Cougars and Bison and Bears....Oh My!!
By Craig Lanzoni Pack 23 Old Greenwich, CT
So... I got a phone call a short while back. "Craig, this is Tom at the Boy Scout office. I think I've got a great opportunity for a Cub Scout field trip. There's this guy named Bob DeLaney who lives in the back woods of Greenwich and teaches archery to some of the Boy Scouts. He's kind of a conservationist...or maybe a naturalist......anyway, he's definitely a bow hunter and has a bunch of animals that he's had mounted and keeps in a building behind his house. He'd like to invite some of the boys over and have them see his collection and maybe teach them a little about archery and bow hunting." Now as the leader of a group of 8-year old Bear Cubs, I know that anything that has to do with bows, arrows, and wild animals is right up their alley. "Tom, that sounds great. How do I get in touch with Mr. DeLaney?" Tom gave me the number and our adventure began.
I called the number that Tom had given me, trying to imagine what the person on the other end of the phone might look like. In my mind I got a picture of a cross between Daniel Boone and Grizzly Adams. When a soft but authoritative voice answered, "this is Bob DeLaney", I added Chuck Norris to the mix. I also quickly learned that Bob is a man of few words but immediate action. He invited me to meet him that very afternoon to preview his collection and discuss how we could make a field trip for the cubs. I left my office a few hours later, my imagination once again taking over.
What could this building that housed Bob's animals look like? For that matter, what would the animals look like? A picture of a pitted dirt road, tumble-down shack, and some rather moth-eaten varmints filled my mental viewing screen, with the "Deliverance" theme song playing in the background. As I arrived at the address I actually laughed out loud. The home, situated on the grounds of a golf course, was immaculate in its elegance, and my tumble-down shack turned out to be an equally immaculate pool house which Bob had converted to office and wildlife room. And my Grizzly Adams character? Turned out to be a tall, trim, and physically fit middle-aged man with a quiet demeanor and winning smile. Someone I would associate more with a pin-stripe suit and corporate boardroom than a camouflage suit and an animal blind.
Bob invited me in to what I can only describe as a thoughtfully crafted exhibit of some of the most impressive and lifelike specimens that I have ever seen.(One of my Cubs later remarked, "this is like the natural history museum, except the animals are better and you can even touch them".) As Bob showed me around, I found that each animal had a story, and each story was accompanied by a bit of geography and history. As Bob continued to speak, his love of nature and concern for the welfare of these creatures was clear and evident. I couldn't wait for my guys to meet this man. What an education awaited them! We made an appointment for the following week.
When the appointed day arrived four Bear Cubs, Willy, Ben, Alex and Ken (accompanied by a fifth Bear Cub, their fearless leader) were greeted by "Hi, I'm Bob DeLaney and I'm what is called a naturalist. Come on inside and see what I've got to show you". For the next forty-five minutes these 5 boys (yeah...me too) were held enthralled as Bob patiently introduced them to all that he had collected. "Let's start over here", he began. "Who knows what kind of animal is up there?" Above us, on the wall, was a Mountain Lion (Cougar), looking like it was lazing in the sun. Bob continued "you know, these are protected in California. There are so many of them and they have become so brave that they are now attacking female joggers. That's just one example of what happens when people don't understand the natural order of things, especially wildlife management". This was to be their first lesson of many.
"Go ahead, you can touch it" said Bob, as they looked up at a Bison. "You all know what this is, right? Do you know where it comes from?" This time a brief geography lesson. "Bison meat is better for you than steak. High in protein and very little cholesterol. And it tastes great. The meat from this one went to help feed the homeless. WE DON'T EVER SHOOT ANYTHING THAT WE DON'T INTEND TO EAT!"(So around one very large Bison head we have added nutrition, charity, and personal values to today's lessons, and we've only been here for five minutes! ). Why is it so high up?" asked Willy. "Well, I've had each of these animals mounted at the height that it stood when it was in nature", said Bob, as he brings the boys' attention to the Bison, a gray wolf, a Black Bear, and an Alaskan Moose. "The moose weighed around 2,000 pounds, and the meat went to a native village" said Bob.( He didn't add, though I pointed out to the guys later, that the leader of the village said that the gift of that meat made their winter.) These whitetail deer are from Greenwich. When a homeowner calls we work with the Town Conservation Director, Greenwich Police Department and Connecticut DEP and, if it's safe to bowhunt we will take the deer. The venison is then given to the Food Bank of Lower Fairfield County. 'By the way, does anyone know the difference between antlers and horns?"
Bob then walks into a closet, hits a switch, and African tribal music emanates from hidden speakers as the tour continues on the other side of the room, in Africa. On the floor lies a Zebra skin. "who's heard of Zimbabwe?". On the wall above it is the head of a Kudu with magnificent curly horns. "This animal uses his horns to fight with other males in the herd. If he loses one of those horns, he will be unable to defend himself and will have to leave the herd". On the next table the skull of a warthog serves as the base for a display of two magnificent Springboks "does anyone know where South Africa is?" On a table are the horns (or is it antlers?) of a warthog, and some elaborate African art.
Finally, Bob shows us his own Boy Scout uniform blouse and merit badge sash. His "order of the arrow" and his Eagle Scout award, which hangs in a frame on the wall next to six Indian arrowheads given to him by his grandfather. Above those are two recurve bows, and two arrows stuck together. "I shot this arrow into the target, and this next one stuck right in the first arrow. Who's seen Robin Hood?" Bob then pulls a composition bow from the closet, and shows the boys the difference between arrow tips used for target and those used for hunting. The boys take turns holding the bow. "Sure you can try to pull it back. But don't be bothered if you can't. I have to work out every day to stay in shape for archery". Bob just added physical fitness to today's list of lessons.
Bob answers a few more questions, then brings the boys over to read a poster hanging on the wall. It's about ethics and fair chase in hunting. "What does it take to be a bow hunter" asked Kenny. "Bob replies, "patiencepatienceand more patience. But if you don't have much patience you can still enjoy the sport of archery. Most people in the sport never go hunting. They enjoy the challenge of shooting at targets. The great thing is, it's a sport for a lifetime, and you don't have to be tall, or fast, or strong to be good at it." I can see from the looks on their faces that this has a lot of appeal for these guys, who aren't particularly gifted athletes, but who love a challenge.
As we depart, it occurs to me how different this outing was from the one I'd originally envisioned. Yes, bow hunting has something to do with bows, arrows, and harvesting wild animals. But it also has a lot to do a love of nature, conservation, respect for the wild, concern for the environment, and respect, honesty and integrity.
"Hi, Jim. This is Craig from Pack 23. I think I've got a great opportunity for a Cub Scout field trip. There's this guy named Bob DeLaney."
