The History Of Humans...

[Rubberhead]

I love the artistry of hunting. The juxtaposition of game and machines is, without a doubt, the history of humankind. The fire of humanity that burns in each of us started when the first human flintknapped the first arrowhead. I hate that so many "enlightened" folks now let that fire die in them before it is ever given a chance to burn. They believe they are better off, I believe it makes them less human.

I love good taxidermy but it's difficult for a taxidermist to capture the clash of equipment and nature that is the basis of hunting so I turn to "prop shots" to try to re-strike those ancient chords that resonate every time I get to watch a sunrise afield or feel the jolt of life than runs through me when a whitetail first appears. I have never drawn on a cave wall but I feel the inspiration of everyone who ever has.

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Thanks for this post. Well stated sir.

 

[WAB]

Well said.

 

[VertigoBE]

That was lovely, thank you

 

[Don458]

Fantastic

 

[Dewald]

Beautiful pictures. Sometimes in South Africa I worry that I might lose my rifles, be it due to theft, or being disarmed.
Then those precious photos are the only memories that’s left of the times spent hunting with those rifles and shotguns, and of the game taken by them to last until your old age.

 

[Phil Giordano]

Fantastic, love your pictures - you're able to capture the very moment, the emotions that become memories.
Congratulations

 

[R.M.C.]

Very good points. Awesome modern cave paintings too!!

 

[Texas Sharpshooter Fallacy]

Nice post and pics. But what really impressed me most was the four ducks you got with three shots from your sweet sixteen (4th pic). Well done

We may have A/C, computers, and cars now but we still have more in common with the cave artist than most think. That is a good thing.

 

[Rubberhead]

...what really impressed me most was the four ducks you got with three shots from your sweet sixteen (4th pic). Well done

Haha - thanks for noticing but that's not exactly what I was going for...

I have hunted ducks with doubles almost exclusively since 1984. I hunt alone so, since I get to pick when the first shot is fired, I like to think I've gotten pretty good at Scotch Doulbes (two birds with one shot). I pick my first shot when two birds in a flock cross as they decoy. I've done it quite a few times in my life. Anyway, my great Uncle lived to 95 years old outliving even his own son. Right before he passed he gave me his son's 1956 Sweet Sixteen. That gun has become my September Teal gun and the only non-double I ever shoot. The photo of the three birds and three shells on the right of the gun memorializes my first (and so far only) dead-in-the-air, one-shot-for-each-bird triple. The other bird on the left of the gun was just a single that I killed later that same morning. I picked Federal steel shot because they are the only company loading purple 16 gauge loads. When I was growing up, finding a pile of purple hulls always meant some was shooting a 16. Purple hulls will always mean a 16...

 

[shotgungibbs]

Doesn't matter 'what you were going for". Hopefully you accomplished it, but succeeded with it meaning many different things, to us all. Beautiful images not only in print, but in our minds as well. Thank you for posting.

 

[Buffalo1]

Very Nice !