A window seat on an airplane helped TPWD’s Small Game Program Director collect a beautiful sunset photo as the plane neared Dallas. Had his camera been in an overhead bin, he probably would have missed the dramatic image due to the fading light and the plane’s speed. (Photo courtesy Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Shaun Oldenburger, photographer.)
by John Jefferson
This column is for shooters: those pulling triggers and those tripping camera shutters.
Most hunting seasons are over except turkey season. But how did YOUR hunting go?
Were you satisfied with your part of the hunt? Or could you improve it? First, were you in shape for it?
Non-hunters might find that question amusing. After all, how many push-ups do you have to do to sit in an enclosed blind with a catalytic heater, a padded swivel chair, and a coffee cup holder on the chair. One I hunted in on a friend’s ranch even had an air-conditioner!
I once even got to see a blind that had a telephone wired for important calls (before cell phones). The phone was RED. The blind was the one President Lyndon Johnson hunted from when he was in Texas during his term of office. I’ll let you ponder why the phone was red. But I digress.
Even for sitting in the most plush blinds, getting in shape for hunting season can make your hunting more pleasant for you. And it can help assure you’ll live to tell the tale of your hunt! And now’s the time to start working on it!
Some don’t get around to working out until late summer when they realize hunting seasons are nearing. But the best excuse for not working out is the intense Texas summertime heat. It can kill ya. So, starting to work out in April coolness eliminates that excuse. It makes sense.
Start off slowly, maybe walking instead of jogging. Or water-walking in a swimming pool. That will prevent sore muscles— another excuse for not exercising. Working out early in the morning or in the evening is smart.
Two bighorn sheep hunters – one bow hunter and the other a rifle hunter – told me they lost around 40 pounds each prior to their grueling sheep shoots. Both agreed it paid off. But losing ANY weight less than that will help.
And then there’s your shooting ability. With rifles, pistols, or bows, you simply can’t shoot too much beforehand. The more you practice, the better you’ll shoot when the moment of truth arrives. And starting to practice in April when it’s cooler is imperative. Hot gun barrels are inaccurate—and painful to touch in summer heat. They cool considerably quicker between shots in April. And it’s much more pleasant for all shooters. then, too.
So, to borrow a popular phrase – JUST DO IT!
And that brings me to shutter shooters. The best photos are the unusual ones that suddenly appear unexpectantly. Having a camera or cell phone camera within reach can help you get that once in a lifetime photo. Without one, you go home with only shoulda haves, would a haves, and coulda haves! We’ve all been there.
Beautiful sunsets only stay that way for a minute or more. Wildlife holds a pose for even less time. A placid lake looks like colored glass – until rippled by the next breeze. Your camera must be within reach!
JJ
