When you think you’ve seen everything, the internet is always there to buck that trend. The latest viral video? A homeless man in Los Angeles, who is affectionately dubbed “Pigeon Bow Hunter” by locals, was caught on camera attempting to shoot down live pigeons to eat for dinner. That’s one story I never thought I’d be writing about today.
Shared to the GreaterLosAngeles sub-Reddit, user Shankmaster8000 gave us a brief glimpse into the life of the one and only “Pigeon Bow Hunter.” Opening on a LA sidewalk on Broadway and 33rd Street, the 18-second snippet of footage centers on the elusive homeless bowman as he hunts his feathery prey. Amusingly, accompanying the footage is the Roger Miller classic 1973 song Oo-De-Lally from the beloved animated Disney hit, Robin Hood.
Sporting a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and with a trolley full of knick-knacks in tow, the inner city archer carefully nocked the arrow in his bow, before taking aim at a feral pigeon perched in the tree’s canopy above. It’s unclear whether the arrow hits his prey, as the footage cuts shortly after, but a part of me is hopeful that the pigeon in question evaded the shaft and flew away. The other part of me? Honestly, I kind of hope that he managed to get something for dinner as well. So, I’m a little torn, overall.
Of course, homelessness in LA is a prevalent issue and is currently on the rise. Recent records show that the City of Los Angeles is home to 45,252 homeless individuals, while the County as a whole amounts to 75,518 homeless individuals, per CBS19News. Meanwhile, as feral pigeons are considered to be pests, they’re not protected by state or federal law, so it’s not illegal to catch and eat a feral pigeon in LA. Still, it’s probably not the best idea as they typically carry avian diseases or may’ve ingested harmful substances like rodenticide or lead, which can prove to be toxic to humans.
Clearly, that hasn’t stopped this resourceful man, who seems to have struck a chord with netizens around the globe. Here are some choice comments from across the internet:
“I wish more homeless people were this resourceful.” (Creative-Nebula-6145)
“Man gotta eat….” (@MitchellMerica)
“Looks like the new trailer for the next Marvel movie. Hood Rat Hawkeye!!!” (BadTiger85)
“Crazy to me that people are literally reverting back to a hunter gatherer lifestyle. It must be that bad.” (hustle_magic)
