Things I don't understand: hunting edition

This week is deer hunting season in Wisconsin. It's a weird to me. I was in rural Wisconsin last weekend. I saw a lot, lot, lot of blaze orange on everything. On people, on signs, everywhere. It's a good choice though for safety. I could see a tiny little blaze orange hat from a mile away and couldn't see the body it was attached to.

As they do every year, my dad, my brother and my sister-in-law are off in the woods. Yes, I said my sister in law. For those who don't, well Rachael really likes the color pink and Coach purses. I guess as Tim Gunn, says, she "makes it work." She's probably the cutest one in blaze orange in all of Wisconsin. I"m not kidding. Look.

Yes, come each November, my pink loving sister-in-law is out in the woods with the boys. And she has absolutely no problem getting in and cleaning out the deer after its been "caught," as my mom says. (She says doesn't like the word "shoot.") Rachael is a nurse, so she's tough and can handle blood. I respect that. I gag at even the description. No thank you. I don't need to know the details.

To the right is Rachael. She's holding my contribution to the big event- a bottle of white wine called "Deer Hunter's Widow." She also has a coffee cup that has nothing to do with deer hunting, I just happened to re-gift her a coffee cup from her alma mater this weekend.

She's even getting her hunting license next year. Does this woman look like she can kill a deer? Don't put it past her.

Here's thing two about deer hunting, something I can get behind. My brother and sister-in-law are "high-brow hunters." Check out the clearance chairs that my dad found for their deer stand. They are a contradiction in terms. Now, high end chairs out in the woods is something I can get behind. Bring on the class.

So far this season, my dad and brother have each got a doe. I think they can quit now, but they are still out in the woods all week looking for a buck. It's been damn cold and freezing rain the last two days so what do smart deer do? Stay in the woods. What do you dumb hunters do? Sit in their stands cold and wet. I guess they like it. Like I said, I don't get it.

Note the photo to the right. My dad was really proud of his work skinning the deer. Good job, Dad. However, a word of advice: don't run for political office. This photo could really come across bad in campaign ads. Just sayin', you look crazy.

Now, I am not opposed to hunting. I am not an animal rights activist. I even eat the venison. And really, as long as they show up for Thanksgiving dinner, I'm glad they have fun sitting out in the cold in very bright orange suits that make them look fluorescent.

I just think it's an awfully silly and boring sounding hobby. I'll stay inside where it's warm and watch Bambi and drink cocoa. But if they want to keep Bambi's buddies from over populating and hitting my car, more power to them.

On a funny note about deer hunting, enjoy this selection from Cake Wrecks: http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2010/11/im-hunting-wreck-its.html

To me, November means time to write a novel. To my dad and brother, it means time to "catch" a deer. We're family, just with different understandings of entertainment.

Happy hunting. And to my fellow Nano-ers, happy writing!