Our Canoe Trip down the Delaware River

Thanks to Bowhunter for captaining our little vessel!

If you wonder why we call him Bowhunter...

Visiting the Bowhunters

We had a great time visiting the Bowhunters this past weekend, and as usual our friends included an unusual wildlife sighting as part of our trip!

Bowhunter must weep at this one

Mod-Blog friend, Bowhunter, has told us a number of stories about run-ins with animal rights extremists during his hunts. So, it came as no surprise to see that in Redding, there was another clash between bowhunters and landowners over the fate of a dead deer.

For those unfamiliar with the law in CT, Bowhunters - unlike firearms hunters - are allowed to hunt near residential properties. An arrow flies such a short distance (and standard bowhunting technique is to shoot DOWN at a deer, further shortening the distance the arrow can fly) that there are few worries about friendly fire. The hunter, after making a hit, is expected to follow the wounded deer until they can painlessly euthanize it. If the path takes them across private property, they are required to secure the permission of the landowner before following the trail across that property.

In this case, the deer died on private property. The hunters then came to the home-owner to request permission, and were denied it. The carcass is there, rotting, to this day. The homeowners view it as "a crime scene" and are hoping a natural predator comes along to eat it.

I can't help wondering whether it is logical to prefer a large predator like a wolf, coyote, or mountain lion in one's yard, over a human hunter who has to answer to legal authorities.

This one's for Bowhunter

I can ride a bike... Canoe?

Our good friend, the Weekend Adventurer, has a penchant for inventing new ways of getting into the wilderness by any means necessary.  And he loves to bike.  So, when he e-mailed this new invention to me, I knew I had to share it with our readers.  Now, he can indulge his love of biking and his love of water-sports at the same time.  Of course, one must wonder if he'll have the strength to get it all home after a long ride to the river, and then a long day on the river.  But we all must make sacrifices for the ones we love. 

Posted via email from The Bike Nomad

For some reason, this reminds me of Archer

Congrats to Bowhunter!

A few folks had been asking about his latest trophy in the comments, so here is a photo he sent over.

Bowhunter on the Ididaride

I mentioned in the Shoutbox that Bowhunter achieved a milestone with a 75 mile ride at the Ididaride in upstate New York. He now has up a post on his blog about the event which is worth a look. I am hoping some more of us can go along next year.

This one is for Bowhunter

This may easily be the funniest and most painful thing I have read in months. Only click thru if you have no problem delighting in the pain of others. Luckily, Looney Tunes and Itchy and Scratchy prove few of us have a problem with this. Bowhunter has to read this either way!

As I sit here behind this laptop, I now realize that this definitely wasn’t the brightest idea I have ever had. I was going to rope a deer, put it in a stall, feed it up on corn for a couple of weeks, then kill it and eat it...The first thing that I learned is that, while a deer may just stand there looking at you funny while you rope it, they are spurred to action when you start pulling on that rope.

That deer EXPLODED.

The second thing I learned is that pound for pound, a deer is a LOT stronger than a cow or a colt. A cow or a colt in that weight range I could fight down with a rope and with some dignity.

A deer– no chance.

This one is for Bowhunter

Congratulations to Bowhunter and Mrs. Bowhunter...

...on the birth of their second baby! All Mod-Bloggers will sleep better knowing there will be another generation ready to rescue deer herds from overpopulation.

Psalm 127:3-5
[Children] are a heritage from the LORD,
children a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
are [children] born in one's youth.

Blessed is the man
whose quiver is full of them.

Happy Birthday Bowhunter

Bowhunter proves his name

Bowhunter texted me yesterday while I was sick in bed to report his first successful deer hunt of the season! Congratulaions, o ye of the killer bow. He also took a short video of the event (well, the aftermath).

I was concerned about its appropriateness for a family blog, so rather than embed it here, I am putting in a link. Click the picture to the left to see the video. It is not overly bloody, but better safe than sorry.