During the last few days, Wisconsin has been experiencing an invasion. Armed men and increasing numbers of women are arriving from other states. Tomorrow morning at sunup, the gun season for deer begins. Bright orange clothing appears in the woods as people begin patrolling for a chance to "take" a deer.
The hunting I am referring to is the gun season, although there is a separate season for muzzleloaded guns and a longer season for bow hunting. The "gun" (rifle) season traditionally runs from the Saturday morning before Thanksgiving to the Sunday after at sundown. When we moved to Wisconsin more than 40 years ago, I had no experience with the social aspects of deer hunting. I didn't know that generations of hunters, often the male members of a family, arrange for vacation time from their jobs, meet at a cabin in the northwoods built by a grandfather years ago and have fun for several days. I didn't know that the women plan shopping and sometimes a tavern evening together, with an occasional set of male strippers thrown in.
I have never been shot but the idea comes to mind easily for me. When we first moved here, I was surprised at the low number of hunting accidents there are. During the 2011 season, there were 6 (none fatal) while there were more than 600,000 deer hunting licenses sold. I was surprised at the number of heart attacks being almost equal to the number of accidents in the year we first moved here. I understand just walking unaccustomed distances and moving the body to where it can be put in vehicle are two aspects of the hunt that can be taxing.
I have never hunted with a gun but I did one time with a friend during the bow season. He got a shot and we found a blood trail but never found the deer. Modern compound bows and crossbows can be precision instruments and have very strong power. I read long ago that the Pope once forbade the use of crossbows by the faithful on the grounds that it was an inhuman weapon. When you think that tremendous power can be held at the ready and released with a trigger, you can see it is a different deal. The Wisconsin government recently passed a rule allowing crossbows in some parts of the hunting year. The fact that the weapon may require use of the legs and feet to be loaded or may be loaded with a block and tackle, bypassing the old restriction of the hunter's arm, back and chest strength to draw the bow underscores the power of a modern crossbow.
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Bill
Main blog: Fear, Fun and Filoz
Main web site: Kirbyvariety
