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| Bill Kinney Photography |
It was a frigid day in the early spring and the sun was shining just enough to be melting the ice that had accumulated on the ponds. It was at the point where you could tell spring was coming because the animals were getting into different routines and there were warmer days that you thought it might be nice to go for a walk outside. It was on a day like this he decided to do just that, go for a walk.
Going for a walk generally entails either bringing binoculars to spot critters or a bow to practice on bush animals along the path. On that walk he brought the bow. As he meandered along the paths through the field he ended up crossing the pond dam. Looking across the thin sheet of ice left covering the pond he noticed a dark shadow near the shore. With the ice crystals sparkling in the sun it was hard to distinguish, but upon closer inspection you could clearly see...the dark shadow was moving.
Curiosity drew him to the shore and found a giant snapping turtle trying to get a breath of air where the thin ice connected to the shoreline. Taking aim through the ice he drew back his bow and shot. A snapping turtle isn't a fast moving creature in the first place, being cold definitely didn't help. He'd been shot straight through the head...and it appeared not to notice....with the exception of the arrow being buried in the mud below its head causing him to be pinned. He carefully broke the thin ice and went to claim his catch. The cold turtle was too chilled to struggle, but obviously was oblivious to the arrow in his skull.