Interesting pictures of deer locked in battle

A friend just e-mailed me these pictures of two deer locked in battle.   I believe the deer were found in Kelly Park, which is located in Apple Valley, Minnesota.   However, this information has not yet been confirmed.   Here’s the e-mail and the interesting pics:

On 11-5-09 around 0630 hrs dispatch got a call about 2 bucks fighting near Kelly park and their antlers were locked together.

The 2 bucks were both mature bucks. One was lying on the ground not moving and barely breathing. The other was wounded and was falling to the ground trying to get his antlers apart. Both deer had to be put down.

After the deer were put down, it took 3 officers 15 minutes to separate the two racks.

The one lying on the ground was a 9-pointer, the other trying to free himself was a 14-pointer.

(click on each picture to expand the size)

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(Photographer Credit — unknown)

©2009 Jim Braaten.   All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Tweeting from the tree stand

On Saturday morning I plan to have something in my pocket that in years past I haven’t necessarily considered essential deer hunting equipment.   Well, truth is it’s still not considered essential by the strictest definition, but inside my pocket will likely be some extra shotgun slugs, a granola bar or two, my trusty hunting knife, plus my cellular phone.

Why the cell phone?   How else could I tweet from the tree stand?   That’s right…plans are to send short little text messages using my phone through the popular social networking service known as Twitter.   Think of it as a live micro-blog, of sorts, in which messages are condensed down into 140 alpha/numerical characters or less.   Each “tweet” is succinct, to the point, sharing thoughts or feelings about what might currently be on the person’s mind.

IMG_0858Okay, I know what you’re probably thinking.   Doesn’t texting on a cell phone defeat the purpose of spending quiet time trying to be motionless in the woods?   How can you be paying attention to what’s happening trying to observe for deer movement when you’re concentrating on the cell phone.   Both valid points.

Please understand I’m not encouraging every deer hunter to tweet while they are hunting.   For many it’s an unnecessary distraction…and I can fully appreciate that sentiment.   For me, on the other hand, I view Twitter as a fun, new mechanism in which people can stay connected with other individuals who share similar interests.

Here’s an example.   Yesterday morning a friend of mine was deer hunting in Ontario, Canada when he tweeted the words “deer down.”   Immediately I shared in his excitement of the moment.   Oh, sure, I could have heard his story hours or even days later…but by then it would have lacked the immediacy of having just occurred.   Within minutes I responded “congrats”—which was the equivalent to a virtual pat-on-the-back he would never have otherwise received from me.

If you want to learn more about Twitter we attempted this last spring for the Minnesota Fishing Opener, as well.   Click HERE to review that blog post.   Now, this time around if you plan on doing any tweeting during the Minnesota deer opener use the hashtag #mndeer posted within your message.   In so doing it allows all tweets pertaining to this topic to be consolidated for easier viewing.

A few words of caution must be mentioned.   First, not only is it highly unethical to be tweeting or texting messages describing game movement to inform another hunting buddy, but the practice is illegal, too.   Same goes for any wireless form of communication between hunters where hunting strategies are discussed or developed in the field.   Always use proper discretion when using wireless electronic devices and observe the rules of fair chase.

Instead, if you’re texting or tweeting describe results (i.e. “I just got one”) or general thoughts about the hunt (i.e. “I wish something would happen soon or I may fall asleep”).   Such innocuous statements of communication will keep you out of trouble.

To learn more about Twitter, check out this down-loadable manual.   Best of all, to read what’s happening on Twitter you don’t even have to join.   Instead, you just have to know who to follow.   To read my tweets this weekend or anytime, you can go here: www.Twitter.com/jim7226   Remember, to search if others are using the #mndeer hashtag simply click HERE.

©2009 Jim Braaten.   All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

Should Minnesota’s Next Governor Be A Deer Hunter?

In just a few days Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be joining the throngs of orange-clad hunters taking to the woods.   For Pawlenty, the 2009 Minnesota firearms deer opener marks his 7th appearance as Minnesota’s most notable deer hunting personality.   In fact, during the six previous appearances the Governor’s track record for harvesting a deer has been 1 deer in 6 opening day attempts—that’s slightly below state average in terms of the firearms success ratio.

Gov13Well, for purposes of full-disclosure, I must reluctantly take some responsibility for Governor Pawlenty’s lack of success in the deer woods.   You see, back a few years ago Governor Pawlenty deer hunted on my farm to kick off the 2006 Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener (GDHO).   I could offer up a host of excuses why the Governor left the woods empty-handed that Saturday morning…but suffice it to say we all gave it our best effort to achieve a successful outcome.

The process of preparing for the GDHO took months of logistical planning as a host site for the event.   In the process, I discovered a lot about Governor Pawlenty and his genuine dedication to the heritage of Minnesota deer hunting.   What I discovered was not just a politician trying to put a smiling face on an activity, but instead, a man with a sincere respect for the nearly one half million sportsmen who annually enjoy the sport of firearms deer hunting in Minnesota.

Yet, this blog post is really not about Governor Pawlenty, per se.   It’s more about his eventual successor—the next individual who will someday occupy the Governor’s chair at the Minnesota State Capitol.   Not only is next year (2010) a big election year, but we now know it also marks Governor Pawlenty’s very last event serving as Minnesota’s top deer hunter.

So, what if Minnesota’s next Governor does not hunt?   How would you feel about that?   Should they be pressured into keeping this gubernatorial tradition alive for the sake of appeasing the sportsman populace?   For that matter, is the Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener really that important to the rank and file deer hunter whose main interest anyway is to put venison in the freezer?

I personally have strong feelings that no matter who occupies Minnesota’s top office next, the tradition of the Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener should be continued and experienced by our state leader.   If the person doesn’t deer hunt all the more reason they should be out there on opening morning learning as much as they can about the sport so many Minnesotans cherish.

In June when it’s Dairy Month does the Governor typically make an appearance at a farm to celebrate that industry’s contribution to our state’s economy…you bet!   If Minnesota’s medical device industry has some healthcare breakthrough is the Governor likely to show first-hand support…again, you bet they will!   Then, is it too much to ask for the Governor of our state to spend a few hours each year in the deer woods sharing a common bond with the largest segment of the Minnesota hunting industry…I certainly don’t think so!

Don’t forget hunting in Minnesota represents a huge industry that has both a large social and an economic impact to the state.   This important news deserves to be emphasized annually by Minnesota’s Governor and there’s no better way to do it than by celebrating it.

Indeed, Governor Tim Pawlenty may have started a tradition back in 2003 when he took part in the inaugural event known as the Minnesota Governor’s Deer Hunting Opener.   Yet, as Minnesota sportsmen, let’s all hope the GDHO is one important Minnesota hunting tradition that is embraced by the next several Minnesota Governors still to come.

© 2009 Jim Braaten.   All Rights Reserved.   No Reproduction without Prior Permission.

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