quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Call SCI and register your complaints.

Bitching about it here won't accomplish anything.

George

Sort of an interesting comment coming from the moderator of an on-line blog.

Not really, Mike.

This is not an on-line blog, although some of our more garrulous members may treat it as such.

If someone has a beef with AR, would it make ANY sense to complain to SCI about it? No.

Take your complaints to the parties with whom you have a problem. Repeated and concerted efforts to relate your displeasure to directly Tucson may have the desired effect (or it may not).


AilsaWheels has it correct. If your concerns are not responded to, even if only to acknowledge receipt thereof, vote with your wallet and leave SCI; just be sure to state why you are leaving in your resignation letter.

George

I seem to have read the following somewhere:

"This site was started by a group of shooters, whose interests include hunting, target shooting and plain plinking. The idea was to share what we have learned from hunting, reloading, gunsmithing and any other shooting related ideas. We are not affiliated to any company involved in the shooting and hunting sports. So what you will find here are our actual experiences, good or bad. If you have any interesting ideas, or if you have come across anything you think might be of interest to other fellow shooters, please consider sharing it with us, we would love to hear from you."

Some might feel that a hunting magazine that apparently has lost it's focus would be something that would fall into the category of anything that might be of interest to other fellow shooters. Look, I am not interested in arguing with you but just found it odd that someone affiliated with the site would tell folks to stop bitching here and file a complaint with SCI. That's all I am saying. By that standard -- don't bitch about something here if it cannot be fixed here -- a large percentage of the posts on AR would disappear and the political forum would be a wasteland (or more of a wasteland than it is already).

Mike: (LionHunter) Thanks for speaking directly with Steve Comus. Hopefully we will see some positive changes in the magazine. I am sure that with your suggestion, Comus will take a look at these comments.

I left Steve a voice message asking him to return Safari back to it's former glory & that the new format sucks.
Maybe not as eloquent as others but I hope he understands that I ain't happy with the new direction he has taken a fine magazine.
IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT!!!

I used to eagerly await the magazine. It is the single most important factor in my original safari, and probably the following ones. It was the thing that caused me to become a member then a life member. It originally failed me when it dropped the hunt report and put it in the newspaper. I saw that as the beginning of the end then and actually made a trip to the headquarters but only got to speak to a few assisstants and since I was just a working man I got very little attention.I will say after seeing this direction taken by many periodicals I fear there is little we can do to change the directions. About all I can say about recent issues is the covers have been fair and the paper quality good. It is sad.

I have been a staunch supporter of SCI and serve on the Board of our local chapter. However, I have to say, these last two issues of Safari Magazine have been a complete sham. It used to be one of my favorite hunting / shooting magazines. In fact, it was one of the only rags I actually read, being that big bore and double rifles, as well as African hunting is about all I have more than a passing interest in at this time. I think I've read every BS "latest / greatest" tactic on hunting super wary whitetails or king of the mountain elk, etc., and am completely exhausted with the never ending lineup of gadgets and gizmos related to pursuit of the same that dominates the other outdoor oriented publications. Safari is the only magazine I even open anymore. However, with the latest 2 issues, I now consider Safari Magazine to be in the same classification of Spam and the magazines will go straight to the round file unless the ship is turned around quickly.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Herald:
I had 2 articles returned to me from them recently. I have never sent them anything that they did not buy. I was told that these hunting stories just weren't what they were looking for anymore. I was sure to tell them what I thought of the new style of the magazine, and that everyone I knew felt the same...

I think we need to run a test on them.

If they are no longer interested in hunting stories, and wish to "expand" their whatever it is their think of.

I think we should send them a story of a in the closet gay hunter going to Africa and meeting up with an in the closet gay PH, and they both decided to "proudly come out"!

May be that is the sort of new material the new SCI is looking for?

Just read the latest issue, cover to cover.

There were many hunting oriented articles.

What the hell are you guys reading? Or not reading?

Is Safari the best hunting publication on glossy paper?

No. Not by a long shot.

But is it as awful as some have said here?

No. Not by a long shot.

JMHO, of course.

so jam and jewelry are your idea of acceptable articles for a hunting magazine?

That's funny Saeed- I just don't think I am the guy for the job .

Having read the recent issue I found the following. 7 hunting articles (Cape Buff with a Bow; shooting optics and hunting chamois; an uncommon duiker; gunning for doves; Africa realizing a dream; Osceola turkey hunt; New Zealand Bird hunt) A short article on Linda Beese as 2014 SCI artist of the year; article on layering (always a good reminder)Craig Bottington's article on hunting camps. I have frozen and been miserable in tent camps, shelter halfs, to tented safari camps in Tanzania. So what is wrong with being comfortable once in a while? Pretty good mix between big game and bird hunting; rifle and bow hunting.
I have a few pieces of art work for my home, Linda Beese is one of my favorites and am pleased she is receiving this noted recognition. One page article on Professional Hunter, Nathan Olmstead, Todd Wilkenson's article on the Art of the Hunt. there is the one page article of jam's and jellies. I grew up and still live on a farm. I like home made jam and jelly especially on home made bread. I like it with most all meals especially those where the venue is wild game, along with a nice red wine. Another one page article on jewelry, now I have a bolo tie made from floating bones of my lion, a gold necklace piece for my daughter made from floating bones from my leopard. Kinda nice to know about those things and is a fitting tribute honoring the animal taken and reminder of the hunt. More than a few folks on this forum enjoy a good cigar, kinda nice to know good from bad ones, real v counterfeit. While I prefer red wine and a glass of single malt once in a while and am not particularly fond of martinis, No magazine can be all things to all people.
And perhaps that's the message. We hunters are a diverse group. A few have been privileged to hunt worldwide, travel first class, hunt with fine handcrafted rifles, etc... and those of us who hunt close to home chasing pheasants, ducks, deer, bears, turkey and varmits. All are equally proud of having a day afield.
I would like the magazine to reflect that diversity.

Mike,

One final attempt - bitching about the SCI magazine here accomplishes nothing.

Contacting SCI directly might.

Which effort would prove more worthwhile?

George

I have to agree with most of the posters here. I used to read SCI's publications. Now I just leaf through them while watching TV and toss.
If I didn't get the publications as part of being a life member I certainly would cancel them if I had to pay for them. I don't give a hoot who got their Diamond Grand Slam on the seven species of jackrabbit and 1 issue on the convention would do it instead of 5 on the last convention and then 5 on the next convention.
I find African Sporting Gazette and Sports Afield much more interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Mike,

One final attempt - bitching about the SCI magazine here accomplishes nothing.

Contacting SCI directly might.

Which effort would prove more worthwhile?

George

An acute perception of the obvious. However, does that supplant or render as bitching a discussion among interested parties of the issue? Obviously, as evidenced by the posts on this thread, opinions do vary. Again, if the litmus test for all posts on this forum according to the moderators is whether or not they will accomplish anything, then the vast majority should have never been made in the first place and Saeed and Don should be able to conserve precious server storage going forward.

In the words of Bill O'Reilly, I will let you have the last word, I'm done.

Hey, they should leave it just as it is.

Where else would all those "estate" whitetail operations advertise?

The good thing about the most recent issue is that I learned something about hunting and not just jam.

On page 20 of the Bob Robb article I learned that "[B]Blesbok are a small spiral-horned antelope". And to think, they kicked two of Tim's articles back to him. I guess if you have editors that don't know about their topic they hire writers that don't know their topic either.

Or maybe SCI is trying to generate more money from the people going after the spiral horn slam (or whatever it is called) by adding another animal to the list.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GeorgeS:
Mike,

One final attempt - bitching about the SCI magazine here accomplishes nothing.

Contacting SCI directly might.

Which effort would prove more worthwhile?


If we have a really bad hunt in Africa,can we bitchhere? Or should we only bitch to the safari operator?

Anyone can bitch; how many can offer constructive solutions?

quote:

Originally posted by Joe Savikataaq Jr:
If we have a really bad hunt in Africa,can we bitchhere? Or should we only bitch to the safari operator?

Of course, you should bitch to your outfitter first; if you do not receive satisfaction, then let other people know of the issues involved and the unwillingness of the outfitter to address them.

This is a different situation. SCI is a membership organization; some members of that organization have an issue with some part(s) of its operation.

In my opinion, they should take it up with SCI; if SCI blows them off, they can either quit SCI or organize for further action.

Complaining about the magazine here is a pointless exercise unless it is to vent their displeasure.

George

I have to agree with most of the poster's here. I don't even remove the cover anymore, I just toss it......Tom

Being an average working stiff I too am disappointed in the direction that the magazine has taken, but that said I always knew that I wasn't exactly the target demographic for SCI. I only wish I had come to that realization before I popped for a Life Membership. I wonder if DSC wouldn't have been more my speed.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I sent a direct link to this post on to Steve Comus, Editor in Chief for Safari magazine, and told him that he ought to seriously consider the comments that have been made. We'll see what happens.

I did the same thing after the last issue--obviously, it did no good.

I started to revive my earlier post about Safari Mag, but this post is so much better.

quote:

Originally posted by BigUglyMan:
Being an average working stiff I too am disappointed in the direction that the magazine has taken, but that said I always knew that I wasn't exactly the target demographic for SCI. I only wish I had come to that realization before I popped for a Life Membership. I wonder if DSC wouldn't have been more my speed.

DSC is everyone's speed--
If they are hunters-
If they love the outdoors-
If they want to foster the legacy of hunting-
if they look to the future of our youth-

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
i am still waiting for the usual SCI apologists to weigh in with the usual "first for hunters" bullshit. can't wait to read the excuses for the inexcusable.

Well - If you actually read and absorbed previous threads on this topic - you would see that EVERYONE was complaining about the SCI magazine!!

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:

do what cal and i( and a number of others) did years ago- cancel your membership in the good ole boys club.

Or you could perhaps do something CONSTRUCTIVE and useful - like others in this thread.

quote:

Originally posted by fujotupu:
The 3 main SCI stalwarts have yet to surface.

Their eventual comments (if any) will however provide interesting reading and heated debate from counter comments.

See above...

no, actually everyone has NOT been complaining about the joke the magazine has become. they have been complaining about the joke that SCI has become- except for the stalwart 3.and i tried to do something constructive 3 years ago by complaining directly to the lords in Tucson about the problem- i.e. the sheer hypocrisy of continuing to accept advertising revenue/ hunt donations from a company that had been kicked out of Zim and was widely known to be a bunch of crooks. never got an answer, withdrew my financial support. "first for hunters" indeed. what a f---ing joke. SCI is first for officers/directors/board members! no, it is also first for debutants, too, i guess. what's next, knitting lessons conducted at the Jackson Hole ranch( which is not really available to the average member)?

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
no, actually everyone has NOT been complaining about the joke the magazine has become. they have been complaining about the joke that SCI has become- except for the stalwart 3.and i tried to do something constructive 3 years ago by complaining directly to the lords in Tucson about the problem- i.e. the sheer hypocrisy of continuing to accept advertising revenue/ hunt donations from a company that had been kicked out of Zim and was widely known to be a bunch of crooks. never got an answer, withdrew my financial support. "first for hunters" indeed. what a f---ing joke. SCI is first for officers/directors/board members! no, it is also first for debutants, too, i guess. what's next, knitting lessons conducted at the Jackson Hole ranch( which is not really available to the average member)?

You have a manner to twist words around to suit your purpose...

OK - let me spell it out another way for you. THIS thread is about the SCI magazine. I have not seen anybody defending the sorry state of the magazine on here. A few people suggested that the advertising revenue is likely down, due to the economy... but nobody was apologising for the sorry state of the magazine.

.... but I guess you dont really care what the actual topic is about - rather you will use every opportunity to air your anti-SCI diatribe and your extreme and unreconciled dissatisifaction with that organisation.

I sent SCI a hunt write up complete with pictures from a hunt I did in New Zealand last year where I took a very nice Stag, Fallow Buck, a Tahr that charged me thru the wilding pines and a Black Ram, all under the back drop of Mount Cook. I went to considerable effort considering my writing skills and had a chapter member here in Reno that has some ties to national help me finish it up and send it off for me.

I received a very nice letter from SCI that basically said thanks but no thanks, they had lots of similar articles they could use if they wanted to put a article in the publication about New Zealand. OK, fine, I am not sure what qualifies one particular article over another, I just know I have read some real shit in the SCI monthly, and my hunt was a walk and stalk with real effort
What really set me off was they used the opportunity to ask if I would like to donate more to SCI. Pretty ballsy considering they just told me to shove off with my article I sent in. Maybe if you donate tons they publish your article????

I am turning more and more into a DSC only member every time SCI does their stupid shit.
I'm already boycotting SCI convention this year and will be attending my first DSC Convention

I think I am going to mail mine back to the president of sci with a nice note telling him I dont need this type of magazine. I ask others to do the same.

So does anyone have a email contact for Mr. Comus or the President of SCI?

Personally, while I am an SCI member, and have gotten some response from the organization, I have not really had great luck with sending a comment in to their comments email and getting a response.

Once I have had a contact email, I have had very good response from them.

Since some of the forum members have been able to get through, care to share how we can get to them? It seems like any other bureaucratic org, if its not addressed to the right person in the right way, it ends up in a circular file.

If you want hunting magazines that have gone down the tubes, look at Sports Afield. Used to be a good magazine (I was showing a guy a copy of one from 1948, and todays). It used to be a 180 pages thick, 1948, now less than half that and NO stories in it period. which is why, even at $3 or something for the year, I don't want it. I agree with the guy who found a number of hunting stories in the latest Safari Mag., and though perhaps it was a special issue with some of the jam stuff. Can't always be happy with all issues of any magazine. If any folks here are NRA members, look at the Rifleman from the 40s early 50s and today. Used to be a lot of articles in it, now short blurbs. Used to be articles on how to convert your 03 to a hunting rifle, that sort of thing , yeah, I know, todays "hunters" wouldn't be caught dead with a converted 03. None of the hunting magazines what they used to be.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
If you want hunting magazines that have gone down the tubes, look at Sports Afield. Used to be a good magazine (I was showing a guy a copy of one from 1948, and todays). It used to be a 180 pages thick, 1948, now less than half that and NO stories in it period. which is why, even at $3 or something for the year, I don't want it. I agree with the guy who found a number of hunting stories in the latest Safari Mag., and though perhaps it was a special issue with some of the jam stuff. Can't always be happy with all issues of any magazine. If any folks here are NRA members, look at the Rifleman from the 40s early 50s and today. Used to be a lot of articles in it, now short blurbs. Used to be articles on how to convert your 03 to a hunting rifle, that sort of thing , yeah, I know, todays "hunters" wouldn't be caught dead with a converted 03. None of the hunting magazines what they used to be.

I did a double take when I read this. To me, Sports Afield is a miracle turnaround story. Ten years ago the magazine was not worth spit. In the same category as Field and Stream. Now Sports Afield is an excellent magazine, in my opinion. One of the few magazines that I really enjoy now. I guess it is true, everyone has an opinion and individual mileage may vary . . .

quote:

Originally posted by Full Roar:
I sent SCI a hunt write up complete with pictures from a hunt I did in New Zealand last year where I took a very nice Stag, Fallow Buck, a Tahr that charged me thru the wilding pines and a Black Ram, all under the back drop of Mount Cook. I went to considerable effort considering my writing skills and had a chapter member here in Reno that has some ties to national help me finish it up and send it off for me.

I received a very nice letter from SCI that basically said thanks but no thanks, they had lots of similar articles they could use if they wanted to put a article in the publication about New Zealand. OK, fine, I am not sure what qualifies one particular article over another, I just know I have read some real shit in the SCI monthly, and my hunt was a walk and stalk with real effort
What really set me off was they used the opportunity to ask if I would like to donate more to SCI. Pretty ballsy considering they just told me to shove off with my article I sent in. Maybe if you donate tons they publish your article????

I am turning more and more into a DSC only member every time SCI does their stupid shit.
I'm already boycotting SCI convention this year and will be attending my first DSC Convention

Personally, I would have loved to have seen your story, but next time, save yourself some effort and send in a query, not a full length story.

Regular guys, paying for hunts with their own money, would make an excellent mag.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
If you want hunting magazines that have gone down the tubes, look at Sports Afield. Used to be a good magazine (I was showing a guy a copy of one from 1948, and todays). It used to be a 180 pages thick, 1948, now less than half that and NO stories in it period. which is why, even at $3 or something for the year, I don't want it. I agree with the guy who found a number of hunting stories in the latest Safari Mag., and though perhaps it was a special issue with some of the jam stuff. Can't always be happy with all issues of any magazine. If any folks here are NRA members, look at the Rifleman from the 40s early 50s and today. Used to be a lot of articles in it, now short blurbs. Used to be articles on how to convert your 03 to a hunting rifle, that sort of thing , yeah, I know, todays "hunters" wouldn't be caught dead with a converted 03. None of the hunting magazines what they used to be.

Was the Internet even invented in 1948?

Actually, you can say that about any number of outdoor mags.

IMO, the real death spiral of magazines has been the PR sponsored writers hunts. They didn't exist back in the 70s. Back then, guys like Norman Strung and Jim Zumbo would write about DIY deer and mule deer hunts. Today, such a story doesn't sell product, and won't see the time of day except in Fur-Fish-Game.

Do we really need another story written by the same old group of guys on yet another guided hunt for which they paid nothing?

How about some constructive ideas to make Safari magazine an excellent magazine? Reminds me of the boss who tells an employee they are messing up, but not telling them how they are messing up and offering up suggestions for improvement.
As I have said before, some of the best hunting stories I have read have been here on the forum. Might not that be a suggestion to incorporate that format into Safari Magazine.

quote:

Originally posted by tysue:
If you want hunting magazines that have gone down the tubes, look at Sports Afield. Used to be a good magazine (I was showing a guy a copy of one from 1948, and todays). It used to be a 180 pages thick, 1948, now less than half that and NO stories in it period. which is why, even at $3 or something for the year, I don't want it. I agree with the guy who found a number of hunting stories in the latest Safari Mag., and though perhaps it was a special issue with some of the jam stuff. Can't always be happy with all issues of any magazine. If any folks here are NRA members, look at the Rifleman from the 40s early 50s and today. Used to be a lot of articles in it, now short blurbs. Used to be articles on how to convert your 03 to a hunting rifle, that sort of thing , yeah, I know, todays "hunters" wouldn't be caught dead with a converted 03. None of the hunting magazines what they used to be.

I agree with Mjines, have you read a Sports Afield lately. It has to be one of the greatest "turnarounds" in recent history. That magazine went from absolute crap, to EXCEPTIONAL in the last few years.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Vining:
How about some constructive ideas to make Safari magazine an excellent magazine? Reminds me of the boss who tells an employee they are messing up, but not telling them how they are messing up and offering up suggestions for improvement.
As I have said before, some of the best hunting stories I have read have been here on the forum. Might not that be a suggestion to incorporate that format into Safari Magazine.

Totally agree Tim. I would even go further and say if you had a sidebar on costs and tips, that would really add to the story. The issue is editing; a lot of folks can tell a great story, but they aren't exactly great writers. Just look how often its/it's is used improperly, or the words "a lot" spelled as one word. But I can live with that.

quote:

Originally posted by Tim Vining:
How about some constructive ideas to make Safari magazine an excellent magazine? Reminds me of the boss who tells an employee they are messing up, but not telling them how they are messing up and offering up suggestions for improvement.
As I have said before, some of the best hunting stories I have read have been here on the forum. Might not that be a suggestion to incorporate that format into Safari Magazine.

Ok, a couple constructive ideas, not that SCI pays any attention to what us normal work for a living hunters think

1. Publish a few articles every month from real hunters who pay for their own hunting as AZ put it. Sure, were not celebrity's or huge donors or great writers but we are real people who did a real hunt and I would guess most people who read the magazine are very similar to me and are tired of reading about some celebrity's life all the time

2. Lower the ridiculous amount of advertising

3. Enough of the PC BS

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
i am still waiting for the usual SCI apologists to weigh in with the usual "first for hunters" bullshit.
can't wait to read the excuses for the inexcusable. do what cal and i( and a number of others) did years ago- cancel your membership in the good ole boys club.

I did the same thing exactly. I was never more unimpressed with a bunch of kiss asss, stuff shirt, blue bloods in my life.

quote:

Originally posted by BrettAKSCI:
So I opened and "read" the latest issue last night. This morning I received and email from a friend and I think he pretty well summed it up.

"I received the new Safari Magazine from SCI. It has an article about jam(yes, the fruity spread), jewelry trends, and martinis(the drink, not the rifle). It was also thinner than most issues. What's next--safari chic kitchen appliances, removing wine stains from cammo, nifty wall tent decorations for under $1(Oops, it's SCI. Make that $1000)? I can see it now, the new SCI Martha Stewart Award, the SCI Cocktail Grand Slam(requiring at least seven drinks from five categories at the diamond level), and the most coveted award of all--the SCI Lifetime Canning Achievement Award("I've canned two hundred species from five continents!")............."

I found exactly 0 articles that I wanted to read in the entire frigging magazine!!! I REALLY hope SCI recognizes the wheels have fallen off, the car is in flames, and is going over a cliff........we'll see.

Brett

No worries Brett, Next time Im in Anchorage Ill bring you some African sporting gazettes and some African Outfitter mags.

It seems that modern magazine rags, Safari being one of them, cater to the national level of ADHD. Nearly all of them start with a mid-hunt scenario just before the trigger is released. It is to draw the attention challenged into the story. Then it reverts to the beginning with a plethora of name drops on equipment, clothing, transportation, ammo, ad naseum, plus a complaint about the heat or cold or altitude (no country for old men) until the "said attention challenged" hunter is brought to the less than rousing climax of his journey, which must be SCI Gold Medal or something like that. Injected into this ridiculous format in Safari magazine is always the notatation that the trackers (Friday, Hope, Faith, Bibi, Zumba, etc., etc., etc.) are unfathomably and mystically proficient, the food in camp was unbelievable, the wine was exquisite, the sunsets were breathtaking (which they are, but so is Texas and Montana) and the PH knows his business like no one else, which he probably does. Lastly it's topped off with the assurance for the well heeled hunter that he has "collected" blah, blah, blah. It is a very rare article that actually has some depth and stellar literary content. With the dumbing down of America, much of what I just ranted about can be seen in American Hunter, Peterson's Hunting, Boar Hunter, Muley F-----g Crazy, Guns & Ammo, and so on. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO SELL PRODUCT AND RAKE IN MONEY FROM ADVERTISING!!!

Sports Afield is a quality rag, IMHO, and so are Rifle, Handloader, and the slick paper African Sporting Gazette. I'm sure most of us remember Hatari Times. I sure wish Harald was still writing. And personally, I have learned more.............much more from about 6 or 7 years of AR than all this other crap combined. Could it be because this site if first for hunters? Run and shared by hunters? Yeah we bitch and fight sometimes or often, but call SCI directly and file a complaint. What's to lose..........oh yeah, I forgot, your short term memory.