Since before I could hunt and was tagging along by my father’s side, the other wildlife around us as we went about our hunts, scouting and other process of preparation and application always drew my attention. Birds, small mammals and of course reptiles as well always got the attention of my young eyes and still do to this day. It’s almost like an amphitheatre when we hunt- a great play unfolding before us that changes its acts each time. I am a self confessed bird nut- my late Grandfather had me relate to the wild world as a very young child in this manner. It taught me that there was so much more going on while we hunted. The trout in the creek below us, the nymphs and entomology of the water. The amphibians that were present and the importance of them being a canary in the coal mine so to speak for the local riparian habitats. The songbirds and the migrants apart from waterfowl and the how’s and whys of the flyways as they travelled and used resources nearby. All of these things at play around is I find as a hunter who “hunts close” require my attention each time I step into the woods. They demand it now, and I find most hunters - particularly stickbow hunters grasp this as we sit or walk in silence with our pointy sticks. Please share below and stories or pics you have in your hunts or scouts and contacts with other non hunted species. This is a young Barred owl I came across recently who shared his space with me for a while. Have a great day!

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