Wildlife Wall Decor

The bear is one of the most respected creatures in the animal kingdom representing both ferocity and nobility.  In addition, the United States is home to a number of the world’s bear species, including the North American Grizzly which remains one of the few truly wild creatures left in the world.  In fact, Grizzly attacks are common in certain wildlife refuges in the United States, and hikers, backpackers, and campers are encouraged to carry animal pepper spray.  Despite the Grizzly’s rough demeanor, it is a gentle creature that fiercely protects its young, illustrating the animal’s nobility. 

The Grizzly bear as well as several other species are celebrated in North America, with bear decor, bear apparel, and bear figurines quite common and desired by children and adults. 

When you’re a proud Hunter, there’s no shame in decorating your automobile to reflect your favorite pastime.  You might consider hunting décor like a long horn hood ornament, an amusing license plate frame, bumper stickers, a gun rack, or various components for your truck bed.  With a long horn hood ornament you can proclaim to other drivers that they need to step out of the way!  With an assortment of cool bumper stickers or an original license plate you can let all the people parked near your car know that you are a proud outdoor sportsman. 

If you want to be a bit more subtle, decorating the interior of your truck with camouflage seat covers can also be a great way to show you’re a hunting enthusiast!

It was a joy to read about all the unique species of wild turkeys roaming the East and Southern states of the USA.  The article I’m referring to is pages 98 - 101 in December/January 2009 Outdoor Life Magazine.  The article mentions that in Florida alone, there is estimated between 80,000 and 100,000 turkeys.  In the last seven years, my wife and I have traveled almost every State and visited many of the national forests, and we have never spotted wild turkeys, although I have heard them in the trees.

On the other hand, while traveling north of Spokane, Washington, in spring of 1999, near the Colville National Forest on Highway 395, traffic was stalled for nearly twenty minutes while a flock of 22 wild turkeys drifted across the highway.  Travelers were fascinated with the wild birds’ lazy behavior and vocal chatter.  It was a royal event as we watched them stroll and fly to shelter.

In addition, I marveled at the respect travelers showed towards the preservation of wildlife in this area, a rare and unusual sighting, indeed. 

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.

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.

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.