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Post by Lydia Robledo on Jan 16, 2009 6:24:30 GMT
Hello handsome guys, I would like to know how many members of PBP are former birdhunters and are now very active in bird photography. I am writing an article for publication in a major daily as a gentle campaign against bird-hunters. I believe that one way of stopping bird hunters pursue their passion is to introduce them to bird photography- change of ammunition . I have a couple of photos of some of you guys in action. I may need a few more good ones. I will get more information from you later. You can PM me or follow this thread. Thanks. telyd
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Post by Neon Rosell II on Jan 16, 2009 6:46:50 GMT
I've been always a bird hunter!! Now more than ever!! Been shooting birds since I was in my teens, still take home my trophies but now I can share it with everybody and the bird will be there with their babies the next time I shoot it. ;D
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Post by Ed Matuod on Jan 16, 2009 7:32:04 GMT
I was before and I really regret it. Bumabawi na lang ako ngayon.
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Post by JP Cariño on Jan 16, 2009 9:57:34 GMT
guilty as charged
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Post by Martin Alvendia on Jan 16, 2009 16:51:27 GMT
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Post by tina mallari on Jan 16, 2009 17:09:15 GMT
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Jan 16, 2009 21:44:42 GMT
Guilty here too! Been hunting birds every weekend with my father since I was in Grade 5 to High School. Family has been into hunting as far as I know. Had my own airgun for it and was pretty good at it. The faves then were the zebra and spotted doves and rails. The last one that I shot was a bleeding-heart pigeon in Negros. I never knew it was endangered.
Bawi na lang din ako ngayon!
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Post by Lydia Robledo on Jan 17, 2009 10:16:42 GMT
PLease keep them coming guys.
Thanks for those who already shared. Please mention what made you hunt and what made you stop hunting. Any memorable experience? Are you happy with your decision?
By the way, please give a comparison of the cost of gears - hunting and photography.
telyd
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Post by William Lim on Jan 17, 2009 10:44:40 GMT
I used to love bird hunting when I was a kid and in my teens. The thrill of stalking and bringing home the price was great then but everything has changed now. I find bird photography more challenging and a lot fulfilling without hurting the birds. The thrill of stalking is still there and more difficult. The price, the photo, is more lasting and fulfilling.
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Post by Toto Gamboa on Jan 17, 2009 15:13:18 GMT
PLease keep them coming guys. Thanks for those who already shared. Please mention what made you hunt and what made you stop hunting. Any memorable experience? Are you happy with your decision? By the way, please give a comparison of the cost of gears - hunting and photography. telyd I recall, I only had a highly modified Squires Bingham .22 CO2 air rifle with an air pressure gauge, a Bushnell scope and an improvised 'silencer' to muffle the firing sound. Of course we shoot birds and cook them. My father and I would drive off road thru sugarcane and rice fields and would stop where doves abound. Often we would shoot from within the vehicle if the birds are within target range. Like lions, we would pick those that are outside of the cluster and shoot them one by one. And we dont shoot while the birds are looking. I have been taught to shoot from outside of the cluster and moving in to maximize the kill. You shoot one in the middle of the cluster and they are all gone in a sec. I was also taught to wear sunglasses too when hunting so birds cant see my eyes. It was believed that birds would always look at people in the eye and when it senses that you are also looking .. it will fly. I was also taught to hunt facing against the wind so the birds wont smell me. I dont know if those made sense but I recall doing all of that. I stopped hunting when i was sent to Manila in college. I dunno If I regretted hunting but what I know now is that I wont ever shoot a bird again with a rifle. I am relatively new with photography (and birding) but it is quite like hunting too. same target but different results. Bird photography is addictive as hunting. However, it is really really really really very expensive. Well I guess that explains why there arent too many serious bird photographers out there compared with bird hunters. The best that I can do now is convince people that I know who are still into hunting birds. Last year I was able to convince my younger brother (in the province) to stop shooting birds by showing him the few photos that I got and Master Romy's site. Now he wants his own camera. My next target is my friend's shotgun-totting father-in-law who is an avid duck hunter. ;D
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Post by Lydia Robledo on Jan 19, 2009 3:25:03 GMT
What a story, Toto. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's a story that makes one's day. The gears are expensive, not naman very, very, very.... he, he. One can slowly build up their gears. I have bought second hand gears from generous bird photographers and I have a piggy bank for an L lens. (malapit na) and while saving, I enjoy their company just the same. More stories please!!!
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Post by Jun Osano on Jan 19, 2009 11:38:22 GMT
Guilty as charged too The last time I shot a bird was in 1989 in Palawan. I knew it was a dove but not its name.
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Post by Lydia Robledo on Jan 19, 2009 14:34:16 GMT
I used to love bird hunting when I was a kid and in my teens. The thrill of stalking and bringing home the price was great then but everything has changed now. I find bird photography more challenging and a lot fulfilling without hurting the birds. The thrill of stalking is still there and more difficult. The price, the photo, is more lasting and fulfilling. Thanks for sharing that William. Were you really able to eat all the birds that you hunted? It was not hunting for food for you, for sure. That was just the bonus to the thrill, am I right? lyd
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