Gun Remark Kills Outdoorsman's Career (WP)

The Washington Post ^ | 24 FEB 07 | Blaine Harden

[xsrdx]

SEATTLE - Modern hunters rarely become more famous than Jim Zumbo. A mustachioed, barrel-chested outdoors entrepreneur who lives in a log cabin near Yellowstone National Park, he has spent much of his life writing for prominent outdoors magazines, delivering lectures across the country and starring in cable TV shows about big-game hunting in the West.

Zumbo's fame, however, has turned to black-bordered infamy within America's gun culture -- and his multimedia success has come undone. It all happened in the past week, after he publicly criticized the use of military-style assault rifles by hunters, especially those gunning for prairie dogs.

[Trteamer]

I would consider anyone who could bag 25-30 coyes in one day as one hell of a hunter! I doesn't matter what kind of weapon was used, the skill involved in getting that many in your sights is awesome.

[Cruz]

"I'd like to add, I'm surprised and extremely gratified to see this positively Machiavellian streak in Nuge... /grin"

I agree with you. Zumbo, on his third attempt has at apology finally got it right. To reiterate part of Ted Nugents post.....

"Then Monday 2-19 arose, I & others intensely educated Jim to his 1-ignorance, 2-insane antigun mindset, 3-how perfect all guns are, 4-that the 2nd Amendment has absolutely nothing to do with hunting. On all counts, Jim Zumbo, after a long, illustrious 67 year life & blindfolded gun career, now stands ABSOLUTELY with 2nd Amendment ABSOLUTISTS & not only deserves our forgiveness, he & we all need to take advantage of his horrific mistake & let all gunners who are so stupid to think the way he did prior to 2-18 that they are deadass wrong & out & out antigun AND THAT ALL OF EM MUST UPGRADE as Jim has done. This is a grand "Spotlight the Cockroach" moment my friends. Use it wisely & frwd motion will be ours. Thankyou all for your input, now let us UPGRADE on, shall we!"

The RBKA crowd is galvanized. The "Sportsman" wing of gun-owners have now been put on notice. Forgive Zumbo and bring him back into the fold, now that he has been "upgraded."

[TigersEye]

No doubt! Coyotes are notoriously fast and clever. And there is almost no terrain I can think of that you could corner them in.

[kcvl]

While researching a story about the annual whale migration off the West Coast,, Blaine Harden, a national correspondent for The Washington Post, heard about transient killer whales terrorizing harbor seals near Puget Sound. He decided it was the better story (“Wild Ones,” page 52). “They seemed to psychologically traumatize those [seals] they didn’t eat,” he says. Harden covers the American West for the Post and is the author of two books, Africa: Dispatches From a Fragile Continent and A River Lost: The Life and Death of the Columbia.

[kcvl]

Zumbo lives in a log home in the mountains between Cody, Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park, with his wife, Madonna, and their two Labrador retrievers -- in an area he claims offers the best big game hunting in the lower 48. He routinely hunts whitetails and other game in at least 20 states each year. He also hunts Canada and Alaska extensively and has hunted abroad as well, including Africa, Europe, and South America. He has recently completed a personal goal of hunting deer in all 50 states. He has already hunted elk in every western "elk" state, and has hunted all but two Canadian provinces.


http://www.jimzumbo.com/biography.html

[PJ-Comix]

[kcvl]

Outdoor Life And Jim Zumbo Part Ways

By Todd. W. Smith
Editor-in-Chief

Outdoor Life magazine Editor-in-Chief Todd Smith released the following statement today regarding writer Jim Zumbo:

February 2007

In light of comments made by Jim Zumbo in his February 16, 2007 blog posting on the magazine’s website, Mr. Zumbo has offered to terminate his association with Outdoor Life, and the magazine has accepted his offer. Accordingly, he will no longer be contributing to the magazine in print or online. His final column with Outdoor Life will appear in the April 2007 issue, which has already gone to press.

We respect Mr. Zumbo's First Amendment right to free speech, and we acknowledge his subsequent apology and admission of error. However, Outdoor Life has always been, and will always be, a steadfast supporter of all aspects of the shooting sports and our Second Amendment rights, which do not make distinctions based on the appearance of the firearms we choose to own, shoot or hunt with.

We regret this turn of events, as Mr. Zumbo has been a good friend to this magazine and lifelong advocate for hunters and hunting rights.

We appreciate the comments we've received from our loyal readers about this matter and encourage them to continue to correspond with us. Please direct any additional comments to OLletters@time4.com.

[JCEccles]

His career isn't over. He has a very bright and lucrative future with the anti-gun nuts.

Now, whether he wants to seize that career opportunity is a separate issue.

[Krankor]

I have no objection to getting rid of coyotes- but it's not hunting. An exterminator getting rid of rats isn't hunting.

[holymoly]

He has a very bright and lucrative future with the anti-gun nuts.

He'd fit right in at the Hunters and Shooters Organization

---

"Who We Are"

"According to a 2003 Field & Stream National Hunting Survey, sportsmen overwhelmingly support reasonable gun safety proposals. Moreover, an overwhelming majority of hunters support proposals like background checks to purchase guns, keeping military style assault weapons off our streets and the elimination of cop killer bullets.

In recent years, extreme political positions purporting to support gun rights have jeopardized our sport and have hurt the image of responsible gun owners. Unless the sporting community can become unified behind an organization that fights for safe and responsible hunting and shooting practices and sensible gun ownership, future generations may be unable to participate in and enjoy the shooting sports."

---

(Emphasis added.)

[holymoly]

I have no objection to getting rid of coyotes- but it's not hunting.

And why is that?

What is your "definition" of "hunting".

An exterminator getting rid of rats isn't hunting.

Wow, really? And I thought every time I put D-Con in the barn, I was "hunting". Thanks for straightening me out.

[driftdiver]

"I have no objection to getting rid of coyotes- but it's not hunting. An exterminator getting rid of rats isn't hunting."

How about a golf course greenskeeper hunting gophers?

[xsrdx]

I have no objection to getting rid of coyotes- but it's not hunting.

Coyotes are successful because they are smart, alert and adaptive. Hunting them successfully requires skill, especially in areas where they are used to hunting pressure.

Coyote and other types of varmint hunting may not fit your idea of fair chase big game hunting, but it's most certainly not like shooting rats at the dump.

[Kay Ludlow]

Assault weapons may be very very useful in the future if we get hit by mass terrorism and chaos

You've got that right! If we allow these types of weapons to be banned, it will only ensure that when terrorism picks up here, the terrorists will have these weapons and we won't have any to defend ourselves with.It's not like terrorists tend to be law-abiding or anything!

[mad_as_he$$]

I am a hunter and I exterminate coyotes that kill young deer, pet dogs,cat and other farm animals. It takes more skill than you apparently understand to hit a coyote at 200 yards, often when they are running.

[mad_as_he$$]

Thanks, they are thick as fleas in some parts of Nevada. Our wildlife department estimates that there is one for every square mile of the state. 110,000 square miles in Nevada. My old range dog loves to bring them in, she sits out about 200 yards and starts barking. It is like catnip to them.

[justshutupandtakeit]

Those are the Liberals most true prairie dog hunters use a flamethrower.

[tcostell]

Personally I wouldn't give that group any publicity. Their cover is already blown, and most of their board have long standing anti-gun credentials.

It's just a wolf in sheep's clothing.

[Noumenon]

Funny thing about those '60s RFI Enfields - they were evidently had few if any rounds through them. And they are dead bang straight shooters. An unheralded bargain, by anyone's lights.

I also put a scope on one of mine, but I haven't been able to test it past 450 yards. The hanging iron at Fernan Rod and Gun sure makes for a fun trip to the range. Bang a gong.

Zumbo's a waste of oxygen. Nugen'ts trying to rehabilitate him, but most of us know that Zumbo meant what he said the first time.

[Trteamer]

I have rancher friends that have lost lots of their pet dogs to coyotes. The yap and bark trying to get the dog to come after them, then they pack up and kill it. Your old range dog must be pretty smart!