In most places seeing a man walk past your window with a rifle might be a reason to worry. In Wisconsin it just means the fall hunt is on. My dog Manu and I always dress for the season. Not that I hunt, but I spend a great deal of time in the woods. How could we not, I think fall is the most beautiful time of year. The orange makes us obvious as things not to shoot. Everyone here wisely wears orange every time they venture out.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work. Manu and I were walking on a road near a body of water. The fall ducks and geese were in abundance. Love walking there, such fun views and sounds. A small flock of geese were coming in for a landing near a tiny little island and suddenly two hunters jumped up and fired at the geese. The bad luck was their targets were in direct line of fire with us on the road.
A shotgun blast is loud. A shotgun blast is even louder when it is pointed right at you. A shotgun blast is exponentially loudest when it is done over water. I reacted without thinking. I dropped to one knee and shouted words I rarely use. Manu fell to the ground as well then quickly jumped up and ran back to the car.
I did my best to keep up with him as the people on the island fired a second time at the goose flopping around in the water, then whooped and hollered at killing their prey. Their cheers stopped when they realized they fired directly at us.
Describing the anger I felt at the moment is impossible. I imagine it rivaled the joy the hunters felt at their success. Or the agony the goose felt and the terror Manu felt. We were all part of the same event yet the experience for each of us was as different as possible.
May your orange always keep you safe.
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