SSAA: Australia’s best hunting and shooting magazines

Video reviews

by Ian Campbell

Caping and Field Preparation of Trophies
First it was the .223 WSSM, followed by the .243 WSSM. Now, it has been announced that Winchester Ammo (in partnership with Browning and Winchester Firearms) are planning to introduce another version - a .25 WSSM.

Caping and Field Preparation of Trophies video After a successful hunt, a shooter may decide that he would like to have his trophy mounted by a professional taxidermist, but he may not be sure of how to go about it. If the animal is not prepared correctly, the mount may not turn out the way the hunter envisioned.

‘Caping and Field Preparation of Trophies’ is the first comprehensive video production made in Australia that gives step-by-step instructions on how to best prepare trophies in the field prior to mounting.

Craig Rogers, a professional taxidermist from Armidale, NSW, and local hunting guide, Matt Graham, demonstrate all the steps necessary to cope and prepare head skins. This includes separating and splitting ears, eyes and lips. Craig also stresses the importance of salting and salt penetration.

If you are hoping for a trophy, Craig also tells you what tools to take along, apart from a sharp skinning knife, to make the caping easier.

The 30-minute video costs $29.95, plus $6 postage, and is available from:

  • Address
    Domandra Media
    6 Jannusch’s Road,
    Gowrie Mt, QLD 4350
  • Phone: 07 4630 0128
  • Fax: 07 4630 0229
  • E-mail: [email protected]

 

Huntin’ Hogs in New Zealand videoHuntin’ Hogs in New Zealand
This 55-minute video is definitely different to your normal pig hunting videos and contains some very graphic footage. PJ, the man behind this production, hunts with dogs and films the chase himself.

The scenery is quite magnificent. He takes you from the Wanganui River through to the Marlborough Sounds and up the Awatere Valley.

It was gratifying to note that his unwritten rule was that if a pig is caught and killed, it is brought out, dressed and the meat eaten.

PJ has also filmed quite a few wild red deer while on his hunts and some of the stags were truly trophy class.

For anyone contemplating going to New Zealand to hunt, this video would show just how rugged the terrain is and how dense the foliage can be.

The video costs about $30, plus postage, and is available from:

  • Address
    PJ
    C/- ‘More Pork’
    PO Box 56 Havelock
    Marlborough, New Zealand
  • Phone: + 64 3 574 2036
  • Fax: + 64 3 572 9564

 

Sporting Clays: Developing your own style of shooting videoSporting Clays: Developing your own style of shooting
This is a first-class shotgun shooting instructional video presented by Marty Fischer, a Level 3 National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) instructor and AA grade competitor. Level 3 is the highest grade obtainable for an NSCA instructor.

Marty begins the video by stressing the importance of gun safety and using eye and ear protection. He proceeds with an explanation of correct gun fit for both right- and left-handed shooters and a demonstration of holding and mounting a shotgun smoothly and correctly. What follows is a discussion of proper foot and body positioning.

It is fortunate that Marty is ambidextrous, because he shoots the targets both right and left handed to demonstrate different techniques. Probably his most helpful aid is the EYE-CAM, which gives the viewer the feeling that they are actually swinging and shooting the targets.

In the video, Marty gives the best explanation and demonstration of swing-through, pull away and maintained lead that I have seen. He also teaches you to read your targets by using mental imagery. His insights on how to shoot the more difficult targets like rabbits, battues and springing teal are most informative.

The 90-minute video costs $75 and is available from: