A male Red-bellied Woodpecker clings to a dead tree
Taking a break from feeding the woodpecker surveys his surroundings
Tonight I am suffering from blogger’s block and cannot think of anything interesting to write about the woodpeckers or this encounter.
Instead my mind keeps wandering to the Pennsylvania Elk Range where early (unconfirmed) reports from the hunt being held there indicate that the dominate 8X9 who entertained and thrilled countless people at the Gilbert Viewing area during the rut was killed on Monday.
Why these bulls that frequent the tourist area must be subjected to the annual hunt totally escapes me. No warier than a barnyard cow, there can be no sport or challenge what so ever in the hunt; only the thrill of watching a magnificent animal crash to the ground. Other bulls will replace him that I know, but just knowing that his life has violently ended for no good reason leaves me saddened.
Why these bulls that frequent the tourist area must be subjected to the annual hunt totally escapes me. No warier than a barnyard cow, there can be no sport or challenge what so ever in the hunt; only the thrill of watching a magnificent animal crash to the ground. Other bulls will replace him that I know, but just knowing that his life has violently ended for no good reason leaves me saddened.
Hunting with a camera is a much greater challenge and in the end much more rewarding.If only more people would realize this.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Ruth
Coy it seems as if we are in the same place today. I to could not come up with anything the say and even has trouble finding a title.
ReplyDeleteAnd to say I am saddened about the killing of the 8X9 would be an understatement.
By the way could photos, how did you get him to stay still long enough to photograph him? I have tried asking but they ignore me just like my wife and son does.
It is funny because I only follow a few blogs on here and every single one that I do follow is devastated by the news of losing our friend the 9x8. If I only follow 4 blogs and 4 out of the 4 have the exact same beliefs on the hunt (not "opposed" to population control, but feel it should be a completely controlled selection of which elk to take so as to keep the herd strong and magnificent) then we should do something! I would say it is completely feasible to reconfigure the hunt to where a few selected hunters (DCNR reps, RMEF, reps, locals) could remove the desired number of elk but by carefully selecting the "weak" to keep the remaining herd hearty. The hunt no longer brings much money to the area especially with the discontinuation of the elk hunting festival (for lack of better term.) I would be willing to write a letter every single day if I knew who to send them too! I am very passionate about these elk and want my children to be as astonished as I was the first time 9x8 came walking right up beside me. As you can tell, I am very emotional over his passing and have some choice words for the "sportman" that walked up and shot an animal that had ABSOLUTELY NO FEAR of humans! OK, I am done venting now!
ReplyDeleteI really like the red-belly photo. The color is irredescent. As to hunting... I am a upland game hunter but this is disgusting. Our concept of "fair chase" is being lost. The only thing missing in you account (I think) is a fence around these elk. Pathetic. Lets go out to Wyoming, rent a snowmobile and go chase and kill some wolves.... Equally pathetic.
ReplyDeleteWe just got home from staying at the Elk Country Hideaway. This bull was in our yard Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He was VERY KIND AND VERY TAME. He came in the morning and then he would come back in the afternoon and stay until dark. I spent a lot of time with him outside. The only reason he could be called "wild" is because he is able to run free. I wondered why he did not continue his routine and come back on Monday.
ReplyDeleteI am very upset that he was taken in the hunt. We grew attached to him and looked forward to seeing him for many years to come. I named him Fred III. We were blessed to have the opportunity to watch him while we ate meals at the kitchen table.
Killing him was heartless and the coward's way of "hunting."
We also lost #47. If this continues, we will no longer have the great monster bulls in the future.
I 100% agree with you about the magnificent bull elk being taken down. I can hardly stand to think about it. They are such a regal animal. Can't they hunt somewhere else? Love the Red-bellied photos.
ReplyDeleteCoy, this is a fantastic post. I was amaze a bout the quality of the shots of the red-bellied woodpecker, but when I saw again the elk shot... I was totally stunned... I'd like to be able to approach both of these species one day... I guess I've to plan some kind of traveling for that :-)
ReplyDelete...those Red-bellies are so beautiful you don't need to write about them! Those bright red crowns say it all!
ReplyDelete.....your account of the elk bull being shot makes me sad too. How can anyone be proud of picking off a trusting "touristy" animal. It is sad.
I agree so much with you on this Salty... what good can it do taking the best of the best.... in the long run it would surely weaken the herds....
ReplyDeleteYou Woodpecker shots are beautifully captured by the way...
Tom
It's a shame about the elk..unfortunatly this will go on because money talks.
ReplyDeleteYour red belly pics are very nice-the red is so crisp!
Beautiful Red Bellied.
ReplyDeleteOh my, that saddens me too. That's not hunting.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous woodpecker.
simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!
ReplyDeleteOutstanding photography,love the deep red in the woodpecker shot.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Good document!!.
ReplyDelete