Golf pro kills hawk

[natsfan1a]

From yesterday's Post (The first line is the Post's comment, not mine. I'm glad that they are charging him.):

He needs to concentrate more on birdies.

From the Associated Press:"PGA Tour player Tripp Isenhour was charged with killing a hawk on purpose with a golf shot because it was making noise as he videotaped a TV show. . . .

According to court documents, Isenhour got upset when a red-shouldered hawk began making noise, forcing another take. He began hitting balls at the bird, then 300 yards away, but gave up. Isenhour started again when the hawk moved within about 75 yards. . . .

Isenhour allegedly said 'I'll get him now,' and aimed for the hawk. . . .

A few shots later, witnesses said he hit the hawk."

[Nat of the Living Dead]

This sounds like some jerk off thing that Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore would do.

What an jerk.

[The Chief]

While that is pretty asinine and I would never support cruelty to animals, I have to admit....

I chuckled.

[tomterp]

I hit a ground hog once at a driving range, intentionally too.  He was about 220 yards out, and I got in a consistent groove where I was hitting the ball within a very tight area.  I told my brother that I was going to hit him, and 2 or 3 shots later I put one into his ribs after one bounce.  He looked up like "wazzat?", then resumed grazing. 

Definitely displayed my lack of power, as well as his indomitable spirit and calm demeanor.

[The Chief]

Groundhog 1, tomterp 0

[saltydad]

I'm totally down on his ethics, but wish my skills with the sticks were as good as his.

[Nat of the Living Dead]

I'm totally down on his ethics, but wish my skills with the sticks were as good as his.

I admit, you have to have some skill to sniper a golf ball like that.

[2IPAs]

Last summer, I witnessed golf pros aiming at construction workers building a house at the far end of the driving range. Luckily, they only managed to plop a golf ball into the swimming pool and startle a few guys. I definitely feel sorry for the occupants of that house.

[2k6nats]

Wait...charged?  Hitting an animal while golfing is a felony?

[Nat of the Living Dead]

Wait...charged?  Hitting an animal while golfing is a felony?

I believe anyone stating the intention and then succeeding in the act of hurting an animal, especially one not hurting anyone and doing what it naturally does, is animal abuse. 

[tomterp]

I believe anyone stating the intention and then succeeding in the act of hurting an animal, especially one not hurting anyone and doing what it naturally does, is animal abuse. 

Agreed.  I am such a horrible golfer, that I was really making a joke when I pulled off the feat.  Plus, it was at the end of my range.  Even if I'd hit it in the head it wouldn't have injured the ground hog. 

And the driving range is pretty much all ground hogged up all the time anyway, they'd have to shut it down to prevent the occasional plunking.

[natsfan1a]

Also, hawks and other raptors are protected by law. There's a summary here:

http://www.gpnc.org/raptors1.htm

We have red-shouldered hawks in the stream valley behind our house. At this time of year they do call frequently while on the wing as part of their courtship ritual.

Wait...charged?  Hitting an animal while golfing is a felony?

I believe anyone stating the intention and then succeeding in the act of hurting an animal, especially one not hurting anyone and doing what it naturally does, is animal abuse. 

[Nat of the Living Dead]

This: however, is not a chargeable offense. This is more considered Act of God.

[NatsAddict]

I hit a ground hog once at a driving range, intentionally too.  He was about 220 yards out, and I got in a consistent groove where I was hitting the ball within a very tight area.  I told my brother that I was going to hit him, and 2 or 3 shots later I put one into his ribs after one bounce.  He looked up like "wazzat?", then resumed grazing. 

Definitely displayed my lack of power, as well as his indomitable spirit and calm demeanor.

I don't recall hitting any animals while playing golf, at least not other than myself with a few richochets.  I have won the "Beaver Pelt" competition a few times, though.   

I have had to tee off  with an about 8' gator catching some rays in front of the ball at the edge of the tee box,  I just prayed, "Please, Lord, get this ball into the air" - one of the few times G*d has not shown his warped sense of humor with me on the golf course.  Two weeks ago I saw my first ever panther on a golf course.  He was about 50 yards away in some tall grasses, watching us tee off.  He was beautiful, and I'm a sucker for stray cats, but he had me much more nervous than any gator I've ever come across.  We called it in to the pro shop so F&W could take care of the guy - there are only something like a couple hundred left.

As for me, when I'm playing and want to miss something, I take dead aim at it.

But, this guy made no question of his intention to hit the bird while having professional skills to do so.

[PANatsFan]

This sounds like some jerk off thing that Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore would do.

What an jerk.

"I eat pieces of crap like you for breakfast!"

"You eat pieces of crap for breakfast?"

My favorite:

"What's wrong with you people? Go back to your shanties!"

[natsfan1a]

Would a panther be the same as a cougar/mountain lion/puma? I know that there are lots of names for them.

[NatsAddict]

Would a panther be the same as a cougar/mountain lion/catamount? I know that there are lots of names for them.

He's part of the cougar family.  Also, it says in Wiki that there are only 80-100 left.

[saltydad]

He's part of the cougar family.  Also, it says in Wiki that there are only 80-100 left.

There is a subset of Puma concolor called the Florida panther. It is the only known remnant of the eastern panther (or cougar) remaining, the others being extirpated by the beginning decades of the last century. Interestingly, western cougars (scientifically the same thing) have been moving east from the Rockies, and are now in the Badlands with a breeding population, and the latest confirmation was in Wisconsin. There have been isolated sightings, NOT verified by DNA analysis, in Arkansas, Alabama, and even Delaware. DNA analysis is now used to differentiate between native populations and those from South America, which are usually "pets" released by their "owners". Obviously this is not an animal to have as a pet. For further info on this fascinating creature, see the site of the The Cougar Network, to which I belong.

http://www.easterncougarnet.org/

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[CALSGR8]

I was thinking of the Randy Johnson incident too when I read this.  But this one was planned.  Randy's wasn't

Another Cougar siting:



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[natsfan1a]

Thanks for the cougar info, guys.

Good one on the "cougar," calsgr8!

[NatsAddict]

There is a subset of Puma concolor called the Florida panther. It is the only known remnant of the eastern panther (or cougar) remaining, the others being extirpated by the beginning decades of the last century. Interestingly, western cougars (scientifically the same thing) have been moving east from the Rockies, and are now in the Badlands with a breeding population, and the latest confirmation was in Wisconsin. There have been isolated sightings, NOT verified by DNA analysis, in Arkansas, Alabama, and even Delaware. DNA analysis is now used to differentiate between native populations and those from South America, which are usually "pets" released by their "owners". Obviously this is not an animal to have as a pet. For further info on this fascinating creature, see the site of the The Cougar Network, to which I belong.

http://www.easterncougarnet.org/

Great info and  thanks for the link.  I tried joining online, but kept getting an error message ("enter an amount other than zero" - yet there is no place to enter an amount), so am mailing in a donation.

The guy I saw was about 20 miles east of the area on the map, in a relative urban area.



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[Nat of the Living Dead]

"I eat pieces of **** like you for breakfast!"

"You eat pieces of **** for breakfast?"

My favorite:

"What's wrong with you people? Go back to your shanties!"

  Yeah, I love the shantie one as well.  I also like:

"You know what *else* could draw a crowd? A golfer with an arm growing out of his ass."

"I beg to differ. Happy Gilmore accomplished that feat no more than an hour ago."
"Well moron--[turns to see Mr. Larson for the first time]--good for Happy Gimo - OH MY GOD!"

"Just stay out of my way or you'll pay, listen to what I say."

[natsfan1a]

Coincidentally, I was at the Post Office today and picked up some postcard stamps. They featured the Florida Panther.

Great info and  thanks for the link.  I tried joining online, but kept getting an error message ("enter an amount other than zero" - yet there is no place to enter an amount), so am mailing in a donation.

The guy I saw was about 20 miles east of the area on the map, in a relative urban area.

[PANatsFan]

  Yeah, I love the shantie one as well.  I also like:

"You know what *else* could draw a crowd? A golfer with an arm growing out of his ass."

"I beg to differ. Happy Gilmore accomplished that feat no more than an hour ago."
"Well moron--[turns to see Mr. Larson for the first time]--good for Happy Gimo - OH MY GOD!"

"Just stay out of my way or you'll pay, listen to what I say."

"I think I'll go eat some hay, by the bay, I just may"

[kimnat]

Dr. Seuss would be so proud of you two poetic geniuses! 

Hey Mike, why is that whenever I read your stories, I have to hold my sides and rofl!