Todays interesting piece of history comes from Paris. Reaper-02 first heard about this story on the JRE (Joe Rogan Experience). Wolves have been in the news lately and the debate has been heating up. Both the pro and anti wolf sides have valid points. Either way, the Reaper Team would be down with a wolf hunt, none of us have ever tasted wolf. Here is an article that talks about an infamous pack of wolves from the 15th century. We hope you enjoy.

The Wolves of Paris

Les Loups de Paris — the Wolves of Paris — were a pack of man-eating wolves who terrorized Paris during the winter of 1450. Normally, of course, wolves in France and elsewhere remain in the forest to hunt wild animals and don’t pose a threat to humans, but this particular winter was especially harsh and prey were scarce, so the desperate and starving wolves had no choice but to make Paris their new hunting ground.

The wolves were able to enter Paris through breaches in the city’s poorly maintained outer walls, which had been erected in the early 13th century by King Philippe Auguste to protect the city from invaders of the human variety. The walls had fallen into a state of disrepair during more peaceful times, and the wolves managed to get through — I’m unable to find record of any huffing or puffing involved. And throughout that one long winter in 1450, the wolves managed to kill 40 Parisians, sending the city into a state of panic. The wolf problem dominated gossip city-wide, and the Parisians even gave a nickname to the pack’s leader: “Courtaud,”meaning Bobtail.

Eventually the besieged citizens of Paris had had enough, and they concocted a scheme to get rid of Courtard and his bloodthirsty pack once and for all. A large group of brave Parisians lured and prodded the wolves onto the isolated Ile de La Cité in the center of town, and the crowd stoned and speared the entire pack to death right in the public square in front of Notre Dame.

Today’s History comes from www.coolstuffinparis.com , (Picture- Wolf design on the floor of Saint-Chapelle.)

We hoped you enjoyed this article. Remember to send in the histories you want to see here.

-Reaper Team… Out!

Help Support our Charities by purchasing Reaper Gear. 

$1 from each Purchase goes to our chosen Charities

Click Here to purchase Reaper Gear.

Target: Wild Hogs

Location: Undisclosed, North Carolina

Synopsis: The Reaper Team joins forces with SOF, Special Operations Forces, Wounded Warriors (SOWW) on a hog hunt. They are out there going after hogs with dogs. Reaper-01 also has powerful interviews with some of his wounded brothers in arms. You can also help to give back to our Nation’s elite warriors by going to ou Charities page. Learn how to do it and make it happen. Operation SOWW airs on 5/27/13 at 1830 EST and re-airs on Pursuit Channel starting on Tues @ 1100 and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Op SOWW Gear List

Target: Aoudad (Primary), Hogs (Secondary)

Location: Undisclosed, Texas

Synopsis: The Reaper Team operates in an extreme desert environment surviving only on water and food that they can find. Reaper01 discusses methods and philosophies on how to thrive while in the desert. Also, see the Reaper Team get up close and personal w/ their target, the Aoudad and see some bonus Hog hunting. The show Re-Airs May 20 @1830 EST only on Pursuit Channel with re-airs on Tues @1100 and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR’s if you cannot make it. We will also post the shows back on our website after the final airing for the week.

Video:

Photos

Reaper02 on the Blog

The story starts around the time of my birthday this year. My wife was being very coy about my birthday present this year. No matter how much I pried she would not tell me. Our friends and family just kept telling me I will love it and that my wife is really amazing, needless to say I was intrigued. Finally, as my birthday happened I opened up the card she gave me and inside it detailed that I had a session scheduled for 21 September with my favorite tattoo artist in Nashville, the great Ian White. I was taken back by the gift but super pumped about it. The timing gave me about 1.5 months to think about it. Mind you, I have been thinking about tattoos since I was 16. Through the years my visions of tattoos have certainly changed. I am extremely pleased that I never got one while I was in HS or College. It would have resulted in an extremely meatheaded and most certainly regrettable piece. Plus my body has shrunk significantly since my playing days, no idea how fucked up that tattoo would be now.

Now that the timeline was in place, it was time for some decisions. I felt it was time to tap into what my body, mind, and environment would tell me. I know that if I focus and meditate on a subject something usually comes to me, usually its something unexpected, but it always seems to feel right. As I began to focus on the subject I went on Ian whites website ( ianwhitetattoos.com ). I wanted to get a real feel for his art so that I could imagine my vision through his hands. I am a creative person, but my dumb monkey hands can’t translate what is inside of my skull at all. So I need someone to translate my vision. At first when I was thinking about what I wanted to get I was confronted with badass tattoos of warriors. I just couldn’t get the idea of getting a highly muscled dude on my arm. I stayed on that theme by exploring warrior cultures from around the world. Many of these cultures use tattooing to represent their life stories, for protection, intimidation, or to represent their beliefs. I took that and thought about that for sometime. I began researching symbols and words from various cultures that represent me. I began to feel that I was on the right path.

Then I had the first set of dreams. I have always had wild, vivid, and sometimes lucid dreams. Thank you Alpha Brain and New Mood for enhancing and allowing me to remember these dreams. Be sure to check out the Reaper Store so you can experience the difference. Anyways, I had this wild dream about big strong trees. The Trees were tall, strong, and badass. Also, they had various symbols throughout their trunks and up into their branches, they were not necessarily carved in, but a part of the tree itself. The symbols varied from various cultures, undoubtedly due to my endless Google searches and viewing them for hours, something has to stick in my head right. This dream came to me a couple of more times, but each time the environment was different, sometimes it was beautifully sunny, another time it was terrible rain and cold, and another time it was night.

I began to recognize that this was where my tattoo was heading. Mind you, I was keeping the Tree idea to myself. I was not sure how people in my life would react to me getting a tree. So I began to do research about tree tattoos. I was happily surprised about many of the things that I found. What I was seeing in my dreams were what I believe to be my personal version of the Tree of Life . You can click on the hyperlink to learn more about it. The Tree of Life is represented in many cultures throughout the world, it touches every continent and major culture. The tree itself represents various things to the different cultures, but the central idea I like and believe is that everything on the planet and in the universe is linked. The tree represents the link to everyone. I also like that it can represent healing, steadfastness, knowledge, evolution and strength. The tree has been represented in the most ancient of cultures and religion as well as the most recent developments in culture. I like really ancient ideas. The fact that they have lasted this long shows that at the very least there is something visceral to them. I know what the Tree represents is most certainly visceral. I know that everyone can feel a connection with at least one other person or thing. I have experienced enough strangeness in my life to know we are connected.

Even after my examination of the Tree of Life, I still remained unsure. However, I knew that an upcoming Operation for the Reaper Team would truly allow me to get my head focused on this. While we are on an Op, immersed in nature, we are given a great gift of no distractions. The phones, computers, family, and the million other distractions in today’s life are gone. Your mind is free to unleash its power on the present (there will be another blog post about this.) I wanted to train my mind on this subject. I had crazy dreams and visions about it the whole time we were out there. Now the dream morphed into the roots wrapping around me and pulling me towards and eventually into the tree. Once inside the tree, I could feel it and understand it. I know that is weird, and it was, I am not sure what it means. Eventually, the dreams would morph into me having a tree coming out of my skin and me being carved with a Tree of Life from the inside out. As if my internal being was carving my skin, almost searing it in. I awoke one night while we were out there and was just filled with energy and peace. I love that feeling of satisfaction, excitement, and positive energy that fills your body when a truly organically grounded decision is made. You understand that and know that this is what must be done.

Now it was time to tell some people to make sure that I was not tapping into something that was highly misplaced. I first ran the idea in front of my wife. She was at first a bit taken back by it, but when I explained to her about the meanings and the dreams she was warmed up to the idea, but said she needed to see what Ian thought. Then I ran it by my best friend @officialAJHawk , give him some follows and Go Pack. Be sure to check out his great charity Hawks Locks for Kids, future blog about that soon. I gave him the job of keeping me out of the douche zone. He loved the idea as well, and especially how I arrived at the idea and what it represents. Next, I told the Reaper Team. Reaper01 liked it, Reaper03 was his usual unenthusiastic self, but warmed up to my ideas as usual. I was discussing the various forms of the Tree of Life with Reaper01. I was talking about the tree in Bahrain, he said he has seen it and it is nothing that represents me. So we turned our attention to the Norse Tree. Reaper01 represents the modern warrior culture and I feel he could definitely recognize his ancient counterpart. He said you got to go with the Norse, that culture represents you more than any other. I investigated it and found a ton of images that I liked and decided this was the best path for me.

I have always had a definite place of where I wanted to get my tattoo. Since my football career was cut short by an injury to my right shoulder I have wanted to get my tattoo there. There are several reasons for this. One is that I am constantly reminded about my shoulder injury, it hurts a lot of the time and it does not work so well. I am not a huge fan of it, and that is not a healthy thing to not like a part of your body. I wanted to get something that can flip that feeling in my own head. Now, I don’t have to see those visible scars, instead I see a beautiful piece of living art. Now this shoulder can represent something positive and beautiful instead of pain and all of the associated bullshit that went along with that episode in my life.

Next I met with Ian about a week before the event. I was instantly put at ease because he has a great energy. He is not a pussy artist. In fact he is a veteran of the Air Force, plus he used to live in Ohio stationed at Wright Patterson AFB, he later admitted there was some Roswell stuff there, but that’s another subject. Also, he has a General Patton action figure in his shop, I love Patton, it was a good sign. We talked for 20 mins I emailed him the images and that was it. I felt totally at ease, and began to get excited.

The day of the event I tried to just keep a positive vibe going. I ate completely Paleo, to properly fuel my true animal self. I woke up and got all the work that I set out to accomplish, a great feeling of satisfaction and work done well. Then I set out to get a great pump. It was chest/ tri’s day, so you know its gonna be a good day. I got an excellent pump fueled by Shroomtech Sport, Jack3d and Mumford and Sons followed by Johnny Cash and ended with GodSmack. I finished my workout with a brutal elypictical workout with @JoeRogan ’s podcast talking with Mike Birbiglia. Needless to say, it was a great pump and a true test for my body. I was trying to burn enough energy to allow me to relax during the tattoo. I went home showered and got ready for the event.

When I arrived we shook hands, I met his wife, she was really nice. I stripped off my shirt and he began to free hand draw on my arm starting with light markers and working darker. I just stood there and let him draw. He did this without reference just free handed it. I was standing there trying to channel what was in my head to him and it worked. As it materialized he brought me over to the mirror and it almost mirrored what was in my head. Next, he asked me to sit down and we would begin. I loved how matter of fact it was, it was about the process and getting it done the right way. I was a little nervous about the pain, having never experienced this form of pain. I am no stranger to pain, but I thought this was going to be different. He asked me if I was ready and I said lets go. Karli was manning the camera and I think she sucked all the nervous energy out of me and placed it in herself based on the look on her face. As he entered my skin with his needle I was pleasantly surprised that it was not nearly as bad as I had in my head. It felt like a hard scrub brush mixed the occasional briar entering your skin. Not something you would want to do every day, but it wasn’t bad at all. As he began to work I couldn’t see what he was doing. I just had Karli telling me how it was going. I could feel where he was drawing, but not how it was going. About an hour into the process, we got up and took a break. There I got to see the progress. I was so excited about it, it looked just like in my head. As I set back down I could not wait until it was done. After about 2 hours in the chair he said it was done. I got to see the final version of it in the mirror. I was so pumped about it. It has all the look, feel, depth, and meaning I was hoping for. I incorporated several hidden symbols into the piece itself. Things that mean a great deal to me. We also left room for the future. As my life grows so can my Tree of Life. I love it.

I want to say thank you to my wife for the beautiful present. You truly understand me, and allow me to be me without trying to stifle my natural self. Thanks it’s a gift I will have forever. I want to thank Ian White for allowing me to use his abilities to achieve what I had in my head. Also, for sharing his art with me and using me as a vehicle for his creativity. Thanks man, I look forward to future collaborations. This was a great experience.

Doug “Reaper02″ Datish… out.

Reaper Nation please feel free to contact me on Twitter @DougDatish or the entire Reaper Team @ReaperOutdoors . As always “like” us on Facebook.com/TeamReaper .

Help Support our Charities by purchasing Reaper Gear. 

$1 from each Purchase goes to our chosen Charities

Click Here to purchase Reaper Gear.

Target: Mule Deer

Location: Undisclosed, Montana

Synopsis: The Reaper Team is targeting a mule deer while operating in the wilderness of Montana. See the Reaper Team split into two teams and spot and stalk their prey. See how Reaper-01 and Reaper-02 take down their targets. Also, see bonus coyote footage.

Operation Tidewater Tactical re-airs on Pursuit Channel on Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Check back after the airing week for the video.

Op Camoform Gear List

Target: Mule Deer

Location: Undisclosed, Montana

Synopsis: The Reaper Team is targeting a mule deer while operating in the wilderness of Montana. See the Reaper Team split into two teams and spot and stalk their prey. See how Reaper-01 and Reaper-02 take down their targets. Also, see bonus coyote footage.

Operation Tidewater Tactical re-airs on Pursuit Channel starting  on Tues @ 1100 EST and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Check back after the airing week for the video.

Op Camoform Gear List

Target: Mule Deer

Location: Undisclosed, Montana

Synopsis: The Reaper Team is targeting a mule deer while operating in the wilderness of Montana. See the Reaper Team split into two teams and spot and stalk their prey. See how Reaper-01 and Reaper-02 take down their targets. Also, see bonus coyote footage.

Operation Tidewater Tactical airs on Pursuit Channel starting on Mon 5/13/13 @ 1830 EST, w/ re-airs on Tues @ 1100 EST and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Check back after the airing week for the video.

Op Camoform Gear List

Target: Groundhogs aka Groundzillas

Location: Undisclosed, Pennsylvania

Synopsis: The Reaper Team is on the road and prowling through the rural hills of Pennsylvania. They are hunting Groundhogs tactical style by searching for and engaging “targets of opportunity.”

Operation Groundzilla II airs on Pursuit Channel  re-airs on Tues @ 1100 EST and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Op Groundzilla II Gear List

Photos

Help Support our Charities by purchasing Reaper Gear. 

$1 from each Purchase goes to our chosen Charities

Click Here to purchase Reaper Gear.

]]> http://www.reaperoutdoors.com/events/op-groundzilla-2-final-airing/feed/ 0 http://www.reaperoutdoors.com/events/operation-groundzilla-2-re-airs/ http://www.reaperoutdoors.com/events/operation-groundzilla-2-re-airs/#comments Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:35:27 +0000 Doug Datish http://www.reaperoutdoors.com/?post_type=cpt_events&p=1603 Mission Profile:

Target: Groundhogs aka Groundzillas

Location: Undisclosed, Pennsylvania

Synopsis: The Reaper Team is on the road and prowling through the rural hills of Pennsylvania. They are hunting Groundhogs tactical style by searching for and engaging “targets of opportunity.”

Operation Groundzilla II airs on Pursuit Channel  re-airs on Tues @ 1100 EST and Sat @ 1230 EST. Set your DVR or watch it live. Either way do it.

Video:

Op Groundzilla II Gear List

Photos

Help Support our Charities by purchasing Reaper Gear. 

$1 from each Purchase goes to our chosen Charities

Click Here to purchase Reaper Gear.

]]> http://www.reaperoutdoors.com/events/operation-groundzilla-2-re-airs/feed/ 0