leave the democrat party, the democrat party left me!!!!”
And you Jim Zumbo must become our Champion to defeat these traitorous un-American, SCUM sucking liberal maggots!!!
GOD Bless America!!!
Respectfully, Major Brick Loomis, U.S. Army, majorbrick@aol.com
P.S. All special capitalizations, punctuations, and misspelling are by design and for emphasis. MBLUSA
Erik Northey
April 22, 2007 at 7:42 pm
To Mr. Zumbo . I hope this is a wake up call to yourself and others in the firearm industry. Some of us shooters and hunters are not afforded the luxury of having remington firearms supply us with highly priced model 700’s to take us on private guided hunts too sway are blue collar paycheck. I love to shoot, that being said the AR-15 platform in 5.56 or .223 cartridge is a very economical round to shoot . I do not see the reason to spend extra money on a new rifle and scope to keep myself from being a terrorist to you personally. My home state of Florida requires anyone one shooting a centerfire semi-automatic firearm to use no more than a five round magazine, when hunting which most manufacturers of AR rifels produce. Plus the AR platform allows you switch upper recievers to different calibers, wether it pistol or rifle. And also even allows me to protect my loved ones, pets, livestock and myself in the home. If it is becuase my Bushmaster Varmiter allows me to make sub-minute shots to humanely harvest game, that should be commended, not personally bashed. Whats next to insult your personal preferance, the M1A or Garrand. They too are used in military combat. And if that is the case, why dont you just curse Mauser bolt action, it to was a weapon of war, or would that not slide with big green or Ruger. The AR-15 is a fine gun which can fasillate many a responsibilities of which hunting is but just one of them . It served my father for three tours in Viet Nam, and my cusion in Iraq. I think it shold be allowedI to harvest game here in America and defend the second admendment also. So please understand that you really did personally attack loyal law abiding citizens that happened to grow up in a age where advancements in manufacturing allows us the ability to use such “tools” at our educated discression.
Matt J
April 24, 2007 at 7:45 am
For the record, I tend to agree that the image of assault weapons in the field for hunting is a bad one, and more “Show” than go for those who need a little boost in the ego department.
Mr. Zumbo, if you are reading this string, I for one appreciate your contributions over the years. Having apologized for ill chosen words, well I can get over it, as I would rather watch your show than any currently on the outdoor channel.