Davis 1 Tyler Davis Anthony Borrero ENGL 1101-068 6 December 2012 Revision: The Ways Hunters Engage with

Literacy Just at the crack of dawn, several men make their way through the woods for a morning of deer hunting. They layout the deer lick, distribute the corn, and climb up to their stands where they will patiently wait for the mornings first buck. The men quiet down when they hear a crackling in the leaves. Walking towards the deer lick comes a young buck, eager to get his minerals. The hunters turn the safety off of their guns and take aim. The deers head pops up as if he senses harm. One of the hunters sees this as his only opportunity to shoot before the deer runs off, and he squeezes the trigger. The deers body falls quickly to the ground. The prior narrative is a sample scenario of hunters who have unified to take part in a session of hunting. Most would not realize the important role that literacy plays in these kinds of circumstances. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the ways that hunters partake in literacy during hunting excursions. In order to conduct this discussion, I will write about how huntsmen examine their environment, how they analyze animals tracks, and how they read animals movements in order to decide when to execute their attack. By discussing these points, I would like for hunters, both experienced and inexperienced, to have an understanding of how to read a variety of the aspects of hunting and to sharpen their skills in hunting. The act of hunting has a very long history, originating all the way back to the beginning of mankind. It began in ancient tribes, solely, as a means of acquiring food for the tribes
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:32 AM Comment [5]: Change scenarios to circumstances Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:42 AM Comment [6]: Changed hunters to huntsmen.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:47 AM Comment [1]: The five skills I chose to improve on for this revision are:
1. Conclusion sentences 2. Diversify vocabulary 3. Sentence structure 4. Conclusion paragraph 5. Transitions There will also be some other general changes made to this paper.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:34 AM Comment [2]: Changed the date. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:34 AM Comment [3]: Change the title. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:35 AM Comment [4]: Change thru to through.

Davis 2 communities. As time progressed and hunters perfected their skills, they began taking a liking to hunting and began viewing it as a hobby. Today, hunting is still a way that people earn food, but it has become popular mostly for the thrill that killing a wild animal provides a predator. Hunting has become one of the favorite pastimes of many individuals and groups (Blain). One group that has formed because of the members common interest in hunting is a group of friends, and some family members, from Randleman, NC who call themselves the Hunting Crew. The group began in the fall of 2000 by high school friends Chad Davis, Michael Cassata and Trevor Martin who enjoyed doing many things together (Cassata). They played sports together, had classes with one another, and hung out together almost every weekend. Each of them appreciated hunting with their fathers while growing up, and decided they would like to all go hunting together (Cassata). On their first few hunting trips together, the boys went to Chads dads 35-acre wooded-land, along with their 20 gauge shot guns in their deer stands. They didnt have any techniques or strategies for how they would hunt; they just shot when and if they saw a deer (Cassata). Every now and then, they would bring along some of their other friends and after they came hunting with them for a while, they became part of the clique. The group now has about ten participants, though they have never had all of them hunt together at the same place or time (Cassata). The members of the Hunting Crew agree that the main goal of the faction is just to have fun and be able to bond with one another. Michael says the real reason he comes is show all the guys how its done. His intention is to trace and slay the most immense deer to ever live and earn all the bragging rights to rub in the rest of the group members faces (Cassata). The way that he talks to the other hunters is in a cocky way, but also conveys a joking-tone when he speaks to them. This shows that hunters dont have to be a hundred percent serious a hundred percent of
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:48 AM Comment [8]: Changed together to with one another. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:48 AM Comment [9]: Changed enjoyed to appreciated. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:49 AM Comment [10]: Changed in to and. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:50 AM Comment [11]: Changed methods to techniques. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:52 AM Comment [12]: Changed group to clique. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:53 AM Comment [13]: Changed members to participants. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:54 AM Comment [14]: Changed group to faction. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:55 AM Comment [15]: Changed goal to intention. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:56 AM Comment [16]: Chaned track to trace. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:57 AM Comment [17]: Changed kill to slay. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:58 AM Comment [18]: Changed biggest to most immense. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 5:45 AM Comment [7]: Changed hunter to predator.

Davis 3 the time. Michael is a prime-example of how hunters can hunt for the pure admiration of the sport. There are many different possible methods of hunting and many different types of weapons used in hunting; the possibilities are actually endless. Each of the hunters in this group has their own preferred style of hunting and their own choice of weapon. When hunting together, they have to unify their techniques to get the job done. In order to do this, the hunters must communicate their ideas with one another and come to an agreement on how they will use their practices without hindering the way the other hunter wants to hunt (Martin). For example, if a hunter wants to hunt with a crossbow because of its discreetness, it is perhaps not a good idea for him to hunt with someone who is using a shotgun, since the deer will hear the shots being fired and will scatter. Some compromises would have to be made in this situation. Hunters are very particular about when and where they hunt. They want to hunt in a location where they know deer come and at a time that they know deer will be active, which is customarily at daybreak and late in the evening (Martin). My favorite place for hunting is a field with a pond in it, Trevor explained. [Thats because] one of the deers most popular activities is eating and drinking for survival (Martin). He went on to say that the most deer hed ever seen in a single evening was on his cousins land by a pond. After becoming an experienced hunter, one will swiftly learn how to judge if a site makes for an efficient hunting location (Martin). Before going on the hunting expedition, a hunter must have a basic perception of the animals lifestyle and conventions. Knowing this will help the hunter tremendously when striving to kill the animal. Just as Trevor had explained that the deer spend a lot of time eating and drinking, hunters should look into what other preoccupations deer have.
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:02 AM Comment [20]: Changed techniques to practices. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:03 AM Comment [21]: Changed quietness to discreetness. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:04 AM Comment [22]: Changed probably to perhaps. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:05 AM Comment [23]: Changed run away to will scatter. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:06 AM Comment [24]: Changed mostly to customarily. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:07 AM Comment [25]: Changed the crack of dawn to daybreak. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:08 AM Comment [26]: Changed experience to experienced. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:08 AM Comment [27]: Changed quickly to swiftly. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:09 AM Comment [28]: Changed excursion to expedition. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:11 AM Comment [29]: Changed understanding to perception. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:11 AM Comment [30]: Changed habits to conventions. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:14 AM Comment [31]: Changed trying to striving. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:15 AM Comment [32]: Changed things to preoccupations. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:17 AM Comment [33]: Changed spend their time doing to have.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:00 AM Comment [19]: Changed love to admiration.

Davis 4 Other major activities that deer involve their selves in are mating and sleeping (Huntland). Knowing these deer activities will further the hunters knowledge as to what actions to take and approaches to use for when they go hunting. There is a procedure that on must go through before being capable to hunt unaccompanied. The Hunter Safety Course must be taken before hunting by ones self which can be done online and for less than twenty dollars. The next step is to register and involve oneself in the Field Day, which is a hands-on instruction time that demonstrates how to properly handle a gun. Accomplishing the course will grant a prospective hunter with a Hunter Education Certificate, which will have a code on it that is required to purchase a hunting license (North Carolina Hunter's Ed Course). Purchasing a hunting license for a typical North Carolinian adult costs $500 (NC Wildlife). There are also some things that hunters should do to prepare the site before the day of the hunt. The site should be set a few weeks preceding to the day you plan to hunt in an effort to lure in game. Trevor says that he likes to use deer lick and corn for luring in his game. They will get so used to coming here to eat, he says, that they will more than likely come here on the day that we hunt (Martin). He also says that the reason for using the deer lick is so that the deer can get their minerals, which they need in order to survive healthfully (Martin). The location of the deer stands or blinds should also be determined before hunting. The stand or blind must be placed in a position where you can view the deer from any location that they will be doing any of their activities on the site (Martin). Having a wide view of the deer will allow more opportunities for shooting the deer. The men also commented on a few differences between effective hunters and ineffective hunters. Effective hunters will know what they want to do and how they want to do it. They will
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:45 AM Comment [44]: Changed structure of sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:45 AM Comment [45]: Changed spot to position.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:19 AM Comment [34]: Changed participate to involve their selves. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:20 AM Comment [35]: Changed methods to approaches. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:22 AM Comment [36]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:24 AM Comment [37]: Changed structure of sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:26 AM Comment [38]: Changed participate to involve oneself. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:26 AM Comment [39]: Changed teaches to demonstrates. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:27 AM Comment [40]: Changed use to handle. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:28 AM Comment [41]: Changed structure of sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:29 AM Comment [42]: Changed cost to costs. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:43 AM Comment [43]: Changed sentence structure.

Davis 5 already know what kinds of methods and techniques they will use, where they will be situated, know when and where to talk, and they will know when the right time to shoot is (Martin). On the contrary, an ineffective hunter would have no plan ahead of time, they might move about the location, not know when they need to be quiet, and might shoot at random times, scaring away the rest of the deer (Martin). Overall, an effective hunter will know what they are doing and are usually experienced hunter who has learned these traits over time, whereas an ineffective hunter does not know what their doing because they are probably an inexperienced hunter who has not been through the same learning experiences as an experienced hunter has (Cassata). Effective are the ones who walk away with a kill. The men engaged with the Hunting Crew say they usually like to inspect the deer tracks prior to setting up the site. They can perceive what kind of movement the deer are making; where they are coming in and out of the woods, where they acquire their water, etcetera (Martin). They also like to read the deer tracks to examine what kind of deer migrate to the location (Martin). As many would believe, a smaller footprint means a smaller deer and a larger footprint means a larger deer. The diagram below explains what kind of deer each footprint belongs to (HuntingNet).
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:52 AM Comment [48]: Included conclusion sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:35 AM Comment [49]: Changed involved in to engaged with. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:35 AM Comment [50]: Changed the to they. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:36 AM Comment [51]: Changed look at to inspect. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:37 AM Comment [52]: Changed before they set to prior to setting. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:37 AM Comment [53]: Changed see to perceive. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:38 AM Comment [54]: Change get to acquire. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:39 AM Comment [55]: Changed come to migrate. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:40 AM Comment [56]: Changed the structure of the sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:40 AM Comment [57]: Removed extra space between words.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:48 AM Comment [46]: Changed located to situated. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:50 AM Comment [47]: Omitted sentenced and changed sentence structure.

Davis 6

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:54 AM Comment [58]: Changed sentence structure.

A form of communication has not been set by the Hunting Crew as their own. They often times create signals as needed and each member has to interpret what the others are trying to say. They have not taken the time to create their own signals, but they do somewhat use universal motions, such as a hand held vertically for someone to stop or a finger in front of their mouth to tell someone to be quiet, etcetera (Martin). As for communicating with animals, they use deer calls, which they say are remarkably helpful during mating season, as it will lure in the hormonal bucks (Martin). They also cover themselves in doe urine for the same purpose; plus, it also helps dilute their own scent (Martin). Communication plays an important role in hunting, both with one another as well as with the game. Chads cabin at High Rock Lake in Lexington, NC has recently become a popular location for the men to hunt. The water and woodlands that surround the cabin make it a prim location for hunting. At this time of the year, the water level goes down significantly to where is it only a river. The wet ground where the water once was allows for the hunters to see many of the deer tracks (Martin). They are able to observe where the deer come in and out of the woods from, see where the deer get their water, and also where along the bank the deer like to walk

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:55 AM Comment [59]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:56 AM Comment [60]: Changed signals to motions. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:56 AM Comment [61]: Changed straight up to vertically. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:13 AM Comment [62]: Changed tremendously to remarkably. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:57 AM Comment [63]: Changed when it is to during. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:58 AM Comment [64]: Changed the to they. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 6:58 AM Comment [65]: Changed structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:01 AM Comment [66]: Added conclusion sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:00 AM Comment [67]: Changed structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:03 AM Comment [68]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:04 AM Comment [69]: Changed just to only. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:04 AM Comment [70]: Changed see to observe.

Davis 7 (Martin). Since they cannot shoot deer that are on the bank since that is not Chads property, the men try to lure the deer onto the property (Martin). They use the deer lick and corn as mentioned before as a method of luring the deer. On this property, the men usually sit in a blind that is located on the deck of the cabin because it provides them with maximum view of the back yard and is fairly close to where they have the corn and deer lick placed. A blind is a tent-like box that is covered in camouflage and fake leaves so that the deer do not pay much attention to it. The mens new go-to spot would be paradise for most deer.
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:08 AM Comment [73]: Added a conclusion sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:05 AM Comment [71]: Changed they to the.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:06 AM Comment [72]: Reworded.

This is the river that flows just behind the property that makes up High Rock Lake. The ground was covered by water over the summer and the deer that walk on this ground leave many tracks.

Davis 8

These are two footprints that were left by a deer in the riverbanks. Using the previous diagram, the deer tracks probably belong to a yearling doe.

Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:09 AM Comment [74]: This has been reworded.

This picture depicts how the hunters distribute the corn and place the deer lick. The deer lick was placed on a stump in the backyard of the property.

Davis 9 The men also say it is important to know when to shoot the deer, so they have to be able to read the deers actions and decide when to perform their shot. The deer walk very cautiously through their paths and the slightest disturbance will send them running away. Thats why the hunters have decided that it is important to be able to read what the deer is sensing before it is too late and they go home empty handed. Trevor says that when a deer thinks they hear something, their head will pop up very quick, and they will take a second to listen for further noises by pointing their ears in the direction that the first sound came from (Martin). They will proceed even more carefully if they no longer hear anything. If the noise is still there, then they run off. To ensure that the deer does not suffer drastically from a shot, the men say it is crucial that the deer is shot in one of its vital organs, that way it will not live long (Martin). Shooting in one of the vital organs, such as the lungs or heart, will cause a lot of bleeding and will make tracking down the deer a lot easier since the blood will leave a trail. The heart and lung are both located just above the deers front two legs (Martin). The ability to determine the deers senses is a very important skill to have in hunting. After a deer is shot, the hunter must then track the deer, because even though injured, the deer will still try to escape to save its life. A trail of blood will be left for the men to follow until they eventually find the deer and eradicate it (Martin). Once the deer is finally dead, the hunter who killed it must report it to the North Carolina Wildlife (North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission). They must do this within 24 hours of shooting the deer. To do this, they must use the Big Game Harvest Report Card that was given to them with their big game hunting license. On that report card, they punch out a hole next to the kind of animal they killed and call the North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission (North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission). The hunters of the Hunting Crew practice these procedures after every kill.
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:25 AM Comment [83]: Added conclusion sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:12 AM Comment [80]: Added conclusion sentence. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:21 AM Comment [81]: Reworded. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:24 AM Comment [82]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:15 AM Comment [77]: Reworded. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:16 AM Comment [78]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:18 AM Comment [79]: Changed sentence structure. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:13 AM Comment [75]: Changed execute to perform. Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:13 AM Comment [76]: Changed thru to through.

Davis 10 The Hunting Crew engages with plenty of literacy, but not in the common way that most people would think. They are not reading books or writing papers like most people think of when they hear literacy. They are literate in their own way. They read terrain, the actions of animals, different situations, and even communicate differently than those who do not participate in hunting. Their ways of engaging with literacy varies with the practices of other hunting groups as well. The Hunting Crew is truly a unique group and stands apart from all others.
Tyler Davis 12/6/12 7:30 AM Comment [84]: Improved conclusion paragraph.

Davis 11 Works Cited

Blain, Rebecca. The Evolution of Man - The History of Hunting. 9 November 2012 <ezinearticles.com/?The-Evolution-of-Man---The-History-of-Hunting&id=25107>. Cassata, Michael. History of the Hunting Crew Tyler Davis. 16 November 2012. HuntingNet. HuntingNet: Deer Tracks. 20 November 2012 <www.huntingnet.com/staticpages/staticpage_detail.aspx?id=149>. Huntland. Deer Hunting Guide: Deer Hunting Tips. 20 November 2012 <www.huntland.com/huntingtips/deer/index.html#Where_Should_You_Hunt_For_Deer>. Martin, Trevor. Information on Hunting Crew Tyler Davis. 16 November 2012. NC Wildlife. NC Wildlife: Lifetime License Types. 20 November 2012 <www.ncwildlife.org/Licenzing/HuntingFishingTrappingLicenses/LifetimeLicense/Lifeti meLicensesTypes.aspx>. North Carolina Hunter's Ed Course. Official Hunter Safety Education Course. 20 November 2012 <www.hunter-ed.com/northcarolina/index.html>. North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission. N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission: Big Game Harvest Reportig. 20 November 2012 <www.ncwildlife.org/Licensing/HuntingFishingTrappingLicenses/BigGameHarvestRepo rtingInfo.aspx>.