Ed's 10 pointer, taken the hard way

Ed Wentzler from Pennsylvania is a person that I met on a chat room website that included active discussion of progressive management techniques being implemented in his home state. We seemed to immediately find a spark of friendship while having those cyber campfire discussions.

Ed is active with the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania as an officer and is dedicated to the education of local youth groups in woodcraft. As might be expected, bow hunting is his preferred hunting method, but he goes way beyond most of us in this primitive approach to hunting. He is a flint knapper (one that makes stone implements) and makes his own bows and arrows to facilitate his hunting.

The beautiful 10 point buck pictured above was scouted and taken on deep woods public land on November 7, 2002 in Sullivan County, PA by Ed using his own handmade equipment which is tastefully displayed along with the cape and hide. Somehow that flint tipped arrow makes a very nice buck something extra special. This was my first time to see antlers and the hide displayed in this manner, this combined with my personal knowledge of how Ed feels about the game he hunts paved the way for me to have a strong appreciation for the "honor" he bestows to this fine animal.

Additional photos and comments.