Hunter's Moon thoughts

[draconis]

I literally cannot recall a time when I have not been a hunter / outdoorsman. When I was in kindergarten, I argued with the teacher’s assertion that there were four seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. I insisted that there was a fifth -- hunting season. ::G::

Now is the time of the Hunter’s Moon, the first full moon after the Harvest Moon. It seems an appropriate time to post some of the things this hunter has learned along the way.

First and foremost is that EVERYTHING in Nature can give us good advice, if only we can hear it. One of the things that I love to do while I’m out in the woods is to simply pick the first thing my eye falls on, and try to discern what it can tell me.

The vulture, for example. To me, the vulture’s advice is for me to mind my own business. He is very well-suited to his role as a carrion-eater, down to the fact that the shape of his head makes it easier for him to get past a carcass’ tough skin to get to the more desirable parts underneath. If I tried to eat even one meal from his plate, I would become deathly ill -- but it is what works for him. So why should I try to tell him what he should or shouldn’t eat, based on what I should or shouldn’t eat?

The deer is another excellent example. He has excellent camouflage, fantastic speed, and powerful senses. When he stands still in the autumn woods, your likelihood of spotting him is extremely small. If his sharp eyes, ears, or nose detects you, he will vanish in the blink of an eye, waving his white tail in farewell. It is in those in-between phases where he is most vulnerable. His advice? That sometimes you’re better off standing still, and sometimes you’re better off running like hell -- and survival depends on the wisdom to know which one to use NOW.

The last one for now is the hawk. He soars among the wind currents, keeping a close eye out for dinner below. Unfortunately for him, "dinner" (usually in the form of a field mouse or other similar creature) has learned to watch the skies, and isn’t going to just sit there and wait to be eaten. While the prey is demonstrating broken-field running techniques that most of the NFL could only envy, the hawk doesn’t try to match each dodge and shift. Instead, he lets his eyes follow all of the details while his body follows the general overall path the creature is taking, until he is close enough to strike. The key is to monitor the changing situation concerning your goal, but not to wear yourself out by getting caught up in the minute details too early. Stay focused, stay on target, and keep working your way closer to your goal until it is time to pounce.