The Leaning Caveman

A few weeks ago Mark talked about using persistence hunting as a way to get some exercise while having fun.  Living in a suburb of Denver (Parker for those who care) there is still lots of wide open spaces it is possible to take this to a whole new level.  When I am out for evening walks with my SO discussing the events of the day and various and sundry topics that bring us closer together, deer are a common occurrence.  So common in fact that we literally walked up on  a pair of bucks and came within literally ten feet of them.  It was an interesting situation since neither party was particularly sure what to do.  Being the predators with forward facing eyes we quietly stalked away until they were comfortable going back to their evening snack.

With this experience fresh in my mind as I read Mark's article I decided that joggers would be far to easy.  Instead I have chosen to stalk wild animals.  Not hunt, trap, annoy or assault but simply stalk them.  The domesticated deer in the neighborhood have proven to be far too easy while on foot so I have taken to stalking wilder herds by mountain bike.  This is a ton of fun to say the least.  There really is something very primal about paralleling a herd at dusk; trying to stay stealthy quiet yet keep up.  You don't get to make any gear changes and you're forced to choose the quietest path which isn't necessarily the easiest.
 
The other target that has proven to be worthy adversary is stalking foxes.  These mangy little critters have moves like you wouldn't believe.  I've only tracked them by foot so far but they are proving to be far more elusive and crafty than deer.  It is far tougher to track a predator and is an absolute blast as exercise.