March 2, 2009

The Hunting & Fishing Expo

On Saturday, my husband and I took the kids to a hunting & fishing expo held at the local mega church. We don't hunt, but we do like camo outerwear and mounted animal heads and we felt pretty confident that we would see a lot of both.

We were not disappointed.

The expo hall was filled to the brim with objects that raise eyebrows, cause the stomach to quiver, and make you question why you eat meat. My kids LOVED it.

After petting several animal hides with the heads still attached (eyes open, mouths gaping/growling) and examining an impressive collection of meat grinders and buck knives, we made our way to the the taxidermy room which, on Sundays, is Jesus' Joy School.

Upon entering the room and into Jesus' loving arms (at least that's what the painted wall mural said), we were pointed in the direction of a large display of stuffed animals, fowls, and fish. My husband pulled his baseball cap down over his eyes while I snapped pictures of the kids pretending to kiss dead antelopes on my camera phone (I would have included said pictures if I knew how to get the images off my phone).

"We've got to get one of these," said Cortlen, pointing at a gigantic moose head with a five-foot antler wing span.

"Maybe for your birthday," I promised.

"Why don't we just stuff Biscuit (our cat) when she dies?" said my husband. Behind the sarcasm was a very good idea.

As if on cue, the taxidermist handed me his business card.

When I got home, I took a closer look at our aging cat.

I think she will make a very nice throw pillow.

***
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22 comments

Unknown said...

"we do like camouflage outerwear and mounted animal heads." Jana, you kill me. Seriously, every time I read this blog, I die a little from the joy of it.

Unknown said...

In the movie 'Coraline', there are two ladies who live downstairs with three living scottish terriers and a wall full of deceased, taxidermied ones. I've really never understood stuffing animals, but remember as a child being very fond of the moose and bear at the 5th Ave. entrance to our mall, as well as the stuffed badger at the local museum. Our kids get particularly creeped out by the stuffed litter of opossums at the science museum.

Unknown said...

You really need to come to my neck of the woods. If the kids at my daughter's high school could pick new school colors I'm sure they would choose a lovely camo print and have the sports uniforms re-done......it's scary.

Robin said...

Ahhhhh, the Hunting Expo.....I know it well........

I can make you a good deal on a deer head or a bass....or BOTH....just don't let my husband know about it.

Helen said...

I had to read the first line 4 or 5 times! I was having a hard time getting past a hunting expo being held at a mega church. LOL

I'm at a mega church and that's definitely not something I've seen!

Caffeinated Bliss said...

Just came across your blog. Absolutely love it!

Carmen said...

To get pics from your phone to your computer,you can text your pics from your phone to your email address. Then you can just download them from your email account onto your computer.

Hope that helps! Would love to see the pics!

Crystal said...

Ha Ha Ha. We've joked about having our cat stuffed before too. My husband has even joked about having him stuffed and perched up on the couch or lying on our bed when he dies, to keep me company. Thanks for the laugh.

Stephanie said...

My husband is from small-town Utah and has several hunting aficionados in his extended family. One house has no less than 25 stuffed animals in the front room.... deers, moose, bears... no joke! I think it's the best place to take my kids if I want them to have nightmares all night.

The Queen said...

Our entire house is camo clothes, the latest tents and camping gear stuffs the basement.. our walls are lined with stuffed game....We have more firearms and ammo than the US gov...

Next time,, just stop by our house...

ha ha..

ps.. and we no longer hunt and our idea of camping is the Super 8

Heidi Noel said...

When you figure out how to get pictures off of your phone, let me know. I have the same problem.

Amy said...

LOL, love it! Just found your blog and I'm really enjoying it. :)

chelsea said...

My mom lost a bet to my dad once and her "prize" was a stuffed porcupine in attach position mounted on a tree stub. My dad insisted my mom keep it in the front window so everyone could enjoy it. It wasn't until its quills ended up in several family members bodies that my mom talked my dad into moving it into the den.

Cami said...

That was one of the few positive things about my divorce....when my husband left I made him take his wretched deer head with him! Lol! We're still friends, but I'm sure glad those glassy eyeballs are no longer watching me undress! Kinda creepy.....

Cami said...

P.S. Still friends with my ex...not the dead deer! Thought I better clarify that! :)

Sticky said...

Holy Hell, that was funny...

I also email myself my photos or you can email them directly to your blog.

Blogger "setting", go to "email" - it lets you set up the address and tell it if you want them to be saved as a draft (best idea) or publish right away.

you can do the entire post from your phone, but I email the photo, save as a draft and add the rest later.

Good luck

Malea said...

I needed to get a copy of that business card for the Family History Expo I went to this past weekend. Don'tcha wish your Expo was as hot as mine? Don'tcha?

Sue Ann said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sue Ann said...

The camo outerwear is nice but my my personal favorite is the camouflage UNDERWEAR! You can check it out in any Cabela's catalog--where male models pose cozily inside a rustic cabin around a blazing fire in their long underwear (of various camo patterns--"tree bark" being one of my favorites) with large rifles in hand. I guess they must be ever vigilant for the perfect huntin' opportunity!

Or, if you happen to be "lucky" enough to have an actual Cabelas store nearby--you can check out the camo underwear--and tons more huntin' and fishin' stuff--including home decor! Then you wouldn't have to wait for the Huntin and Fishin expo, you could visit the store whenever you are in the mood! :0)

drquackers said...

Camo anything is COOL>

http://www.eloquentbooks.com/HuntingWithFather.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wis4_MObTo8

Amelia said...

I also text message pictures to my email address for quick downloading and uploading. :-) It works like a charm.

Anonymous said...

that is a surprisingly good idea! i think i will visit the taxidermist down the road and get some ideas for when our cats die. michael would be thrilled to keep his kitten beatrix forever.