Friday, May 9, 2014

Why We Hunt, The Truth Behind It And The Role of Media.

Over time hunting as developed an ugly and simply incorrect reputation. Media outlets both traditional and social have been spewing negative propaganda about hunting and the real conservation benefits of the sport.


Social media has been a big gateway for negative propaganda. Many organization such as PETA, have been using this medium to spread incorrect nonsense about hunting efforts. They have portrayed conservationists as cruel monsters who go out into the woods with bloodlust and nothing else. The truth of the matter is that hunters (conservationists) do more than any other animal rights activist groups on Earth. What people do not realize is that through hunting, we are playing a vital role in population control. I will use the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission as an example. In Nebraska we have a head count on the number of animals living in the state broken up into species. These numbers are not dead accurate but are very close, so much so that this allows the state to set a limit of animals that can be taken that will optimize the health of the herd. Without people out in the woods hunting and harvesting these animals for their sustenance, the animals would die in a very cruel way. The truth is that we cannot produce enough food for all of the animals in the state. When the population is too high then animals will starve to death and lay to waste. This causes a series of events that is far beyond what any animal activist thinks of as harming. Animals lying to waste are one of the biggest causes of diseases spreading. So now we have animals dying of starvation and disease, both deaths are slow and painful. A high powered rifle with the proper grain of bullet takes under two minutes to dispatch and animal but usually happens instantaneously due to the shock force of the bullet hitting the animal. That is something that the media and the left will not tell you, the uninformed viewer. That is just how conservationists physically help in animal conservation efforts. The second way is another area in which animal activists fall short. Through purchasing all of the tags, permits, and licenses, hunters are directly supporting wildlife conservation. A portion of each purchase is spent directly on improving habitat for various species of animals and ensuring their future survival and prosperity. I cannot recall the last time I saw any animal activist groups donating millions of dollars towards the efforts they supposedly support.


The truth is that hunters are more of conservationists than anyone out there. They love the animals and respect them by not letting any of their meat go to waste. They support their habitat by supplying funding for the game and parks. They help the overall health of the herds by actively participating in population control. There is a difference between talking about helping the animals and actually doing it.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Apps For Outdoor Business

With technology growing at such a fast pace, there are many ways that businesses can capitalize on growing technologies. There are a few outdoor businesses that have really done this with the rise of apps. I will discuss one specific app and explain why they are having such great success with it.  

The first type of app that I will discuss is one that uses the app to generate sales. Gun Broker, is a business that specializes in selling new and use firearms. They have since also began to sell other outdoor equipment but primarily make their money selling weapons. I have personalized use this auction website and I love it. You know as a bidder that your information is safe and that you will not get scammed. I know that when I discovered the app that they provided, I was getting onto it more than I should have. Apps make things so much easier because you are simple clicks away from things that you enjoy. I can get onto my phone and within seconds be looking at weapons that I want to purchase. This is a win, win situation for all parties involved because it allows bidders to keep a closer eye on their weapons that they are watching, and it also helps generate more revenue for the company because people can bid from wherever they are.


One major strength of this particular app is that it is very similar to the website and flows very well. The company invested the proper resources to ensure there was proper user-friendly interface software put in. Having this smooth functioning app is a crucial strength because people want everything they do with a business to relate and be as similar as possible. The overall theme and feel of the app must be the same as if you were browsing the website of the business. This also holds true if a company has a brick and mortar location, all elements of the business must relate and mesh well together, this helps ensure quality and authenticity in the mind of the consumers. Having a strong website and app base is becoming the standard for businesses today. This hold true for the outdoor industry as well.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Trapping In The Digital Era

Trapping is something that is very primitive in nature. It dates back to roughly the 4th century BC. Since then there have been many changes but the sport and lifestyle itself is still very primitive. The idea of it really hasn’t changed and even many of the tactics are still the same as they were all of those years ago. There has of course been many changes in equipment due to technology but a lot of trappers still tend to use natural bindings and material for their trapping efforts. With this knowledge it would be a surprise to hear that technology and the “Digital Era” are changing everything about this primitive sport.

Trapping now is very different from even in the early 1900s. Trapping as an industry has been slowing adapting to the digital era. There used to be two ways to learn how to trap, either one read how to trap out of a book, or they were taught about a veteran trapper. In the age of trapping we live in now, there is a new medium to learn the ways of the trapper. The Internet has single handedly changed how we learn as human beings. This is the same for trapping. The Internet now allows for people to self teach on virtually any subject. Whether it is just doing a search and reading an article, or utilizing specialized sites such as YouTube, there are many ways to learn how to trap. I personally taught myself how to become an avid trapper via YouTube. There is information on anything related to trapping whether it is various techniques, or even types of equipment.

The business aspect of trapping has also taken off on the Internet. The main website to purchase everything needed for trapping is F&T Trading Post. This website has transformed how trappers get their gear. There is a wide array of brands, tools, and other trapping necessities. This is huge in the trapping industry because before the Internet, trappers would have to go to a store and would have a very limited selection of products. Most of the time trappers would end up making their own items.


In conclusion the Internet has revolutionized an industry that has roots back close to the beginning of “Man”. Although the idea of trapping may be close to the same, the equipment, techniques, and learning styles, are all very different. This change has caused a modern day gold rush for businesses with a strong website and Internet presence.

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Primos Hunting Calls

Primos Hunting, is one of the top brands in terms of hunting calls, gear, and other accessories. I decided to review the company and discuss some strengths and weakness of the company itself, but also of the website they use to sell the majority of their product.

Even though Primos is a top brand in the industry they have something that is rather unique. Primos, is a manufacturer as well as a retailer. However, they do not own a traditional brick and mortar store. Instead, Primos relies on major retailers such as Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops to sell their merchandise as well as the Primos website. This unique selling tactic really makes Primos stand out and in a negative way. I say this because Primos loses a lot of advertisement just by not having their own retail store. This lack of a physical location makes Primos dependent upon other retailers to purchase their products and help in the marketing efforts.

The Primos website is top of the line. The website is very modern which is an advantage in the outdoor industry. It has a very use friendly feel to it and navigation is fast and easy for the consumer. All of the different departments are clearly marked to save the consumer time when they are searching for products or even just browsing the site for the latest in hunting technology. The website overall has an accurate theme that represent the company very well. Even if one were to view the site and have no prior knowledge of the brand, he or she would be able to identify the type of company that was selling merchandise.

Strengths
Weaknesses
Opportunities
Threats
Quality Products
Strong Brand Name
Strong Online Presence
High Demand
High Price
No Physical Location

Expanding Market
Younger Generation Entering the Market
Increased Use of Internet
Many Competitors
Seasonal In Nature