Bill Overstreet Dies at 92

There aren't many WWII veterans left anymore and a real hero passed away a week ago.

Listen to this NPR story about Bill Overstreet.  Wow!

The Casual Observer

I don't know who the casual observer is - the deer or the camera.  What I've learned from personal observation is that the infrared 'flash' on the camera has a soft red glow when it fires.  It's pretty mild compared to a typical flash strobe  but it's hardly invisible - at least to the human eye.

I like this series of snapshots only because the animal is so casual and unalarmed in her approach, nibble and departure...

No Fair Weather Friends

As you can see from the following snapshots these are not fair weather deer.  These are hardy winter deer.

And they're moving about during some trying conditions including blowing snow accumulation and plunging temperatures...

Day Shots

A couple of nicely done daylight pictures of deer.

I call them winter deer...

Night Shots

Start your new year with some nice shots of deer after dark - or before dawn.  Depending-upon your point of view.

That bad boy who got his picture taken a couple of weeks ago has survived the 2013 hunt.  Not likely a late season archer will get that deer as he only shows-up late at night.  Same for the doe - including the one with the twins.

Smart deer.

Dusting-off the Trail Camera

Winter brings a short list of challenges to the trail camera that is patiently performing its observations in the woods.  Cold temperatures can shorten battery life.  Freezing rain can ice-over a camera rendering it useless.  Even an accumulation of snow can temporarily impact a camera's field of vision.

Like this one.

 

Fortunately someone will eventually come along and brush the snow away...

First time out snowshoeing - Christmas eve. Posted on new year eve.

Saving Hunting

Can bows and arrows save hunting in America?

The Economist just published a fascinating piece on America's egalitarian hunting and wildlife ethic.  Including the role that (my favorite president) Theodore Roosevelt played in advancing our culture of respect for wild things, fair chase and a deeply-rooting hunting ethic.  Teddy characterized the role of hunting in America as  —“to keep men hardy, so that at need they can show themselves fit to take part in work or strife for their native land.”

Of course Roosevelt could never have imagined the technological advancements that modern hunters can avail themselves of.

Even bow hunting as we know it is now under assault from the popularity of the modern crossbow.  Of course bow hunting today is a far cry from stick and recurve bows of several generations ago.  Flint-tipped arrows have been replaced by modern arrowheads that can expand upon impact with deadly results.  I recently acquired a crossbow - so perhaps this is just another technological advancement in a long line of evolutionary changes for hunting enthusiasts.

It's a very good read - learn more about it here.