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Hunting the Elusive Antlers Though the terminology is sometimes interchanged, deer do not have horns, they have antlers.

Horns continue to grow throughout the animal’s life and are not shed each year. This is why we do not find cow horns scattered about the pasture. Antlers start growing in the spring, mature in the fall, and fall off, also know as shed, in late winter. This is done to provide us outdoors type people something to do when the ponds and lakes are no longer frozen enough for ice fishing, and it is too early to go turkey hunting.

We all go wandering about the woods looking for deer sheds. I have yet to determine why we do this, other than it is a reason to go for a walk in the woods and we do not have to call it going for a walk Hunting sheds gives purpose to the walk. Fortunately, on the average walk, or I should say hunt, a person will not usually find too many shed antlers. This is a good thing, since I have yet to (Outdoors cont’d on pg 2)

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Last Sunday afterback toward the noon seemed like a house. The last rays find something useful good day to go shed of sunlight reflected to do with them after hunting. There was off the lake and the they are collected. rumor of a basketball swans were flying in There are a couple game on television, for the evening. We of rather large storbut a person needs a added the antlers to age containers in the bit of fresh air occathe antler collection garage full of antlers sionally. My wife and by the garage, hopfound on previous ex- I loaded up the dog ing someday to find cursions. I have had and headed for the a good use for them. many suggestions timber. The dog is Until that time, we as to what to do with not very good at shed will probably conthem, such as makhunting, but he has a tinue to hunt sheds, ing a knife and using good time. The poor just because it gives part of the antler for a animal is never sure us a good excuse to handle. This is a fine what we are hunting, be outdoors, run the idea, and may work but hunts for all he dog, and get some well for some people, is worth anyway. My exercise. but I haven’t a clue wife drove the fence how to make a knife. lines with the Ranger.

I know I can buy a When deer jump a knife that works very fence, sometimes the well for a whole lot sudden jar will cause less than the medical a loose antler to fall bills would cost when off. I walked into the I finished a handwoods to places I crafted one. I have knew deer bedded seen very attractive down. When deer lamps and chandecongregate in an area liers made from both for extended periods deer and elk antlers. of time, chances are This is something an antler or two will within my skill level, drop off. Over the but there is limited next few hours, we demand for antler saw numerous deer. lamps. My wife does Some of them were not particularly want still carrying their a deer antler lamp in antlers, and some, the living room. I do being does, never not need a lamp in grew any. We found the office. A person a couple small sheds, could lose friends but nothing worth giving antler lamps or bragging about. chandeliers as wed- As the sun began ding presents. to set, we headed (Outdoors cont’d from pg 1)

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Car Notes My daughter drove a small Chevy Cobalt during high school. One day, she drove my full-size Ford pickup southbound on Church Street. She felt crowded by a car in the center lane, so naturally, she moved to the right to avoid any contact. Unfortunately, she was not accustomed to driving the larger vehicle and moved a little too far to the right; the mirror of my truck connected with a parked vehicle’s mirror. Since my truck was moving forward, it simply collapsed my mirror, folding it closed. The parked vehicle’s mirror was pushed backward and damaged.

The parked vehicle was a GMC Yukon Denali, an expensive SUV with turning lights and automatic dimmers in the heated power mirrors. “Is this going to cost a lot, Dad,” she asked.

“It’s going to be an expensive mirror,” I said. “But don’t worry, we’ll figure it out when the person calls you.”

down, “Well, at least she left a note and came to find me. Most kids these days would have just driven off.” He made a valid point, but I’m not sure it would be ‘most,’ and it’s certainly not just ‘kids these days.’

Last January, I went to Home Depot in Florida.

Getting out of my van, I noticed fresh damage to the car beside me.

After my daughter put the It looked like whoever note on the windshield, parked in the space before she entered a beauty me had turned too sharply salon. “Does anyone know and too soon. They hit the who’s driving the grey other car’s front fender, GMC Yukon parked out My daughter pulled over, passenger side doors, and front?” A man waiting for but no one was inside rear quarter panel – these his wife stood up, saying the parked car, so she weren’t just scratches but it was his car. He walked called me asking what to deep gouges! “Man, they outside with my daughter do. “There’s a pen and a must have been drunk,” notepad in the center con- to look at the damage. He I said. Then I noticed a sole,” I said. “Write a note was not very happy, but I note on the car’s window. explaining what happened, can’t say I blame him.

“At least they left a note,” including your name and I said, turning the note phone number. Also, write He took the note from the over to read. Wow! They windshield and read it. the date and time on the didn’t write anything on the “Palen. Are you related note and put it under the paper; it was a pre-printed to the Palen that has the wiper on his windshield.”

Post-It-Note that said, Then I suggested she take radio stations?”

“With God, all things are a picture of the note she possible.” I imagined they “That’s my dad,” my left, the damaged mirror, put the note on the car daughter told him. She and the license plate. I to show people that they wasn’t sure if it was a gave her one more piece didn’t just drive away. That good or bad thing that he of advice; “Don’t break his knew who I was. really bothered me. wiper when putting the I went inside the store note on his windshield.”

“I wish you wouldn’t have and reported the incident I laughed about that, but hit my car; it’s not even to a manager, suggestshe did not see the humor. two years old,” the man ing they could check the scowled. He gave my At just sixteen years old, parking lot video. “There’s daughter his business my daughter was very card and said, “Have your a camera right there on nervous and unsure what dad call me.” the corner of the building,” would happen. “Will I lose I said. But, the manager my driver’s license for When I called the man, honestly didn’t seem too leaving the scene of an he was very short, on concerned. I bought the accident?” she asked. the edge of rudeness, couple of items I came for, and threatened to sue for returned to the parking “Not as long as you leave lost value to his vehicle. lot, and waited a while for your contact information,” “Dean,” I reasoned, “There the driver of the damaged I said. The other vehicle will be no loss of value for vehicle to come back to must have sat relatively replacing a $900 mirror on their car. high for our mirrors to a $50,000 SUV.” meet. “What kind of car (Just the Other Day cont’d on pg 4) was parked?”

Dean eventually cooled

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(Just the Other Day cont’d from pg 3)

Eventually, I had to get going, but first, I left a note on the other car; “I arrived at 12:10 and found your car damaged. There is a security camera on the corner of the building. If you go in and ask, they should be able to see who hit your car.” I left my name and phone number on the note.

Other times, I’ve left a note on a windshield, “I saw this car hit your vehicle, and since they didn’t leave a note, I thought I would.” Then, I write down the make and model of the car that hit theirs, including the license plate number, date, and time. Of course, I always leave my name and number as well.

Not all car notes are about damage; I’ve been known second car stopped while I was in the parking lot to leave notes on a windto see if I needed help. shield for other reasons.

People are still good!

On several occasions, I When I got home, I conleft notes like, “Your right tinued wondering if the rear tire is flat.” Other times, I’ve asked drivers to driver needed help. So, I consider how they parked. wrote a note: “I couldn’t It’s frustrating to see a car tell if you are stuck or not.

If you need help, call me, taking two spaces, especially when a store is busy and my neighbor and I will come get you out.” (I and parking spaces are generously volunteered limited. The rude parker my neighbor with a tractor always finds two open spaces close to the store- to help.) I left my phone number on the note and front. explained, “This area has One time, I intentionally a very sketchy signal for parked my truck and trailer cell phones. If you can’t across multiple spaces, dial me, I live very close: way out in a lot where go out the parking lot, and no one else was parked. turn left….” I gave accuWhen I returned to my rate, clear directions to my truck, there was a note house and again offered on the windshield: ‘Look my neighbor’s service to at the way you’re parked, help get the person unjerk! You’re a selfish, stustuck. pid, inconsiderate, son-ofMy trusty canine, Nova a….’ “Woah, settle down, partner,” I said after read- Mae, and I walked down to place the note on the ing the note. “You didn’t have to bring my mom into car. After I did so, I told Nova, “Of course, they’re this.” I had a good laugh not stuck—they’re driving about that and then went a Subaru; these things to load my lumber. will go through anything!”

Not long ago, I was drivWe shared a good laugh ing home and passed a about that, then started trailhead parking lot for to walk home. As we left the Superior Hiking Trail. the parking lot, another Snow was on the ground, car stopped to see if we and the parking lot was needed help. Man, people not plowed. A car in the are awesome! lot looked like it might When we got home, I be stuck, but I didn’t see made dinner and did some anyone around it. At first, things around the house.

I drove by, but then I backed up to see if some- That evening, I picked up one there might need help. my iPad. Several messagI parked on the shoulder of es needed my response, the road and turned on my and a few were spam. flashers.

I don’t fall for messages like “Look who wrecked As I started to cross the their car,” “Check out road, a car stopped, “Do this old photo of you,” or you need help,” they “Did you forget to call me asked. I explained that I was going to check on the today?” These are just car in the parking lot, and spam; if you open them, Lord knows what access they drove away. you give the spammer.

No one was in the car, and That night, there was a I couldn’t tell if they were new spam message I stuck. I felt good when a hadn’t seen before, so I

thought, “Thank you for your thoughtful note. I’m out.” Right. Like, I’m going to reply to that! But the creativity did spark my attention.

“What thoughtful note?”

The message came from area code 612, but that doesn’t mean anything; these fishing spammers will put any area code on the message they think will get your attention. I was getting ready to delete the text message when it occurred to me, “Oh, the car at the trailhead parking lot. I’ll bet this note is from them.” I responded to the message, and it turned out that the person was from Two Harbors. It made me feel good that they acknowledged the note.

There sure are a lot of good people on the north shore.

I recently parked my van at Target in Duluth. A moment after I climbed out of my vehicle, I watched a blue sedan pull into a parking space across from me. “Ouch,” I said. The driver clipped the corner of a nearly new grey Toyota pickup in the adjacent parking space! They hit it hard enough to rock the truck!

logos. First, she inspected the Toyota’s rear bumper and took a photo of the damage. Next, the girl opened the backdoor of her car, took a spiral notebook from her backpack, and began writing. The girl looked around, maybe looking for the driver, then put the note under the wiper of the Toyota. But I still felt some uneasiness.

I recalled the car at Home Depot in Florida, where someone put a blank Post-It note on a damaged vehicle. I thought I should wait to verify that the girl left her contact information, not just a blank paper, or maybe I should put an additional note on the Toyota. While I contemplated, the Toyota driver returned to his truck while the girl was still there.

“I’m really sorry, sir, I bumped into your truck when I was parking,” she told the driver, “I’ll pay for the damages.”

The driver looked at his bumper, complaining, “You call that a bump? For Pete’s sake! This truck is almost new!” I could understand his frustration, but his reaction seemed a bit harsh. I was immediately reminded of how A man walking by also Dean reacted when my saw it happen. “Did you daughter damaged his see that?” he asked me. mirror on Church Street “They really nailed that in Ottumwa. My daughter pickup.” I told him I did see could have driven away, it. Then, the man got into and the driver of the blue his car on the other side sedan could have just as of the Toyota and drove quickly moved her car to away, but not me. I got a different space. Still, in my van and sat down. both took responsibility for I wanted to see what their actions, and there the driver of the blue car is something noble to be would do. said for that!

A young lady got out of the car; I’d guess she was a college student as she had a local college bumper sticker on her back window and a few friends with her sported college

The girl went to the windshield, removed her note, and handed it to the man.

“I left you all my contact information, and I will pay for the damages,” she said.

“You’re darn right you will!”

The man kept complaining, finally saying, “Well, at least you left a note and didn’t just drive off.” I felt terrible for questioning whether the young driver would do the right thing.

Eventually, the girl and her friends walked toward the store. I caught up to them, “I’m proud of you,” I told the young driver. “A lot of people would have just moved their car, but you did the right thing.”

“Thanks,” she said in a worried tone. “Do you think it will cost a lot to fix his bumper?”

“It’s hard to say with prices as crazy as they are,” I said. “Your insurance will pay for everything on his truck at no cost to you.”

She seemed relieved.

“But you will have to pay a deductible for repairs to your car.”

“My car didn’t get hurt at all,” she said in a cheery voice. “Not even a scratch!”

“Well, see? There you go; the day hasn’t been all bad,” I said. We shared a laugh about that and then went our separate ways.

Finding a note on your car is seldom good, but it’s sometimes good, too, like the note I left on the car at the trailhead. Also, I used to put notes of a specific color and shape on people’s windshields. The back side looked like a parking ticket, but the side that was face down read, “I just want to wish you a good day. Aren’t you glad this isn’t a parking ticket?”

Drive safely, my friends.