It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Something to be thankful for....
Since neither John McCain nor Barack Obama are hunters, conservatives were spared the superficial pandering to gun owners, that we witnessed from Kerry & Bush during the run up to the 2004 election. An even more grace-laden reprieve, I would say, is that we were thus spared the ill-conceived notion that the 2nd Amendment has something to do with a recreational activity or providing your family their dinner.
But all of that, as well as vice presidential shootings accidents and gun hating first ladies can be swept aside so room can be made for more pressing matters.
Fall has started to settle in, here in Colorado. Tonight Denver got its first real snow, and for the moment, the city is quiet and pristine. Only 36 hours ago, we scored a record high temp. of 80 if you'd believe it. For many of us, this is the season our mind turns to a slightly more predatory pursuit, and I don't mean politics. Most of the big game seasons for archery and black powder rifles have closed, and we are in the 2nd of 4 rifle seasons for elk and deer, but the day that's marked on my calendar is Nov. 12; opening day of pheasant season. I've got a new Remington 870 Express Super Mag. that needs breaking in. Nothing fancy. A 12 ga. pump with a walnut stock, but reliable as the day is long. So as I give this gun it's first good oiling, I thought I'd see how my fellow Richoteer Sportsman have fared so far this season.
![Hunting-camp,-Copper-River,-Alaska.-SSF---Hunting--Big-Game-[item]...-painting-artwork-print](http://cdn1.ricochet.com/var/ezwebin_site/storage/images/media/images/hunting-camp-copper-river-alaska.-ssf-hunting-big-game-item-painting-artwork-print/1243018-1-eng-US/Hunting-camp-Copper-River-Alaska.-SSF-Hunting-Big-Game-item-painting-artwork-print_lightbox.jpg "Hunting-camp,-Copper-River,-Alaska.-SSF---Hunting--Big-Game-[item]...-painting-artwork-print")
Any tall tales, or young hunters first outings to report? Maybe this time of year just brings back a fond memory worth sharing? I love a good story, and would presume I'm not alone.
This year I will have the vicarious pleasure of accompanying a close friend and his father on opening day, for the former's stepson's first trip hunting. In my family at least, this is one of the few rights of passage we have left, and I am always delighted to celebrate it with others.
On another note, since we have such a wealth of life experience at the various ends of the interweb here, do any of you have good wild game recipes? I figure it's worth asking since we're on the topic. Fish as well, I never quite know what to do with brook trout.
I know a back strap makes a great barbeque, but I've been looking for a good way to mellow the gamy flavor and toughness of venison so I can spare the rest of a deer from becoming summer sausage. (not that I have ever seemed to get my fill of summer sausage.) Also, does someone have a good method for cooking duck that leaves it a little less greasy?
I hope October has been generous to you all, and Happy Hunting!
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Comments:
May '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
CoolHand:
Into each jar add a tablespoon of water, a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of pepper, and two bay leaves.
Serve over mashed potatoes with peas and carrots on the side.
Quit trying to prove your manliness with all this cooking advice.
Aug '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Coolhand That was a hoot ! " Not Kenneth " may become a fish drawn in the sand .
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
The topic of hunting will alwaysbring out divergent thoughts. The point is to flesh them out as it were. People, however, on this topic tend to rely more upon feelings and omit facts. Hunting can be many things to many people, save it needs to be conducted in a respectfull manner to all involved, including the hunted. Anything less is a travesty and lessens respect for life in the overall.
In context, any true hunter takes his or her weapon of choice into unknown territory after game to prove a measure of self. For those that choose to diminish the trophy aspect of the sport. They may want to examine the topic more closely.
Should one bring home a measure of their accomplishment, the item may have been on sale, perhaps clothing, automobile or a trophy wife. All would qualify for bragging rights, that is a point no one can deny.
Everyone has a trophy of sorts about and the question of the item being bloodless or not still bears a cost, therefore why not save it as a life lesson. ?
All of us are hunters, try not to put lipstick on a pig, it is a disservice.
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Mark Wilson
wilber forge
Mark Wilson
Define sniper rifle. · Oct 26 at 3:14pm
Interesting point. Not to go too deeply into ballistics.
...
To define the thing, most of the sniper rounds are made for a different hunt. As it appears the folk who hunt with this configuration are more into ego than not. Perhaps for the kill nad not so much a bringing home the bacon.
Any thoughts ?
As a fowl hunter, I actually don't get into equipment discussions with too many deer hunters. You bring up an interesting observation about different people's preferred weapons. I had not previously been aware of the trends. · Oct 26 at 7:14pm
Edited on Oct 26 at 07:18 pm
Just found the trends disturbing myself. Have missed the opportunity on bird hunting.
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Mark Wilson
CoolHand:
Into each jar add a tablespoon of water, a teaspoon of salt, a teaspoon of pepper, and two bay leaves.
Serve over mashed potatoes with peas and carrots on the side.
Quit trying to prove your manliness with all this cooking advice. · Oct 26 at 7:35pm
Sounds like someone who would dredge prime venison in flour and fry it in lard.
Some folks should not even be trusted to smoke smelt.
May '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
I shouldn't poke my nose in this boys convo, but the whole hunting is murder thing reminds me of a story from Mark Styen's latest book. You know the one with the cougar that killed the environmentalist. If you haven't read it, said cougar kills a lady's dog, she refuses to let the authorities take out the "noble beast", and is promptly eaten by the cougar.
Sep '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
The cougar was recycling the recusants.
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
The thread seems to call up murder as a hot button issue. The current definition applies to humans dispatching one another. The reasons for same are legion and open to moral and legal interpretations.
If anyone wants to go down the enviro path of wonderment, recall the guy that researched Grizzlies for years ? He said they would never harm him and claimed a special relationship with the critters. Did not play out well in the end and his ladyfreind had the privelage of listening to his being eaten.
So much for that, anyone that complains about hunting as murder claims a higher moral ground. Yet, when purchasing any meat in a market is complicit in the murder of said beastie. How about being charged with murder as an accessory after the fact ? If one has simply engaged another to kill for you, you simply hired an assassin to do your bidding, then take the prize home in a nifty biodegradeable bag, guilt free.
The hypocracy is astounding.
Aug '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
wilber forge: The thread seems to call up murder as a hot button issue.
So much for that, anyone that complains about hunting as murder claims a higher moral ground. Yet, when purchasing any meat in a market is complicit in the murder of said beastie. How about being charged with murder as an accessory after the fact ? If one has simply engaged another to kill for you, you simply hired an assassin to do your bidding, then take the prize home in a nifty biodegradeable bag, guilt free.
The hypocracy is astounding. · Oct 26 at 10:42pm
It's spelled "hypocrisy".
Oh, and it's spelled "privilege".
And the point here isn't who kills what for food. The point is the celebration of killing. Am I supposed to celebrate the manliness of people who go out with high-powered rifles to murder defenseless animals?
Hoo-yah! No, thanks.
Edited on October 27, 2011 at 8:03amOct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Re, Tom Paine,
Happens to be late in this time zone, and benifit of beverages.
Might have thought there were better things to bring to the table than cheap shots at spelling errors. Not impressed.
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Tom Paine
wilber forge: The thread seems to call up murder as a hot button issue.
So much for that, anyone that complains about hunting as murder claims a higher moral ground. Yet, when purchasing any meat in a market is complicit in the murder of said beastie. How about being charged with murder as an accessory after the fact ? If one has simply engaged another to kill for you, you simply hired an assassin to do your bidding, then take the prize home in a nifty biodegradeable bag, guilt free.
The hypocracy is astounding. · Oct 26 at 10:42pm
It's spelled "hypocrisy".
Oh, and it's spelled "privilege".
And the point here isn't who kills what for food. The point is the celebration of killing. Am I supposed to celebrate the manliness of people who go out with high-powered rifles to murder defenseless animals?
Hoo-yah! No, thanks. · Oct 26 at 10:47pm
Edited on Oct 26 at 11:03 pm
Wow, cool it with the spell check. Nitpicking every little typo discourages people from sharing their thoughts, which is one great way to kill a conversation. Not what we're going for.
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
RE Tom Paine.
Point noted, then go forward and provide accollades to those you hire to farm animals and have butchered for your convenience. Having experience in the commercial vending aspect of meat products. Just be happy that for you perhaps ingnorance is bliss.
Aug '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
wilber forge: RE Tom Paine.
Point noted, then go forward and provide accollades to those you hire to farm animals and have butchered for your convenience. Having experience in the commercial vending aspect of meat products. Just be happy that for you perhaps ingnorance is bliss. · Oct 26 at 11:18pm
[Comment redacted]
And, other than shellfish, I'm a vegetarian.
Edited on October 27, 2011 at 8:57amOct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
RE, Diane Ellis,
Well stated. Thank you. The wordsmithing that goes on at times seems to take exception in the process of grammar and dialog. Happens when things warm up a bit.
Oct '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Tom Paine
wilber forge: RE Tom Paine.
Point noted, then go forward and provide accollades to those you hire to farm animals and have butchered for your convenience. Having experience in the commercial vending aspect of meat products. Just be happy that for you perhaps ingnorance is bliss. · Oct 26 at 11:18pm
It's spelled "accolades".
And, other than shellfish, I'm a vegetarian. · Oct 26 at 11:24pm
The additional L was for for grinz. The diet admission on your part was clear from the get go. Simply gave yourself away early on in the posts. Nice try though.
Respect the vegetarian position, yet you are just another killer of all living things to satiate personal fullfillment. Very short on true justifications to drive home an argument there. Encitement for creating the pleasure of a dialog is a shallow thing. Eat well and be content.
Edited on October 27, 2011 at 9:09amMay '10
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Tom Paine
It's spelled "nary".
It's spelled "hypocrisy".
Oh, and it's spelled "privilege".
It's spelled "accolades".
It's spelled "troll".
Mar '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
I didn't grow up in a hunting family, but I always wanted to try it. So now I take my son hunting. Since we are both learning from scratch, we are the world's worst hunters! But it is a great way to spend time with him. Like Ted Nugent says' "Take your kids hunting and you won't have to hunt for your kids."
We did happen to be in the woods of east central Ohio last week when that guy released all his African animals from his park. Imagine going on a deer hunt and bagging a Bengal tiger. Now THAT would be a hunting story!
Apr '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Jerry Carroll: (1) I don't know what was more disgusting, the lengths to which they went to, well, yes, murder those living creatures or their pride in the act afterward.
(2) I freely grant that animals don't have the same value as humans. Yet ... isn't it immoral to knowingly inflict pain on [them]? ...If you have a dog, you know they are capable of a range of emotions.
These comments display a very common moral confusion that often comes out in discussions of hunting. We all feel sympathy and fondness toward animals, especially cute and fuzzy ones (check your wine labels). But emotions are not signs of higher intellectectual function and moral standing in animals. Emotions are animal functions and we are animals.
What distinguishes us is our intellect and free will, which enable us to bring emotional impulses (passions) under rational control. Because we can do this, we claim the right not to be subject to others' wills as means to their ends. Pain has nothing to do with it.
After the theories of Peter Singer et al. reduced humans to animals, they invented pain morality when they needed a "moral" club with which to force us to do what they wanted.
Edited on October 27, 2011 at 2:23pmAug '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
Tom Paine
Wouldn't it have been a "remarkable experience" just to see the grizzly in its habitat and leave it unmolested? · Oct 26 at 4:22pm
Not even close. Grizzies are nasty creatures - as close to the top of the food chain as can be. We are natural enemies. Now I'm not advocating wiping them out, but selective hunting is fine. There is no shortage of brown bears in Alaska. In fact, they are expanding their range in the lower 48. I believe that there have been three fatal maulings this year so far in the northern rockies. Expect hunting to resume in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming in the next decade.
May '11
Re: It's Hunting Season! Oh, and There is This Campaign Or...Something, I Lose Track.
For venison, use it to make chili. Stews are always good (make it very chunky and cook the meat a bit longer). Speedies State Fair marinade will also disguise gaminess.
As a rule of thumb, add cloves and/or rosemary.
One of my childhood favorites, brown some chops. Fry up some onions and peppers in the same pan. Add the chops back in. Add enough tomato sauce cover the bottom, cover and simmer until the meat is tender, half hour to 40 minutes. Serve with mashed potatoes to mix with the gravy. An electric fry pan works the best.
Lately, just been grilling it but not over cooking it. A little barbecue sauce salt and pepper.
And best of all, don't shoot those old trophy bucks in rut. They're tough and gamey. The best venison Is young.