Wildlife Wall Decor

Hunters depending on the rut of Whitetail Deer are usually disappointed . . . says Doug Howlett.  Doug is author of an article, “Rut Reset,” in the magazine Outdoor Life, November 2009, pages 61-68.  I understand from this article that there are just too many variables to use the Rut Season to determine when and how to hunt the elusive Whitetail Deer.

However, according to Doug Howlett, there are three “Rut Stands that Work” #1 . . . The Seeking-phase Setups. (Does are running from the bucks.)  #2 . . . The Chasing-phase Setups.  (Does are coming into estrus, and the bucks shadow the does.) and #3 . . . The Breeding-phase Setups.  (Both animals tend to lay up in thick areas of cover.)

The author suggests “Hot Zones” and “Best Stand Locations.”  Should I be a hunter again, I would check this out.  Since I’m not a hunter, I depend on displaying my wildlife trophies in beautiful metal pieces of outdoor wall art.

During high school I participated in many sports, and was dedicated to every team I was on. While I would train year-round for athletics, my parents were often more avid about the athletic competitions than I was. Our house has always adorned with a variety of school memorabilia.

As our mascot was the Wolves, we naturally had a fair amount of wolf art throughout the house. My sister, who is an artist, even created a mural-sized portrait that takes up most of the living room wall. Although I appreciated there support, even I felt that my family went a little bit over the top.

Today, information is more abundant, affordable and user-friendly.  The best teacher, of course, is a member within the family, passing information to others.  However, where there are no fathers or older siblings to learn skills of hunting and fishing from, experience is taught and information is shared by friends from printed materials written by experienced outdoorsmen.

Every young hunter can glean wonderful insight into hunting strategy from the Whitetail Handbook published in the Field & Stream magazine, August 2008 and 2009,  pages w1-w30.  The reader can learn tactics for successfully hunting the elusive whitetail deer for food, for sport, and even wildlife management conservation. 

In some areas in the United States, deer population is so highly over crowded, hunters are invited to become part of the extermination army, managing the number of deer given to an alloted acreage.

The deer’s age is the primary criteria for determining extermination.  Recently, I read an article written by Doug Howlett, “How Old’s That Buck?”  It identifys unique signs that a hunter can see for determining the age of a whitetail deer.  Some of the signs are the shape of  the deer’s antlers, legs, nose, eyes and other visible signs . . . individually or combined, they are all important in identifying a whitetail deer’s age, especially when it comes to managing the numbers of deer. 

They say there is a story of a thousand words in a picture or photo . . . or at least, there should be!  While I was reading through an Outdoor Life magazine, September 2008, pages 60-66, a story jumped out at me through the grouping of photos showing the deer trophies each hunter was exhibiting.  The story includes family members, and not just the father figure providing meat for the dinner table. The trophy is great . . . but when the hunt includes the girl friend, the wife, the son, the daughter, the sister and/or the brother, then the memory of the hunt becomes more than a hobby; it’s bringing the romance of belonging to a family. Keeping the traditions of the tribe, and the oneness of being a member of a group have a stronger bond than blood . . . it’s sticky like glue and when shared within the tribal members, its called love.  We all need more love for each other.  When added to the hunt, love can move the hunter with meaning and purpose providing for the family.

The Good Sam Club’s Highways magazine has provided us an informative article for travelers interested in Alaska’s Dalton Highway, from Fairbanks North to Prudhoe Bay.  Also included in the Highways Magazine, March, 2009, pageS 25-33 is a storyline of the Parks Hiway that travels East of Mt. McKinley.  The magazine shows beautiful scenes to inspire any outdoor wall art projects, of the mountains and wildlife gracing central Alaska.  It also provides us with 10 TIPS while touring the Denali National Park by tour bus.

Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett both listed the Grizzly Bear and the Brown Bear as a separate specie, and I agree!  Yet many bear experts claim that they are the same.  Now that might be true to a scientist, but I have never seen a Grizzly Bear stand more than 8′ tall and weigh more than 1500 pounds.  The Alaskan Brown Kodiak Bear, on the other hand, can weigh in at 2500 pounds and will stand as high as 14′ tall.  The two bears are even built differently.  I have seen both bears stuffed and both very much alive, and it’s my opinion that they are different.  It’s like comparing a mustang horse to a donkey.  They are similar but not the same specie! 

The habitat of the Grizzly Bear ranges into the northwestern states of WA, ID, WY, MT, and the Dakotas, as well as the western provinces of Canada.   The current population of the Grizzly is estimated near 32,000 with 95 percent being located in Alaska.

How would you feel about being mauled by a 500 lb Grizzly Bear?  Frankly, my memory would be flooded with the smell of the beast, the rush of my emotions as my body came into contact with his fur, the pain of his teeth on my head, and the cut from claws being raked across my flesh.

This is the forgiving attitude of Ron Leming, an Elk hunter from Wyoming.  He doesn’t blame the Bear for the attack.  Ron’s father had the presence of mind and the skill with the bow and arrow to put the Bear down before it killed his son Ron.  What an experience they had together while tracking Elk for their home’s wild life decor, wall trophy, and/or Elk steaks.

How do we respond?  Are Bear attacks on the rise?  Read about it in the Outdoor Life magazine, March 2009, pages 44-50.  Teddy Roosevelt would say that the Bear is the Spirit of America. 

There is more to hunting the elusive whitetail deer than just picking out a rifle, ammunition, and tags.  You must be able to see the animal, so get a strong enough scope or binoculars with good range and adjustments, especially if you’re hunting in the dry lands for the Coues Deer found in the Sonora high desert of Old Mexico.

Don’t miss researching this article in the Outdoor Life magazine, June/July, 2008, pages 74-81.  It’s a must read with great scenery.  The story is written by John B. Snow, and the photos are by Jed Conklin.  Once you’ve seen this article, you then realize how difficult it is to see the Coues deer . . . it’s so camouflaged by the landscape.

Once again the “Spirit of America” is finding it’s way back into the forests, the wilderness, and our surrounding landscape.  I’m seeing more eagles, bison, and wolves as I travel thoughout the untamed lands of USA. 

Driven almost to extinction, these three wildlife images represent America’s freedom more than we realize.  The eagle symbolizes the swiftness and deadly efficency through flight much like our Airforce.  The bison symbolizes the gentle strength with a powerful resourse representing the capabilities that unites our Armed Forces.  And the wolf is the symbol of cunning leadership, wise, alert, with the ability to attack any enemy with deadly force.   These three once again maintain their freedom to roam in safe numbers as they represent the Spirit of America.