Deer Hunting

As many people know, hunting season is coming upon us. The pros and cons of hunting have been a battle for decades. Hunting is a huge wildlife population control method that IS effective. It is also a family tradition for many and it teaches sportsmanship and natural education to the young ones. I have been going hunting with my dad and sisters ever since I can remember. My parents had three girls and we grew up with a father that is huge into hunting. We wanted to make him happy and proud. It is not just because of my father that we hunt, we enjoy the sport also. We were brought up learning and knowing that hunting is a part of life.

Another pro to hunting is that there are not many natural predators to deer anymore. Cars, on the other had are a huge predator to deer. Many more deer would be dead on the side of the road if it wasn't for hunting.

The meat is naturally healthy food and is also more affordable.

Hunters have great compassion for the animals they kill. Very few hunters take pleasure or enjoyment from the killing of the animals they hunt. Hunting is supposed to be an enjoyable sport. Hunters appreciate and respect the animal they kill and realize that the animal is giving them something in return.

The biggest and most important part of hunting is SAFETY. I remember this all the way back from hunters saftey class and every year from my father. He cannot stress safe hunting enough. You learn all about 'safe hunting' in hunters safety classes and there are many ways to be safe while hunting. The method we find most helpful in our hunting camp is with the use of walkie talkies. We make sure everyone in camp has one of these and notifies each other when they are safe in their stand, when they are safe out of their stand, when they shoot a deer, see suspicous activity, and the list goes on. Obviously, communication is key if you are going to 'hunt safe'.

Overall, hunting is a great outdoor experience for all the reasons I have listed and many more!

K-9 communication

Throughout time we have learned many different types of ways to train and communicate with dogs. The most unique way of dog training today is through the Police Force, which is also known as K-9 Units. You may have seen them on TV or on the news obtaining drugs from the most unthinkable places. I really think it’s amazing that we can’t match their natural gifts/instincts with our most advanced technology.

Did you know that dogs have nearly 220 million smell-sensitive cells compared to humans which have 5 million? If you motivate the dog to properly maintain focus on a single track such as drugs, ignore any others that might otherwise seem of a higher interest. For example, dogs can be trained to find drugs in the most extraordinary places, such as smelling through a gas tank with ten layers of air tight saran wrap and grease in-between each layer until you hit the main drug.

The usual choice of dog is a German shepherd, which is mostly because they are so intelligent and have the ablility to learn quickly. They are also best for the job because of their keen sense of smell and their ability to work regardless of distractions. This comes in handy when finding drugs or even people.

Training my puppy

About two weeks ago, I got a puppy. He is a yellow lab and is going on thirteen weeks. I have been working hard to train him. So far we have worked on SIT, COME, WAIT, and lay DOWN. When I have his food, or a treat, or a toy (something that he wants) he will listen more effectively then when I just give him a command. I want to be able to give my dog a command and have him listen reguardless if I have a treat/food/toy or not.

The more time I spend with him and the more I get to know him, he will learn to listen to me and view me as his "master." Trust between us will hopefully build up as he gets to know me. Everything is about having a 'routine' with a puppy/dog. He will eventually learn when it's time to eat, take a walk, or go to sleep.

The communication between us will excel to a higher level everyday that we spend time and get to know each other a little better.