Great Gray Owl rescue

[albinorhino]

Today I had quite the experience and thought that it would be an interesting story to share...

Today me and my sister decided it would be a nice day for a drive to elbow falls.. on our way back I saw a van take out a great gray owl, of course my first instinct as a hunter was "oh jeeze that is gonna make an amazing mount!" I turned my truck around as fast as possible as I watched vehicles driving past the owl and the van driver completely confused on what to do. I walked to the owl that was in the middle of the road I felt a pulse but thought it was dying so I put it in the bed of my truck. I went to the guy who hit the owl who felt extremely bad and explained that these things happen.

His family wanted to see the owl I said of course no problem, going to reach for what I thought was a dead owl to my surprise the owl started flapping. This was my uh oh moment quickly letting go of the owl. I explained to the people I would take it to the vet if it couldn't fly and took responsibility. After 45 minutes the owl (angry and confused) got up and flew away! I was relieved that the owl had a second chance and glad I stopped!

Before the owl flew away I called the fish cops to my surprise they did not seem to care one bit and I am sure its not the first time. Moral of this story is that as hunters we feel responsible for wildlife, yes I wanted this guy as a mount but after I found out he was alive I wanted to make sure he was alright. People may say what they want about hunters but to me it creates responsibility and ethics and relationship to the land that others could not understand..

[Talking moose]

Thx for sharing.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Well done, many hunters share a special connection to all animals. I released a tangled up elk calf two years ago...it was a neat experience.

LC

[Trooper23]

God on you Bud! Saved a bald eagle out by Kananaskis 2 years ago, best feeling in the world to see them back in the wild.

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by albinorhino

. . . People may say what they want about hunters but to me it creates responsibility and ethics and relationship to the land that others could not understand..

Amen to that ^

Many of the first conservationists were hunters!

Mac

[gramps73]

good on youand thanks for sharing

[norwestalta]

Good story. Glad to hear that he's alive to eat mice.

[waterninja]

What a great little story, with a nice surprize ending.
Is there a difference between a Great Grey owl and a Grey owl, or is the former the proper name for all of them?

[El-Brento]

Great story, what a beautiful bird!

[Selkirk]

Originally Posted by waterninja

What a great little story, with a nice surprize ending.
Is there a difference between a Great Grey owl and a Grey owl, or is the former the proper name for all of them?

They are one in the same, but as you guessed, the full/proper name is; 'Great Grey Owl'; http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/owlp/ggowl

Hoot!

Mac