Yes it's true. I have been asked to go to Finland to help out.
Believe it or not, someone out there actually values my opinion....for other than what spine to choose :)
The Finish Bowhunters Association is flying me over to Finland in March to be one of 3...or 4 speakers to attempt to sway the powers that be to instigate Finlands very first big game archery season.
Unfortunatley this is not during their hunting season so I can only take in the scenery but if infact the season does come to fruition, I have been promised an invite back.
I feel very honored to be part of something such as this. And to me and I'm sure to most of you, it would seem to be a slam dunk...but not necessarily so. There are centuries of tradition that must first be addressed along with current bad management habbits that must be overcome before there will be a viable solution.
But what good is a victory without a fight.
Finland has the highest percentage of hunters per capita of the european countries yet it is still only 4%. It is a rich country that is heavily wooded and teaming with game that includes moose, reindeer, white tailed deer, bear, wild boar, roe deer and many more.
They also have a rich archery tradtion and much of that is still deeply rooted in traditional archery.
Ya'll wish me..us luck.
Thanks for your support, BigJim
That is truly a big deal. Congratulations on being selected to participate in what is a major archery related event. You will be a great ambassador for bowhunting.
I would like to apply for a position as your caddy!! I'll carry anything you need buddy!!! Lol
Congrats on a great opportunity!!
Congrats and the best of luck it is truly something to be proud of.
Finland is a beautiful country. Good luck in your task.
It is a noble mission. Wish you every success.
Congrats on the honor, Big guy.
I remember hearing that the white tails were a gift originally, is that correct?
Good luck!!!
Hope you can influence their decision Big Jim... all the best!
Hey Great news! I am hopeful for a success!
That's awesome!!! Best of luck to you. I have a friend from Finland. When I ask him if it is legal to bowhunt in Finland he said "nothing is legal in Finland" lol. He doesn't hunt but goes along with a friend who hunts sometimes.
Please keep us all posted
Good luck, Finland is a beautiful Country
Damn! That's impressive! Knock it out of the park!
A noble honor indeed....
Along with that honor, you will be shouldering an unwieldy yet illuminating responsibility to effectuate the support of the masses.
Clearly and concisely differentiating between the 'freedom of indifference' and the' freedom of excellence' will be imperative..
The realistic future possibility in exercising the freedom of excellence intrinsically endowed by the traditional way hangs in the balance. May your presence and voice be explicitly perceived that the coveted traditional way is imbued with invaluable substance, thus tipping the scales.
The mere fact that you've been asked speaks to a bigger chance of a positive outcome. Your "Viking-like" look will be well received also, I bet.
Good luck, the traditional side is sending an excellent representative.
That's awesome , if anyone can show them the power and lethal affects of a well placed shot it would be you .
Good luck with this project as a few years ago in Scotland I ran into the same attitude towards bowhunting.Lots of game reserved for the enjoyment of the elite.
I would imagine that I won't be the biggest guy in Finland...I felt like I was in Africa :) as mentioned, I will probably blend in.
Part of what they are tasking me to address are the issues or stigma that traditional archery is less accurate than compound and the concerns.
I'm still getting a feel for how things are handled there and it is quite strange from our way of thinking...as I understand it.
I feel that I have been handling most of these concerns through out the years but with a differnt aggenda. Nearly every day I am introduced as a hunter/archer and killer of young innocent and defensless...but tastey animals (yes I'm a deplorable too).
We realize that the vast majority are uneducated in our reality yet they aren't necesarily anti's at least not yet.
Some of these might even be other hunters but have disdain for our methods. Or of our own ranks that dislike the methods of other hunters. There's always another struggle.
If all else fails, I've been studying up on the tv seeries Vikinigs just in case I need to try a new aproach to getting my point across ;)
Thanks for your support, BigJim the Horrible(think that will help?)
Big Jim the Magnificient is more like it. You have a big hill to climb but I think you'll be up to it
What an awesome opportunity and responsibility! Congratulation Big Jim! What a neat experience. I wish you well.
If you find yourself in Helsinki, try to make it to a place called Varusteleka. LOTS of great stuff for hunters there!
Some possible points... yes, we can normally not compete for distance and accuracy with a rifle or even a compound bow, therefore, traditional archery is, by necessity and by choice, a very close range game. In its own realm, it shines as a very good weapon.
I have listened to folks in Scandinavia speak of "cruelty" when we discussed archery hunting, obviously not knowing much about how an arrow kills and how a sharp arrow in most places does not hurt like a bullet will. They may not have experience, also, with the fact that it takes precious seconds for an arrow to work, when it does its job well.
Bringing these points forth, as well as maybe anecdotal evidence of people getting shot or falling upon their arrow stating the same... it doesn't hurt.
Good luck.
Congratulations Jim! That is truly an honor, with a great amount of responsibility placed as a representative of our way of life!
Thanks,
Hi
What a surprise to bump to this thread - and welcome to Finland :)
I can not speak behalf of those who have invited you, but some points about situation in Finland.
Hunting here is guite different - Roedeer is currently biggest game we can harvest with bow and arrow - Whitetail deer is near to add to list too.
Our legistalation allows to use all the gadgets you can imagine when hunting - here you hunt moose allways with a group of hunters, you drive to your hunting grounds, loose a dog - you install a GPS unit to a dog, which is trained to search up a moose - then you see from your smartphone where the moose is ( dogs GPS unit sends information to hunters phones ) , then people are spread to places ahead of the moose ( lots and lots logginroads here, so people use cars to get their places )Then just wait and kill the moose ( scope rifle and silencer - .308 caliber is guite used ) - if the animal is one you are allowed to take ( adult or calf )After kill pull it to road and take it to a place to butcher. Of course there is some variations, but that is guite common way to do it.
So you see sportmanship and fair chaise has no role here ( well, ofcourse legistlation folks adrees, that this way is wery good :) )
Just writing this, that effective ( and easy ) way is in the top of the list of things concerning mindset here...tradition and walues to give chance to game not so much...
Back in the 90`s when I began to hunt with stick and string ( Martin Hathfield - 55# ) - smallgame of course - those looks fellow hunters gave to me...are yuo going to hunt with that???
Nowdays bowhunting and bowhunters are esablished very well, but compound is more highly praised - that effectivness here again - more power they say - longer range, they say and more easy to learn to shoot.
If you come here to speak for traditional bowhunting, then perhaps you should prepare to shoot some arrows to show how its done ( Byron Ferguson has been here in several occasions to shoot his bow, so you can just go from there :) )
Perhaps some videoclips too?
Way to go, Big Jim!
Why not drop by Norway on the way. Some people here might need some real talking to, as well.
Jim, first off congrats! I'm sure you will be a wonderful ambassador for us!
Second thing, if it were legal to hunt a few species you mentioned in Finland, I would be inclined to move that up my list over South America and maybe even New Zeeland. I think there are a few of us who would strongly prefer to pursue animals within their home range instead of where they are feral.
Last thought, instead of arguing the distance and energy of our tackle, it might be good to focus on what we consider a "trophy" and how well that plays into utilizing us as a herd management tool.
Just a few thoughts, good luck!!!!
Thom
Jim, you need to see about a Nokia boot distributor while your there.
Congratulations BigJim
Congratulations BigJim. They sure have selected the right guy who is very compassionate about traditional archery and hunting.
I'm afraid I will have little time for much this first trip. They asked me if I was available in March and I said I was open between the 6th and the 16th...I have events in Florida and Georgia the weekends of the 4th and the 18th.
The following day, I received a message that they booked the banquet hall for the 11th.
16 hr flight over 9 hr time difference and of course the flight home and back to work....oh oh, I have already found a wood supplier that has something special for me over their :bigsmyl: I just can't help it. I have to say, I started searching for some special wood to bring home before the trip was even certain.
BigJim
:thumbsup:
I'll pray that God gives you wisdom so that your words can better influence the powers at be to make the best decisions possible on how to manage His creation.
This is incredible Jim! Best of luck and I hope our brothers overseas will be able to enjoy bowhunting as we do here. I'm wondering what are the reasons for the lack of bow hunting opportunity in Europe?
I would assume the biggest talking points would be:
1:The general safety of Archery for accident free hunting
2: The sportsmanship and increased tag availability, hunting opportunity, and $$$ of tag revenue
Defense to be made would obviously be the humane death that a well placed arrow provides
My little experience with Finns is they freak out at idle chit-chat, makes them very uncomfortable. Don't expect to start up a conversation with strangers. Its like an entire country of introverts. This is what I've been told from a Finnish friend.
I'm sure you will represent us well and make a big influence on their decision. I would think possibly a highlight compilation of some of the videos done by the Wensels, Mike Mitten, South Cox Cox...etc. They really do a great job of capturing what traditional archery, fair chase, and responsible wildlife management is all about. Something that shows how lethal an arrow really is when when a true hunter is willing to forego marginal shots and use skill and woodsmanship to get within traditional bow range. Perhaps you could ask Kevin Dill for permission to use his 2016 Alaska moose hunt thread as support - doesn't get much better than that. Its still on the front page of PowWow, 21 pages long.
Sounds like it could be an uphill climb if the Fins are as much into rifles, and gadgets as stated above.
Congratulations Jim,they picked one of the best for the job,best of luck to you.
Best of luck Jim. I know you will be a great ambassador for the activity of bowhunting. I hope your trip is well received for all our sakes as bowhunters.
Awesome experience, beautiful trip, and the opportunity to educate and show another point of view to people with a rich hunting heritage.
Congratulation to Big Jim, who in my opinion is a wonderful asset to the traditional bow hunting community.
F-Manny
Awesome. Congrats on a great honor!
Be proud of that invitation. They'll be impressed for sure. Good Luck
Deno
That's about as cool as you can get
Congratulations Jim. I am hard pressed to think of someone who could do a better job! Good luck with your persuasion skills.
That's an honor! Keep us informed.
Get 'em. Go convince the Japanese government next so I can bowhunt there.
One place at a time...I need to save some time for building bows and shooting pigs :) I guess I can always work that in between flights LOL.
thanks for the encouraging words, BigJim
Theres pigs in Japan to hunt, along with monkeys, bears, crows, pheasants, and deer.
I guess farmers trap the pigs and just beat them with bats and clubs.
I wonder how the Finland trip is going.... :archer: :coffee: :coffee: :coffee:
F-Manny
That's great Jim! Good luck!
Wow! Hope you can make an impact. Have a nice trip.
Any outcome update? Probably too soon to know.