Walrus sighting !

[KenM]

Walrus sighting ! I heard that it's so cold further north that the walrus are starting to migrate south looking for open water. I heard tell that one was seen crossing Lake Milton but I can't substaniate that report. In Ohio, you need both a hunting and fishing licience to take a walrus. Also, Inuit rules specifically call for use of KAYAKS and strictly forbid CANOES during walrus hunts. Apparently many canoers get excited and stand up and end up throwing their spear through the bottom of the canoe. That would make it easier to count kayaks in a hunting party though.

[mfdanko99]

That is to funny, but only a canoe could haul it back to shore

[JPTolson]

Pretty sure BobK put Ken up to this mischief!

[KenM]

I've got photos....

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by KenM

I've got photos....

Now I believe you!

[KenM]

Ok, Ok.

Did you know that "kayak" means "hunters boat"? Your kayak was made specifically to fit you only. It was considered foolhardy to borrow a boat as it may not be stable with you in it. In order to hunt you wore a sealskin jacket tightly tied around wrists and hood pulled tight. The jacket was just long enough to be tied or lashed around the cockpit rim. I read that usually your wife sewed her husband in. If she wanted food I guess she had to do a good job. Your only option if you rolled was to roll back upright. Coming out of your boat was considered suicide.

Here's an interesting fact I came across.....Inuit / Aluet people did not know how to swim. They had no need to. The water was always so cold that if you were to get wet you would quickly die.

[swampboy62]

May need this skill:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C283ibOLFlU


That is, rolling up after harpooning a walrus and it's pulling you sideways through the water.

Steve Z

[BOBK]

On my way out to Lake Milton to check on the truth behind this story, I saw someone sitting in a canoe in the middle of a snow covered cornfield. I pulled my truck over and as I was getting out to see what was going on another vehicle pulled over at the same time. I heard the person from the other vehicle holler out to the one in the canoe..."You know you're making the rest of us canoeists look stupid by sitting there." To which the person in the canoe replied, "Oh yeah, come say that to my face!" The reply from the other canoeist was, "I would but you're too far out and I can't swim."

[KenM]

Disclaimer.......I had nothing to do with the last posting. For the record, I still own a 1971 17' Grumman whitewater with shoe keel. It just might be suitable for a walrus hunt. It would be pretty hard to put a harpoon thru the aluminum. But...I still need to find a seal large enough to make a full spray skirt! Hummmm.....With that setup I might be able to hunt Killer Whales if any appear on Lake Milton. KenM