Surrounded By Hunters This Week!

"Where did that hunter go?" questions Dark Shadow

This week-end and this week too, we are having many hunters all around us. I think with the economic situation with the way it is, more people are out hunting. There have been lots of deer out here. I have seen many trucks go by yesterday and today with deer in the back. I am not a hunter myself, though I grew up in a family of hunters. I always have a soft heart for the animals. I understand the importance of getting meat for your family. Especially since I am a meat eater myself. This is the good type of meat with nothing put into those animals, except what they pick up from the farmers' fields. We were lucky enough to find a very fresh deer carcass for our dog, Nikita yesterday. She NEEDS fresh wild meat every now and then. She is a very contented girl today, knowing that is outside waiting for her.

Tawny says, "what hunter? I want more hay!"

Two of our horses, Dark Shadow and Georgie Girl used to be afraid of so many things. Since they have now been here for ten years, not much scares them. Sometimes guys go by on four wheelers or snowmobiles. It doesn't even get their attention. The guys that go slower tend to get more attention from these girls. They especially like people going by on horses or walking. They will go right up to the fence to look at them.

"I am the "Boss Mare" and no hunter will make me go inside!" says Georgie.

Today a hunter came into the woods along that tree line and that is why Dark Shadow is standing there. I yelled to him not to fire his gun near my horses. He did not respond back. I went back in the house and figured there is nothing I can do. When I came back out, he was gone and the other two horses had moved. Dark Shadow stood there for a long time watching for him. Maybe he went further in or something, but I did not see him again. I just did not want him to fire a gun near them because of their ears. A gun is very loud and I did not know how they would react.

So everything seems quiet now. Maybe these guys have gone to get something to eat. I like it when it is quiet here. That is one problem with living in the state forest. You will always have people coming here for some reason or other. Most the time though, it is peaceful in our forest.

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

All Photographs Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole
Updated 2018

Hunting Season Again In New York

It's hunting season here in New York. I do not mind hunters usually, as I did grow up in a family of hunters. But these hunters drive round and round with their loud diesel trucks making so much noise they announce their presence way in advance. My three horses know they are coming at least five minutes before they appear. So I imagine the deer do too.

Animals have awesome hearing and smelling abilities! And speaking of smelling abilities, that is another thing they do, smoke cigars and what have you, plus their own human smells announcing to the wild life "here I am! I have come to kill you!" The thing to do is to not take a shower just before heading out in the woods. You should also wash your hunting clothes with lye unscented soap only and then let it hang out in your barn or outside for the week till you have to wear it. Don't use shampoos or deodorant or anything that will tip the animals off to you being out in the woods.

My brother hunts with blackpowder guns only and he will sit for hours in one spot and not talk or move around. He usually always gets his buck. It takes patience. He is a very experienced hunter though having hunted from the time he was very young with our father. He now has his own Wild West Show and puts on western re-enactments in Cooperstown among other places. He also sews leather garments, holsters, etc. all sorts of things working right from the hide. I guess it sounds like I'm kinda proud of my brother and maybe I am. But he does so many things that are not done that much these days. Like he build beautiful blackpowder muskets and rifles. That though is not what I planned to write about exactly. I don't mean to tell you how to hunt if you've been doing it for years. Everybody has their own methods.

I wanted to say that I think that more hunters are out this year due to the high cost of food this year. The grocery stores are charging us some hefty prices for a little package of meat. And then there's the question of it's safety. I have cut down on it and have stocked up lentils, beans, dried peas, etc. Found other sources of protein and have to say they make me feel better health wise. So maybe meat isn't that big of deal after all. Given my choice I'd much rather have fruits and vegetables than meat anyhow. It's just that my husband likes his meat in his meals.

Well if you are a hunter, stay safe and remember those deer have awesome noses!