My rowboat slipped quietly to the dock, as usual, the dogs were excited to disembark and get about the most critical of dog business,
Sunrise on the lake is relaxing even for a husky.
checking to see who left new scents during their absence.
The husky, Jaz, whined while Vic snorted as they both scramble out onto the dock claws scratching on the dock boards as I held their leashes in check. The low water level makes it a bit of a challenge for me to get up on the dock and as I straighten up to look around for any incoming dog company, none to be seen so we start clomping down the galley-way only to pull up short to take in the weird sight confronting us. It appears time has stopped!
No one is moving at this ordinarily bustling village boat landing. There are tourists scattered about, but they are all frozen in place staring at these odd small rectangles held in the hands. Even their small designer dogs are stopped stiffly at leash end. Did I row us into another dimension or perhaps a Twilight Zone where time stands still? My head snaps a look back from where we came, and to my relief, all appears normal. The beautiful sunrise glistening on the rippling blue waves, gulls circling on the thermals, and pelicans are fishing. Other bird 
songs are dripping like jeweled droplets all around. Yet, all these folks appear oblivious to sights, smells and sounds all around them. Are all these folks unaware of the surrounding real world or is it distasteful causing the life in the screen to be more comfortable? I do not know, except to accept the old cliche “to each their own.”
During my youth before screens became so ubiquitous an old, philosophical sage warned that screens would become windows of reality to those who spend too much time looking through them. The human mind and eye would lose interest peering out of real windows. A few years ago I thought of him and his insight again while turkey hunting with a buddy. A blabbermouth gobbler was sounding off nonstop on his to our set up. As usual, the tom was coming into my calls from behind, but no problem, my buddy is sitting at the backside of the tree.
As the gobbles sent sparks of excitement deep into my hunting soul, surely a shot will ring out soon. The turkey was very close and moving around to my weak side, his head pulsing the colors of mating excitement. Still, no gunfire. What the heck, did my sidekick fall asleep, enjoying the moment or is he being generous, letting the shot come to me? OK, whatever I am ready. The strutter finally gets clear in front of my gun barrel. At the roar, in my peripheral vision, I see something odd flying in the air, and my fellow turkey hunter lets out a shriek. It turns out he had earbuds in while watching a turkey hunting video. He thought all the gobbling was from the video and never looked up from the screen. Viewing a hunting video while hunting!? As I have come to understand watching a phone has become a standard hunting procedure.
“To each their own…”
N.C.L.W. says
Lovely to read a fresh post here on CE, much obliged… Unfortunately for many, if not for most, watching a phone/screen of some sort near constantly is a standard procedure during most anything. “Social” gatherings have seemingly turned into nothing more than some folks gawking at such tech whilst essentially ignoring one another. Oh also – congrats on another bird! Wisconsin Hunters are very blessed when it comes to Turkey indeed.
Charlie says
Sorry for my lack of posts, I keep promising myself to be more diligent in updating this blog.
The local village area has about 800 year-round residents, rarely if ever do you see them out and about looking at their phones, including restaurants and bars. During the summer tourist season, the population goes up at least five times the normal. So, you can see why I was startled seeing so many stopped in their tracks starring the wafer boxes.
Personally, I view the person I’m with to be the most important at that moment. If a call or message comes in, I silence the phone and ignore it until later. Just good manners in my book.
Plus, my phone is rarely with me while hunting. Interestingly, some guys will not hunt with me because they can not text or otherwise contact me during the hunt. They really eye roll me when I attempt to explain electronic communication during a hunt violates fair chase rules.
WRC says
I’ve had the same thing happen a few times, with being a mentor. A lot of our new hunters have learned to hunt on a phone, not in the field. I had one young man and his dad that I was mentoring for, we had a good bird working, that had committed to our set-up. I called the bird in to 20yds and stopped him, the young man missed and the bird turned and ran off. The young hunter turned and said, ok I know what I didn’t do, hit the rewind and let me try it again. LoL
Charlie says
I must admit. There have been times when a chip shot whiffs; I have looked up to the eternal blue sky and requested an instant replay.
The buddy’s story shared in the post was fortysomething and an experienced turkey hunter.