Wildlife Wall Decor

During the holiday season everyone is running around doing their best to buy gifts for all the people on their list.  If you happen to have one of those hunter, fisher, wildlife lovers in your family, here are a few gifts sure to delight:

~Etched Mirrors; if your hunter happens to be male, an etched mirror with a wildlife design ensures he just might check out how he looks before he leaves the house. 

~Hunting Clothing; camouflage jackets, reflective vests, warm hats—all potential gift ideas for the hunter on your list. 

~GPS Units; excellent for knowing where you are in the outdoors, and to prevent getting lost.

~Trophy Mounts; to serve as a lasting reminder for all those hunts and kills, you could also consider taxidermy services as an additional gift.

Before the ships under the command of Christopher Columbus ever set sail, there were hundreds of tribes of Native American peoples living in America.  These people had rich cultures which were rooted in wildlife and nature.  Ancient cave drawings created by Native Americans still exist in several areas of the United States.  These drawings depict the important aspects of their culture; hunting, fishing, and animal spirits played a huge part in their development as a people and a culture. 

It was in these caves and through Native American peoples that modern wildlife art was first conceived.  When European settlers arrived they recognized the Native American people’s bond with nature, and since, our fascination with the wild, unexplored frontier has allowed us to create our own art in celebration of animals and nature.

We loved camping in the Northwest National Forest campgrounds.  While hiking the natural wildlife trails and fishing in the mountain lakes and streams, we often picked wild blackberries, huckleberries, and ate pan-fried trout for meals.  I carried a .25 automatic pistol to scare away any wild creatures who were uninvited. As I reflect on the many years in the woods, carrying that kind of weapon was a joke, especially after reading the article in the Field and Stream Magazine, November 2008, page 8.  I must thank the good Lord for our safety!

The article describes Aaron Wycoff, at age 34, wrestling a wounded 400-pound black bear, all the while shooting the bear seven times with his .45 pistol.  It finally took an additional two rounds, one round of a .44 magnum pistol and a round from a friend’s rifle to put the bear down.  After 17 staples in Aaron’s body, it’s a scary thought how hopeless my .25 pistol would have been.  It’s a joke! . . . I would have been served up for the bear’s dinner!

It’s fascinating how the Native American’s lifestyle demonstrated their love for the creatures living on land, in air, and water.  The Indians also developed a unique conservation program by creating multiple foods and bi-products from the bodies of animals, birds, and fish.  An example of not being wasteful is the way they processed the buffalo.  The buffalo was more than meat.  The hide was used for teepees, moccasin tops, winter robes, bedding, clothing, pouches, paint bags, quivers for arrows, utensils, knives and weapons.  The Indian women also made dolls from the buckskins.

My appreciation of the Native American way of life is reflected in the wildlife decor we use in our home.  It helps to remind us of the conditions of living in the pioneering days.    

Another wildlife silhouette is captured in the November 2008 Outdoor Life Magazine, page 43.  The informative article is about understanding the nature of whitetail deer during rut season.  Not too long ago, gearing up to hunt the elusive deer or elk was really very simple.  You purchased a rifle, ammo, a sharp knife, a good rope and a license.  You packed a mule with sleeping gear, water, cookware, food for the trip, and saddled your horse with a sack full of pure luck!

After reading the popular magazines on hunting and fishing, and shopping at the Bass Pro and Cabela’s sporting goods stores, I’m convinced that the current trends of today’s outdoorsman is truly scientific.  The price of equipment, weapons, first-aid, tools, transportation, food and clothing is in the $1000.00’s.  Expense is one thing, but educating a hunter  for a safe and successful outdoorsman is another major expense.  The young family that will hunt and fish together is not only rich but also wealthy.

Should you have an IRA and are approaching 70 years old, you might want to read Ducks Unlimited, November 2008, page 29.  DU has an article that explains tax benefits for US citizens 70 1/2 years and older.    “At age 70 1/2 years, you must begin taking distributions from your IRA whether or not you need this additional income stream.” 

For relief, Congress has approved a gift method using your IRA.

The value of the increased distributions can be used as a donation.  For example, Ducks Unlimited can use the gift toward waterfowl conservation and the donor avoids an additional tax burden from these distributions. 

Check it out!  . . . And support the sport of hunting wild ducks and geese.

Plain and bare walls cause sounds to echo and lack the visual and aesthetic appeal of an inviting home.  Placing art on your walls, whether it be posters, pictures, or sculptures is an ideal way to soften your home and express yourself.  Wall art comes in all different kinds of themes.  If you’re a movie fan, framed movie posters can be excellent additions.  If you’re more traditional or contemporary, art which represents those themes adds your unique style to your home. 

If you can’t find pictures or posters, consider using small decorative shelves to display your favorite items.

The gray wolf, or Canis Lupus as it is called in Latin, is a carnivorous mammal inhabiting a portion of North America.  Though widespread throughout North America, the gray wolf only inhabits a small part of its former range mostly due to human destruction of its habitat.  Despite preferring dense timber, the gray wolf is highly adaptable, and can survive in environments such as deserts, tundra, grasslands, and urban areas.  Though wild, gray wolves are not particularly dangerous to people unless they feel threatened. 

The gray wolf has integrated itself into the culture of several societies, and now exists as a symbol of the wild, untamed world.  Wolves are also thought to be savage creatures by many people, but scientific evidence proves this to be untrue.  Wolf team mascots, wolf figurines, and wolf art is common throughout the Western world.

A customer hired me to customize a new curtain rod and valance over her bedroom patio doors.  She was working, so I had the key to her apartment.  When entering the bedroom, I noticed a three-foot stuffed Iguana on the foot of the bed.  I was thinking, “This woman is a little weird!”

While going in and out with my tools and step ladder, I became aware that the stuffed Iguana had disappeared.  My thoughts were, ” Oh my God, someone has entered the apartment while I was not looking and stolen some things.”

Excited and concerned, I called my customer and mentioned that I noticed the Iguana toy was missing.  She reassured me that no one would take Henry!  He always hides in the closet when strangers are around.  Henry was her pet! If you had living wildlife decor, wouldn’t you mention it to your repairman?  Henry made me so angry I wanted to stuff him! . . .  And her too, for that matter!

My wife is a born and raised Texan.  Yet, in all her years, she has never been to the Big Bend area of Texas. On the other hand, I have always been a Texan . . . though not born there.  The reason is, I have performed, singing Western music for many years with my guitar.  So, after we were married, one of our first vacations was to travel to the Big Bend country.  We thoroughly enjoyed the rock formations, colors of foliage, the sounds and sights of wild birds and wild animals that live in the Big Bend National Forest.  The decorative pictures I took are now a part of our country wall art.

The Rio Grande River winds lazily through the rugged terrain and makes a great background for western art and wildlife decor.  I came all the way from Idaho to take my native Texan to the Big Bend country.